A Difficult Par: Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the Making of Modern Golf

by James Hansen

The definitive account of modern golf’s foremost architect from the New York Times bestselling author of First The Life of Neil A. Armstrong  Robert Trent Jones was the most prolific and influential golf course architect of the twentieth century and became the archetypical modern golf course designer. Jones spread the gospel of golf by designing courses in forty-two US states and twenty-eight countries. Twenty U.S. Opens, America’s national championship, have been contested on Jones-designed courses. New York Times bestselling biographer James R. Hansen, author of First The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, recounts how an English immigrant boy arrived in upstate New York in 1912, just as golf was emerging as a popular pastime in America. Jones excelled as a golfer, earning admission to Cornell University, whose faculty consented to a curriculum tailored to teach him the knowledge needed to design golf courses. Cornell provided the springboard for an act of self-invention that propelled Jones from obscurity to worldwide fame.   Jones believed that every hole should be “a difficult par but an easy bogey.” As gifted as he was at golf design, Jones was equally skilled as a salesman, promoter, and entrepreneur. Golf Digest’s annual rankings of the 100 Greatest Golf Courses have regularly featured about fifty Jones designs, paving the path for his two sons, Robert Jr., and Rees, whose work would carry on their father’s tradition. Hansen examines Jones’s legacy in all its complexity and influence, including the fraternal rivalry of Jones’s distinguished sons.

Genres: Sports

517 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR

Reviews

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep detailed look at a complex man who nearly singlehandedly changed the face of Golf Course design, as well as a look at the conflicted family business empire that his sons still fight over to this day.

Jones was an iconoclast and a dreamer. After not finishing high school, he was able to convince Cornell University to allow him to take classes that would help him gain the knowledge necessary to design golf courses ( He was not able to graduate with a degree of course. The paper mattered not to Jones, it was the knowledge he sought.).

From there Jones connected with the Canadian Architect Sam Thompson and when he outgrew Thompson, he quickly stepped out on his own.

Hansen does a marvelous job tracing Jones life and coupling it with detailed analyses of the courses he created and how they revolutionized Golf even while some of the games greatest players cried foul.

A fascinating work of great depth and detail, portraying a maverick and his era and how Golf was irrevocably changed by his handiwork. A masterful biography.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally written account of one of (if not) the best golf course architects to ever live. The author does a good job of describing the family feud between the sons that apparently continues to this day.

[Sue Boros · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography about a great golf course architect and his spoiled self centered sons.

[Stephen Liss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about a driven and complicated man. Thoroughly researched and well written, a really enjoyable and informative book.

[Sean Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a review of a life lived, both personal and professional, Hansen's work is certainly thorough. Many people, golfers specifically, feel they are familiar with Robert Trent Jones Sr's work as a golf course architect. His courses are certainly long and difficult, but the manner in which he put thought into the overall design and how his approach and philosophy reflected the changes in modern golf (through the 50s, 60s, and 70s in particular) are truly remarkable. His overall influence on modern golf is explored throughout the book and for a golfer of any skill, the relationship between course designer and players of all abilities can be appreciated.
Another interesting aspect of this biography is the manner in which RTJ and his sons developed their family company, and how it eventually split into several companies and corporations. The conflicts of interest (largely ignored during the early part of his career), such as stakes in both design and construction companies (which worked and bid on projects with and against one another at times) were also curious and interesting.
Any golfer interested in how the modern game of golf has been influenced from a design perspective (and arguably how the cyclical nature of golf course and equipment design fuelled one another) should certainly give this biography a read. It is dense in places, but phenomenally well-researched and thoroughly foot-noted.

[David Longo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author James Hansen has written an enjoyable biography about Robert Trent Jones Sr. in "A Difficult Par." In fact, it's probably the definitive book on golf course architecture anywhere, a subject I admittedly knew little about even though I am an avid fan and voracious reader of professional golf and its long, rich history. In fact, Hansen educated me considerably about this interesting field which I find commendable in and of itself.

"A Difficult Par" is extremely detailed, and therefore informative. The writing is solid throughout and Hansen has produced a rather even, or balanced book. I do not consider the writing exemplary, however. For pure golf history, Kevin Cook, James Dodson and Mark Frost are terrific storytellers and stylists. To me, James Hansen is closer to John Feinstein. Both are incredibly knowledgeable about the game and both are credible writers. Yet neither is incredible. To sum, "A Difficult Par," in my opinion, is a very good book. But it is not quite good enough to wear the Green Jacket.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Trent Jones was the most prolific golf course architect of the twentieth century and became the archetypical modern golf course designer. Jones spread the gospel of golf by designing courses in forty-two US states and twenty-eight countries. Twenty U.S. Opens, America’s national championship, have been contested on Jones-designed courses. As an English immigrant boy, Jones excelled as a golfer, earning admission to Cornell University, whose faculty consented to a curriculum tailored to teach him the knowledge needed to design golf courses. Jones believed that every hole should be “a difficult par but an easy bogey.” As gifted as he was at golf design, Jones was equally skilled as a salesman, promoter, and entrepreneur. While this book was very interesting, it is full of details and data that may bog down some readers. Still an interesting story about a man who embodied the best golf courses for their time in the world.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished 5/21/14. Excellent book. Well written. Very interesting history of golf course architecture. Father's Day gift for my dad, continuing the tradition of reading before gifting.

[Mark Kolada · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for avid golfers. We all know the jones name by playing his courses and watching the majors but this book does an excellent job of telling his life story in an open and honest way.