The award is perhaps the most prestigious in golf, often referred to as the "Golf Book Oscar". Roger McStravick, who has penned several hostorical articles for this very magazine, is a St Andrews based golf writer, and launched the book at the Open Championship last year. HK Golfer was of course there to witness the launch and declared the book "a winner" soon afterwards. To order a copy, please write to books@hkgolfer.com
The United States Golf Association announced the award yesterday from their headquarters in Far Hills, NJ:
"In recognition of its high standard of achievement in golf literature, "St. Andrews: In the Footsteps of Old Tom Morris", by Roger McStravick, is the recipient of the United States Golf Association’s Herbert Warren Wind Book Award for 2015.
McStravick’s chronicle of life in St. Andrews, Scotland, during the era of Old Tom Morris examines the important role that Morris played in securing the town’s reputation as the “home of golf.”
“Roger McStravick’s St. Andrews: In the Footsteps of Old Tom Morris is an outstanding achievement and a major contribution to the literature of the game,” said Michael Trostel, director of the USGA Museum. “The level of research undertaken to breathe new life into this subject is extraordinary. McStravick’s writing, along with the previously unseen photos of St. Andrews, Old Tom and others from that era, make this a magnificent, one-of-a-kind book.”
“Living in St. Andrews, there is so much history here, but much of it is invisible,” said McStravick. “People know St. Andrews is the ‘home of golf,’ but you wouldn’t know it as you walk through town. I wanted to bring some of these stories to life and help people understand why it’s so prestigious.”
McStravick’s careful curation allows readers to experience the undercurrent of Old Tom’s life and provides a unique perspective on the entrepreneurs, golfers and friends who made a living in the historic town.
Considered the best golfer of his time – he won The Open Championship four times, all at Prestwick between 1861 and 1867 – Morris was also a prolific designer, credited with work on approximately 70 golf courses, including the Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield, Prestwick, Carnoustie, Royal County Down and Cruden Bay.
In addition to being a strong supporter of women’s golf, Morris is often credited as being the key proponent of spreading the game worldwide.
St. Andrews: In the Footsteps of Old Tom Morris is the third book in the past decade to win the Herbert Warren Wind Book Award with Morris as the subject matter. Tommy’s Honor, by Kevin Cook, was recognized in 2007, and Tom Morris of St. Andrews: The Colossus of Golf 1821-1908, by David Malcolm and Peter Crabtree, was honored in 2008.
It took McStravick three years to research, write and collate the images for the book. Many people helped in the effort, including descendants of the great golf families and landowners of St. Andrews. The majority of the images came from The R&A, the St. Andrews Preservation Trust, Master Works of Golf and the University of St. Andrews. The book’s foreword was provided by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
“This is like winning the Oscar for golf writers,” said McStravick. “It really is the ultimate and I’m extremely delighted. It’s without doubt the greatest thing I’ve achieved but it could not have happened without the creative genius of book designer Chic Harper and the guidance of historians Peter Crabtree, David Hamilton, Dr. Eve Soulsby and David Joy. I am truly grateful to the USGA and those who supported the book from day one, including my family in St. Andrews and Lurgan.”
McStravick has written for the British Golf Collectors’ Society magazine Through The Green, as well as Golf Illustrated, HK Golfer and organizations such as the Ladies Golf Union and the St. Andrews Links Trust. He has written scripts for Golf History with Peter Alliss and served as an advisor for Jean van de Velde’s Scottish golf and travel TV show on Golf Channel. He has been commissioned to write A History of Golf and The Fine Art of Golf. McStravick, who has a master’s degree in golf course architecture, lives in St. Andrews and is an avid collector of rare books about St. Andrews.
The Herbert Warren Wind Book Award was established in 1987. The award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to golf literature while attempting to broaden public interest in, and knowledge of, the game of golf. Wind, who died in 2005, was a famed writer for The New Yorker and Sports Illustrated who coined the phrase “Amen Corner” at Augusta National Golf Club. He is the only writer to win the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor."