My Top 10 Best Golf Books
These are some of my all time favorite golf books. If you are looking for a new golf book idea or perhaps as a holiday gift, you might want to check out why these have made my top 10 list.
I have tried to include instructional golf books to golf course books and some other eclectic choices as well. I hope you enjoy them. I am curious to hear your comments on them and would love to know YOUR favorites too. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Golf in the Kingdom
One of my all-time favorites. This is such a strange and beautiful book. Every time I re-read it I find something new. It’s the story of a man who meets up with a legendary Scott Shivas Irons on the links of Burningbush (i.e.; The Old Course at St. Andrews). It is very difficult to describe all the beauty, mystery, history and enchantment of the game. This book comes pretty close.
The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing
I have read a TON of golf instruction books through out my golfing career, including classics like, Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons, Golf My Way,
Golf is Not a Game of Perfect
I have almost all of Bob Rotella’s books. And I love them all. But this one really gets at the essence of the game from the famous sports psychologist. Let’s face it, If you try to play perfect golf every round you will soon end up in the cuckoo house. Once you finish this book you’ll understand those negative thoughts, emotions and feelings you experience while playing are common to all. The next phase is, knowing that, how to re-interpret them for optimum performance. This book shows how.
Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book
The lessons and stories in this book were collected by Mr. Penick over a lifetime of golf instruction (and which he never intended to publish). In this book the famed teacher of Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw shares his wisdom in page after page. There is something so simple and so true in his instruction and insight. If your game has your mind (and your swing) wrapped up in knots, this book is the best medicine you can take.
Are You Kidding Me?: The Story of Rocco Mediate’s Extraordinary Battle with Tiger Woods at the US Open
As of this writing we are in the downfall of Tiger Inc brought on by all his off-course shenanigans. But it really does not weigh into my decision to put this book on the list. In my mind, it truly WAS one of the most epic battles in golf history. Rocco the underdog holding his own against the hurting and wobbly-kneed hero, Tiger. Of course we know Tiger prevailed but this book goes behind the scenes with some exquisite details of the 5 day battle at Torrey Pines.
Getting Up and Down
Gee, not sure I should be recommending this after Tom (as we all know) did NOT get up and down to become this year’s (2009) British Open Champ. But I have written about this book before here called, Getting Up and Down by Tom Watson, and it has some of the best short game instruction you will EVER find. Many, many tips and techniques are now part of my game and has helped bring it to new levels thanks to this book.
Golf Dreams
I have always been a fan of John Updike’s writing. No one could spin such lyrical detail out of the mundane such as he could. In this collection of observations, Updike does just that.
The essays range from a spoof on golf instruction books to viewing golf on TV to the ethical and moral imperatives of the game. A little something for everyone by one of the great American writers.
The Spirit of St. Andrews
Famed golf course architect Allister MacKenzie, whose design credits include Augusta National, Cypress Point and Lahinch, goes on the say in Chapter 1, “Golf, in its early days, was always played on commons or links land which bordered the sea…” This is great stuff - to be able to see the game of golf through the eyes of a legendary golf course designer.
Hogan
An absolutely fascinating read. I could not put this book down once I started reading it. I have always been (like many others, I suspect) fascinated with the mystique of Hogan, his “secret” and more. But the book shares just how tortured an individual Hogan was. After watching his father commit suicide with a gun and witnessed by Hogan you can begin to understand how he turned inward to become one of the greatest players of the game.
Core Performance Golf
I did want to include a fitness book on this list and I think this book is one of the best I have seen. This is cutting edge information that you can use to propel your game to new levels via training and nutrition.
I thought I knew a fair amount before purchasing this book but it really opened my eyes to all the new (and very cool) developments in the world of scientific golf training. It’s not by accident that more and more of the world’s top athletes (and, of course, golfers) are training at the Athletes Performance Center. This book will make a world of difference to your game – I promise!
Related posts:
- Core Performance Golf: The Training Program That Will Set Your Game Free
- Getting Up and Down by Tom Watson
- Left Arm in Golf Swing – Straight or Relaxed?
- Golf Wisdom from Slammin Sammy
- ’7 Laws’ & Nick Bradley
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[...] I started to think a lot about this when I read the great golf instruction book, “The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing” by Nick Bradley. (it was even one of my “Top 10 Best Golf Books”) [...]