From Turnberry to Tasmania

A wonderful golf romp around the world with Mr. Steinbreder. He exudes infectious enthusiasm as well as extraordinary knowledge of the great golf architects from Old Tom Morris to the current day. A delightful read, not only about golf courses but also the personalities that inhabit the greatest game.

Now that the summer sun has really started to break through, the thoughts of many among us are turning to the golf course. For fans of the game, there’s nothing quite like teeing it up for a round on a bright sunny day.

However, while there are plenty of people who like golf, there are also those who capital-L LOVE golf. These are the people willing to go anywhere and everywhere in search of an ideal golfing experience.

John Steinbreder is just such a person. In his book “From Turnberry to Tasmania: Adventures of a Traveling Golfer,” he invites readers to join him as he travels to golfing hotbeds all over the globe, seeking out experiences both new and familiar and waxing poetic along the way.

He visits the places that you’d expect – for instance, there’s a lot of ground to cover in the United Kingdom, which only makes sense since it’s the birthplace of the game. He also spends a good deal of time exploring the myriad golfing options of the United States, checking out some of the usual suspects (Pebble Beach, anyone?), but also some surprises (world-class golf in the sandy hills of Nebraska? Really?)

But he also offers a look at some spots that might not necessarily leap to mind when thinking about the game. He plays a number of courses on the European continent in countries such as Italy and Switzerland, places where golf is likely down the list in terms of potential attractions. He visits Australia as well, hitting a number of tracks Down Under.

Essentially, “From Turnberry to Tasmania” is one man’s attempt to evoke the soul of the game that he loves by way of experiencing as many different opportunities to play it as possible. He strives to share his bliss … and for the most part, he’s successful.

While this book presents itself as a sort of golfing travelogue, it’s the spirit of the storyteller that really resonates. Steinbreder is clearly a passionate golfer – he’d have to be to even want to write a book like this, let alone actually do it – but what makes it all work is the fact that he’s able to convey that passion by way of the written word. His love for the links is palpable as he renders exquisitely detailed descriptions of his favorite courses and his favorite holes.

Make no mistake – while “From Turnberry to Tasmania” does occasionally explore goings-on off the course, it’s when Steinbreder has his clubs in hand that the book shines brightest. Passage after loving passage is written about the courses that he plays; these passages serve to not only paint a picture of the game, but of his own devotion to it.

The book is at its best in the earlier going – he spends the first quarter of the book expressing his love affair with the UK’s golfing environment. Links-style golf in particular seems to bring the best out of both Steinbreder the writer and Steinbreder the golfer. After we leave the British Isles, there’s an ever-so-slight deflation. That isn’t to say the rest of the book isn’t engaging, but it never again scales the heights reached whilst exploring the game’s most aged ancestry.

In the end, “From Turnberry to Tasmania” is a love letter to the game as it is played around the world. Anyone with an interest in golf – particularly in learning more about the world’s most memorable courses – will find themselves captivated by the breadth of Steinbreder’s passion.

John Steinbreder shows his writing and golf expertise in this book of international golf courses. His golf prowess shows in the details about each locale. If this does not make you want to travel to the various locales, nothing will.
A great book to read while on golf trips.