Product Description

Although popular author Phil Callaway offers no guaranteefor a lower golf score, he does offer 40 short devotionals full of warm,humorous, and enjoyable reflections on the sport Mark Twain called “a good walk ruined.”

“This isn’t a book about the mechanics of golf.  Thousands of those are already available. This is a book about life.  Golf is a useful game, teaching us more about life and faith than we think...if we will only listen.”
Phil Callaway

Duffers old and young will appreciate the wisdom and gracefound in this a new addition to the Outdoor Insights pocket devotional series A great read while waiting at the tee, in the clubhouse, or during a quiet evening at home. 

Customer Reviews (6)

Great for our Thursday morning golf group
There are eight of us who have been reading this together and it's been so much fun. The author shares 32 short stories of golf then draws a spiritual parallel that we can incorporate into our lives. The humor surprised me and hooked me on Callaway's writing. Though the book has plenty of serious applications, the comedy is a welcome addition and kept me reading. I've just ordered more from the author to give away to friends and he's told me he has another golf book coming out called Golfing With the Master. Great great stuff.

Book and Service/Shipping
The book is excellent.Arrived quickly in excellent condition.
I will buy from AllDirect.com again.

Profound Outdoor Insights
Better than a Callaway driver, this Callaway book is sure to make you laugh yourself silly one moment, then wipe back tears of joy the next. Having never read this best-selling author before, I was surprised by the humor and deeply touched by the spiritual message of these 32 devotionals. ... He even responded with a hilarious email. If I had three thumbs, this book would get three thumbs up!

If you love God & Love Golf, This is for you
I bought this devotional, not expecting much from it. WOW, was I wrong. This is arguably the best devotional I've read. Phil is very down to earth and practical, you can easily see yourself in his daily thoughts. If you love God and love golf, this is a great pick-up. Each day has a simple nuget that will challenge you over and over, each time you read it.

Depth, Wisdom, and Humor
Like the author, I love golf, but I've found many devotional books hyper-spiritual, unrealistic, and dry as dust. Until now. This book is simply the best devotional going. It combines humorous anecdotes with Biblical truth and is written by a real guy in a way that makes me want to take advice. I've just bought 2 copies, one for my husband and one for my son. ... Read more

Product Description
Golf. It's the ultimate head game. And when nothing but the best advice will do, along comes M. Scott Peck, M.D., the celebrated psychiatrist and author of the best-selling self-help book of all time, The Road Less Traveled.

In Golf and the Spirit, M. Scott Peck writes a book for beginners and masters alike--and even for nongolfers. It goes beyond mechanics to explore the deeper issues, ways of successfully managing the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of this most wonderful, maddening, deflating, and inspiring game.

Playing side by side with M. Scott Peck on an imaginary course of his own design--complete with illustrations of each hole--you will come to see the profound truths in this seemingly simple game. Appreciate that life is not linear. Come to understand your own anger and how to heal that which gets in your way. Accept the gifts of humility. Appreciate kenosis, the process by which the self empties itself of self. Benefit from teachers. Know that in weakness often there is strength. Realize that to experience the blessings of golf and life fully, you must accept the divinity that underlies all things.

Like the best-selling volumes of Harvey Penick and Michael Murphy, Golf and the Spirit makes a unique contribution to the literature of golf and life. It goes beyond the body to address the heart and soul of the game, creating a rare opportunity for transformation in the lives of its readers, both on and off the fairway.

It seems to me the human condition is most basically that we are willful creatures living in a world that, much of the time, doesn't behave the way we want it to. We live in the tension between our will and reality. Sometimes with great effort and expertise, we can change reality or bend it to our will. At other times--also with great effort and expertise--it is we who must change by coming to accept the limitations of the world and of ourselves. How we do this--how we deal with the hazards of life--is quite akin to how we deal with the hazards of a golf course.

Sooner or later golfers who stick with the game long enough will almost always come to see it as a metaphor for life. But the word metaphor fails to do justice to all that golf has to teach us. I would go even further and say that, in its own way, golf is life and, not only that, life condensed. If we choose to use it as such, I believe that golf, next to marriage and parenthood, can routinely be the greatest of life's learning opportunities.Amazon.com Review
Having toured The Road LessTraveled in previous bestsellers, psychiatrist and self-helpguru Peck finally sets out on the cartpath. His destination? A journeyinto the mysteries of the royal and ancient game. Given the tenor ofhis earlier work, it's surprising he took so long to take aim at thisparticularly pilgrim-filled target area.

Peck, a golfer since hisarmy days in the '60s, fairly and fittingly uses the game as ametaphor for spiritual growth. Dividing his book into 18 holes withtitles like Civility, Human Nature, The Invisible, Deftness (and, forgood measure, a 19th called Closure), he navigates his courseprudently and self-referentially with a bag full of mysticism,religion, and psychology, and acquits himself with a safe parperformance. Nothing particularly dangerous or spectacular emergesfrom his thinking about the game. Instead, he puts a New Age spin onit--"Golf is probably the most nonlinear pastime on the face of theearth"; "A day of golf may seem like a personal holiday ... but it ishardly a holy day"; "I do believe that golf can be a wonderfulspiritual path of growth toward God, but only if one chooses to use itas such"--on the roads already well traveled by such masterfulanalysts of golf's raptures and ridicules as Harvey Penick,MichaelMurphy, JimFlick, TommyArmour, BobbyJones, and BobRotella. Peck, of course, is right about golf being a spiritualjourney; it's an inner game of personal demons that demands itsplayers to get as much of a grip on themselves as on their clubs. Thebogey on his scorecard is that those who play golf already knowthis. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Heavy...
When began the book, showed it very interesting, but along the chapters was heavy, long and not finished read it.

Really a lot of self-grandisement hidden behind psyco-babble
I picked up this book, from the library, because it looked interesting. I had heard of his previous book, The Road Less Traveled, but never picked it up because the subject didn't interest me. Well, this is apparently that book in spades. And, what makes it worse is that Peck decides to profer lame golf tips along the way. He proudly proclaims that he's never had a lesson and that he has never been a good golfer. That's fine and good until he starts to give advice on how to play! And, then, it goes from bad to worse when he starts quoting his own books (apparently, he's written 13 or more), not only the book, but the exact pages (to help you look up his references, I guess). He is so self-absorbed that it's hard to grab some of the random good points that he makes in the book. None of which have anything to do with golf, btw. I will give credit to his fantasy golf course, however. It would be a fun course to play. He also makes a few good points when he talks about the dichotomy that is golf. How one needs to hold opposing thoughts at the same time and how one needs to be able to separate himself from his game. But, interesting tidbits like this are used up early in the book. The rest is just wasted and annoying filler. If I hadn't gotten this book on tape, I'd have started skimming before he got to his imaginary 6th hole. But, as it was on tape, I was forced to listen to each and every painful redundant, narcissistic, amateurish muttering.
Around the 6th hole, I was thinking of buying a couple of copies of this book for golfing buddies of mine. After the 6th hole, all that I was thinking of doing was returning the book to the library and cleaning my book palate with something better, like Dr. Seuss.

quite good, better than expected
I loved this book, having just gotten into golf a year and a half ago, and being somewhat of a Christian mystic, with shades of being a Zen Buddist, which he was, and sortof still seems to be. The book was so intriguing that I chose to read it slowly, wanting to savor it. I would say that it even was helpful to my golf game, though he offers not so much advice on how to play, technically. They say, whoever they are, that one's true nature is revealed on the golf course, and that is what this book was so helpful in revealing. quite a lovely read, very thought provoking, very spiritual, and very respectful towards a wonderful game. and most important, perhaps, very funny.

An enjoyable experience for a non-golfer
*****
I really enjoyed this book, although I am not a golfer.I read it because I enjoy the M. Scott Peck's other work. I found that it excited me about golf at whatever level I end up being involved with it in the future---as a spectator, as a friend of a golfer, or even as a player someday.

As a golfer's adult daughter, I confess that in the past I have thought that golf was just a "silly rich man's game" done for the amusement of those who have nothing better to do.This book blew apart my misconception that was, frankly, based on a total ignorance of the game.This book explains the connection between golf and life, the mysticism involved in the game, and how golf can be a great game just in itself, and too, as so much more.

M. Scott Peck uses his design of a fantasy golf course called Exotica as a literary device to muse about what he has learned from many years of playing.He starts with the first hole, describes it, and writes related things about golfing and life and relationships and mysticism.As he goes, he explains the game so that people like me who have no idea about golf terminology can follow and appreciate what he is saying.He brings in a religious focus too at times, but an intensely personal one (he is a Christian and calls God "Her"), so that each reader can evaluate his religious ponderings in light of their own religious beliefs and see what would hold true for them.

This is not a book about golf tips or instruction, although there is some of this that is really interesting; it is a unique view of golf through the eyes of a long-time golfer that I admire.He is not an especially good golfer (although dedicated) and he is older (60's), too; I loved this perspective as it is where I will be if I do indeed learn to golf!I have learned much from the author in this book, and am eager to become more involved in the world of golf (which surprises me greatly)!

One thing I have already done is bought the book used on audio tape from Amazon to listen to, and am looking to hearing it all again---it's that type of book---I expect to get even more out of it the second time around.

If you are considering taking up golf, or wonder why people play it and think of yourself as just not that type...perhaps you are even a "golf widow" or golfer's adult child...then this is a great book, especially if you are spiritually or intellectually oriented, or if you like Peck's other work.
*****

A Hole In One!
I listened (more than once) to the very well read audio tapes while traveling. You must pay attention the detail is superb.

As a golfer for 46 years and earning three letters at Indiana University, I can attest that golf can teach a great deal about life, pursuing happiness, developing patience and spiritual growth if you go beyond your score. Especially as you take the competition out of golf can you realize what this game has to offer and how you can grow as a person from it.

Peck designs a wonderful exotic golf course with all the hazards and obstacles similar to which you find in life. He provides great analogies, excellent knowledge of the game which can help someone unfamiliar with the sport, and makes it all very interesting. The tapes are excellent because you can go back again and again, each time gaining new insights to golf and yourself.

A great companion reader to Golf and the Spirit tapes is Pecks book, "The Road Less Traveled." Happy reading and Spiritual growth. ... Read more

Product Description
US Open Champ, Geoff Ogilvy, once stated "We are not only working on our game, we are working on ourselves"...

Likewise, Sean O'hair commented that "golf is about...getting it in the clubhouse when [you] don't have it."

These quotes by some of the game's best players, epitomize the essence of Mental Toughness, which is coping with struggle, and performing well under pressure.

Mental Toughness Training for Golf addresses the importance of our preparation. This book illustrates creating pressure in practice, playing golf not golf swing, how to build a human taproot, why suffering is needed, how low expectations can help our performance, how to build mentally tough golf teams, and the don'ts of mental toughness.

This cutting edge bookprovides insight into how professional players, top collegiate coaches, and swing coaches, build and lose, mental toughness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great tips for Golf coaches and players!
Dr. Bell works @ the University in my hometown of Muncie, Indiana.I recently read his book while vacationing with my wife in Aruba.I absolutely could not put it down!I just finished coaching my first year of girls high school golf.There are an abundant variety of tips from different people in this book who have experienced the flaws of playing and understanding the fickle game of golf.I wrote down all the highlights of the book that were pertinent to me and am going to highlight them in my book.There are so many different types of mental thought processes perceived in this book.There are many different demonstrations of how mental toughness has already been proven in a variety of sports.Many analogies play out in different scenarios through out the entire book. I can't wait to start to apply them to myself, my golf team and to life in general.The "quotes" were short and to the point.You won't be disappointed after reading this book!

Mental Toughness beyond the course and field
This book is an excellent instructional manual on a number of a levels. First, it provides brilliant rituals in which golfers should engage if they really want to improve their games substantially. Second, the anecdotes are well-researched and enlightening. Finally, it relates well not only to mental toughness on the golf course, but can be utilized both in other athletic activities and in life in general. This book is a splendid read, which you will most likely recommend to others as you are in the midst of reading it.

Mental Toughness training for golf
Rob,

Finished your book - lots of good ideas to better focus our game. Think my
next step is to reread and take each chapter's go-do and practice before
moving on to the next one. Otherwise will lose the impact.
I'll keep you posted as I go.

Chuck Burdick
Postmaster and Town of Duck Councilor
Duck,NC

A Golfer's Devotional
Dr. Rob Bell's little gem is not just another "mental toughness" book about a sport. Anyone who loves golf and wants to make improvement in their personal game a "practice" should carry the book like a copy of "Our Daily Bread". Just as that well-known periodical provides sustenance for the spirit, "Start Strong, Finish Strong" is a golfer's devotional, filled with timeless and contemporary wisdom which coaches and sustains purpose and concentration, soothes the frazzled strokes and nerves, and reminds the golfer that he or she will live and practice to play well and better another day.

Real life advice!
Dr. Bell's book is a practical guide to gaining and sustaining success in golf - and having fun in the process!
I read it over a weekend, and found it inspiring and realistic.Dr. Bell combines expert guidance from his professional acumen, while recommending realistic tips for impovement. The stories he interjects about men and women through history who have succeeded after beating enormous odds are inspiring.I recommend it for both golf professionals, amateurs and anyone who just wants to persist through obstacles to meet their goals!I hope he writes a subsequent book. ... Read more

Product Description
For the 27 million golfers out there, golf isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life. This handsome journal includes a variety of score sheets, practice logs and handicap charts, as well as sections to store personal information, local course notes, contacts, and (of course) favorite 19th holes. Sprinkled throughout with golf tips, history, and trivia, The Ultimate Golf Journal is a both a practical tool and an elegant keepsake. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

great gift!
i got this for my boyfriend (who has been playing golf for many years) - and he loves this! it helps him to see where he needs work, etc. he also loves the trivia included. great journal!

Good journal but too much fluff

I received the journal a few weeks ago and I found it to be the perfect size but when I opened it I found that there was too much of the extra trivia stuff, quotes etc... which I call "fluff". I knew that the journal had "fluff" but I was hoping that it wasn't going to be as much.Its a good Journal and for that I gave it 3 stars but I feel all the "fluff" was just wasted pages that could have been used for what the journal was meant for recording your game.

Golf Journal
Golf Journal is a great way for any golfer to keep track of important golf tips and scores. Was a great gift!

Great golf book
I just started learning golf and this is a great journal to record everythng. It even jokes about the 19th hole.I bought a copy for my husband first then I bought one for my girlfriend and myself .My husband who is a golferenjoyed it. Very well made.

Beautiful journal
This is a very nice journal with a beautiful leather cover and organized golf sections for notes. It was given as a birthday gift to a golf fanatic and she loved it! I was very glad I had purchased one for myself, too! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Planet Golf Review
This is a fabulous display of the best golf courses in America, some of them private and some public.I met Darius when I was a guest at Sand Hills.This golf course is located in remote Nebraska.He had traveled there on his own and was heading to Florida shortly thereafter.His in depth analysis on each course in Planet Golf USA is a result of more than a year of traveling throughout the United States. The book is not a numerical rating of the courses but just a great overview of the best aspects of the features of each course. The photography is terrific and this book will clearly stand out as a gift or in your home on view for your guests.

Bill Frey

Darius does the USA
Expect similar treatment to US courses as was done for World Courses in his first book.He misses a few notable courses and shows a little too much obvious preference for Coore and Crenshaw courses but I think this book is a must have for golfers who love courses.Delightfully for Americans who seemingly want lists of the best of everything, he adds that to the coda of this book making for endless lively debate.

You really need both of these books if you love golf courses. ... Read more

Product Description
Tiger Woods is no stranger to the popular age-old hobby of golf. He's become an American icon, the world's top golfer, and the only golfer ever to hold all four major tournament titles at one time. This third edition of the best book on golf collectibles available is updated and greatly expanded, devoting an entire chapter to this golfing legend.

Highly respected golf collector and publisher, Chuck Furjanic, has combined his knowledge with articles from contributing experts to make this the most reliable collector's reference today, including chapters on autographs, antique clubs and balls, signature golf balls, collecting golf books, artwork, ceramics, medals and trophies, as well as trading cards and other collectibles. Prices have been updated and this third edition includes nearly 500 new photographs, featuring 16 more pages of color. Manufacturer and product histories make this an enjoyable read, as well as a must-have price guide.

* Thousands of collectibles with prices and descriptions* Triple grade guide to estimate values of all types of golf memorabilia* Includes a chapter devoted exclusively to Tiger Woods* Hundreds of additional photos, including a color section expanded to 32 pages ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Antique Golf Collectibles Review
The book was as represented and came within a week.
I would not hesitate to do business with this seller in the future.

Antique Golf Collectibles : A Price and Reference Guide
The most comprehensive (individual) price guide for golf collectibles.

Definitive, authoritative, informative, reliable.
Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles is the definitive, authoritative, and reliable price and reference guide for dealers and collectors of golf memorabiliaand collectibles. This new edition is highly recommended for personal,professional, and community library antique/collectibles referencesections, and features detailed photos of all golf collectibles, a newsixteen page color section, updated prices for thousands of specific items,and new chapters on golf bags, auctions and more. If you are thinking ofbuying, selling, collecting or swapping golf related materials, begin withbrowsing through the pages of Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles.

Great New 2nd Edition of the Popular Golf Collectibles Book
Latest 400 page encyclopedia of golf collectibles contains over 500 large, sharp, black and white photos and more than 50 in full color.Not just a picture and price guide.Full text is provided for the major topicsranging from: Collecting Antique Golf, Collecting Societies, Antique GolfClubs, to Signature Balls, Golf Tees, Golf Art, Medals and Trophies, andTrading Cards. A comprehensive index is included to facilitate itemselection.New chapters include Golf Bags and even Auctions.Collectorswill enjoy the "paper items" included.A great reference.

Excellent reference guide.
Have collected putters and was looking for documentation as to the values and was never able to get get a good feel until I found this reference guide.If you collect old golf clubs, or golf balls and tees this guide isa must. ... Read more

Product Description
Just in time for Father's Day, here is a unique, beautifully designed and illustrated golf guide by a top teaching pro. In this enlightening golf parable, a tycoon who takes his game very seriously learns "quantum golf" from a farmer in Iowa, and therein lies the secret of success--on the course and in life as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great Book on the Mental side of Golf
This book focuses on the mental side of golf.It forces you to slow down and concentrate on making a smooth swing and keeping a nice easy tempo which is very important to the swing.I would recommend to this book to all golfers regardless of skill level.

OUTSTANDING!!!
Loved it!! I can't say enough about this book. It really helps make the most of your game and your mechanics. I can't recommend this book enough!!!!

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi plays golf
I'd heard of transcendental meditation since the mid-70's and always found it fascinating. I never paid the exorbitant fee they wanted to learn it, but understood enough of the fundamentals that I could apply it to some things in my life.

This was the first book about golf that actually used those principles. I had been in the Navy for quite a while and had the opportunity to play golf at many fine courses around the world.

I bought this book one early summer while my handicap was hovering around 17 and went on leave. I read the book, practiced the way the teacher asked in the book, and went back to my duties after my thirty day leave. Within a month, I had my handicap down to 12 (quite an accomplishment for a self-taught duffer like myself.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that aspires to achieve "Zen" in their golf game.

Amazing
A PGA master professional told me that my greatest problem was rhythm and tempo. He introduced me to a few aspects of "quantum golf" and I suddenly hit my 3-iron longer than I previously hit my driver.

Back in Europe I still focused on my rhythm and tempo but after several months the length of my shots decreased and I went back to classical golf.

Only after reading the book "quantum golf" I saw that I was missing one essential part of quantum golf - the Q-position. I went back to quantum golf and my results are amazing: my length and precision off the tee improved a lot.

Quantum Golf
I have found most "self improvement" golf books to be difficult to grasp without great photographic portrayal of the techniques being taught.Video would make them all that much better.This book, however, deals with easy to grasp concepts and exercises that are practical and efficient.What a great thought process the super fluid concept is!This is just the book needed for those who need to take a break from the physical grind of improving their golf game and get into the mental end of the spectrum. ... Read more

Product Description
The remarkable true story of a lone genius whose quest to unlock the science behind the perfect swing changed golf forever

In 1939, Homer Kelley played golf for the first time and scored 116. Frustrated, he did not play again for six months; when he did he carded a 77. Determined to understand why he was able to shave nearly 40 strokes off his score, Kelley spent three decades of trial and error to unlock the answer and to recapture that one wonderful day when golf was easy and enjoyable. In 1969, Kelley self- published his findings in The Golfing Machine: The Computer Age Approach to Golfing Perfection.

The bestselling instruction books of the day required golfers to conform their swings to the author's ideals, but Homer Kelley configured swings to fit every golfer. He found an enthusiastic disciple in a Seattle teaching pro named Ben Doyle, who in turn found an eager student in 13-year-old prodigy Bobby Clampett. Clampett's initial success in amateur golf shined a bright spotlight on Homer Kelley and The Golfing Machine, but when the young star suffered a painfully public collapse and faltered as a pro, critics were quick to blast Kelley and his complex and controversial ideas. With exclusive access to Homer Kelley's archives, author Scott Gummer paints a fascinating picture of the man behind the machine, the ultimate outsider who changed the game once and for all of us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great history on Golf Machine
A "page turner" which I couldn't put down.My close friend who is great teacher has worked with Ben Doyle for years told me to the order the book which I'm glad I did.Amazing story.The story of Bobby Clampett filled in a lot of blanks about him,everyone who followed golf in the late 70's and early 80's will recall this major talent.His fall was blamed on the Golfing Machine and now I realize this wasn't the case at all.Loved the book, but if you are looking for book on golf instruction DON'T buy it,if you're looking for background and the evolution of the Homer Kelley's Golf Machine this a must read.

A good read not spoilt
A well written history of an interesting character.Don't look for instruction here.Buy Mr. Kelley's book.

Deceiving Title
It was suggested that I read Homer Kelley's Golfing Machine.Unfortunately, I found it on Amazon and very casually proceeded to order it. Only once I received it and began to look it over did I realize it was "a book about a book."

I'm sure the author has made a lot of money based on that deception. Fortunately, Amazon customer service was very understanding, refunded my charges and removed this item from my Kindle.

Homer Kelley's Golfing Machine:The Curious Quest That Solved Golf
This proved to be a different book than I was expecting as it was recommended to me as an instructional guide.It is not.However, I found this biographical effortvery interesting, entertaining, and a fast read.

Homer Kelly Golf Machine - Not for anyone wanting to learn a better swing
This book is about Homer Kelley and has nothing to do with learning a better golf swing. I was very dissatisfied with the book. I think it is deceptively named. ... Read more

Product Description
First published more than 20 years ago, "Golf My Way" has helped thousands of golf enthusiasts improve their game and enjoy the sport. Bringing to the book the same devoted concentration and intelligence that have carried him to the pinnacle of golf, Nicklaus offers in-depth, A-Z details on the game as he plays it. Illustrations, many in color.Amazon.com Review
Written in the early '70s, Golf My Way is the first ofthe truly modern instructionals mixing physics and kinesiology withtheory and technique. The writing's a little dense, but theillustrations are quite good, and some of the mental exercises nothingless than revolutionary. If there's a caveat to Golf My Way,it's that Jack's way works for Jack's game, and may not meshwith yours. Then again, this is the book that introduced ErnieEls to golf, and look what he's done. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Jack NIcklaus/Golf My Way/3pc VHS

Jack Nichlaus was and still is one of the greatest golfers who ever played the game.And his methods are uncomplicated and easy to use.His methods took strokes off my game and I expect they will continue to do so.

Review
One of the true classics in golf instruction.It stands along side The Little Red Book.Take the information with a grain of salt as the modern swing has changed, but the fundamentals are timeless.

the full swing
It was a good video that covered driving the ball I thought very effectively.

priceless
I have owned this video for a while now, and I feel it is absolutely priceless. I have watched it many times and still do. As you progress as a golfer you will pick up more things from the video that you did not feel before. Just the slow motion of Jack Nicklaus not far from his prime make the video worth it. The slow motion segments are priceless.You can learn more from just watching him over and over and absorbing it, than you could from a thousand books. Jack, would you remaster it and put it on DVD? Please? I would be the first to buy it and add it to my collection and continue to watch it!!!
The Amazon review here and some of the others are for Jack's book of a similar title which is great and was used by some current tour pros to help them learn the game; but the item pictured here and made available here is a VHS video.
This is his full comprehensive video on the actual technique of hitting the golf ball. This is also made availabe as three seperate shorter videos breaking it down to 1)the full swing, 2)the short game, and 3)the control shots. This video contains all of that footage plus the deleted footage for each section on what not to do.
There is a second video produced a little later which is called "Golf My Way:Playing the Game", which is also a full length video, but covers in detail the aspects of thinking and planning your way around the golf course, which was one of Jack's truly great strenghths.
This stuff is always current and truly timeless. Applying this cannot but help your game.

EDIT: 3/2010 Jack has rereleased this video in DVD, available on his website. It has new graphics, clearer picture, etc.,but is minus the extensive slow-motion portion at about the half-way point in the original video.

Golf My Way
Although written in 1974, book very helpful with the basics of golf while excluding most of the confusing techical aspects put forth today. Main reason I bought it was that several modern successful professional golfers have said that this book had helped them learn or improve their game. Good buy for the info and the price. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

a delightful way to approach the game
A brief background: I'm a 13 handicap and I've been playing for 10 years. I've broken 80 three times this season, yet all this time I had a swing that would be there one day and gone the next.
Moreover, I relied on strength to "hit" the ball. Even though golf instructors incessantly tell students to swing the club rather than hit the ball, it is easier said than done. And no instruction book explains it better than this one. Ben Hogan's 5 fundamentals does talk about letting the arms go along for a ride, but it doesn't talk about weight shift and balance as the keys to a natural swing.

To begin with, the reader might think there is nothing natural about the golf grip...that is true but ONLY if we are relying on our instinct to hit the ball like we've learned in baseball or any other hitting sport. That's precisely what George Knudson advises against.

Whatever George Knudson teaches is indeed natural IF you decide to swing the club rather than hit the ball. Quite simply, if the clubhead were tied to a rope and you had to swing the rope without any wobbling, the clubhead can theoretically travel on an undisturbed arc and gain immense speed as it flies, taking along the golf ball or whatever else is placed in its way.
The author advises against thinking about golf as a hand-eye coordination game. I completely agree. If both Ben Hogan and George Knudson (both considered great ball strikers) believe that an amateur with average hand-eye coordination can break 80 consistently, then who am I to argue. I have average hand eye coordination and I never excelled at sports. However, understanding the purpose of the game (swing, NOT hit) has changed my outlook.

The first time I really got the concept and stepped on the range to apply it, I hit the absolute purest shots with minimal conscious effort. The feeling was so profound that I was upset about wasting 10 years on learning swing mechanics and getting into perfect positions rather than swinging the club. Get this book, practice the drills, and enjoy the improvement. You won't become a tour caliber player right away but you will swing smooth and easy, be less tired and achy after a practice session or a round, and have an oily/syrupy swing with minimal swing thoughts. And best of all, it will feel natural!

I also wish to comment on some reviews that downplay the importance of the personal stories that the author tells...what I took away from those stories was the fact that even as a multiple winner on the tour, Knudson was concerned that he wasn't swinging the club and wanted to find a better and more consistent way to do it. All his stories simply reinforce the point that golfisn't complicated. Rather than going into the theoretical derivation of angular momentum, centrifugal force, and potential and kinetic energy, he simply shows the reader how to benefit from physical laws governing motion. And as stated before, the result of following his advice is the most effortless swing you'll ever have.

Unique look at golf
This is a very different golf instructional book.Knudsen does talk about mechanics to some degree but the whole premise of the book is about rythum and balance, which is something that's lost when we get too mechanical.I recommend it for everyone, especially advanced golfers.It takes the next step from mechanics to a smooth, flowing swing.A must for all golf libraries.

not impressed at all
This book was written many years ago and it seems dated. I say this compared to Ben Hogan's 5 lessons which was written 50 years ago but still seems relevant as ever. It was OK but not as great as the reviews I read. The instruction seemed a bit vague for me.

Very enlightening
This book was highly recommended by a friend.I bought it and have read it several times.I now buy it as a gift for other golfers who ask me how I improved.The principles are simple to understand and while they don't take the place of a pro, they set a good foundation to build on.The key principle is balance...so simple.The rest is simple physics.If you want to improve buy this book and read it several times and continue to reread it every few months.Your pro can fine tune from there.At age 57 I set 3 personal course records this year, achieved a new low handicap index of 2.8 and it is still dropping.I would not have done any of that without learning from this book.

Best golf swing book I've ever read
George makes the golf swing simple and make sense using the fact that physics governs all physical activities, golf being one of those activities.I keep this book in the loop and I have read it over and over again, and each time I pick up on something I didn't catch before, or I remember something I had forgotten.It's just a great book, but stubborn people that believe you have to strain your body, or put you body into certain positions in order to hit the ball will not benefit from it.This book is for anyone with an open mind that really want to know how the golf swing works, whether you be a scratch golfer or a 20 handicap.I hope this book helps you as much as it has helped me. ... Read more

Product Description
If a golf swing takes a few seconds to execute, and a player shoots 100, what's happening on the course for the three hours and fifty-five minutes when players are swinging? An easy, amusing read, Golf, Naked is packed with tips, tales, tricks of the trade, and lessons for life that describe the 99 percent of the game that no one talks about. And it's written by bona fide club-selling, lesson-giving, cart-washing, vest-wearing PGA Golf Pro Greg Rowley. He offers information and advice that will help all golfers master the complete game, including the stuff that truly demonstrates a player's experience, comfort, confidence, and grace. The book answers such specific questions as:

• Who should you tip on the golf course?
• When and how is it okay to gamble?
• What do you do if the players in front of you are holding up your game?
• What is a sand bagger?
• What's the best way to grip a club?
• How do you calculate a handicap?
• When is it okay to move your ball?
• If you are wearing brown shoes, What color should your socks and belt be?

Golf, Naked is a 2010 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Smart, Funny, Philosophical
Smart Teachers often tell their students to 'Start at the Beginning.' This book does that and so much more. Wonderful anecdotes. Thanks Greg !!!

Excellent Book
Are you just starting out as a new golfer, or is your name Tiger Woods?If your anywhere in between, this book is for you.This book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to learn more about the ins and outs of golf, the stuff beyond the golf swing.

Excellent
this book is excellently written with tips and guidelines to follow on the field.I was lucky to get 6 months of lessons from Greg and the funny stories in the book do not compare to ones he would tell me.He is very knowledgeable and professional in his approach toward spreading the joys of golf.Well done Greg.

Truly for everyone
I began golfing some 20 years ago with a handful of lessons from my father and a lot of time on the course with my childhood friends who knew no more about the game than I did.Looking back, "Golf, Naked" would have been the ideal tool to learn the nuances of the game, particularly the etiquette that may have been missing from my game as a youth.Today, as a more seasoned player, I still find "Golf, Naked" to be useful resource.Rowley uses incredible wit and humor to share his love for the game, and even an experienced golfer will enjoy picking up some new lessons while being reminded of old ones.

A SERIOUS must have golf guide!!
This book has it all. Experienced player or beginner, you should really get this. It gives you all kinds of real world golf tips - from shoes to shirts to clubs to T times - to pace of play.......It has everything.

Highly recommended.....DON'T miss out on this one!! ... Read more

Product Description
An invitation to the ultimate golfing journey, this new addition to Abrams' highly successful 365 Days series takes the reader around the globe to visit 365 of the most sensational courses ever created. Stunning photographs by the world's leading golf photographers capture the spectacular scenery and signature views of each course, while informative texts discuss their history, natural setting, design, notable holes, and native vegetation. The vast array of distinctive layouts shows golf's enduring ability to adapt to every type of terrain or ecosystem, and Golf Courses of the World: 365 Days covers them all.

The book includes renowned courses in golf strongholds such as Pebble Beach in the U.S., Royal Melbourne in Australia, and St. Andrews in Scotland, as well as hidden gems in exotic locales like Indonesia, Nepal, Dubai, Kenya, and Brazil. For everyone from armchair golfers to serious players who want to add a little variety to their game, this sumptuous volume is the ultimate golfing companion and dreambook.AUTHOR BIO: Robert Sidorsky has written about golf for The New York Times since 1993 and is a regular contributor to Links magazine and other publications. He is an attorney who lives in New York City. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

The Perfect Gift
I purchased this book as a gift for my brother, who is an avid golfer.He was delighted with the book, and especially so when he found several of the golf courses which he had played included in it.

It's a beautiful "coffee table" book, and he told me many of his friends who have seen it are planning to purchase it themselves.

Best of all -- it arrived carefully packaged and on time.

Below my expectation
It has a thorough coverage on global courses and arrange them on a timeline basis. However the descriptions of each course is way too simple, more like talking about a point of interest, rather than providing the information appeal to a real golfer. And some of the photos are in low quality.

Golf courses of the world
The pictures and descriptions are wonderful.Even if someone only wanted to look at the pictures, this would be a real treat.I got it to give my brother for his 72nd birthday in July; I know he will love it!

A golf course for every day in the year.
This is a beautiful picture book that features a golf course for every day of the year.During the long cold winters in Toronto it is nice to turn to a page that corresponds to the current date and dream of playing that course.
The book features 16 courses in Scotland and I have played 13 of them.
Book is highly recommended for the golfer who would like to experience world golf.

Beautiful Coffee Table Golf Book
This book is really for golf fanatics.I'm sure non-golfers can appreciate it, but if you don't enjoy golf then you probably won't enjoy that book.That being said, if you are reading this review there is a great chance that you enjoy golf.Some people might think it crazy to have a book that's comprised of pictures of golf courses, but if you've ever stepped foot on a good course you can appreciate the beauty in all of these pictures.On top of that, each full page picture (about 5x7) comes with a short description of the golf course, along with some history and some cool facts.I keep this book out on my coffee table and my golfer friends always leaf through it when they are over. ... Read more

Product Description
From the tee to the greens, improve all aspects of your game with Complete Conditioning for Golf, a book and DVD package that presents the programs the pros use.

Golfers at all levels benefit from golf-specific training. This expert program begins with evaluation and moves through targeted strength, power, core, and flexibility exercises. Pete Draovitch, personal trainer and physical therapist to PGA star Greg Norman, and Ralph Simpson, former physical therapist and trainer on the PGA Tour fitness van, have teamed up to create a comprehensive program to help you in these areas:

• Generate explosive power for increased driving distances.
• Improve flexibility for a more fluid and precise swing.
• Build muscular endurance for greater shot control through the final hole.
• Maintain strength and flexibility from round to round and throughout the year.
• Prevent common injuries.
• Return to the course quickly with modified rehab exercises.

In addition, the 75-minute DVD takes you onto the course and into the gym to demonstrate the drills and exercises used by the pros.

Complete Conditioning for Golf is simply the best guide to preparing your body for success on the links. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Nothing new
Although comprehensive there is notheing new here.Core Perfomance for golf is probably better organized and of a higher quality.It is distracting when one of Complete Conditioning's demonstrators looks so enemic.Play Golf forever also offers more detailed workouts.

Great Workout for Golf Conditioning
This is my 2nd purchase of this Book / DVD.I purchased it for my pro instructor who has new interest in fitness. This workout is great from so many aspects of golf fitness. It is separated into sections targeting areas like, shoulder cuff, core, power enhancement, etc. As are result, each workout can be tailored to target areas and time allotted.I wish they had more books and DVD's available!

Excellent Golf Specific Fitness
This book is excellent & has the most up to date exercise techniques for golfers. The DVD is also very helpful so you can actually see the exercises being done.

Great value
A comprehensive tool for building the physical part of your game. The "golf-specific exercises on the DVD are very helpful. All in all, quite a bargain.

Note that the reviews listed prior to June of 2007 are for a different book, one that is now out-of-print. ... Read more

Product Description
The essential guide to every betting game under the sun, from the most trusted name in golfNet and Gross . . . Nassau . . . the Hawk . . . Amigo . . . the Train Game . . . Second Ball . . . the Umbrella Game . . . What does it all mean? Recreational golfers around the world thrive on games within games as a way to enhance the golf experience, level the playing field, and, most important, have a lot more fun. Golf Digest’s Complete Book of Golf Betting Games lays it all out—every game, every format, and every variation—with a quick-reference glossary of every golf gambling term ever uttered. Organized by chapters for twosomes, threesomes, foursomes, or buddy trips with all the side games, each section is simple to navigate, with helpful strategy tips for each game and a set of clear-cut scorecard instructions.With over 1.6 million subscribers and 6 million readers, Golf Digest is the most trusted and respected name in golf publications. Golf Digest’s Complete Book of Golf Betting Games is the definitive guide—a book every golfer needs to have. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for the occasional player with a betting personality.
It had been years since I played for "serious" money, but a few week ago I joined a group who were all about making bets and beer. I told them I didn't drink and only bet on the horses or when I was in Las Vegas. They were okay with that, but I was missing out on their fun and the excitement a $1 or $10 wager could bring. On the sixth hole (par 4) I drove my ball five feet short of the worst player in the group. "Come on Stan, $5 closest to the hole." I caved in and said okay. He hooked well left and I made it to the front of the green. He gave me the $5 right there and I was hooked (but in control). Anyway I won $7 and had a good time. Searched for a book on golf betting and bought this. As for the review - not a lot that I wasn't familiar with, but did remind me of much I'd forgotten. The tips are the best. If your an occasional golfer it's worth the read. Regulars probably know most of this already.

Good Golf Betting resource
This is the second book I've bought on golf games, the first being The Complete Book of Golf Games.I like this book better than the other one because of how it's organized, plus because it covers many more games.It's organized by the number of players, listing possible games that can be played by that number of golfers.When a game is duplicated, they give instruction of where to find the previous write up.
... Read more

Product Description
It’s not about changing your swing—it’s about changing your mind: Two legendary coaches give golfers a powerful new approach to the game... and to life.

As coaches to some of golf’s top players, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott have designed and refined a revolutionary way of teaching the game, with phenomenal results. They don’t believe in prescribing the same stance, grip, and swing to everyone, followed by hours of purposeless drilling. They don’t even believe in beginning with physical technique. Their success has proven to them that a great game begins with a great vision.

Unlike any other golf book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose offers cutting-edge techniques for integrating the physical, technical, mental, emotional, and social parts of a player’s game. The book’s revolutionary pre-shot routine will improve your focus, leading to a golf swing that is not only successful but can be repeated under extreme pressure. Emphasizing the individual golfer rather than a rigid set of mechanics, their VISION54 method takes the frustration out of the game. Why 54? Because they believe it’s possible to shoot a 54 (making a birdie on every hole of a par-72 course) if you have the right mind-set and well-honed intuitive power.

An engaging read for the beginner or the seasoned golfer, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose is inspiration for life, not just the links. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Great Book
A great book for golfers who want to get a new point of view on their game and howto perform.

Great job Amazon and Great job Pia and Lynn!!
Once again, Amazon comes through with fantastic service and timely delivery.The book is loaded with insights into how to improve your mental game.I like the approach the authors use to get their point across.While I haven't quite reached "Vision 54" I am on my way and my game has improved significantly.After all, we are only as good as our next shot.I am prepared.Fore!!!

text to talk not enabled
Interested in this book in the kindle format.But without audio enabled - I will not buy.I like to read and then when I get into the car switch to audio mode.I'm not going to buy the book twice, in fact I'm not going to buy it once.

Every shot must have a purpose
EXCELLENT book! I was told by my PGA pro that if I was going to read only one golf book it MUST be this one. I completely trust him and this just reaffirms that. If you believe that golf is 90% mental you have to own this book. My only knock on this book is that I really think it will benifit golfers who have already put in the hours to develop a solid golf swing already.(like under 14 hindicapers) I'm a -4 handicap and truely think the book will help me lower that next season to a -1!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 strokes don't sound like much to some people but if you have a single digit handicap you understand how much harder it is to shave strokes off now compared to when we were say 20's.

completely satisfied
Great book which explains Vision 54 concept.Easy to read and understand.A confidence booster for the golfer at any level. ... Read more

Product Description
Join four young kids on a fun-filled day of discovery onthe golf course. My First Golf Book is a charming, colorful,hardcover picture book and a great first-reader.Share the game youlove with the little ones in your life! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great little Book
If you are golfers, this is a great book to read to your little ones!

Intro to golf fun for the very young
This is a great book for those who want to introduce young children to the concept that golf is fun!My 3 children have enjoyed this book since they were very young and it has helped my 4 yr old son develop an interest in the sport.At a young age it's most important to focus on how much fun the game can be and not get caught up with being concerned that your children will actually build sand castles in the traps.The author, a PGA pro, really did a nice job on this book!

First golf book
I returned this book because it has absolutely nothing to do with golf--sand castles in the bunker and kids rolling around on the green.I guess adding lightning to the rainstorm might have taught one lesson in the book.It certainly doesn't portray the behavior I want from my children on or near a course.

A fun and charming story!
What a charming book...and quite fun to read.It is a great book for the beginning reader.My first-grader loves that she can read it herself.The illustrations are so colorful and fun, even my 2 year old is captivated by the pictures.A great find!

Great Children's Book
I have purchased 5 Or 6 of these books for Christmas and Birthday presents.

It's fun, and well thought out with great illustrations. My daughter loves it. ... Read more

Product Description
The funniest and most popular sportswriter in America abandons his desk at Sports Illustrated to caddy for some of the world’s most famous golfers, and some celebrity duffers, recounting it all in this hilarious and revealing look at the world of golf.

Who knows a golfer best? Who’s with them every minute of every round, hears their muttering, knows whether they cheat? Their caddies, of course. So sportswriter Rick Reilly figured that he could learn a lot about the players and their games by caddying, even though he had absolutely no idea how to do it. Amazingly, some of the best golfers in the world—including Jack Nicklaus, David Duval, Tom Lehman, John Daly, Casey
Martin, and Jill McGill—agreed to let Reilly carry their bags at actual PGA and LPGA Tour events. To round out his portrait of the golfing life, Reilly also caddied at the Masters, persuaded Deepak Chopra and Donald Trump to use him as a caddy, accompanied high-rolling golf hustlers in Las Vegas around the course, and carried the bag for a blind golfer.

In Who’s Your Caddy?, Reilly chronicles his experiences in the same inimitable style that makes his back-page column for Sports Illustrated a must-read for more than twenty million people every week. From his laugh-out-loud portrait of Deepak Chopra decomposing on the green, to his portraits of good ol’ boys who bet $100,000 a round, to his hilarious descriptions of his own ineptitude as a caddy, to his insights into what
makes the greats of golf so great, Reilly combines a wicked wit with an expert’s eye in a most original and entertaining look at golf.

Who’s Your Caddy? is the next best thing to a great round of golf. It is sure to delight low-handicappers, high-handicappers, and everyone in between.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
To really know someone, as the saying goes, you must walk a mile in their shoes. But to really understand a golfer, you've got to work as their caddy. Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly managed to get some very intriguing golfers to let him lug their bag and write what he learned both about the game and the folks who play it. Going hole to hole with them let Reilly know a different side of veterans such as John Daly, David Duval, Tom Lehman, and Jack Nicklaus. But Reilly also went beyond the pros to caddy for Deepak Chopra, Donald Trump, professional gambler Dewey Tomko, and Bob Newhart. In some cases, the portraits that emerge fall directly in line with the popular image but at other times it's just the opposite. Daly is sober but has shifted his addiction to massive amounts of Diet Coke, candy, and marriages; Duval is intensely driven during rounds but surprisingly laid back and friendly off the course; Chopra's inner peace is locked in a mortal battle with the inherent frustrations of golf; and Trump manages to be both an egomaniac and a pretty nice fellow. And although he's on assignment to profile his temporary employers, Reilly emerges as an entertaining figure in his own right as he commits numerous faux pas, breaks taboos, infuriates multiple golfers and caddies, accidentally dumps all of Nicklaus's clubs onto the turf in the middle of a round, and discovers that caddying is tougher than it looks. Reilly walks a nice line with the tone of Who's Your Caddy?: it's reverent to the game without becoming a misty-eyed poetic ode, and it's laugh-out-loud funny without being nasty or low brow. And while golf fans will certainly appreciate it, Who's Your Caddy? is an impressive book for fans of biography in general. --John Moe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (73)

Funny, interesting, and enlightening caddying stories...
Admittedly, I am a fan of Rick Reilly.I always loved his back-page articles for Sports Illustrated, and I continue to appreciate his writing now that he's transitioned to ESPN.But this audiobook of "Who's Your Caddy?" was my first experience with one of his books, so I was cautiously optimistic.Reilly did not let me down.

Ultimately, I thought the book was a hoot.The premise was simple, that Reilly would convince a host of different golfers to allow him to caddy for them.He convinced an impressive array of golfers (young and old, professional and amateur, scratch and hack, famous and unknown, male and female) to let him do it.And the resulting stories were fabulous.Some were simply hysterical.Others helped to share interesting stories about the lives of the respective golfers.Some offered an insider's perspective on the fascinating world of professional caddying.Others helped to explain why the infuriating game of golf draws so many of us to keep playing it.And the best stories did all of those things.I was especially impressed with the way that Reilly characterized Tom Lehman and Casey Martin, two men whose lifestyles Reilly clearly does not understand but whose integrity he certainly respects.I finished those chapters with the utmost admiration for Lehman and Martin.

As some other reviewers have noted, some of Reilly's jokes were crass, juvenile, and profane.The chapter about John Daly was especially so, and I could have skipped that one entirely.I think that it's lazy writing to utilize scatological references for cheap laughs, and the biggest disappointment is that Reilly doesn't need the help.He's funny enough without resorting to sophomoric humor.Thankfully, the profanity and crudeness were sprinkled rather sporadically so they did not dominate and ruin the book for me.But for those with a high sensitivity to these things, just be aware that this book is a truly uncensored version of Reilly's writing.

With this caveat notwithstanding, I thoroughly enjoyed "Who's Your Caddy?"As I listened to it in my car, I laughed out-loud countless times, and the stories were sufficiently engaging to keep me alert and entertained for hours of mindless driving.I think I love golf just a little bit more and have gained a new found appreciation for Rick Reilly's writing.And he's welcome to carry my bag anytime...

A great laugh cover to cover!
This book is hysterical even if you don't play golf. I highly recommend it as a study of human character. My highest recommenation.

A must read
What a great read.Entertaining and witty and informative.Any golfer will love this book. The perfect gift!

review for super fly
this review concerns Super fly. I had ordered 3 books going to 3 destinations. After waiting the usual waiting period, one of the books did not arrive. I had contact Super Fly. Thier response was very professional. They could not understand why the book did not arrive, but they would send another one immediately at no extra cost. Only then did I find out that the problem was at my end. The address was not correct. I wanted to apologize and to thank Super Fly for taking care of my needs in such a professional manner.

Loopy Guy Loops for laughs!!! and other jargon
On the day when Tom Watson lost the Brittish Open in extra holes and a weekend when Tiger missed his second cut of his career - it is obvious to all that golf is not fair.

Thus, this peek into the lives of professional golfers is fascinating.Golf is hard, very hard - and we know caddying is hard too - just not as hard - but this revealing book shows how tough it can be and how rewarding.Some of it reads like Greek tragedy - just shake that guy and tell him to stop that and do it THIS WAY...some is typical - ok billionaire guy, so your girl friend has real [...]...

All in all it is a rare and sort of uncensored look into the real world of golf - a great read for those rainy days when you cannot get a tee time. ... Read more

Product Description
The Golf Handbook for Women takes you through every aspect of golf, whether you are just starting out or want to raise your game to a new level. Movements and shots are carefully detailed, using photographs and illustrations, with helpful suggestions on how to ensure you'll hit your best shot every time.

InThe Golf Handbook for Women, you'll find information on:

• Choosing and using equipment that's right for you
  
• Developing good habits from the start
  
• Knowing which shot to play in various situations
  
• Judging distance and aiming well
  
• Reading greens
  
• Correcting common mistakes
  
• Getting out of trouble shots
  
• Conquering fears and being positive
  
• Finding strategies for strokeplay and matchplay
  
• Deciding what to do--and not do--on a course
  
• Enjoying the game to the fullest!
  
  
  
  ... Read more

  Customer Reviews (15)

  The Golf Handbook for Women
  Golf Handbook for Women:The Complete Guide to Improving Your Game is the best book on the market for women.Instructions and well illustrated and easy to understand.I highly recommend it.

  Golf Handbook for Women: The Complete Guide to Improving Your Game
  Women strengths in golf are different from men. That's why I was looking for a golf book just for women. I was so happy when I found this book. This is a good book for women learning to play golf or if you want more information about clubs or certain shots, like chipping.This book covers what clubs/irons do and the yardage you can get from each one.It also covers shots from the tee to putting. It even goes over reading the green. I enjoyed the book.After telling my husband the book said that some women find the 7 club easier to hit then the 3 iron and it will give you the same distance he brought me one. I'll be trying it out this weekend. See you on the links.

  INFORMATIVE& HELPFUL
  This book has made BIG improvements with my game!! THANK YOU!! I highly recommend this book to anybody wanting to learn to play or improve their game.A++++

  Very good book
  I bought this book sight unseen and didn't know what it was going to be about.After reading it...the reading was very easy and the instruction were easy as well.I helps with your faults and if you practice the directions you will definetely see and feel the difference in your golf game. Since reading the book and utilizing the insructions, I have gotten many compliments on my beginner game.

  Golf Nut
  I have read the book cover to cover twice now and get something new out of it each time.It was very helpful to correct my grip and gaining more distance out of my clubs.It was concise when it describes setup and address.Both of these things helped my game.I have only been playing two years but already have two holes in one to my credit.I would highly recommend this book to all women beginner's to the game or individuals that want to improve their bunker play or their short game. ... Read more

Product Description
ies in this collection, drawn mainly from magazine pieces, constitute a championship round. . . . This unbridled appreciation of golf's mystical opportunities for grace and redemption will enthrall even those who have never followed an 80-yard worm-burner with an elegant chip to the pin" (People).Amazon.com Review
How lucky can an editor be? When legendary New Yorkereditor William Shawn wanted a writer to review a book on golf, hecould turn to novelist John Updike. Updike, a devoted golfer, wasdelighted to take on the assignment. That review of Michael Murphy'sGolf Inthe Kingdom is contained -- along with essays from GolfDigest, The New York Times Book Review and otherpublications -- in Golf Dreams.Rounding out the collection of30 pieces are excerpts from Updike's classic fiction, includingThree Rounds With Rabbit Angstrom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Golf Dreams
The book is wonderful...and more than expected (for Used;like New).
The service was excellent and the prices are phenomenal.
Thank YOU

Just okay
I found these essays, "musings" by this noted author somewhat nondescript.Neither humourous nor poignant.Didn't really work for me.

A terrific addition to anyone's golf library
Updike writes about golf's mysteries and travails from an everyman's point-of-view, but with a delicious turn of phrase which we all wish we could wax when recounting our games. Barring the odd essay, this collection is a delight of insight, wit and humility. As a fan of Mark Frost's golfing social histories, Updike's personal histories are a fantastic addition to any golf library.

A Horror Anthology?
I find it interesting that this book was included in the selection of Horror Anthologies.

Given the way I feel about golf, it was all too appropriate!

A Writer's Wry Look at Golf's Challenges and Pleasures
I am always a little at a loss to review a work like this which has 30essays, short stories, and poems in it, humorously illustrated by thetalented Paul Szep.Obviously, in a thousand words I cannot review eachwork.However, there's also no relevant way to give you an overview exceptto say that this is much of the best writing about golf that anyone hasever done, looking beyond how to improve your score.

Let me share a fewhighlights with you, much like you might compliment a golf partner on thebest shots in his or her round.Imagine that we are all having a tall coolbeverage while I do this after finishing a long, hot round.

I thought thefunniest work was "Drinking from a Cup Made Cinchey" written in1959.Updike has obviously had a golf lesson or two, as the other worksmake clear.This essay is a satire on all of those instructional articlesthat you find in Golf Digest.Updike begins by pointing out thatoccasionally there's a slip between cup and lip (but he humorously avoidsthat phrase).So he takes the simple task of picking up a cup and drinkingsomething from it, and writes it up in golf instructional style.Icouldn't stop laughing.I think I got a better idea of the golf swing fromthis non-golf swing instruction than I ever did from taking alesson!

"Swing Thoughts" from 1984 captures the problems thatwe all have with using the conscious mind too much, but with moreself-consciousness than even the most self-conscious golfer ever had.

Thepart I least agreed with was "The Trouble with a Caddie."Updikedoesn't like them, but I find having a caddie one of the pleasures of thegame.He dislikes everything from the company to handling the tip. Perhaps it is hard for someone with a solitary occupation like writing toget over that preference for solitude.Book tours must be rough!

Thebest fiction was "Farrell's Caddie" from 1991 with all duerespect to the Rabbit Angstrom material that is well known from the Rabbitbooks.It transcends golf in a valuable way.

The best poem was"Upon Winning One's Flight in the Senior Four-Ball" from 1994. Many of Updike's later works look ironically on the effects of our changinggolf fortunes as the body starts to produce less and less satisfying golf. This one is very well done without having the negative tone that some ofthe others do, hinting at decay and death.

The book is divided ino threesections:(1)Learning the Game(2)Loving the Gameand (3) Playingthe Game.The works are about equally distributed among the sections.

If you're a golfer, you know that people love to give golf-related giftsbut never know what to give.I suggest you solve their problem by puttingthis book on your Amazon.com wish list.Then on those cold winter'snights, you can curl up with this book to help you conjure up your own golfdreams!

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (22)

An interesting parallel
To be honest, when I first received this book I was caught off guard. I asked myself "how could golf, of all things, relate at all to Buddhism?" That was before I had no knowledge of golf, not that I am proficient in it now, but after reading this book I understand the parallels James was trying to help us understand.

"Golf's Three Noble Truths" is an interesting take on combining the solitary sport of golf, which can very much so be a game played inside one's mind before ever hitting the ball off of the tee.

"Relaxation means the absence of activity. When time stops, that's relaxation. In relaxation the only moment is the now moment. Don't spend your energy on the past or future. Focus on the action of the moment. Trade activity for action."


Golfer's from amateur to the professional level can most certainly find valuable tips in the book to sharpen their games. With simple exercises like just being there, in the moment, not over analyzing the shot or the distance, just being there with the task at hand.

Again, I am no golfer but at the same time, I can relate to a lot of what James has included in this book. For years he felt empty about his life and golf. Something in him awakened though and his path opened. He learned to just enjoy stopping now and again, not over analyzing his life and his golfing, but living it for what it is. I think we could all use a little of that, just stopping, bearing witness to our lives and the moment as it is.

All in all, "Golf's Three Noble Truths" is an interesting take on bringing eastern philosophy into the golf lifestyle. It's not the average Buddhist book, as a matter of fact there isn't much Buddhism at all minus a mention of Buddha now and again. This is a book worth checking out if you feel like things have gotten stale, plus it's a nice quick read.

Golf As A Metaphor For Life
This is more than a book about golf, it's about how to live a better life at optimal level. You don't have to be a Buddhist to follow its three main truths, awareness, balance and unity. It's well written without being preachy, and will revitalize how you go about playing and practicing. It's a wake-up call literally; many of us are sleep-walking and not paying attention to what's going on. And when we practice, we spend more time on driving or what we do well than on our weaknesses to round up our game. We could pay more attention to restoring balance and unity in our golf and our lives.

If you want a golf book on how to create a perfect swing and want chapters on the swing mechanics, don't look for them in this book. But don't be surprised if you end up playing better golf. Read the book, follow the concepts, and you'll find yourself viewing life differently. In Hawaiian, there's a saying, Be akamai, which means, be smart. This book will help to make you smarter.

Dormie Three
As a senior golfer with a golf book library of nearly 5,000 titles, a member of both the U.S. & U.K. Golf Collectors Societies, and a youth spent in the study of Buddhism both in Japan & in an Oriental bookstore in N.Y.; I recommend "Golf's Three Noble Truths" as one of the very best & most accessible of all the "new age" golf psychology efforts.

Awakening
Dr. Ragonnet's book is a must read for all players of the game of life. The anecdotes, combined with Eastern philosophy, offer a sense of clarity that awakens readers to a more holistic golf game and a more holistic lifestyle.
Ragonnet's insight to the intricacies of golf is suitable for all players, from beginner to professional.
Upon completing the book, I have a new perspective on golf. More importantly, I have a new understanding of life.
The book flows so evenly that the pages turn themselves.

Awakening
Although I am not an avid golfer, I found Golf's Three Noble Truths improved my game in life. As a teacher and mother of two small children, I am constantly trying to find the balance in life. Ragonnet's book calls the reader to awaken him/herself to the details of the game. For me this translated into awakening my role as a mother and teacher. I have always been engaged with my children, but now I find greater pleasure in the details of their play and development. As a teacher, I learned to recognize the importance of adjusting my game to meet the needs of students by becoming closely attuned to each child's personal learning style. Ragonnet's book is inspirational and can improve your game where ever it is played!

Jennifer Leary Stratton ... Read more