Its expensive to play the 'elite' of courses. This grandest of books could ask your wallet to consider a trip to Japan, or Australia, and never mind the airfare, green fess can be those of membership here in the UK.

This isn't however a book just of spectacular pictures. It's a detailed and beautifully written story of four men who laid the foundations for the very best in golf course design, and for whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude. They were four very different characters, as you will find out, and each had a design style which made the most of their imagination and their intuition.

The same can hardly be said of computer based (not aided) rubbish which will never reach the standards that Messrs Mackenzie, Colt, Alison and Morrison produced. They worked with the materials and manpower of the time, and yes sometimes better land, but what really does across is this God given ability to make their designs natural - Colt could take the natural form of sand dunes and hollows and reproduce them as he wished whilst Mackenzie was noted for turning the flattest of land into something special.

These two artists take a substantial part of this first section of 'Masters of Design'. They worked alone and then in partnership, something which was never going to last as they were the opposite of characters - one a flamboyant showman, the other shy and retiring.

When Mackenzie left their partnership, to go to America where his most publicised design work took place, it was then a triumvirate of Colt, Morrison and Allison which took design further.

Allison and Morrison were also very different people, and you can read the story of not much hard work combined with natural ability compared with the business graft and sheer dedication which led to some incredible work in Japan (in the worst economic circumstances), work which is as throughout the book, shown to you in the images of mainly Kevin Murray and Gary Lisbon Golf Photography.

Interviewing Peter Pugh, co-author of this book with Henry Lord, you understand how the book came about. Its Pugh's second such golf related book following on from 'Creating Classics' and more will follow, the next to be launched at the 2010 Open (all about the ten courses at St Andrews) and after that the work of James Braid.

Pugh was born and brought up in Walsall, when there were once two courses in the town. The one that remains, Walsall Golf Club, is a featured Mackenzie course in this book, along with nearby Little Aston. When you consider that before the Second World War, there were more than 1500 golf courses of which a fair number disappeared before the wave of new builds from the mid 80s onwards, you'll learn more of the history of clubs, cycles which are being repeated in our time.

Pugh has been a member at Lytham, Woodhall and Royal Worlington and now is making his home most of the time in Brancaster, overlooking perhaps (definitely) the best golf club in the UK. He's not played for near two decades since he gave up when he reached 50 ('I'd played all I wanted') but what he has and has retained is an understanding of what design means and how it contributes to the game. Telling these four geniuses' story is the result.

His travels took him to Australia where he eulogises over the courses around Melbourne, several of which feature in 'Masters of Design'. Writing this book meant seeking the wise and direct words of Peter Thompson for the forward and learning of the continuing conflict between present day architects as to how restoration should be done and the values of building courses to cater for today's technology, technology which will soon 'go backwards' to re-invent a shorter game from where the march for length can start again.

Thompson has a very strong course design reputation, as does present 'leader' of the most talented present day architects Tom Doak whose writings are included in the contributions which come throughout 'Masters of Design'.

If you buy any book on golf courses, this should be it, but then again don't even think that you are purchasing this as a specific book - 'Do I want something about these famous golf courses - I get this sort of thing in magazines - I've played them and paid the price ...'

This is simply a record of what, where and how the greatest talent flourished in the golden age of course design. If it doesn't inspire you to play any of the courses featured or pictured then put your clubs on E-Bay - and quick. Forget the paid for PR.

This book is a record of talent which hasn't appeared much since, exceptional designers producing courses where you play and have the best golfing experience - no gimmicks, sheer natural beauty, and courses where holes link together to ask you to complete and compete in a golfing story each and every round.

There is one other group of golfer who should consider this book as a counter balance to egos and pressures 'to change'. You will read of how even the best architects have had to defend even the position of a tree and those who are elected to be custodians of a course can be similarly pressured. Some have un-fulfilled ambitions. The result of pressure and said ambition can be the same as putting a child in front of a great master and giving them a tin of pink emulsion. Such a book as this even as the only book in a clubhouse library and members and managers will have the best work to consider before any restoration or redesign is considered.

'Masters of Design' - Great Courses of Colt, Mackenzie, Alison and Morrison is written by Henry Lord and Peter Pugh and published by Icon Books.

Its priced at £ 40.00 in hardback and is available from all good book stores or online retailers.

ISBN No: 978-184831-090-2

www.iconbooks.co.uk