Golf book recommendations

denishurley

Any suggestions as to good books about golf that I should read? I don't mean instructional books or, with with apologies to kevinmarkham, ones like Hooked, but just good writing about golf.

In the recent past I've read A Good Walk Spoiled, Duel In The Sun, Open and My Baby Got The Yips and I read Bud, Sweat and Tees years ago. I have ordered a biography of Tom Morris recently and will be buying the new book about Padraig Harrington, Obsessed, soon too, so just wondering if there are any others I should be reading?

onlyfinewine

denishurley wrote: »

Any suggestions as to good books about golf that I should read? I don't mean instructional books or, with with apologies to kevinmarkham, ones like Hooked, but just good writing about golf.

In the recent past I've read A Good Walk Spoiled, Duel In The Sun, Open and My Baby Got The Yips and I read Bud, Sweat and Tees years ago. I have ordered a biography of Tom Morris recently and will be buying the new book about Padraig Harrington, Obsessed, soon too, so just wondering if there are any others I should be reading?

Feinstein also did a good job on the Majors if you have not read it and Curt Sampson's book "Hogan" is a gripping read.

FixdePitchmark

The Greatest Game Ever Played.

Has got to be the best golf story ever.

So well written too - one of the best books in any genre I have ever read.


Seve - very good too - but sad in parts. He seemed to be fighting with the world at times.

lowelife

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The Greatest Game Ever Played.

Has got to be the best golf story ever.

So well written too - one of the best books in any genre I have ever read.


Seve - very good too - but sad in parts. He seemed to be fighting with the world at times.

Agreed this is a good book, but Mark Frost wrote 2 better ones

The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever (about a 1956 match pitting pros Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson against amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi)

And the very best of the The Grand Slam (about the 1930 golf season of Bobby Jones and his life leading up to this) (also see the film Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius)

slave1

I'm not into golf books but I chanced upon Rocco Mediate's one which centers on his play-off with Woods for the US Open and I thought it was quite good.
Are you kidding me?

Webbs

Absolutely loved Preferred Lies: A Journey to the Heart of Golf by Andrew Grieg,

tippman26

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-On-Hackers-Challenge-Break/dp/0856408417
great book,one that every golfer can relate to

FixdePitchmark

tippman26 wrote: »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-On-Hackers-Challenge-Break/dp/0856408417
great book,one that every golfer can relate to

That sounds good - everything you can think of has been done before

Seves Three Iron

Favourite golf books so far;

The Pro, by Butch Harmon (some great stories in there about his Da)
Royal and Ancient, Blood Sweat and Tears at the British Open
Don't Choke, by Gary Player (bit preachy but some sound advice)
Sam, Sam Torrance's autobiography
Into the Bear Pit, Mark James' Ryder Cup story from '99

FixdePitchmark

Seves Three Iron wrote: »

Favourite golf books so far;

The Pro, by Butch Harmon (some great stories in there about his Da)
Royal and Ancient, Blood Sweat and Tears at the British Open
Don't Choke, by Gary Player (bit preachy but some sound advice)
Sam, Sam Torrance's autobiography
Into the Bear Pit, Mark James' Ryder Cup story from '99

Thanks S3Iron

Must look up Sam's - a full life I'd say. more to hime than golf ?

Seves Three Iron

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Must look up Sam's - a full life I'd say. more to hime than golf ?

Mostly golf in fairness, and the Ryder Cup at that, but some interesting drinking tales also from over the years with fellas like John O'Leary and Ken Brown. I always liked Torrance. His Dad, Bob, did a half decent book back in the 80s too, Room at the Top, but it's more of an instructional book. Now he is a man with a story to tell. Maybe it'll be done some day.

Seves Three Iron

Actually another I should have mentioned is the caddie John O'Reilly's book, The Life of O'Reilly. He's dead now but don't think I would breaking any libel laws anyhow by saying he was a big drinker, a big smoker and a big messer. Interesting book tho a bit of an amateur production. Hard to get copies of now mind.

Benicetomonty

Seves Three Iron wrote: »

Actually another I should have mentioned is the caddie John O'Reilly's book, The Life of O'Reilly. He's dead now but don't think I would breaking any libel laws anyhow by saying he was a big drinker, a big smoker and a big messer. Interesting book tho a bit of an amateur production. Hard to get copies of now mind.

I read O'Reilly's book, some interesting stories, especially about how dangerous it was in places like Africa and Brazil during his time as a caddie. The book is very poorly written though, so I'd avoid it if that might upset you! Ditto for Phil Mickelson's "One Magical Sunday", horribly written, only for die hard fans.

Otherwise, Id strongly recommend those books that have already been mentioned, especially Mark Frost's and Feinstein's efforts. Also Harvey Penick's Little Red Book; technically an instructional book but quite philosophical as well.

lowelife

Seves Three Iron wrote: »

Actually another I should have mentioned is the caddie John O'Reilly's book, The Life of O'Reilly. He's dead now but don't think I would breaking any libel laws anyhow by saying he was a big drinker, a big smoker and a big messer. Interesting book tho a bit of an amateur production. Hard to get copies of now mind.

http://www.awesomebooks.com/search/?q=life+of+o%27reilly&s=no&c=all&x=0&y=0

Use this place a lot for my golf books and only once has it failed me on even the older rarer stuff.

Bargain prices too and don't be put off by the used factor they are usually in great condition

onlyfinewine

lowelife wrote: »

http://www.awesomebooks.com/search/?q=life+of+o%27reilly&s=no&c=all&x=0&y=0

Use this place a lot for my golf books and only once has it failed me on even the older rarer stuff.

Bargain prices too and don't be put off by the used factor they are usually in great condition

Brilliant, got 2 books I wanted and excellent value.

A BIG THANKS.

lowelife

Glad to help

denishurley

Cheers for all the tips guys!

kiers47

John Daly's "my life in and out of the rough" is a cracking book of personal struggles on and off the course..

Wichita Lineman

I've just finished Darren Clarke's 'Open Book' and it's mostly interesting, flags here and there though.

Paul Keane's 'Obsessed - Inside Padraig Harrington's Head' was very good.

spacecoyote

The missus got me "golf dreams" by john updike for Christmas.

Really enjoyable, feels like the literary equivalent of listening to Peter aliss commentate at the open

The Premier Man

spacecoyote wrote: »

The missus got me "golf dreams" by john updike for Christmas.

Really enjoyable, feels like the literary equivalent of listening to Peter aliss commentate at the open

that sounds like hell so,talking about wildlife and some lad in the crowd struggling with a 99.then getting a golfers name wrong every so often and then back to the 99s and the crowd.

ssbob

Lawerence Donegans Four Iron in the Soul was a brilliant read about him caddying for the Scottish pro Ross Drummond(now a senior) on his most successful year on tour back in the 80's!

Wichita Lineman

I've just found Colin Byrne's ' Bagman' in a 2nd hand shop so I picked it up to go along with his 'Bagman 2' which I have at home but hadnt read it.

FixdePitchmark

Andy Dunne11 wrote: »

I've just found Colin Byrne's ' Bagman' in a 2nd hand shop so I picked it up to go along with his 'Bagman 2' which I have at home but hadnt read it.

very good read. He has had a great life from golf. But he shows it is hard work and your are away for so long. A writer too.

GreeBo

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

very good read. He has had a great life from golf. But he shows it is hard work and your are away for so long. A writer too.

I didn't like it at all personally and I'm not mad about him.
I thought his recent article about woods at the matters was very poor.

FixdePitchmark

GreeBo wrote: »

I didn't like it at all personally and I'm not mad about him.
I thought his recent article about woods at the matters was very poor.

Is that because he didn't agree with you ?

I liked it, nice insight.
I think andy has no choice now anyway.

denishurley

To those who helped me, thanks again, I have recently read The Majors and The Greatest Game Ever Played and loved both. As mentioned above, Life O'Reilly isn't that well-written but there are a few good yarns

FixdePitchmark

denishurley wrote: »

To those who helped me, thanks again, I have recently read The Majors and The Greatest Game Ever Played and loved both. As mentioned above, Life O'Reilly isn't that well-written but there are a few good yarns

The greatest game ever played. Now there is a real writer.

GreeBo

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Is that because he didn't agree with you ?

No, it was because he didnt cover the story properly at all, instead went for the tabloidesque "Tiger is let away with cheating" angle.
2 minutes of research and he would have had the reasons behind it and been able to present the facts, and then give his personal opinion.

FixdePitchmark

GreeBo wrote: »

No, it was because he didnt cover the story properly at all, instead went for the tabloidesque "Tiger is let away with cheating" angle.
2 minutes of research and he would have had the reasons behind it and been able to present the facts, and then give his personal opinion.

Ive a feeling he may know a bit more about golf than you.

GreeBo

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Ive a feeling he may know a bit more about golf than you.

and yet his opinion was ruled 100% incorrect by the games two governing bodies....funny that.

FixdePitchmark

GreeBo wrote: »

and yet his opinion was ruled 100% incorrect by the games two governing bodies....funny that.

Yes very funny,

Former world number 1 caddy, in the game at pro and major level for what , 20 years.

I think people inside the game know it was balls. But anyway off topic.

GreeBo

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Yes very funny,

Former world number 1 caddy, in the game at pro and major level for what , 20 years.

I think people inside the game know it was balls. But anyway off topic.

yeah, if only the USGA and R&A were inside the game

/out permanently after that nugget.

FixdePitchmark

GreeBo wrote: »

yeah, if only the USGA and R&A were inside the game

/out permanently after that nugget.

It was a cover up, we all know it. / out.

Tarquin1970

ssbob wrote: »

Lawerence Donegans Four Iron in the Soul was a brilliant read about him caddying for the Scottish pro Ross Drummond(now a senior) on his most successful year on tour back in the 80's!

+1 on this

Also try Quiet Please, about about the Ryder Cup by same author

Quiet Please http://amazon.co.uk/dp/0224062905

lowelife

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The greatest game ever played. Now there is a real writer.

Agreed
Mark Frost

Also did The Grand Slam & The Match if you want some more good golf books

All 3 of them I read in next to no time as I couldnt put them down

slave1

Poulter's autobiography on the way....