Hi all,
I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting several members of this site over the years, and talking golf and golf design at various courses around the world. In the process of putting together a big book tour of the USA, and several friends have suggested I reach out to see whether there was any interest in a GCA function somewhere along my route.
To fill you in, over the past few years I have traveled to countless (literally lost count) courses in about 50 countries for my Planet Golf & Planet Golf USA books. I’m now producing a new volume, called Planet Golf Modern Masterpieces, which will feature around 100 modern courses (post-1995). Interestingly, around 70% of the featured courses will be new to the Planet Golf series. Despite the downturn there have still been some really cool layouts built in recent years – including Cape Wickham here in Australia, which I worked on with Mike DeVries. I know Michael Wharton-Palmer from GCA has played Wickham, and possibly a couple others. It opens properly in late October, and we think very highly of it.
Anyway for my new book to be a success I need to return to North America and catch up on the likes of Streamong, Dismal River, Gamble Sands, the new Sutton Bay, Wolf Point, Dormie Club, Diamante x 2, Cabot x 2 and several others dotted across the USA and Canada. Seemed an ideal opportunity to load up a van with books and embark on a speaking tour, which I did once before in 2011. On that tour I was lucky enough to talk at places like Cal Club, White Bear Yacht Club, Orchard Lake, Chambers Bay and Quaker Ridge. Some GCA members might even remember my presentation?
On this trip my focus is more on the Eastern side, from Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana across to Massachusetts, New York, Washington DC, North Carolina and Virginia. There are some great functions lined up, and a couple of windows available to add events – if there was any interest from those who post on this site? Generally events will involve a meal, perhaps some golf, and a talk followed by a lively Q&A session, where I discuss my travels, my (strong) views on design, ranking lists, architects and all manner of subject – then offer signed books for about half the retail. Both Planet Golf & Planet Golf USA will be available for $30, or $50 the set.
As I said, there are a few windows available in my schedule for places like Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other cities in the East. These are mostly early to mid August. I also have some dates available for Chicago and through Ohio in late July.
If there is any interest in organizing an event at your home club or a golf course in your local area please send me a message and let me know.
Thanks Ran for the opportunity to introduce myself. Hopefully I get to meet some more of you during my travels.
Best regards,
Darius Oliver