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Clone Golf Clubs | Callaway
Golf
Golf Books | Golf
Club Reviews
Visit Jon’s new Golf
Blog: TheJoyofGolfing.com
Golf books are a golf fanatic’s best friend. If you
are a true golf enthusiast, you probably don’t get
enough of the game in the limited amounts of time that you
get to play golf. And, after the Golf Channel (wink), golf
books are perhaps the best way to connect with the experience
of the game while you’re away from it. Here are some
of my favorite golf books:
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The Inner Game: Golf Books About Golf as
a Spiritual Practice |
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Extraordinary
Golf: The Art of the Possible
by Fred Shoemaker, Pete Shoemaker
To me, what most people call the “mental game”
of golf is much more than that. Golf actually has the spiritual
power to be life transformational, and Fred Shoemaker is the
“real deal” when it comes to illuminating this.
I did a golf school with Fred. ( http://www.extraordinarygolf.com/
) He walks his talk in every way, and this book is very worthwhile
and very accessible. Just the connection to throwing clubs
and your inherent, natural abilities is worth the time and
money. Overall, this golf book is very clear and will help
you develop a powerful, positive attitude for the great game
of golf. And, this (in my humble opinion) is something most
golfers sorely need. Shoemaker is one of the true masters
of the inner game. If you are attracted at all to the higher
dimension of the game, this golf book is a must read. Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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The
Inner Game of Golf
by W. Timothy Gallwey
Tim Gallwey is better known for The Inner Game of
Tennis, but his exploration into the inner game of golf is
clear and effective. In fact, this book really made a difference
in my game. There was something about the way he connected
me with his experience of connecting to his own natural ability
to helped me connect to mine. This book is filled with useful,
practical advise and it’s a fun, easy read. Highly recommended.
Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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The
Cosmic Laws of Golf (and everything else)
by Printer Bowler
This is a more fun approach to the spiritual dimensions
of golf. It’s meaningful yet doesn’t take itself
too seriously. Right from the start, I found his description
of the twisted mental gymnastics that most golfers experience
delightful. Bowler moves from there into some innovative visualization
exercises, all with a lightness of heart that can help you
enjoy yourself more and play better too. Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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Golf
is Not a Game of Perfect
by Dr. Bob Rotella
Rotella is one of the more famous mental game gurus,
and this is his essential work. Solid advise written is a
clear manner. A positive ride that can’t hurt and can
help. Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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Zen
Golf: Mastering the Mental Game
by Joseph Parent
Parent is Vijah Singh’s mental game coach. This
is another useful golf book. It’s more of a meditation
on the game and the art of letting go from an excellent Buddhist-inspired
perspective. A solid approach if you have the presence of
mind to put it into practice. Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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Golf Novels: Golf Books that are More than
Good Stories
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The
Legend of Bagger Vance
by Steven Pressfield
Forget the movie. This book is actually based on the
Hindu classic, The Bhagavad Gita. (Bagger Vance = Bhagavan.
Ranolf Junna = Arjuna) It’s probably my favorite golf
book. It’s certainly the only one I’ve read three
times. I consider it to be a must read. I wish as many people
would read this as have read Golf in the Kingdom. I liked
this MUCH better. Maybe that’s partly because I am a
something of a student of Indian philosophy, but I also found
it far more entertaining. It’s a great story filled
with insights as well as a profound, cosmic perspective. I
found the movie to be a real let down given how rich, fulfilling,
and soulful I found this book to be. Pressfield is a great
writer, and if you are a golf fan and haven’t read this,
I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Buy
now at Amazon.com »
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Golf
in the Kingdom
by Michael Murphy
I suppose this is a classic of golf as spiritual practice.
Shivas Irons is a charming character and the insights about
the game are fun and on target; yet, as a novel, I found it
lacking a solid narrative. Still, it’s worth the journey.
Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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Golf Books About the Culture of Golf
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My
Usual Game
by David Owen
Owen is a wonderful writer who uses this book to provide
an extraordinary ride through the world of golf from Augusta
to Scotland, from the Ping factory to a hysterical romp via
the “man van” through Myrtle Beach. Many laugh-out-loud
scenes and mini-adventures told with panache and polish. Good
fun and a valuable perspective masterfully told. Buy
now at Amazon.com »
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Bud,
Sweat and Tees : A Walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour
by Alan Shipnuck
A fascinating "inside the ropes" perspective
on life on the PGA Tour. Yes, there’s plenty of beer
and babes, but there’s also a real adventure on Tour
as Rich Beem wins the PGA in his rookie year. How’d
he do that? This golf book is quite amazing as golf entertainment
in a gossipy way that is, as far as I can tell, totally non-fiction.
I learned something about the importance of focus on the golf
course too. Great fun! Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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A
Feel for the Game
by Ben Crenshaw
Crenshaw is a gentleman with a noble history. His
golf memoir is as gentle as his demeanor, but also has the
added richness of his relationship with the great golf teacher,
Harvey Penick. It was a pleasure to get to know Crenshaw better
through this book. While it was hardly a revelation, it illuminated
the man behind the highlights, and I found him worth knowing.
Buy
now at Amazon.com » |
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Other Resources
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Article: “A
New Beginning—Golf Book Collecting” by Shivas
Irons Society historian, Peter Shaerf provides a unique and
personal perspective on golf literature. Also, I highly recommend
the The
Journal of the Shivas Iron Society. Issue 1 was nothing
short of inspirational and beautifully designed as well.
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