A Course Called America: Fifty States, Five Thousand Fairways | Avid Reader Press

Discover the Great American Golf Course through a personal journey

New York Times bestseller A Course Called America follows Tom Coyne as he returns home to chart a coast-to-coast map of golf in the United States. After decades chasing courses abroad, he tracks the U.S. landscape from celebrated Open venues to offbeat hidden gems, weaving history, architecture, and human stories into a vivid travelogue.

Coyne's year-long quest takes him from Newport Country Club in Rhode Island—the cradle of U.S. Open beginnings—through the prairies and mountains of fifty states. Along the way, he earns stories from caddies, hosts, and fellow players, learning that the best courses can be defined as much by the company you keep as by the score you shoot.

What you’ll experience

• Scholarly but accessible reflections on course design and landscape architecture across iconic landmarks like Shinnecock, Oakmont, and Chicago GC.
• Hidden gems and public courses that capture local flavor—from ranch golf in Eastern Oregon to a Navajo Nation round in the desert plains.
• Vivid scenes: morning dew on greens, the scent of pine, the sound of a distant cart, and the thrill of a first tee.

What makes this journey meaningful

• Interviews and camaraderie with hundreds of American golfers who welcome Coyne on their favorite tees.
• Reflection on what makes a course feel welcoming and bold, with a hint of revolutionary spirit and a hot dog at the turn as a motif.
• Insights into the role of place, culture, and memory in shaping the American golf experience.

Who should read this book

• Golf enthusiasts seeking a cross-country perspective on where the game is played and why it matters.
• Travel readers who enjoy travelogue-style storytelling with real people and real places.
• Anyone curious about American golf history, course design, and the people who keep the sport alive across diverse communities.

The narrative invites discussion and debate about the idea of a quintessential American course, presenting a bold, imperfect, and human portrait of golf in the United States.