Carlton Books: The World's Greatest Golf Courses on Google Earth

Bring the World's Finest Courses Into Your Home Screen

Imagine stepping onto the dew-kissed fairways of Augusta National before sunrise, or tracing the timeless dunes of St Andrews as a gentle breeze stirs the heather. The World's Greatest Golf Courses on Google Earth from Carlton Books uses high-resolution satellite imagery to invite you into 30 legendary layouts, from famed championship venues to storied links that shaped the game. The experience blends crisp visuals with careful prose by Alex Narey, detailing yardages, the approach to hazards, and the signature holes that define each course. This isn’t merely a catalog of places; it’s an invitation to study how design guides decision-making, shot selection, and pacing across varied landscapes.

You’ll notice not just the layout, but the mood of each course—the slope of a fairway, the shimmer of a greenside bunker, the angle of a dune, and how wind can seemingly reshape a hole. Google Earth’s perspective makes it possible to compare hole geometries side by side, imagine landing zones, and rehearse sequences before stepping onto a real tee. The accompanying notes translate imagery into practical ideas for thinking through a round, helping you connect scenery with strategy without stepping onto the course.

What you’ll discover

• 30 iconic courses illustrated with Google Earth imagery for an intimate, bird’s-eye perspective.
• Detailed yardages, distinctive challenges, and signature holes highlighted for easy reference.
• Accessible tactics and ideas that hint at how a round might unfold on every layout.
• Engaging commentary by celebrated golf writer Alex Narey that enriches the visuals with context.

Why this approach resonates

• High-quality imagery that helps you study course geometry, elevations, and landing areas from home.
• A narrative that connects scenery with strategy, offering a richer sense of place and play.
• Versatile use cases: pre-trip planning, on-the-go inspiration, or a quiet night of virtual golf research.
• A premium reading experience that blends photography, data, and storytelling in one compact volume.

Whether you’re a devoted follower of classic links, a budding designer fascinated by course architecture, or a golfer who loves leveraging visuals to sharpen a mental map, this book offers a flexible, enjoyable way to engage with the game. It presents the beauty and complexity of each course in a format that’s easy to skim before diving into a deeper read, or to savor slowly as you daydream about rounds you might someday play.