Golf Book Collectors

[wingedfoot97]

Slowly putting my books back out. A all the way thru Feherty. Ran into a bit of a pickle in that my shelves are starting to bow. I have another plan and will fix this shortly. Here is an updated pic for now.

 

 

[powerfade66]

Thought I'd share a pic of some of my (tiny but slowly growing) collection of reading material. Some really cool finds that should further enhance my love of this silly game.

 

Those thriftbooks stickers are infuriating. Impossible to get off without tearing the spine. Their customer service department say they have to be strong stickers or they fall off. They put their cataloging system as a higher priority than damaging the books. Admittedly they do have millions of books but surely there is an alternative to damaging each and every book they sell. I avoid buying from them but they have many in their group with different store names so it's easy to get caught out. I think they put it in their item description now though that the books have stickers. End of rant.

[GolfNutRiblick]

Easy peasy!

[powerfade66]

Easy peasy!

 

Looks like they may have given in to all the complaints! The ones I had you couldn't get any of it off without hacking away and tearing everything it was stuck to. I even bought a product called "easy off" or similar and it made no difference.

[GolfNutRiblick]

Yeah I hate those stickers too. But so far they’ve come off pretty easy.

[Swingingk]

Slowly putting my books back out. A all the way thru Feherty. Ran into a bit of a pickle in that my shelves are starting to bow. I have another plan and will fix this shortly. Here is an updated pic for now.

 

 

 

The shelving looks beautiful so far. Can't wait to see the completed effort.

 

[Texsport]

One of the most interesting books in my collection is "Scotland's Golf Courses" by Robert Price. 1989. Aberdeen University Press.

 

With a chapter on the geologic history of Scotland, the author describes how Scotland's courses were formed.

 

Each course is described in terms of its geology, topography, and vegetation.

 

A unique approach.

 

I believe that the book has been updated a couple of times.

 

Texsport

[wingedfoot97]

About 90% in. I will start on the other side of the library tomorrow. That will have mostly Masters/U.S. Open/British Open/Other Tournament programs. There will be a display for some signed golf balls, etc.

 

 

[wingedfoot97]

A couple of questions I want to pose to the group. I buy some of my books from Abe Books. Often, the descriptions are downright full of BS. For instance, a description says the book “might” contain highlighting - and it does. Why not just say it has highlighting.

 

Another description will say it “might possibly” contain owner’s name. It does. Why not just say that it contains the owners name.

 

A book may be listed as signed but there isnt any description of if it is just signed or is it inscribed.

 

Never understood why these descriptions are like this. Just wanted to ask. End of rant.

[pga43]

One of the most interesting books in my collection is "Scotland's Golf Courses" by Robert Price. 1989. Aberdeen University Press.

 

With a chapter on the geologic history of Scotland, the author describes how Scotland's courses were formed.

 

Each course is described in terms of its geology, topography, and vegetation.

 

A unique approach.

 

I believe that the book has been updated a couple of times.

 

Texsport

 

I just bought this same book. Should be here in a week.

 

Greg

[pga43]

A couple of questions I want to pose to the group. I buy some of my books from Abe Books. Often, the descriptions are downright full of BS. For instance, a description says the book “might” contain highlighting - and it does. Why not just say it has highlighting.

 

Another description will say it “might possibly” contain owner’s name. It does. Why not just say that it contains the owners name.

 

A book may be listed as signed but there isnt any description of if it is just signed or is it inscribed.

 

Never understood why these descriptions are like this. Just wanted to ask. End of rant.

 

I've bought many books from Abe Books. I think that is just their stock post to CTA. They sell a lot of "library" books, too.

 

 

Greg

[wingedfoot97]

New purchase. Often, these are sold as signed, however, the top inscription is printed on the page. I found this one in Austin, TX. The bottom inscription is real more than likely obtained via mail. At some point, I may add a signed copy of his Little Red Book.

 

 

[powerfade66]

A couple of questions I want to pose to the group. I buy some of my books from Abe Books. Often, the descriptions are downright full of BS. For instance, a description says the book “might” contain highlighting - and it does. Why not just say it has highlighting.

 

Another description will say it “might possibly” contain owner’s name. It does. Why not just say that it contains the owners name.

 

A book may be listed as signed but there isnt any description of if it is just signed or is it inscribed.

 

Never understood why these descriptions are like this. Just wanted to ask. End of rant.

 

I've bought many books from Abe Books. I think that is just their stock post to CTA. They sell a lot of "library" books, too.

 

 

Greg

 

Yes a lot of the big sellers have "may be a library book" on nearly every item in stock. It's a tragedy when they arrive with the dewey reference and a heap of glue or whatever it is securing it from thieves, needing a power tool for removal. Reminds me of driving range balls that sometimes have "stolen from x" printed on them.

[powerfade66]

I just had a win with one of the big sellers on Abebooks and their sloppy descriptions. Seems a topical event in this thread so I'll tell the boring story (boring that is unless you're a passionate and battle hardened golf book collector).

 

I thought I'd update my British Open annual collection, I had 1984 through 2012 and made a commitment to leave it at that because my library has cost too much already. Anyway, in a moment (probably 30 minutes) of weakness I had a look for copies of each of 2013-2016 inclusive. There were a few around but with a big difference between the cheapest and next in line. I noticed the cheaper ones $1, $1, $4 and $6 plus shipping were listed as only softcover which made sense and all from the same seller. I decided to get them anyway because the photos inside are amazing and the publishers had broken the continuity of the set with early editions being a royal blue, then white for a while and onto the current darker blue so a change back to softcover wouldn't look too bad on the shelf. They arrived... in good condition and all hardcovers!

[wingedfoot97]

Powerfade- thats what I’m talking about. I like stuff like that.

 

 

Speaking of British Open - I bought this program last year. Decided to send it to his agent to see if it could be signed. It was gone a long time but...showed back up - SIGNED!

 

 

[wingedfoot97]

So with my library getting done I figured I would throw out a few things I learned along the way. You all prob know all this but...here it is:

 

When painting shelves, do not paint the top. New paint (and paint in general) will cause books to stick to the shelf. These books of mine have, at times, gotten stuck. The larger ones I have (Edgeworth, Doak, Tolhurst, etc) are all flat and I laid them on their side. The paint on the shelf caused them to get stuck and, to keep it from happening, I put bond paper (typing paper) on top of the shelf between the book so the book wouldnt stick (only the paper will stick).

 

When you make your shelves, you may want to double up the plywood to keep them from bowing. The distance of each of my shelves is 3.5 feet. Longer than the normal bookcase/shelf. Not a big deal but I doubled the plywood to ensure they dont bow. So far they havent.

 

I bought a ledger from Staples and recorded each book in my collection. The entry reads like a card catalog but has notations for signed/inscribed in it. I alphabatized my collection and have a separate section for club histories (my favorite). Because I didnt keep good records over the years, I have a couple of duplicates lol.

 

Halfway through, I began reading Joe Murdoch’s book on building his library. I wish I had read it beforehand!

 

Feel free to respond with tips/thoughts/comments as this has been fun.

[powerfade66]

The aforemetioned Open collection

[lke90]

Can't resist to post this: just arrived in the mail

 

1927 golf rule book

 

 

 

[wkuo3]

I don't think I have any golf related books qualified as " collectibles " ! But over the years I have amassed quite a few books with golf topics.

Maybe close to 40 hard cover and many paper backs. Some with multiple copies which I gave to friends and young golfers once in awhile if they showed interests in reading and want to have the book.

 

I still frequent the half price books store to find new copies of old inventory or once in awhile copies of golf books which were not popular and rare. Some are good read and some just another book with pictures.

[wingedfoot97]

Been awhile but I have been updating my U.S. Open book with a few signatures:

 

 

 

 

[wingedfoot97]

Got it. After years of looking for Jimmy Demaret’s book for a decent price. Excited to add this one.

 

 

[wkuo3]

I buy the books which I would like to read, not so much for collecting value. Kinda like I get the golf clubs which I would like to take to the golf courses.

So, not so much as collector's value, but I got a trunk load of them .

I did learn to get the hard covered books instead of the paper back cover, simply because it's more durable and lasts longer.

[wingedfoot97]

All points true. I read all these. However, sometimes paperback is all thats available for a decent price or maybe could be used as a “reader copy” in a bag on the go.

[wkuo3]

Easy peasy!

 

Looks like they may have given in to all the complaints! The ones I had you couldn't get any of it off without hacking away and tearing everything it was stuck to. I even bought a product called "easy off" or similar and it made no difference.

 

Warm the sticker with hair dryer and carefully peel it off, clean with Magic Eraser.

[wkuo3]

All points true. I read all these. However, sometimes paperback is all thats available for a decent price or maybe could be used as a "reader copy" in a bag on the go.

 

Yes, I do have multiple copies for many titles. The pristine condition one will be in the book shelf and the other copies will be read .

I passed on several copies of golf course design , Golf Course Architecture related hard bond books because the condition was not good.

Ran into some nicer copies at the Half Price Books but still quite expensive .

[wingedfoot97]

Try Abe books. Its been pretty good for me. However, some copies are too pricey for me.

[powerfade66]

Got it. After years of looking for Jimmy Demaret’s book for a decent price. Excited to add this one.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to see if you know where to look.

[wingedfoot97]

Like it. I display mine in alphabetical order but often wish I could display per subject. Love those Hogan books. Currently, the only ones I display by subject are course histories.

 

I love those Martin Davis books on Hogan. My favorites to look thru often.

[Divot License]

Like it. I display mine in alphabetical order but often wish I could display per subject. Love those Hogan books. Currently, the only ones I display by subject are course histories.

 

I love those Martin Davis books on Hogan. My favorites to look thru often.

 

I have a signed version of the Davis book, Hogan Mystique. I'll get a picture posted when I get home and remember to do it. Just want to get the Nelson on now.

[bu11dog]

Can't resist to post this: just arrived in the mail

 

1927 golf rule book

 

 

 

 

Man, that's in phenomenal shape!

 

Got it. After years of looking for Jimmy Demaret's book for a decent price. Excited to add this one.

 

 

 

That's one is on my Holy Grail list. Looks like it's in really good shape as well.