New book introduces young readers to the game’s history, strategy, architecture, and enduring connection to nature
CHICAGO — Back Nine Press will publish From the First Tee to the Last Green: A Teen’s Guide to Golf, a hardcover book by golf course architect Andrew Green and writer Lee Carr.
Written for teens, their families, new golfers, coaches, and anyone curious about how the game works, the book brings together golf history, course design, strategy, famous courses, drawing exercises, and personal stories from a life spent around the game.
The book—which will be released on Nov. 1– arrives as interest in junior golf continues to grow. National Golf Foundation research reports that in 2025 nearly four million juniors played golf on a course, the highest total since 2004, and that junior participation has increased 58 percent since 2019.
At a time when more young people are discovering the sport through on-course play, off-course golf experiences, school programs, and community organizations, From the First Tee to the Last Green gives readers an accessible way to understand not only how to play, but why golf has captivated generations.
The book explores how a swing, a course, and the history of the game all connect—and invites teens to sketch, imagine, and dream about the future of the game.
“I wrote this book for young people who are curious about the game, whether they’re picking up a club for the first time or already dreaming about where golf might take them,” said Green, who grew up doodling golf holes in the margins of his high school notebooks before earning degrees in Turfgrass Management and Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech and building a career as one of today’s most sought-after golf course architects.
Green added, “Golf has a way of teaching lessons that reach far beyond the scorecard. It teaches patience, creativity, perseverance, and respect for the people and places that make the game so special. My hope is that this book helps the next generation enjoy the game a little more and perhaps inspires future golfers, superintendents, architects, or caretakers of the sport.”
Co-author Lee Carr complements the project with a passion for golf and more than 25 years of editorial experience. Raised in the Midwest, Carr graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she played varsity soccer, and later lived in Europe for more than a decade.
Her background as a writer, editor, athlete, and community-minded collaborator helped shape the book’s accessible voice for young readers and families.
Golf’s notables praise the book’s message
Early endorsers point to the book’s ability to connect young readers with golf’s deeper lessons, from mentorship and history to patience, creativity, and family connection.
Jim Nantz of CBS Sports and National Honorary Chairman of First Tee called the book “a brilliant study in following your dreams, respecting history, and shaping the future.” He added, “Andrew is blazing a magnificent path in golf architecture. It’s no wonder that he is leaving his fingerprints on many of the greatest properties in golf.”
Professional golfer Jessica Korda praised the book’s positive approach to the game, saying, “Golf’s been with me through every chapter of my life. It’s tested me, taught me patience, and given me memories I’ll cherish forever. This book positively shares what golf is about, which I appreciate even more as a parent. People of all ages are really going to enjoy this book.”
The book will retail for $24.99 (U.S.) and $34.99 (Canadian). Pre-orders are available at www.back9press.com/teen.
One hundred percent of the authors’ earnings from the book will support the Gae H. Green Foundation, which honors the legacy of Andrew Green’s mother, Gae H. Green, by providing scholarships to students in Botetourt County, Virginia, who aspire to pursue education or agriculture in college.