1 comments about Winning Is a Choice: How the Champions Do It, and How We Can Too.

1. Professional golfer Jim Hiskey and psychiatrist Paul Meier combine their life experience in Winning is a Choice: How the Champions Do It, and How We Can Too, an inspirational true-life compilation of what it truly takes to succeed and overcome obstacles. From revealing how fear of failure drastically impedes one's ability to perform at the highest level, to recounting true-life stories of overcoming adversity from Tiger Woods on the golf course to ordinary individuals such as Rachel, a survivor of multiple sexual assaults. Each chapter's tales encapsulate a defining aspect of champions, from "Champions Choose to Accept Help from Others" to "Champions Choose to Get Up and Move On", and "Champions Choose to Concentrate". An inspirational testimony of the values of perseverance, positive thinking, and the importance of resisting the all-too-common craving for instant gratification.

2 comments about Considerable Passions: Golf, the Masters and the Legacy of Bobby Jones.

1. A delightful telling of Jones' life and his contributions to golf. Jones' career and his times are documented in powerful fashion. The pictures are amazing the scope and breath really are incredible. If you or your loved one love's golf this is the book for you. This one looks great on the coffee table and will have your guests wanting their own copy.



2. This volume, written to accompany the Down the Fairway exhibit at the Atlanta History Center, is a nice coffee table book, filled with some interesting pictures and some good essays. A downside to this volume is that Dr. Lewis engages in some speculation concerning Jones' attitude toward race that does not hold up to the experience of those who actually knew him. Although this volume is nice, a better treatment of Jones' life is Sidney Matthew's outstanding - but somewhat hagiographical - volume, "Life and Times of Bobby Jones: Portrait of a Gentleman."

No comments about Payne Stewart.

No comments about A Feel for the Game: A Master's Memoir.

5 comments about Every Shot I Take.

1. This is a very inspirational book and is more than just a plain golf book. I am 12 years old and a big fan of Davis Love 3. This showed me what golf was all about. There were many hints and tips that guided me through my gof years so far and I believe this to be the best book i've ever read.



2. Even if you are not a true golf fan, this is one book you should read. The instructional tips are inevitably useful and the inspiration that you receive will stay with you. For all of us who idolized our fathers, this book expresses those feelings wonderfully and compassionately. Thank you for writing this book Davis.



3. Davis is so classy a person and a talented golfer. What about that shot on 17th at Augusta? This book tugs at your heart relating the death of his father. Then the episode with his first major and the rainbow. His brother caddying. The eleven cent putting drill (I keep the putter and eleven cents in the den for practice since then.) This endures many who never pulled for this humble man cheer for another big win for DL3 and the rest of his legion fans pull for another title for our hero! Keep on being you, DL3. You and Freddie are our guys. Thanks for this read.



4. Every shot I take is a classic peace written by my favorite golfer, Davis Love III. This book portays his relationship with his father and how this father, Davis Love Jr., helped him on his way to success and on his way to becoming a great golfer and American. This book tells about this Davis Jr., Masters debut in 1988. The U.S.G.A. Book of the year was truly amazing and I would read it again and again.



5. I have no respect for you for doing what you did to Michele Wie. You claim to have integrity and a knowledge of golf but don't believe you do. If you have so much integrity, why did Sports Illustrated remove your name and your email address? If you have so much integrity, then face the public and defend yourself you COWARD!!!!

5 comments about Behind the #$%*& Green.

1. This book was not written or endorsed by Scott Simpson, the professional golfer on the PGA TOUR.



2. Scott Simpson, the author of Behind the #$%*& Green, has managed golf courses since 1987. In 1991, two golf courses under his supervision were recognized by the University of Colorado's School of Business as the #1 and #7 most played courses in Colorado. In 1996, he was a featured speaker on Golf Course Management at the National Recreation and Parks Association's Annual Convention. As for each Scott's talent as a writer, buy their respective books and judge for yourself....



3. Funny look at duffers to drunks
   Understanding it all

   I was a pro greens-keeper at 15




4. This fictitious "tongue-in-cheek" tale on the management of golf courses should appeal to non-golfers equally as much as it should to amateur and professional golfers alike.

   The book is very well written and, even though it is fictitious, seems to give a very good insight into the highs and lows of golf course management (both on and off the course). The story appears to be written with a mixture of sincerity, joviality, friendly irreverence and with a light hearted touch of arrogance.

   All in all, the book amused me to the point I couldn't put it down and, to me, that is the mark of a good book, isn't it?.




5. This is an excellent look into the game and business of golf. Written in a humorous style, Behind the Green will ring true to anyone who has ever been in the business of golf. The portions of this book that deal with the business side of the game may seem outrageous to the player, but they are, if possible, understated. But anyone with a love of the game will enjoy this book.

2 comments about Driven: The Definitive Biography of Nick Faldo.

1. Driven does describe one of the best players of the past thirty years. His record speaks for itself.

   However, the impression one gets from reading of Faldo's life is shallowness. Golf, golf, golf. Even his fellow players were not allowed near this guy. Three to four wives? Always in a snit about the press, or James, or?

   Certainly, he was a good player. Not a Hogan or a Nicklaus or even a Watson. But he had a good run! Yet, nothing enduring about the man outside of his game that will endure him much in the history of the game.

   Revealing read.




2. When one thinks of Nick Faldo, one will also think of Greg Norman and the two of them together at the 1996 Masters. Faldo trailing hopelessly by 6 strokes entering the final round summoned something from deep inside which allowed him to pull off one of the great comebacks in the history of Sport. Recording 7 birdies in the final round of a Major is incredible, but when it's Sunday at the Master's, it becomes legendary. Especially when you consider that well before this victory ever took place the golfing world was in agreement that Faldo's career was over so far as winning majors was concerned.
   
   However, Faldo had overcome doubts before. Including his own. It's easy to forget and indeed it should not be dwelled upon, but Faldo very nearly achieved 3 legs of the career Grand Slam losing out in a playoff in the US Open to Curtis Strange. The reason I bring this up in not to highlight a negative for Faldo but rather to demonstrate his resilence as after that massive dissapointment Faldo would indeed redeem himself and go on to win many more Majors.
   
   Faldo endured many dissapointments through out his career, personal as well. His first marriage failed. Reading the accounts, I have always gotten the feeling that Nick was just to young to be sure of what he wanted. I don't think he ever intended to hurt any of the women that he eventually left. Indeed such is life. Men and Women are constantly changing and evolving. It shouldn't ever be a surprise when a man and woman part ways. I suppose Faldo's part in the blame is quite subjective, I won't argue with anyone. What I will say, is I believe he truly cared for each and everyone of the women he's been involved with.
   
   Nick has always seemed to be a bit of a magnet for critisizm. Well before the limelight Faldo made a bit of a pilgrimmage to the states if I remember correctly to play and learn golf in Texas. Joining him as well was the likes of Sandy Lyle. This was when they were both still amateurs. Needless to say Faldo grew quite disenchanted with the style of golf being taught as it tended to only focus on becoming a good scrambler and putter. Faldo went back home and was portrayed as a National dissapointment. However, I have always agreed with his decision as not everyones game is suited for that style. Faldo wanted to be an all around great golfer and I admire that. In the end it proved out that he made the right decision when you take a look at the results of his career.
   
   Nick Faldo has indeed spent a lot of time playing golf to the exclusion of other interests and as well people in his life. But then I ask, what great athlete hasn't (ha ha ha). Isn't that how you become great by having that singular focus and depending on the others around you to understand that. To understand that's how you put food on the table and a roof over your head and supply all the luxurious gifts that are lavished. Indeed. Indeed.
   
   Faldo has weathered the critisizm, the losses, the heart ache and done so all while still performing. It's truly amazing to think how much he went through and was still yet able to perform. On Faldo's place in the overall ranking of Golfers all time, I suppose any evaluation would have to focus only on record to be unbiased. And so there are many you would have to rank above him. But then I never liked to look simply at numbers. Take for instance Severiano. Is he a better golfer than Faldo because he had one more Major victory? To you perhaps, I don't know. But to me Faldo has the edge over his past rival. For 2 reasons, 1)Faldo won the biggest of all the Majors, that being the Masters 3 times and also facturing in how he won them. 2 playoffs, one in which he sank I believe a 20 or 40 foot put to win the bloody thing. Then of course following that victory up the very next year with another playoff win to go back to back. I factor in winning 2 years in a row as well. Ladies and Gentlemen that's quite hard to do. I have already recounted his victory over Norman in 96 Masters. Again Legendary.
   
   Perhaps just as big certainly around the world and maybe in the US is The Open Championship which Faldo also won 3 times. 2 times at Muirfield and then once at the Royal and Ancient Golf Course St. Andrews. In fact it was at Muirfield that Faldo won his greatest Championship. After having won the Masters back to back and The Open at Muirfield and St. Andrews his career was reported to be finished. Funny I guess no one was able to convice Nick Faldo as he won The Open a second time at Muirfield. Understandbly emotional and in tears Faldo had once again proven his critics wrong. Then he so eloquently thanked them from the heart of his bottom. HA HA HA Good Show Nick! Good Show! Fair to say that was over 10 years ago now. He might not like me recounting that as he was highly critisized, but hey I thought it was funny. I love ya Nick.
   
   So again I would have to give the edge to Faldo over Seve. And that's really the only evaluation I care about since that was his biggest rival. In regards to Nicklaus and Watson, well, Nick never got to face those guys in his prime and vice versa so to try and speculate would be just that, speculation.
   
   It's hard to say how history will paint Nick Faldo. I suppose the feelings will always quite divided. Personally I love the man, to me he's an inspiration. Anyone that put's their heart and soul into anything the way he has is inspiring to me. Fortunately the happy ending came for him in his personal life as well as he is now married to a quite attractive and wonderfully sweet woman named Valerie Bercher.
   
   So finally, how would I sum up Nick Faldo? How would I decribe Nick Faldo? Well, I would simply refer to the title of this book written so beautifully by Dale Concannon, Driven.
   
   And a good guy. Cheers Nick!

5 comments about The Dewsweepers: Seasons of Golf and Friendship.

1. The fundamental flaw of this book is that the author tries to pass himself off as everyman. We are supposed to be able to identify with his golf buddies and feel a kinship with the friendship he feels with his fellow Dewsweepers (the guys he golfs with). The problem is that most of us don't get to golf all over the world and at the most prestigious golf courses in our own country. He continually name drops throughout the book. He golfs with his buddy Arnold Palmer and seems to know many of the influential names in the world of golf. If his intention was to show us an example of golf friendships that we could identify with, he fell short.

   I golf with my golf buddies every Sunday at a course where we pay ($$$) to play eighteen holes. We only dream of being able to hop on a plane and fly to Europe or Pebble Beach at the drop of a hat (like the author does with his fellow Dewsweepers). For most of us, a round at Pebble Beach is a lifelong dream that will probably go unfulfilled. For the author of this book, it is just an average day and a prelude to better rounds to come.

   If you are a wealthy country club member and enjoy reading about the lifestyle that you are currently enjoying, this is the book for you. If you aren't, skip this book, call three of your buddies, and head out to the nearest public course. It will be a better way to spend your afternoon.




2. In reading the reviews of the book it describes a bunch of "electic" old men golfers...I don't find an eclectic thing about them...they're a bunch of old, privileged rich guys, who have the time and money for taking golf trips...pretty boring read.

   It's basically Dodson whining about a rough period in his life...something that we all face, but for some reason it seemed a little unexpected to him. Get over it and get in the real world.

   Don't waste your dollars on this one.




3. Dodson conveys the true feelings of playing golf with people who you can come to love almost as much as your family. I truely felt like buying copies for the other 3 guys in my foursome after I was done with it. Just like Final Rounds which I bought for my father. Not for the hard hearted it can bring tears to your eyes at times and cause outrageous laughter at others.



4. "Golf, and sometimes life, are full of new beginnings." So starts one of the most charming books on the subject of golf and life that I have read in quite some time. For this is not a "golf book" any more than Seabiscuit was about a horse race. The author, a former 2 handicap realizes as he advances into his 40's that "I wasn't just losing my ability to play the game the way I once had...Golf was ceasing to be fun."

   Dodson discovers the group of guys that become The Dewseppers when he is enveigled to travel to Syracuse to speak at a charity fund raiser. The fellow doing the inviting had read his previous book "Final Rounds" and thought the author might have something worth listening to about golf forging lasting relationships. One thing leads to another and the antics and follys of The Dewsweepers become a thread which runs through the book, but the story is about much more than them.

   It is about relationships of all kinds. A son and his mother. A boy and his father. A lovely lady named Wendy. Arnold Palmer. Aging friends. A chance meeting on a magical golf course. Brotherly love gone sour. And so many more.

   Dodson has the most interesting way of making how we relate to each other, the humor, the sorrow, the mundane and the magificent all come alive in a very real way. I found the book enthralling.

   Those who have reviewed this book and sniffed about some of the name dropping that occurs in it are missing the point entirely. People like Arnold Palmer just happen to be a real part of Dodson's life. To leave out the "names" is to fail to tell the story to it's fullest.

   In the end he finds that the joy he had gotten from golf during his life was not lost. As he puts it, it was "merely waiting for me to catch up..."

   There is a lot to learn about life and relationships in this book and I doubt there are any of us who could not benefit from that.




5. I found that I was recommending this book on the Democratic Party Daily Kos site - not your usual Internet blogging venue for talking about a book based on what some here have called four Republican golfing buddies.
   
   I linked my comment to Amazon and started to read some of the reviews and I guess that I just want to redress one or two of the comments about the book.
   
   To those who find that the book is somewhat unstructured, then they don't play a round of golf like most of us high handicappers. We have our birdies, but we also have our fair share of double bogies. This book is a bit like this - a book reflecting the game of golf in the way that it is actually played, and in how we actually live our lives.
   
   Dodson takes us all over the place in terms of highs and lows in golf and the personal events surrounding his games. We are immersed deeply in domestic events, in what he admires and what he dislikes and what matters to him. It is a patchwork affair and you feel the integrity of the writing because of this fact.
   
   It is like those guys you meet for the first time in club knockout competitions. Over the round, you learn who they are, what concerns them, how they think. It all comes at you in unexpected intervals as you wait on each tee to drive off or that brief interval walking off the green. You can't predict what is going to be said next but over a round of golf you get the feeling of what the guy is about. The game is the focus, what is said is an aside and probably the most sincere glimpses that one person will reveal to another because it is not said for effect and there is no agenda to the conversation. You are privileged to talk like this with another person. Win or lose, you shared a game of golf and a bit more. It is this "bit more" that you share that makes golf a special game to play.
   
   Read this book and you have that same feeling. You get glimpses of how your partner is feeling, what is affecting his game and learn something about another person's life that is a bit deeper than you would get from a literary presentation designed with this as its main purpose. Sure he drops names of some of the great golf courses that he has been privileged to play and some of the great golfers he has been privileged to know. How can he not, when he plays these courses and knows these people? Yet you get the feeling that it is his golf buddies that matter to him and, by the end of his year re-playing the game like he used to play it before becoming a golfing writer, it is those early morning games with them that have endured the most.
   
   A unique book; an honest piece of writing and highly recommended to all those who play the game in a way that they can see the funny side of their huge slice off the seventh tee and yet who can also take genuine pleasure in seeing their opponent hitting a beautiful 5-iron approach shot to within two feet of the pin.
   
   I am sure when you finish reading this book and put it down at the end you will feel privileged to have played these rounds with the author.

No comments about Golf Travel by Design: How You Can Play the World's Best Courses by the Sport's Top Architects.

No comments about Annika Sorenstam (Sports Heroes and Legends).