Rees Jones In Chapter 43, Tillinghast tells the story of Bethpage’s founding, design and development. He foresaw that the Black would become a Mankiller to test the world’s best golfers; he also predicted the entire Bethpage complex of multiple golf courses would become great golf for the public and a Mecca of the golfing world. How right he was.

Frank Hannigan. “Sit back and relish of the times when poor Johnny McDermott’s spirit was broken; when Old Tom Morris saw a rubber-wound ball for the first time; and when Willie Smith, originally of Carnoustie, engaged in a fire fight with Mexican rebels assaulting his pro shop.”

Editor of Golf Illustrated Ben Crenshaw. “A.W. Tillinghast was an individualist, to say the least. American golf was fortunate to have him around in the early stages. His writings about golf give us a glimpse of his vivid imagination, which certainly leaned towards the artistic.”

Book Description A collection of writings by A.W. Tillinghast and more than 300 vintage photographs on Scottish and early American golf. Tillie provides precious first hand accounts of Ameican golf’s early history and linkage to St. Andrews, Scotland. Foreword by Frank Hannigan, noted broadcaster for ABC Sports and contributing editor for Golf Digest. Introductions by Ben Crenshaw and golf architect Rees Jones.

About the Author A.W. Tillinhast was a player, journalist and golf architect during the late 1800s and early 1900’s. He is one of the most renowned golf architects having designed more than 200 courses including Baltusrol, Winged Foot, Pine Valley, Bethpage and San Francisco. As a jounralist he was both editor an publisher of Golf Illustrated, the leading golf journal of the early 1900s.

Customer Reviews:

A Special Review: From former President George Bush, January 13, 1999
Dear Richard, Bob, and Stuart,
Reminiscences of the Links and The Course Beautiful are great. Thanks so much for sharing copies with me. Of course, I especially enjoyed seeing the photo of my father in Reminiscences. Though this son of his inherited a love of the game. I'm sorry to say that he did not inherit the natural ability to play well. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Good luck with the next volume.

Sincerely, George W. Bush

A reader from American Society of Golf Course Architects, January 2, 1999
Pure Genius! A Work that Will Live! Having restored and modernized more Tillinghast layouts than any of us Rees Jones states in an introductory paragraph “A.W. Tillinghast was pure genius” while Ben Crenshaw in a companion paragraph says “he was an individualist to say the least. American golf was fortunate to have him around in the early stages.” Our profession (golf architecture) is indebted to the editors for their second volume of Tillinghast essays. It is to be followed by a third title within two years entitled GLEANINGS FROM THE WAYSIDE. (I think the first, THE COURSE BEAUTIFUL is still available.) Frank Hannigan says in the foreword that golf architecture is an art form requiring engineering expertise mixed with 19th century principles of landscape design. Vision is also required in the creation of golf courses as it was in the creations by Olmstead and other 19th century landscape architects. Somehow Tilly’s essays demonstrate this. Reading them and studying the descriptive illustrations one reaches that conclusion.REMINISCENCES...IS A WORK WORTHY OF STUDY AND A PLACE IN ALL OUR LIBRARIES AND AS A GIFT TO CLIENTS AND OTHERS.

We urge members to obtain it and if still available THE COURSE BEAUTIFUL. This trilogy will live and could influence our profession far into the future, because the three volumes will be studied by all seeking the upward progress of our profession which must be one of the most intriguing ever practiced. As Rees and Ben indicate, Tilly ranks among its most unique practioners. -- Geoffrey S. Cornish, Historian, American Society of Golf Course Architects.

A reader from The Golf Collector’s Society, December 13, 1998
Terrific, Revolutionary and Astonishing The editors, Rick Wolffe, Bob Trebus and Stuart Wolffe have produced their second of a three book series on A.W. Tillinghast. This book, “Reminiscences of the Links” is even richer than the first (“The Course Beautiful”) with terrific photographs, revolutionary writing and astonishing admissions. Like Tillie taking a 17 on the closing hole at the Garden City Invitational, the incident regarding Johnny McDermott at Shawnee, or his suggestion that someday Bethpage will rank as one of the great golfing meccas of the world. It may have taken awhile for that prediction to come true but by the time the Open rolls around there will be few who will dispute it. And where else can you find the original routing plan for all the courses and such early photos of play on the Black? Good job, fellas! -- Bob Labbance, Editor for The Golf Collector’s Society.