'The Golf Courses of Stanley Thompson'

You may be familiar with those rare days when you're having a really great round and you're in "the zone"? All is going so well that you wish the day will never end? Well, that's how I felt reading this book, one that I wish never ended.

What a treasure, and what joy and fun I had reading this anthology. Or as I could also say - reverting to my younger days of reading Playboy - the pictures were great to just look at. Like Playboy's shooters, I'm sure photographer Mike Bell had a wonderful time taking the pictures for this coffee table-sized book. His images capture the essence and beauty of Thompson's courses, of which I've had the pleasure of playing several.

Many times I've stood on the first tee at Capilano northwest of Vancouver, B.C., and hoped heaven would be as wonderful. Besides Bell's great photography, the writing is also outstanding. How wonderful to read and learn so much about Thompson and his life. The many authors did what I really enjoy and that's writing little stories about the courses Thompson designed and some historical tidbits of each club. These stories add so much color to the reading that I wanted the book to go on and on.

Instead, I went out and bought it for my family. You should do the same. I promise your money back if you're not more than satisfied.

"The Golf Courses of Stanley Thompson," Photography by Mike Bell and Stories by Canada's Finest Golf Writers, Photoscape Publishing, 192 pages, $85 (Canadian), ISBN 978-0-9783015-0-7

Dr. John Wagner has been a Seattle dentist for 37 years. He's been published in several dental journals as well as had several articles appear in the turf magazine for Pacific Northwest golf course superintendents. John has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Business School for several years and as a guest lecturer for several dental societies. Dr. Wagner is the co-designer (with Steve Shea of the Berger Partnership) of a golf course in Japan that cost over $120 million and was built by Wadsworth Golf Construction. He's a Past President of the Washington State Golf Association and a Trustee of the Pacific Coast Golf Association. John is currently a Member of the USGA Green Section and a Director of the WSGA.