"Par Fore the Mountains: How A Ski Town Became A Golf Oasis" by Martin Lamansky takes the reader on a historical journey that tells the story of how this ski town, through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, created a community that features multiple golf courses to play in those precious non-winter months. Through the use of newspaper accounts, meeting notes, and first person interviews the book documents the history of golf in Steamboat Springs from the founding of the town in the late 19th century up until today. Along the way readers are introduced to the various golf devotees who advocated for the sport, built the facilities, and kept the sport going despite many economic, social, and environmental challenges.
The journey includes all the challenges of creating functioning courses, the public battles, and the business failures and successes that led to the creation of today's courses. Included are biographies of key individuals who helped to build the courses and golf community of the area. Par Fore the Mountains tells some of the little-known stories that explain some to the unique and sometimes quirky aspects of the courses that residents and visitors enjoy during the limited golf season of April through early October of every year.
An interesting read for any person who wants to learn more about this history of golf in the mountains of Colorado or the challenges that go into building and sustaining courses in areas that are not primarily known for summer activities. The book also delves into the lives of both local figures who helped to create the courses as well as prominent national individuals who figured prominently in the development of the local golf community.
Weaving local history with national events and the development of golf on the international and national stage the book provides a unique insight into 20th and early 21st century history. As time marches on the story of how golf developed in the region the book provides the reader with a vivid picture of how the game of golf was changing along with the country and the town of Steamboat Springs. From the founding of a mountain town and the fight of survival through two world wars, the cold war, and technological advances the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado grows and along with it grows its love of the game of golf. There are amazing parallels between events of the world, the growth of this ski town, and the growth of golf in the area.
