Golf Books

This I believe was Frost's 1st golf history book and previously all his other work had been fiction. Which explains the fictional feel of this book. Frost cites conversation and internal thoughts from the characters to an exent that he can't possibly know if that's what happened. In addition to compromising accuracy, it also makes for a book that's about 2x as long as it needs to be. I found myself often scanning large sections rather than reading every word.

Even with that flaw he still produced a must-read golf history book, that many non-golfers will also enjoy. He excels at putting things in historical and social context, and building fiction-like edge of your seat tension. He's also a master at researching the lives of the main characters, from their beginnings to their endings in the must-read "Afterward" section.

In this case the main characters are British legendary professional golfers Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, US amateur golfer Francis Quimet and his young caddie Eddie Lowery. Although Mr. Quimet's story is reasonably well known in golf circles, Eddie's isn't. And in some ways Eddie is actually the most interesting character, if not the most important. The story goes that young Eddie escaped the grade school truant officer every day so he could caddie for Quimet. And it was Eddie's inspiration, tenacity and timely advice that pushed the young unaccomplished amateur Quimet to an historic conquest over then golfing titans Vardon and Ray.

In Frost's 3rd golf book "The Match" released last year, Eddie would again enter the picture. Now a middle aged successful businessman, he sets up a historic match between the 2 best amateurs of the day (Ken Venturi and Harvey Ward) and the 2 best Pros (Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson). At stake is a presumed $10,000 personal bet (if not more) but even more importantly a seminal event in the future direction of American golf: would the essence of the game remain in the hands of high-minded amateurs who played for pride and honor, or pros who at the time carried the stigma that playing for money compromised their golfing integrity?

In this 2nd effort, Frost clearly refines his style by eliminating much of the characters' internal and external "filler" dialogue, and the result is a book with better momentum and few if any question marks on accuracy. Not coincidentally, "The Match" is about 1/2 the page count of "Greastest Game."

In any case, both of these books are clearly "can't miss" and go together like Godfather's I & II.

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!

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewroden.html

I loved the movie so I thought I'd try the book. I was not disappointed. In fact, I believe a second movie based on this book, focussing on the early career and post "Greatest Game" highlights of Harry Vardon, would produce an excellent movie, as well.

My older brother recently retired. My gifts to him were a Caribbean Cruise and a copy of this book to read as he suns on the deck of the cruise ship. When presented with both (gifts), he noted that he too had seen the movie and seemed just as excited to have received a copy of the book, as he was the cruise.

This is a terrific book and I'm not even a golfer. I didn't care much for the movie; a buddy of mine recommended reading the book and WOW, it's so much better. I'm not sure who wrote the movie but Frost does a great job of telling the story and holding on to your interest. I loved the biographical background and personality insights he offers. He's a terrific writer.

Great detail is setting the stage of how society viewed golf and its champions and how this tournament took that to the next level in popularity. Gives great detail intothe lives of Vardon, Ray, Francis and even Walter Hagen at the beginning of his career. Great for anyone who loves the history of golf and a good old fashion underdog story.

Have played Ireland and am looking forward to playing Scotland. This book seems an excellent guide to courses, how to approach all aspects of a trip. I especially like the amount of coverage given to the not so famous "gems"-that has altered my thinking somewhat in planning a course itinerary. Well written and very user friendly guide.

I used this book to plan my golf trip to Scotland for my brother and I, along with help directly from Mr. Ferguson himself. You really need to read this book over and over again to reap the full benfit of all the info in here. He covers so much important information. I planned my own unique trip, choosing golf courses and places to stay, plus rental car and when to go and what to bring. Our trip came off with no problems, all tee times, rooms, travel, directions, etc were all right on target. We even met other golfers who were using the book as well. I know we saved money using this book as apposed to going through a agancy. I will be using his service again on my next trip as well.

Take some good advice from a guy (Ferguson) who has been there and done that. Very easy reading with some greats tips for planning your trip. You'll pay for the book just by following his car rental recommendation.

You can scroll down to other reviews of this book, I would simply be repeating the praises that others have for this golf/travel guide.

I devoured this book in almost one sittting. The advice is sincere, genuine and as helpful as travel advice gets.

There is no mystery why everyone has rated this book five stars: it IS that good.

I am planning a trip to Scotland in 2009 for our regular foursome. With this book I have a good idea what our group needs to decide on before we go.

(E.g., Is playing at St. Andrews the major reason for our trip? Do we want to stay in a hotel/a B&B/a self-catering location? Do we want to stay in St. Andrews town itself or are we willing to pack up and re-locate to other locations? Do we want to spend $350 to play one fantastic course or 4 lesser-known links?)

This book is practical and I recommend it WITHOUT any reservation!

I have been to Scotland with tour operator, but this book is excellent if you want to save money and plan the trip yourself. Great review of golf courses and good ideas of lodging and traveling. Highly recommended. If you can find a better book, let me know.

After being frustrated with myself on the golf course during the past few months I was beginning to wonder if I might stop playing.I have a handicap of 19 and was really struggling to play to it.Once I had a bad hole I would get down on myself and the whole thing would snowball.
After reading Zen Golf and putting into practice some of the techniques I have played two lots of 9 hole stableford competitions and had 23+25 points.
I have played 2 rounds of 18 holes in competition.The first round of our club championship at 85-19-66 (par is 69).In our annual men's tournament 83-19-64.During these rounds I have only had one 7 and nothing higher.
Most importantly I have actually been enjoying myself.
I am certain this booked has really helped me and I will continue to use the techniques that I have learnt.I will probably read this book over and over when I need to as there are several more things I want to try.

I am a beginner golfer and this book is helpful for the mental part of golf! I would suggest it to anyone that plays golf. I gave to a friend that throws clubs in frustration and she played a round for the first time with no broken clubs and was relaxed, she says the book is helping her too

I loved this book! I learned more about the art of the mental game of golf in this thin volume than in a half dozen longer times (.e.: The Mental Games of Golf). I would put this up there with "See It Sink It" or "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose".

A must have for any serious golfer. I dare you to read the story about the golden statue and tell me that it didn't affect you!

Finally, a book that puts the mental game into sections that make sense. Told in a down-to-earth way, the examples and insights provided by "Zen Golf" really do pertain to the game we love. Understanding that the results of a swing are not necessarily the be-all and end-all is very powerful knowledge. Learning to breathe will apply to a myriad of endeavor, both athletic and personal. Ostensibly, it is a book about golf, but one that fills many gaps in all kinds of life situations. Dr. Parent is a born teacher.

Bottom Line . It took five strokes off my handicap.
Michael A. Epstein
Member KCC

Great book enjoyed much. Will read Power Golf for Women as well.

In another review I read that this is William Jefferson Clinton's favorite golf book. You know since he has left the presidency he has a pretty good swing. Though I feel sorry for the guy because no one believes his scores, as a result he will probably never be accepted as a credible golfer.

Now to this book. No I do not believe golf is a woman's game. It is no ones game. The game is equally brutal to us all. However, I do applaud the author for writing an excellent instructional manual that is also a very pleasant read.
The author believes golf is a woman's game because women (compared to men) lack physical strength so their bodies naturally accomodate for difference through the use of technique. She has a sub-chapter called the effiency ratio where she discusses the amount of physical strength vs distance and she explains that the swings efficacy not the distance the ball travels represents a good golf swing.
A very good book that reveals a lot of myths and one that is definitely worth reading.

And as for William Jefferson, I believe you and keep swinging... it's looking good.

I got this book thinking it would be good for a beginning golfer. I was very disappointed. The concepts were much too difficult for a beginning golfer or just not well written or communicated to the reader. The illustrations weren't helpful either. A much better book for beginners would be the Golf Handbook for Women by Vivien Saunders.

I've read this book twice and will read again. The instruction flows just like an enjoyable novel. Definitely a great book worth reading twice.

After reading Ms. Horn's Power Golf for Women I becamed hooked. I tend to slightly favor Golf is a Woman's Game however, it's a coin toss. You can't go wrong with either of these books and I will be looking for a third. Great reading, excellent instruction and tells it "like it is" for the female golfer. Five stars all the way.

Philip Reed's "In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing" reveals his elevating but daunting experience as a student, friend, and biographer of the amazing Mike Austin. Mr. Reed's humbling yet successful quest to learn the keys to super-human drives endured the gauntlet of Mike Austin's piercing, super-energized, indomitable personality. At the age of 64, over 33 years ago during competition, Mr. Austin achieved the still-standing Guinness Book of World Records standard of 515 yards for longest recorded drive. Curiously, until now, Mike Austin was largely ignored in conventional golf history though knowledgeable insiders believe he was a half-century or more ahead in power-golf technique. Philip Reed's documentary has filled a significant gap in our golfing lore. For the dedicated golfer who seeks an honest inside-the-ropes story, "In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing" is a terrific value.

Ostensibly this book is half biography of little-known long driver Mike Austin and half technical discussion of Austin's revolutionary swing, many aspects of which run counter to conventional PGA wisdom. But as the artfully written narrative progresses, a third element emerges as well -- the touching story of the friendship that develops between Austin and author Reed during the writing of the book.

No avid golfer could read this book and fail to feel inspired to work on his or her game (I finished it yesterday and headed straight for the driving range today); some might even want to try out Austin's unorthodox mechanics. Yet there is a human-interest story here as well, the story of a larger-than-life golfing god who smacked a 515-yard drive at age 64 but somehow couldn't putt to save his life; lived it up with Hollywood celebrities and was respected by the best golfers in the world; studied the human anatomy and wore a skeleton suit while giving golf lessons to demonstrate proper body movement; and forged an unlikely friendship with a journalist decades his junior who weathered Austin's steely gruffness until it gave way to genuine respect and affection.

Highly recommended -- not just for golfers, but also for anyone interested in a well-crafted feel-good story about a fascinating man and his iconoclastic genius.

I've just finished reading this book and I have to say it is a great read and is well worth buying.

It is a story of how the author, Philip Reed, sets off to document the world's longest ever drive in a tournament set in 1974 by Mike Austin, and along the way wants to learn enough about this swing so he can transform his own drive of 200 yards into a more manly 300 yards.

The books gets off to a shaky start but I stuck with it. And after a couple of chapters I could no longer put it down. He helped me get to know more about Mike Austin, his history and his achievements.

It made me want to be there in the place of the author since Mike seems like a real character and a throwback to a different age and a different world.

It even gave me a few tips, and some hope, on how I might possibly be able to improve my own swing to give 300 yard drives. Now that would be nice.

Read this and give yourself a pleasant break from all those golf instruction manuals out there while enjoying a good golfing story.

The other reviews say it all - that this is a wonderful book on many different levels. I trust that some day it will be recognized as a sports classic.

I just want to add that Reed's book is an invaluable companion to Dan Shauger's 'The 21st Century Golf Swing'. This latter book has such an odd and uncomfortable style (my opinion only, of course) that it was hard for me to know whether to take the technical parts of it seriously. After reading this fine book it became clear that, yes indeed, you can.

It would be great if Shauger and Reed could collaborate on a second edition of '21st Century...'. I'll put up some front money, if that would help.

This book is absolutely wonderful. I picked it up out of curiosity after learning about Mike Austin's record-breaking achievement (longest drive in professional golf competition history), and ended up being completely drawn into the story. With a straightforward, honest writing style that moves at a nice pace and never gets bogged down, Philip Reed does a masterful job of portraying a complex man filled with both flaws and greatness, who not only achieved a stupendous feat that no one has ever topped, but also lived a fascinating life that plays like a great movie. Reed deftly weaves Austin's story together with his own journey by bringing the reader along with him as he describes his efforts to get to know Mike Austin and learn his swing secrets. He sets out not only to write about Austin, but also to experience for himself the power of Mike Austin's swing, hoping to harness it to achieve a personal goal of hitting the ball 300 yards. As we learn about Austin's amazing life and unmatched golf swing alongside the author, we are simultaneously drawn into a surprisingly touching story of how Reed came to develop a bond of friendship with Austin. Viewed through the lens of Reed's relationship with Austin, we come to understand and truly appreciate Mike Austin at a much deeper level, and also come away with important lessons about life. This is a magnificent book, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a sucker for golf stories. This is the first one I've ever seen dealing with the college golf scene, which all by itself practically guaranteed I'd read it through no matter how rough the mechanics of the writing were. Happily, the author is very competent. Errors were few and far between, and none were of the "I'm a rank beginner" variety.
The narrator, whose name is Otis, is also on the team and his acute eye for detail drew me in from the first word. This opening is long on tell and short on show, but what the hey, Otis is watching the final holes of a qualifying round preceding the weekend's match, and the players aren't saying much. They're too busy trying to win.
On the green is Otis' friend and roommate, Roberto. Roberto lost confidence in his putter and hasn't made the last three matches, but here he somehow drops his lame duck putt to win by a stroke and it's off to Las Vegas for the weekend match.
To date, the entire cast hasn't been on stage, but those who have are well drawn. There's arrogant team captain Paul Sloan, whose convertible has a motorized trunk and who's as obnoxious as you'd expect a rich preppie to be; laid back coach Stony, whose idea of how to settle conflict is to drop two balls and whoever hits it closest gets things his way; and of course Roberto and Roberto's club pro brother Cesar.
The excerpt ends too soon, but I'd bet a bundle John Ochwat has a sizzler of a plot waiting for his readers. I'd definitely pick this one up if I saw if on a newsstand.

because I want to keep reading this this elegant, spare novel that probes the emotional costs of class in the U.S. during late capitalism. The gaming tables and the game of golf represent two faces of class mobility (or the lack thereof). Will Roberto golf his way out of the working class? If so, will his victory ring as hollow as the trunk slamming on the narrator's aged Honda? The American Dream is alive, but not well.

While not a golfer myself, I find the sport interesting to watch and enjoyed the characters here. The words are well-written and the story is engaging. It was descriptive enough to put me into the story while using my own imagination, too. I look forward to being able to read the entire novel.

Not being a die hard golfer like so many, I was a bit apprehensive about what the book would be about. But love the writing style (love the wit)and has already made me smile. Looking forward to reading more as the characters are amusing and seems that this will be a fun read.

I was intrigued by the title of John Ochwat's novel and expected to read about society mavens in search of the ultimate clubbe experience. Of course, the title refers to a golfer who hasn't got the exact club for the precise distance needed to reach the green on his/her next shot. The particular golfers involved, Otis and Roberto, are presented in opening paragraphs in a way that makes the reader want to know more about them and be a part of their efforts. Trapped 'between clubs' requires adjustment to achieve a goal...perhaps Ochwat's metaphor for the struggles Otis and Roberto face in their young, uncertain lives. The writing style is flowing, natural and women readers will not be put off by a lot of posturing and testosterone one might otherwise associate with male athletes whose efforts (early on) simply 'skate past the hole' like a wayward three-foot putt. I look forward to learning more about how their lives unfold and the game of golf is Ochwat's perfect venue from which to view a well-written 'slice' of life!

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!

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewroden.html

Curt Sampson has done a really fine job with this book ! I really like his idea to interview Valerie Hogan. Hogan wrote Power Golf NOT 5 fundementals, he brings this out in the book.

Few people, even non-golfers, can escape ever having heard of Ben Hogan. Maybe you don't know exactly who he was, but the name is oddly familiar.

To golfers, Ben Hogan is as close to legend as anything. Other players, even Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods, lack the mystique which has encompassed Hogan, even many years after his death.

What few of us know is just who he was. This information may not be so pertinant to people who play the game, since they are mostly interested in his swing. However, anyone who has touched even in a small way on part of his career realizes the great mysteries that lie in his life and being.

"Hogan" may not answer everything satisfactorily, but it comes as close as any are likely to get. This covers his life in as much informative detail as could be needed, and presents Hogan not so much in a less-than-glamorous light, as is common to biographies, but rather in a "judge for yourself" presentation of evidence for what made the man what he became.

Anyone curious about this modern legend will get more than he bargains for. Where perhaps the book does not go into his game to the extent golfers may want, the story of Hogan's life is engaging enough without it.

In my very large golf library this is clearly the best book on golf
I have read period. For the first time you get an insight into the "wie ice mon" in what reads like a novel.

When I was growing up the names of Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Player, and their generation were the top competitors. Ben Hogan was a revered name, but one of past glory. His great year of 1953 was in the past. I had heard about his auto accident and his amazing comeback, but this book helped me see the man who "dug it out of the dirt" through hard work, discipline, and ferocious tenacity.

Mr. Hogan started out with less than most. His father's suicide and the family's subsequent poverty didn't leave him with many open paths to success. He found golf and found that it not only matched his physical skills, but was an even better match for his nearly obsessive temperament.

The swing he developed has become the pattern millions of us try to emulate, although he would find our haphazard approach to the game less than useless. Why we love being duffers would be beyond him. He knew how to work and to practice. I still cannot fathom the kind of internal strength it would take to come back from that terrible leg shattering accident when his Cadillac was struck by a bus. He played in great pain for the rest of his life and had four surgeries on his left shoulder. When I realize that his greatest achievements and most of his wins at major tournaments were after the accident I am simply dumbstruck.

Mr. Hogan was a very private and enigmatic figure. Mr. Sampson does a good job in teasing what facts we know into a good story. We get interesting stories from the golf side of his life (mostly stories told about Hogan by others) and those are very enjoyable. However, I like the way Mr. Sampson puts all that in the context of a real person - a real man. Ben Hogan wasn't a fictional character even though the media version of him was a distortion of the actual hard working man who practiced, practiced, and then practiced some more, who loved his wife, Valerie, and built a successful golf equipment business.

Ben Hogan made a long journey through life and I think this book tells the story well.

Tom's book is a must read for all who manage more than one person.
Great companies are built by those who lead by example and teach others how to lead. Swing To Balance teaches that those who feel they can do it all will do more, more easily and better, if they help others to succeed. The game of golf is THE metaphor for life!!
This book is well written and and will make any airplane trip seem to short. Enjoy.

Tom Wentz has written a remarkable book that provides as meny life lessons as it does golf tips. An accomplished golfer himself, Tom applies the principles of a "balanced" swing to keeping your life balanced both professionaly and personally. The concept of "Effortless Effectiveness" show the importance of keeping all the moving parts of your golf swing working together to hit the ball straight and long. It underscores why trying too hard seldom works.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to straighten out their drives as well as their lives.

Most of us enjoy golf and are constantly trying to fix some aspect of our game. We adjust the grip to correct a slice or alter our stance a bit to fix something else. But adjustments to a fundamentally flawed swing will never result in a great game.

Tom invites us to fundamentally rethink the swing. He's analyzed numerous PGA Tour players and distilled the common elements of their swings into a few steps that allow a golfer to visualize and execute a fundamentally sound swing. Without all the gimmicks many of us rely on.

But in the process he confronts us with a disturbing reality - most of us approach our professional lives in the same way. We are constantly trying to improve our situations by fixing problems rather than determining what we want to become and structuring our enterprise to create it. Tom uses this very interesting allegory to demonstrate how we can all make the same fundamental transition in our professional lives.

In fairness, I've not only read the book but also seen it successfully applied in golf and in real businesses. So I have no trouble endorsing it.

But will your golf improve? Well, Tom took my novice spouse from no ability to her first successful nine holes in about four hours. It took me much longer to improve because I clung to several stubborn habits that needed to be shed.

As always, it depends on what you're willing to give up give up to get what you really want. Start with an open attitude and you can create the swing - and the enterprise - you really want.

Leadership ang Golf delivers an intersting perspective into the challenges of management and company change by comparing to the challenges of the golf swing. Being both a manager for a company that is making the move from mass production to mass "customization" and a high hanidcapped golfer; it was easy for me to realate to the lessons of Wentz.

Following the lessons of Swing to Balance, our company is certainly on the right path to continued growth and success as well as on-line with our company purpose. My golf swing...well that's another story.

There is always great ways to map the knowledge and skills of the athletic arena with business. Execution is key. Using the imagery of the golf swing, Mr. Wentz makes a great connection to business. A short read, but effective.

Common sense approach to golf. Very well written. Play shots your comfortable hitting that you have practiced, recommended.

Course Management - master it, and you become one a scoring machne; this book shows you the way.

Not much swing instruction going on here. This book is primarily for the player who can hit good shots and has above average skill but is still putting up disappointing numbers. It's not really earth shattering stuff. You know that by trying for eagles on par 5 you end up brining bogey and worse into play. You know that when you are in trouble the correct play is to just get back to the fairway. If you are like me you just need someone like Raymond Floyd to tell you these things before you listen! He will tell you these things and plenty more in this great book. It's not watered down a bunch of boring anecdotes - just the goods from a guy who knows how to go low.

I am a low handicap golfer who grinds to shoot in the low 70's. Typically, I hit 7-8 greens in regulation. After reading Floyd's book, I played a round and hit 14 greens in regulation. The next round I played in a vicious wind and shot 77. Better than scoring low, these were the two most comfortable rounds I've ever played.

Mr. Floyd's advice is about scoring. There is little about swing mechanics. I will read the first five chapters over and over. After reading these chapters, my mind is calm and clear. If I take this mindset to the course, I am fully confident that I will play my best golf that day.

I own over 40 books on golf. This book is at the top of my list. If I had this book when I was learning the game, I feel I would have saved years in lowering my score. Follow Mr. Floyd's advice and lower your score.

As posted previously, this book isn't about swing mechanics, but about playing smarter golf and being realistic about your game. I think this book would be extremely beneficial to the beginning golfer and would make a great gift. It's a quick read and well written. I try to read it a couple of times a year to remind myself to play within my abilities and keep a good attitude.

Highly recommended!

Before reading Scratch, you really should read the 2 previous books by this author. He has a way of making your golf fun, while teaching you that you really are your own worst enemy on the course. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and hope the author will continue with more of Eddy's adventures.

I picked this book up on sale at a bookstore, pretty much blindly. What a fabulous read! Eddie Caminetti is flawless! You know you wish you were a little more like him: smooth, calculated, really smart, honest and quite successful to boot - but never boring. The whole book is engaging and I've never set foot on a golf course. It's funny and insightful and makes (intelligent) light of something that people tend to take very seriously - golf equipment. I recommend it to anyone!

If you play golf, it's a must read. If you don't, you will still enjoy it very much.

Troon takes a shot at how we golfer's feel so insecure that we spend crazy amount of money for an edge that isn't there. If you have a Callaway or any other expensive club in your bag, it will cut you up like a surgeon's scalpel and expose how vain you really are.

Worthy every penny! Pick it up!

The truth hurts. Yesterday I was told that a big name sports reporter bought a new set of clubs after every bad round of golf. I am going to send him this book. I will buy the bargain balls from now on.

Another enjoyable Eddie Camminetti read, but not as much fun as "The Green" or "The Foursome." As always, Troon McAllister has an interesting take on the game, and in this case, equipment manufacturers.