How do you fit a complete golfer’s handbook into 170 pages? The author of this book actually managed quite well, surprisingly. From pictures of golf courses in South Africa, to analyzing Ben Hogan’s famous swing, everything you could ever really need to know about golf is contained within these scant pages. At times, the book suffers from a lack of focus, but overall, we found it to be a very enjoyable read.

We appreciated the fact that this book did a great job of covering all of the basics, such as the history of the game, rules, etiquette and different strategies. Each section contains incredible illustrations and photographs, and visually, this is a very stunning book. Since the page count is rather limited, the author really didn’t go into as much detail as he could have, but the basics are all covered quite nicely. He did a good job of demystifying a lot of the aspects of this sport and you’ll come away with some very interesting trivia to share with your friends on the 19th hole.

Player has three Master’s jackets and is well known throughout the golfing world as one of its nicest personalities. This shines through in the book and if a read could ever be called genial, this book would take the cake. It was a pleasant read that captured Player’s spirit and translated it onto the page, and that is something that many authors fail to do throughout their careers. He did have the help of two co-authors, but you never feel that they are writing the book while he’s off at the clubhouse. A lot of books by star players fall prey to this, but Player’s book managed to really capture his love of the game, and his personality, without feeling like it was overly ghostwritten.

The section on practice drills and games was very informative and we came away with some great tips to use out on the course the next time we head out. The mental preparation section was also particularly useful and again, full of tips you can put to immediate use.

Bottom line, if you are a fan of the sport and already own every book on the subject, you should still be able to get something out of Player’s book. If you’re completely new to the game and looking for an instructional, this is not the best resource for that, but it is still a good read that can help explain a lot of the game to a novice. Golfers are an odd bunch, as we should know, but this book does a good job of appealing to all of them. It may not be our favorite golfing book, and it may not be the most useful book ever written on the sport, but that didn’t take away from enjoying it thoroughly. Buy it, give it as a gift to a rabid golfer and take it at face value as an entertaining read. You won’t regret the purchase.

Originally posted 2008-08-29 05:44:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Golden Gate Park Golf Course Golden Gate Golf Course is located in: San Francisco, CA Phone: (415) 751-8987 Website: http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/ Course History: This course was first opened in 1951. Although it is a nine hole course, the Par 27 ranging over more than 1200 yards offers a challenging diversions for all levels of players. It......
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• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf

Despite the overly clunky title, this book promises to help you master complex techniques by learning in a visual manner. Since statistics show that we as humans do learn better when presented with images, this is a viable theory, but will it pay off? Let’s take a hard look at the book and find out.

Maybe we went in with the wrong expectations, but this book seemed to fall more than a little short. We were expecting more of an actual training resource, with more focus on specific techniques. Instead, it is more of a book with pictures of people in various stages of their golf swing. The main problem appears to be not exactly with the book, but with the fact that 2D images don’t do a very good job when it comes to teaching someone.

If this book had been a DVD, our review may have been a little bit different. As it is, it serves as a great resource for those that are completely new to the game. You’ll learn a lot about the right way to swing a club, as well as most of the basics. However, those looking for insight on special tips or tricks will undoubtedly be disappointed.

Strangely enough, the book starts with the history of golf. While this is a nice little addition, there was nothing particularly related to the subject of the title. When you tell us you’re going to teach us how to golf visually, we really don’t need a history lesson. Again, it is clear that this book is intended for rank beginners, and while there is no problem with that, it did disappoint us a little bit.

Chapter Four was by far the most interesting and it deals with iron swings. Short games can be a problem for a lot of people and we found that the book included some very good tips in this section. Other than that, the chapter on Bunker Shots was also pretty interesting. Everything else is very basic, such as pictures of the components of a golf club, how to hold the club, etc… For the right audience, it’s a great book. For everyday experienced golfers – not so much.

Overall, if you are just starting out, or you need a refresher on the game, this is a great resource. It’s the perfect gift for a young golfer and there are quite a few useful tips included. While we did have some issues with the overall images used, and the inclusion of what felt like a lot of filler, this was still a decent book on golf.

Just because it’s written for beginners doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. We still feel comfortable recommending it, just as long as the reader understands that it’s not going to cure all of their ills, but it may help a bit with their score. If you have had trouble picking up the sport, learning this way may be the right answer.

Originally posted 2008-09-26 05:29:52. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf

Over the past few years, the amount of new courses in America has been dwarfed by the amount of courses that are closing. While the sport isn't close to dying anytime soon, many are starting to see some warning signs that the industry may be struggling. There is a lot of finger pointing, but the majority of it seems to be centered on the manufacturer's of golf equipment. While this may seem a bit odd, many believe that since new clubs that promise better scores come out every year, consumers are hesitant to plunk down a lot of cash on something that may be outdated within a few months.

This raises another big issue in the sport - do these clubs really work and can you buy hope? The answer is usually a no. While these clubs may help improve your game a little bit, you're not really addressing the problem and all too often, the results are nothing by disappointment in more hype. This leaves many players the choice of either becoming better or just quitting the sport. As this title of this book indicates, the author wants consumers to just forget all about this hype and hit the ball.

When it comes down to it, the only thing that can make you a better player is practice. Sure, you can buy that fancy new driver, but if you think it's going to turn you from a 150 yarder to a 400 yarder overnight, you are sadly deceived. We are all limited by our physical make-up and prowess, and no club is going to be able to change that. However, with time and practice, you can become a better player and at the very least, a more consistent one.
This book does a good job at addressing the new kinds of equipment that are being released and their strengths and weaknesses. New materials and designs are discussed as well as how they will affect our games. The author covers the evolution of the new clubs and in some cases, proves that the old stand-bys were actually better for our games. Also on tap is a discussion on the evolution of the golf ball and whether or not this is also a contributing factor in the way we play.

The author's viewpoints, statements, and actions as the former USGA technical director have even resulted in litigation (now resolved) by the golf equipment manufacturers. We recommend this book simply because it offers an interesting viewpoint and some much needed discussion into the phenomenon of golf club evolution. You may not agree with the author, but it is an interesting read. He certainly has a gift for making even complex issues easy to understand and the book is very well written.

If you are interested in golf equipment and finding which materials and clubs really do deliver on their promises, this book is well worth the purchase price.

Originally posted 2008-11-30 22:45:21. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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