Golf Books

Great book!!! For Men that golf (or are golf nuts - as it were). In addition to being a "salty" golf yarn about a bet amoung friends, the story includes real life problems and how to deal with them (uuhhh well maybe not). Fun and quick.

My entire family loves this book. I don't think you have to be a golfer to enjoy it but it sure can't hurt. I have given this book to many a golfer friend and everyone likes it. Very funny. Lots of smiles and laughs throughout! I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

I had read this book right after reading a popular "chick lit" book and was struck by how similar the plot line was and how different the details were. In both instances, the characters were trying to meet a particular challenge. In Missing Links the challenge was to be the first to play a round in the elite golf course next door, where, I suppose, the grass is greener on the other side.

This book was a perfect choice for summer vacation reading. Quite entertaining and not too taxing. Sprinkled among the details were allusions to local features that someone from the East and older than 40 would remember.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone seeking light reading and entertainment.

Wow. I'm really surprised at all the positive reviews of this book. Did we read the same novel? I had to force myself to finish this, and I'm a big Rick Reilly fan. Another page, another recycled joke written a much flatter tone than Reilly normally uses. Maybe if he'd gone with a 3rd person perspective instead of a 1st person I would have been more receptive. As it was, I never really got the sense that this was a real person/character telling this incredibly predictable story. There are some nice touches in this book, notably when he's talking about golfing with his uncle and really developing a passion for the game. But, more than anything, those touches are way too few and far between. Unless I'd recently received some sort of lobotomy, I'd move on to different book.

I haven't been reading many golf books lately, but I think Rick Reilly has just gotten my interest to a whole new level. You have to be patient with the book and forget your expectations, especially for those who aren't versed in Reilly-isms. But by the last few pages you realize what golf has really meant to you all these years and he puts the words to what we usually forget to do: get emotional! A great read, has all the characteristics of a classic golf story. Can't wait to read the sequel!

Excellent book. Not a how to of golf but rather a how Tiger plays. Helped my game immensely. Espcially my putting. I would recommend this book golfers of all levels.

An exceptional book with good illustrations & bought at a very good price. Postage time was VERY DISAPPOINTING - expected to receive within 3-4 weeks (standard Air Freight) but took 6 weeks!!! This was our 1st purchase on Amazon & we were concerned and had almost given up on it! Expect DELAYS on overseas purchases.

If you enjoy golf and spend enough time to beat balls at the driving range, this book will give you a lot of tips how to improve your skills.

great book that help us to improve our golf...
and also give us a little taste of what is like been tiger

much bigger and better than i realised. he is gonna LOVE this one (It's being kept for christmas)

This book is the first book detailing Jim Hardy's one plane swing. It can easily be read in an afternoon, and discusses the fundamental differences between the one plane and two plane swings. This book is rather basic and covers the fundamentals including grip, stance, and posture . . . I would strongly recommend looking into the second book in this series (Master Class) as it goes into more detail and has a whole chapter on drills.

Whether you are a novice or an accomplished player, this book gives an excellent perspective on the golf swing. Of particular value is the simplification of the swing into 2 types with specific associated fundamentals that apply to each type. WJWeeks

Wow! After reading Jim Hardy's The Plane Truth for Golfers I immediately realized that I was mixing fundamentals for the one plane swing and the two plane swing. This was causing my ball striking to be very erratic. After practicing the drills set forth in the book for my style of swing (one plane), I began striking the ball much more consistently and more shots were on target. After about 6 months of utilizing the information from Mr. Hardy, my handicap has gone from an 8 to a 5 (I still can't putt) and I am striking the ball more solidly than I ever have in the 49 years I have been playing the game. If you are serious about improving your golf game and are willing to utilize the information and drills in this book, you will not be disappointed!

This is the golf mechanics info. I have been looking for for years. Breaks down the "mystery" of the golf swing into two simple sets of mechanics so that you can try both and choose the one that is more natural for you. Has helped my game immensely. As a companion book read "Extraordinary Golf" by Fred Shoemaker.

For over 20 years, I had been confused about the golf swing. After reading this book, for the first time ever, I feel there is a simple, solid, fundamental swing I can work towards. My handicap's been all over the board- Everywhere from single digits to as high as fourteen. It seemed the more Golf Digest tips I read, the more confused I became, and the more my swing suffered.

While most of the fundamentals you learned growing up- steady head, weight on inner right foot, consistent spine angle, chin up, good tempo, balance etc.. are also fundamentals in Hardy's two swings, there are some major differences. I've battled with getting 'stuck inside' and pushing/hooking since I was 16. Absolutely every part of my common sense and intuition, not to mention almost every teacher, book, and magazine tip, would tell me my takeaway was too inside and to overcorrect by getting outside early on (or at the very least on the target path) on my backswing and downswing.

I now learn from Mr. Hardy that that thinking couldn't be more wrong for my swing type. With the set-up for the one plane swing, he actually suggests what amounts to coming much much more inside on the backswing- I've tried it and it works. If you buy into the one plane swing theory, you best quit your subscription to the golf rags. They'll most likely contradict Jim's thinking (their own tips often contradict each other.) While I haven't looked as deeply into his two plane thinking, it's clear he has debunked a lot of swing myths, contradictions and confusion for that swing type as well.

If you are interested in the Mental aspect of The Game all of Doc Rotellas books are a must!

The saying that goes "golf is 90% mental" cannot be more true and revealing after you finish reading this book. Granted you have to have the physical ability and a few golf lessons under your belt to be able to put a good round of golf together, but what this book does is help one put aside, or dismiss, those negative thoughts that somehow show up in your mind just as you set up to hit the ball. This book teaches you to think positive, it gives you good tips and great advice. I have implemented many of the tips given and I can say it has positively helped my golf game. I would say reading this book probably help me shave 5-6 strokes of my handicap.

How may of us leave the course ready to give up this crazy game? This book helps you put a smile on your face and actually enjoy the game. It's a must read for the golf lover.

Excellent book that gives true insight into the mental game. A "must have" for any serious golfer looking to improve his game. Lessons on the practice tee will not give you this information.

Dr Bob Rotella is extremely well known in golf education for his advice on how to train your mind to play your best golf. He has helped some distinguished players including Tom Kite.

His basic philosophy is:
1. Believe you can achieve your golfing dream.
2. Have no swing thoughts or any thoughts about swing mechanics when you play.
3. Focus on a target for the ball: the smaller the better.
4. Stay in the present: forget previous shots (good and bad), don't think about the score for the round (good or bad). This will only distract you.

I have awarded this a one star. This is perhaps harsh, perhaps a three star would be appropriate but here is why I did:

My average handicap is 25 (27 in competition). I have been playing for three years and in the past 7 months as much as 5 or 6 times a week. I eat, sleep and dream golf. I devour new books and DVDs from the big names and some of the less well known.

I regularly watched the golf channel UK (RIP) and read Golf Digest online. My best rounds are around 85. My theoretical best (best scores per hole on different days) is 63.

In spite of starting this great game of golf at the age of 40, I've done well in many other sports and activities (squash, snowboarding, fencing, motorsport, aviation) and believe I should be able to play at a good level: regularly in the 80s and why not, with training and perseverance, in the 70s.

In short, my profile matches that of the target reader for this book. I had high expectations of this book and was hoping to discover new information and techniques on how to train my mind to get the best from my golf.

In reality, I found nothing new here. Most of the advice really is common sense and common place in all the golf related material I've encountered. Bob spends too much time covering what not to think. In the audio version, Bob drones on so much he sent me to sleep. Sadly, I have to say, the book is not worth the money and I can not recommend it.

I bought this more than a year ago. Gave it a short trial and off it went to my bookshelf. At the beginning of this season, my handicap was 14(mainly due to a decent short game). I started practicing on the grass vs mat twice a week. As a result, I was forced to improve the fundamental of weight transfer.

I was going to play at poppy hills last month and I looked for the CD that comes with this book and listened to it in my car, but I don't think it helped me much during that round.

So why 4 stars?

I have realized that if I carefully follow the "L" drill mentioned in the book, it sets up the club on a good path and I can feel the club hitting the ball more squarely. As a result, the number of good hits went up significantly during the practice. So, in my opinion, the practice drills mentioned in the book has greater significance than the tempo theory covered in the book/CD.

I have had practice sessions where I was hitting the balls while listening to the tempo tones on my iPhone. Although, I was matching my swing to the tones, the results were inconsistent because I was not following the fundamentals consistently.

Whenever I follow the test tones along with setting up my hands in "L" position properly during my backswing, the entire swing becomes effortless with great results.

So, why not 5 stars?

That's because, greater emphasis is placed on tempo theory/tones. After you watch the video on the included CD, you get the feeling that if you can match my swing speed with the tones, you can hit the balls solid, your swing speed with increase, blah blah blah. In short, the book oversells tempo to beginning/intermediate golfer.

I recommend this book/CD along with "The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing:..", to cover the fundamentals and tempo.

Good luck with your game and don't forget to practice your short game along with full swing! Cheers..

Tour Tempo is a very useful instructional book for someone who has an intermediate level of golf ability/experience. It may be the only golf book that deals with how fast one should swing, as opposed to the detailed positions and mechanics that also make up a golf swing. Tempo is indeed important in a golf swing, because a golf swing is not a static event.

This book is the perfect complement to another terrific instructional book, 'The Keys to the Effortless Swing' as Amazon noted.

As a coach and instructor I am allways looking for information that helps to explain aspects of the golf swing to my students. Tour Tempo has provided me with just another way of explaining what the effect of taking the club away to slowly will have on distance and direction. Thank you
John Novosel for your insite. Coach H.Turk Walker

Great product as everyone else points out. Such a simple idea, yet so remarkably capable of fixing your swing. I didn't realize just how mush I was trying to muscle the club, rather then let my natural tempo and fluidity carry it. I'm the kind of person who needs a swing thought, but at the same time they make me stiff and awkward. But if my swing thought is tempo, i.e. proper speed back and through, I become much more free loose and less timid, the club glides along rather then feeling like I have to reroute it and muscle it back to the ball. Truly a great book.

Tour tempo is easy to read, the concept is very simple to adopt and more importantly works! The downside is my wife thinks I have lost my mind walking around saying swing, set, through!

Excellent book Extremely well documented. Dispells some common misconceptions about the American Revolutionary War and provides great insight into many individuals who were instramental in the efforts of American Liberty.

A couple misconceptions that are covered:

The image Americans have of Paul Revere being a lone rider yelling "the British are coming!" is a fanciful one. First, there were many players and riders on the night of April 18th and the day of April 19th, 1775, not just Paul Revere. Second, and one of the most important things for Americans today to realize is that the Colonialists were British citizens and saw themselves that way. They had no intentions of starting a revoultion for independence prior to Lexington-Concord and they most certainly did not hear "the British are coming". They heard "the regulars are coming". These redcoats were their own troops, and the colonialists saw them exactly that way.

Most people I know will give you taxation as the primiary catalyst for the American Revoultionary War. This is also a false idea. The primary reason (and the events surrounding April 19th, 1775 prove this out) was the British government's attempt to reduce the colonials' ability to resist them militarily. The British government and armed forces were seizing cannon, gunpowder and shot.

Champions of the 2nd Amendment will exclaim that the Revolutionary War was started becuase of gun control, and that is partly true. The "regulars" did not in general care about the average colonialists arms, at least to begin with. There were arms in just about every household in New England, and they did not think it prudent to attempt house to house search and seizure. They realized it would be much easier to limit the supply of munitions (blackpowder especially), the bulk of which were generally stored at "powderhouses" in various communities. In this manner the British government hoped to limit the ability of the colonialist whigs to mount a sustained resistance.

The successful and unsuccessful attempts to seize powder did not have the affect the goverment hoped. Read the book and find out what happened. It's your history and heritage America.

I want to note that I found this book through participating in a program called The Appleseed Project, an offshoot of the Revolutionary War Veterans Association. I think the skills gained therein, and the historical narratives provided are really needed in America today. Thanks for reading.

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I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the American Revolution, and the movement leading up to it; and desires to find authors who bring it back to life for us, who make us feel we actually know the people who have given so much of themselves for the rest of us, allowing us to make it to this century where we now live in comfort and liberty due to the extraordinary motivation that paved the way for us. Accurate historical account, but aided by vivid narrative rather than structured text, it's a read that's hard to put down. I want to relive the moments, feel the rush of what must have driven them, sense the night air, the position of the moon, and the countryside moving by in the same way they must have. History written without those basic human emotions is not the same as that which is, so that is the type of book I look for and not all authors are created equal.

The amazing aforesight of advance planning and fruitation of those plans coming from those without the aid of cell phones or other modern methods of communication seems all but impossible when you consider the personal danger, the distances between, the knowledge that there was no room for error in carrying out those plans in the dead of night once they were launched, the meticulous coordination and teamwork of the Pre-revolutionists; the ability used to carry it out with but rudimentary tools, even melting down materials for their bullets in their back rooms, in the knowledge that more would surely be needed and how was that to happen.

The book gives an accounting of the Old North Church signals, the climbing of the tower on a stairway far less sturdy than what current OSHA regulations would permit, I daresay, in the dark for fear of discovery, carrying lanterns to be lit with candles after arriving at the window. It describes the wild ride to Lexington spreading the warning, the capture by the British, all written in vivid detail. It gives insight into Paul Revere's life and his importance in the pre-revolution planning and intelligence system, not simply his "midnight ride". It describes the events leading up to it, the cat and mouse games played with the British that I had all but forgotten. What passion must have moved within them to suffer such discomfort in carrying out immense acts of courage.

I hope this review will aid others in their search for wonderful books regarding the Revolution, and I myself made use of such reviews before I made the selection, so many thanks to those who took the time to do it.

I happened to grow up on the road that Paul Revere road down -- well, one of them. My family spent a few years on Virginia Rd. in Lincoln, Mass. We lived right across the street from Hartwell Farms, where the Minutemen apparently stopped on their ride. Every year on April 19 we would get out of bed (this was the early 1960's) and watch the re-enactment of Paul Revere and The Minutemen. Down the road, at Rte. 2A there's a stone marker in a place that used to be an ice cream stand (might still be) where Revere was captured. When I picked up this book, I thought: what else is there to learn? Turns out...quite a bit. This is detailed, rich history. If you read "1776" and enjoy books along those lines, you'll relish in both the broader context of the build-up to the war and you'll savor the details of Revere, the pursuit and battles to Concord and the bloody, ugly return. This is a wonderful book. Period.

Seldom does an academic book reach across the aisle and become a classic of popular history as well. Mr. Fischer's "Paul Revere's Ride" does just that. "Ride" captures the reader with incredible little known anecdotes as well as flawless research and a smooth narrative flow. The theme of Fischer's book was that Revere's ride far from being a singular achievement was in reality a collective effort of a multitude of revolulutionaries throughout the colony. Simply put, in reading history, Americans must sometimes put the proverbial `rugged individualist' on the shelf and look at history as how it developed, rather then how we would like to see it happen. What attracted me to this book in the first place was Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" in which Mr. Fischer's book is cited. Revere was a man who knew everyone in Boston and moved in many different circles. We often forget that great changes are not accomplished by the sole recluse theorist writing in his study, but rather as Mr. Fischer points out by "collective responsibilities of the group dynamic." In this, Revere and his fellow Whigs rejected the sort of individualist credo that would later find it's prophet in Thomas Jefferson.

Another fascinating portrait is General Thomas Gage, the largely ineffectual and philosophical libertarian leader of the British in Boston. One is tempted to think if Gage had a little more command and control structure that he could have countered the quickness of Revere and the minutemen especially in the late night of April 18, 1775 and the early morning hours of the next day. Throughout the book, the reader may wonder why Gage chose not to have Revere and co. arrested, but Gage felt he was bound to the Constitution just as any British overseer would be. Of course, Thomas Gage did not know the ending to this story and neither did any of the Colonists. In this General Gage and his governance was just one in a long line of ineffectual imperial military forces brought to their knees by a united, close knit community. Fischer concludes his book with a variety of appendices and fascinating data about how the burgeoning revolutionaries really worked. Of note is the author's historiography of the "Ride" taking it from the Whig's attempt to suppress it for being against the myth of "national innocence" to the 1960's revisionists attempt to destroy the "Ride" as one of the most well known symbols of the dead white male. Perhaps, the last word should belong to that shining beacon of the American political landscape in the 1920's: Warren G. Harding who said: "I love the story of Paul Revere, whether he rode or not."

I wish I could give it 10 'stars'! It is an entertaining read. It is unusual among history books in that the maps are actually useful, easy to understand and related to the text. The author writes the story so well, it almost reads like an entertaining novel. I definitely have a much greater appreciation of the events that sparked the American Revolution. I strongly urge everyone in America to read this book. It will change everything you never learned of American History in school.

Oh, by the way, I liked the book!

I found this incredible interview regarding how the game of Golf has changed over the years. You wouldn't believe the evolution! If you have any interest in the history of Golf, this is a must read. If you want to become even more knowledgeable on the subject, scroll to the bottom of the interview and get in touch with the author. After reading, I guarantee you will be able to lead the most interesting discussions and impress your friends!

In The Greatest Game Ever Played, Mark Frost provides a brilliant account of 20-year-old Francis Ouimet's 18-hole playoff victory over Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where Ouimet once caddied. That said, I think his account of an 18-hole match at Cypress Point Golf Club on the Monterey Peninsula (just before the annual "Crosby Clambake" in 1956) between professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson against amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi describes a match at least as significant. His is certainly the best book on golf competition that I have ever read.

With the curiosity of a cultural anthropologist and the skills of a master storyteller, Frost establishes and then explores a context within which four of the greatest golfers in the 1950s agreed to a "friendly match." They knew each other, respected each other, and enjoyed each other's company. However, in his own unique way, each was a ferocious competitor, especially when engaged in match play competition. Frost provides a hole-by-hole account (the primary story line) but he also brings to life each of the four competitors, explaining their respective backgrounds, personalities, and motivations while stressing their passion for the game of golf. The supporting cast includes Eddie Lowery who, when years old, caddied for Ouimet during his Open victory and is now a wealthy car dealer and among the leaders of the USGA. Also George Coleman, also a multi-millionaire as well as a member of Cypress Point who accepts Lowery's challenge to select any two professionals to compete against Ward and Venturi.

Credit Frost with accomplishing two separate but related objectives: to provide a riveting account of the match itself over an especially challenging as well as beautiful course designed by Alister MacKenzie, and, to place the match within a much larger frame-of-reference that includes the emergence of professional golf following the retirement of Bob Jones, real estate development of the Monterey Peninsula area, and the evolving controversy about the meaning of the term "amateur," given the fact that both Venturi and Ward were two of Lowery's salaried employees who devoted almost all of their time and energy to competitive golf.

Even those who have little (if any) interest in golf will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. It has everything: a full cast of colorful characters, several compelling story lines, multi-dimensional social commentary, and following the conclusion of the match, an "Afterward" that provides what Paul Harvey calls "the rest of the story" concerning the four competitors and their two supporters. Then in an Appendix, Frost provides historical information about the Peninsula before focusing his attention on Marion Hollins and her involvement in both competitive golf and efforts to realize her "oversized dreams" for the area.

This is one of very few works of non-fiction that I have read in recent years that created in me a growing sense of sadness as I approached the last few pages. I really enjoyed it that much? Yes. In fact, I began to re-read it the next day and although I knew the outcome of the match, enjoyed the second reading at least as much as the first. Thank you, Mark Frost.

Mark Frost leaves you breathless as he paints an unmatched literary canvas with words--you can hear it, see it, smell it, feel the tension. Throughout he intersperses snippets and bios of the players so you can't wait to get back to the action. Each time I put it down I looked forward to picking it up and reading it again. I have read also The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Grand Slam. Both excellent, but "The Match" to me was one of the richest literary creations on golf I have ever read.

Frost is an incredibly gifted writer ... perhaps the most gifted of any sports book author. This comes from an obvious formal and dedicated writing background, and an exceptional understanding of the game of golf. Add to that social awareness and historical depth, and you easily have the best author of golf books.

In this instant classic, Frost details how an impromptu match between legendary pros Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan, versus top amateurs (at the time) Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward, would present a fork in the road for the future of golf: would it remain the gentlemanly game of well heeled men playing only for honor, or would the best players come from the pro ranks where commercialism and money were also part of the incentive? Eras and egos collide, but in the end the participants celebrate the match with laughs over drinks in the Cypress clubhouse.

Frost captures all the important shots with expert delivery of the risk/reward calculations involved, to the delight of readers that are also better players. All 4 played inspired golf shooting in "the 60's." Magical golf like this from everyone in the group is almost always the product of intense match play and, fittingly, the difference in the match was a truly perfect shot.

The lives of the 4 participants plus the 2 men that sponsored the match are seamlessly weaved into the golfing tale, to the point where it's impossible to determine where the golf story ends and personal stories begin. You'll be on the proverbial "edge of your seat" wanting to know how both the golf and personal histories conclude.

When Arnold Palmer burst onto the professional scene thereafer, it was clear where the future of golf was headed. And he's rightly credited with bringing golf to the masses. But importantly the stage had been set for the arrival of an Arnie-like character as a result of "The Match" played several years earlier.

* Beyond "The Match" the history of the making of Cypress Golf at the book's end is worthy of special note. The visionary behind Cypress was an accomplished woman golfer from Long Island striking out on her own, and the original architect was Seth Raynor, associated with legendary Long Island courses The National and Shinnecock. When he died prior to laying out a plan, he was replaced by Alistair MacKenzie. The Englishman MacKenzie had been a battlefield surgeon in WWI, and he drew upon the "camoflouge" aspect of that battlegound experience and others in his golf course design philosophy. Although this resulted in highly difficult courses, his artistry meant players were too caught up in the visuals to even notice. Through Cypress, Bobby Jones met MacKenzie and subsequently commissioned him to design Augusta National. And the rest, as they, "is history."

Though I am wary of contributing to the incessant, effusive praise for just about everything in contemporary life, I must admit that The Match is the finest sports book I have read in many years. Mark Frost's prose is enjoyable and balanced - not too simple; not overreaching. The structure of the book leaves the reader in a state of wonderful anticipation throughout. Finally, the true sports fan gains newfound appreciation and respect for the evolution of the game of golf and the men who contributed so greatly to bringing it into the mainstream. These were not great golfers; they were great Americans. Frost has written a masterpiece. Do not hesitate to pick it up.

Dave Pelz is a scientist who has studied the art of putting. I don't know if reading this book will improve my putting; that has yet to be proven. The text is well written. There are abundant illustrations and the quality of the paper, the binding, the illustrations and photographs are excellent. This is not the kind of book one reads in an evening. There are practical exercises, and one must go to the green and apply what has been read. It is a joy to read, and I have a better understanding of why I am missing those putts. It is my hope with persistence I will improve my game, but lets face it ... the ultimate test is one that involves athletic ability, perception, and the ability to convert intellectual understanding into action.

Outstanding book!!(I have already read it cover to cover!) It was delivered in a timely manner!! At a fairly reasonable cost!! I'm a very satisfied customer who will indeed order other items in the future!!!

This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to improve their putting. It is not a, "Putt like me" book as so many golfing books tend to be.

I have found the experiments and the science basis for the putting methods recommended to be fascinating and very enlightening. There are things addressed that I have not even thought of. I have a good science background and I can't remember any of the basic premises that I disagree with.

My only regret is that I am not privy to the more recent information the Dave Pelz has collected in the years since the book was written.

If anyone knows of a better book on putting let me know about it.

Don't expect a quick fix but reading this might give you some basic insight which, combined with the required hours of practice to ingrain what you have learnt, could last you a lifetime.

I first read the Short Game Bible and found this really improved my game. I did not find the putting book to have that dramatic an input but it was still very insightful and helpful.(21 handicap)

If I could compare this book to a golf swing, I would say the set-up and approach looked good, but the writing fell apart through the impact zone and follow through.

There is a lot of praise out there for Harvey Penick, and based upon the numerous comments in the book's forward by the well-known golfers he mentored, I have no doubts that the praise is well warranted. Unfortunately, while Penick himself in the book's introduction sets up his "Little Red Book" as a lifetime's masterful compilation of golf wisdom and best kept secrets finally made public, the book fails to live up to the author's own advertising and is a bit disappointing.

A fair amount of down-to-earth tips, techniques, and golfing philosophy that Harvey had applied to his students are shared in the book. And if just one of those tips can improve one's golf game, then I would say the book is worth the price. But too often, the "Little Red Book" comes off as an exercise in name-dropping and rambling golf anecdotes, many of which are not all that interesting nor amusing. It pains me to say that, knowing what a revered figure Harvey Penick has been to some in the golfing community, but that is just my honest assessment.

What also disappointed me about this book was that although Harvey Penick gives a couple of concessions to the virtue of humility, there appears to be a somewhat bragadocious quality to the narrative. That would be more excusable if the "Little Red Book" was in fact packed from cover to cover with the invaluable tips Penick promises in this introductory chapter, but that is not the case. Here is a short example of what I am talking about:

In the chapter titled "First Things First," Harvey writes about a man who came to his country club seeking out "this famous teacher, this Penick fellow." The man says if Harvey is "such a great teacher" perhaps he can give some advice on how to get out of sand traps. Harvey 's response - which abruptly ends the brief chapter - is something to the effect that it is better not to get into sand traps to begin with...a response that is not only rather obvious but neither practically helpful nor particularly clever.

That exemplifies too much of the tone of this book, which is unfortunate, because there are some good down-to-earth visualization techniques and other bits of instruction, which, if solely focused upon, would have made this a far better and more useful read.

It's a good book, but you have to read it more one time to discover in some cases what Harvey is trying to say you. The book has a lot of pearls.

An interesting mix of story, sayings, memoir and instruction..only the most ardent golfer or golf instructor could get much out of the instruction, but the story, sayings and memoirs are good, many outstandng.

The concept of the Little Red Boook is interesing and alluring to the reader. An interesting mix of information. Well worth the read, but it leaves the reader--at least this reader--wishing it was two books, one of instruction, one on the other interesting and insightful informaton in the book.

This book contains many entertaining anecdotes gathered over the course of may decades. Harvey Penick chose to become a teaching golf professional rather than barnstorm the country during those early years of golf tournaments when many professionals were simply glorified hustlers. Eventually Penick became widely respected and many notable players and duffers stopped over to visit him at the practice tee. Over time, the wooden shafted golf clubs gave way to titanium steel.

I certainly enjoyed the historical perspective that the book provided. Although some golf instruction is included in the book, it is more of a nostalgic look backwards to days spent in the Texas sun mowing the lawns and watering the greens. Reading a book like this is not a bad way to spend an afternoon. Harvey Penick had a good life.

If you are searching for a serious golf instruction manual, however, you may want to choose another book.

I am the author of Striking It Rich: Golf in the Kingdom with Generals, Patients and Pros

This book has been reviewed a lot and the golf advice is worthy of mention but the best parts of this book were the stories about the people he met along the way:

1. The story or Morris williams, Jr. dieing in a plane crash before going out on tour. "I had to relate the tragic news to his mother and father. His daddy fainted in my arms."
2. The day they played a money game with Titanic Thompson and the mystery player (Herman Kaiser) whom they recocnized only months later when his picture was in the paper (because he won the Masters).
And best of all...
3. The story of John Bredemus.

It is hard to find great novels about golf. This is really one that captures the magic of the game with the skill of a good storyteller. Highly recommended.

This book has received a lot of favorable reviews here. It may well be a good read. Prospective readers should be aware, though, that McAllister makes liberal use of the "F" word. In my opinion he makes way too much use of that word. I read for pleasure and relaxation. If I wanted to hear profanity, I'd hang out at the local bar. If profanity bothers you the way it does me, stay away from "The Green."

This novel, detailing the highly unorthodox strategy of recruiting a golf hustler to participate in the Ryder Cup, was at times brilliant, every bit the equal of some of Dan Jenkins' best work. At times, however, there were glaring mistakes in the description of some of the Ryder Cup matches and the shot selection of many of the players.

For example, in one set of matches, it was stated that one group was playing number twelve, while the two previous matches had ended in ties. Not likely the third group would have fallen six holes behind the group in front of it. The author also messed up the shot sequence in one of the alternating shot matches. He has virtually every player hitting shots that land in front of the green and run up, a strategy not called for at PGA West and rarely seen anywhere other than British Links courses.

These instances, while relatively minor, were frequent enough to detract from the flow of the novel and prevented me from awarding a fifth star. The author is supposedly a golfer, but you'd have to wonder, given many of the mistakes that should have been caught by the most casual golf fan. A well written, highly amusing novel, that could have been much better with just a little editing by a knowledgable golfer.

Every year my daughters buy me a book that I either quietly return, surreptitiously dispose of or make a meager effort to read. Somehow they never seem to get it right. But I counted them out too soon. This year they bought me "The Green." It sat around for weeks undisturbed on my desk, until one day I noticed it on the edge of my desk and picked it up while talking on the phone. I paged through it casually expecting the usual sub-par fare and was surprised to find myself intrigued enough to give it a go.

And what a great read it turned out to be! Eddie Caminetti has got to be one of the great fictional characters of all time. If you love golf and love pedal to the metal characters then this book is for you. This is one of those rare books that you simply cannot put down and when it is over you will crave more. But the author's subsequent offerings, while good, are no match for his first novel.

This is the best golf novel I've ever read and if you are a golf nut, as I am, you owe it to yourself to buy this book immediately! I can guarantee you that you will just flat love this novel and its main character, Eddie Caminetti. You are in for a rare treat if you've never read this novel. Do yourself a favor and buy it now. I promise you will not regret it!

You represent everything that is wrong with the world. How can you find that offensive? Let me guess: you sill believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and that Iraq had the WMD. Grow up. If you are afraid of being offended, you should not think, read, nor speak.

Read this book. It's fantastic.