Golf Books

This was exactly what I was looking for - it was far more beneficial to me than a collection of drills, exercises, positions, and the like. It helped me understand how to learn on the range which helped me perform much better on the course. I'd recommend this book to any player looking to improve their game.

An enjoyable, enlightening read, Presidential Lies is great fun. It also makes a terrific gift for business contacts as well as that large body of people who are otherwise impossible to buy for. The book weaves its way through a picaresque landscape of 20th century American history and the game loved by many, but mastered by few. It's nice to learn how much we have in common with so many Presidents..

This is a good read. It is easy to follow, easy to identify with the subject matter, and continually adheres to the main point. I'd like to see someone of influence take this idea & run with it. David Feherty comes to mind though the USGA and R&A may not take his opinion as seriously as what this writing deserves.
I read this on a round trip flight to Phoenix (2 hours). It provided me with plenty of conversation ammunition while playing with total strangers in the ensuing rounds of desert golf. Author Jack Hartt provides a thought provoking idea that would make the game so much better to watch as well as participate.

Dr. Cook breaks down the mental aspects of golf into bite-size concepts that I could apply to my own game. The tapes are inspirational and entertaining, but more important to me, they have helped me lower my golf score.

The tape series prepares you for the challenges that we create in our minds when we get on the course. I have listened to the tapes several times and each time I have taken away nuggets of mental preparation that have made my game more successful and more enjoyable.

Putting, as simple in concept, has been the bane of the amateur or novice golfer. The quickest way to improve a score is to sink more putts.

In 128 pages, this book is very effective in covering many aspects of putting: Equipment, setup, the stroke, long and short putts, improving touch, difficult situations, putting preparation. The emphasis on fundamentals regarding setup, choosing the right kind of putter and the correct fit are as important as the other aspects of this putting. Many drills are covered to emphasize concepts, as well as useful tips.

The book has excellent illustrations, as well as annotations, to clearly reinforce the text. This book will only augment what you learn from your local PGA professional and help you build the confidence that you need. It has given me a better understanding of this facet of the game and has helped me knock off a few strokes off of the scorecard - every little bit helps.

I highly recommend this book.

Not only does this book give you easy to follow tips on putting and exercise but it contains lots of invaluable gems of wisdom on the "mind game" of golf.

Truly an inspiring and awesome read. I highly recommend this book. For a first work of a writer, it can be beat!!

Kathi McGraw is a native of New Hampshire who has put immaculate research into resort life in 19th and early 20th century New Hampshire, coupled with the sudden advent and acceptance there of the game of golf. But more than just a history of the era, it is a charming, often humorous and erudite collection of anecdotes, newspaper stories, poems and photographs that reflect the mores and attitudes of Victorian times in general, and in the grandeur of New Hampshire's White Mountains in particular.

More than mere history, "Replace The Turf From Whence It Was Hacked" is a showcase for McGraw's subtle wit and literary skill. They shine through to make the book a charmed if not mystical recounting of how Victorian society lived and took its leisure at White Mountain resorts, some of which still exist. It is a story of one of the quainter parts of New England where teas, dance cards and formal calls were the order of the day and are meticulously recorded by McGraw from long departed journals such as "Among The Clouds" or "The White Mountain Echo."

Golf appears to have taken hold in that part of New Hampshire in the late 1890's. The rules and social customs of the game seemed well adapted to Victorian recreation, and McGraw's recounting of the early golf rules and Victorian ladies' affinity for the game is hilarious while nonetheless touching (including an explanation of such Scottish golf terms as "cleek" and "foozle") . Her storytelling ability provides golfers and non-golfers alike an intimate view of another side of the charm of the Victorian era and not simply a tale of how golf came to New Hampshire.

You don't have to be a New Englander nor a golfer to enjoy "Replace The Turf." It is much more than just a local history. It is a tribute to McGraw's prodigious skills as a writer who truly loves her New England roots and can skillfully relate its rich history with humor and charm.

The characters in this collection are a wide variety, men and women. The only constant character is Ernie Evans, the long-time golf pro, and sage, of the Riverdale Golf and Country Club. Having spent a deal of time on a golf course while growing up, I can vouch that these characters really do exist.

The hardest part about reviewing this book is trying to choose a favorite story. This is nigh impossible to do. Instead, I will share with you one of my favorites:

_A Gentleman's Game_. The rules of golf are quite concise and painstakingly drawn out. My grandmother, also a golfer, was a stickler for the rules. She taught my father these rules and made others play by them. So when I read this story about a secretary forced to keep score for her boss of 22 years during a tournament, I had to chuckle. Throughout the round of golf, the secretary and her boss are at odds. Her boss keeps bullying her into complying with the "score" he recites to her, even as he breaks the rules. He wants to win so much that he'll cheat to do it. Eventually, she does give up trying to make him adhere to the rules, and he's happy that he's "won". But how does it end? Buy the book! (smile)

Do you have to know golf to enjoy these stories? No. These stories are truly more about humans and our desires than golf. Yes, they are set on a golf course with golf as their backdrop, but anyone can read them and relate to the situations, through either experience or observation or both, and laugh.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you chuckling, The Riverdale Chronicles is a must to have in your library.

Outstanding narrative about the Irish people and their great golf courses. John Degarmo describes in detail his experiences traveling and playing the southwest golf courses of Ireland. Anyone who has played Ballybunnion, Tralee, Killarney or Waterville this book is a must!