GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

Book Review: G.O.L.F.

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golfstinks golf stinksDoes the acronym G.O.L.F. stand for “Greatest Of Life’s Frustrations” or “Game Of Limitless Fun?” Well, the author of G.O.L.F., Lane H. Luoma, will tell you it stands for both (and I think I agree).

I loved this book! I’m not sure how, but Mr. Luoma has figured out how to put down into words every single thought that’s ever crossed a golfer’s mind – it’s truly a rollocking read! What is more, he’s done a rather good job penning this book to appeal to the non-golfer too.

In the preface, Mr. Luoma states “you certainly don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy this book…” After reading that statement, I thought, “sure, what non-golfer is going to take the time to read this book?” But in all honesty, this book would greatly help those non-golfers understand the ups and downs their golfing buddies (or significant others) experience.

G.O.L.F. takes you on a journey of the game from those of us who experience it – from the pros to the Joes, the book levels the playing field, ignores handicaps and explains why everyone who’s ever played this game can be frustrated beyond imagination, yet still overwhelmingly smitten with it all at the same time.

For example, let’s take Chapter 8: “Warning! Hazardous to your Health (Mental).” The chapter takes you through an entire round, hole-by-hole, giving examples of what a terrible score you can end up with just because of strategicly-placed hazards (bunkers, lateral water, etc.). Yet after 17 nightmarish holes, you birdie the unbelievably difficult par 5, 18th-hole to finish on a high note and restore your love of the game. That, my friends, is golf.

From how luck (both good and bad) can affect your game; to being at the mercy of Mother Nature; to taking a look at some of the more interesting rules; G.O.L.F. lays-it-out as you’ve never read it before (oh, you may have thought it, but seeing on the printed page is a totally different experience).

Mr. Luoma takes golfers and non-golfers alike on a facinating voyage into what it really means to play this game – from chagrin to euphoria, it’s all in this book.

You can purchase Mr. Luoma’s book on the G.O.L.F. website, along with some other merchandise, including framed prints from the awesome artwork contained within its pages (I totally want that “Believe” print).

Book Review: Little Balls Big Dreams

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golfstinks golf stinksYou know that feeling you get when you hit a ball on the sweet spot of the club? When everything clicks – a smooth, fluid swing; perfect balance; solid contact…And, of course, the ball goes exactly where you intended it to go. You think to yourself; “If I could only hit it that way all the time.”

We all have those “perfect” shots inside us, we just need to work on hitting more than one a round (or season…or lifetime). But what if one perfect shot led to another and another and before you knew it, everything you ever learned about how to correctly swing a golf club connected both physically and mentally on a regular basis? Sounds a bit fantastical, doesn’t it? One shot and BAM! You’re a scratch golfer. Come on, that’s the stuff of fiction.

Well, actually, it is the stuff of fiction – in James Wolf’s novel “Little Balls Big Dreams” that’s exactly what happens to Matt True, the story’s lead character. Matt is your average guy in his 40s with a wife, kids and an 11 handicap. That is, until one day at his local club, he hits that “perfect” shot on the par 3, 6th hole. Everything connected – a smooth, fluid swing; perfect balance; solid contact…And, of course, the ball went exactly where he intended it to go…in this case, right in the hole for an ace.

But things didn’t end there for Matt. He knew deep down that the ace changed him. He was confident that he could reproduce that swing every time and with similar results…and he was correct – he finished his round at two under par (pretty impressive for an 11 handicap). After that, Matt continued to play scratch golf and he quickly began to resurrect his teenage dreams of becoming a pro golfer on tour. And that’s where the story really begins.

In Little Balls Big Dreams, Mr. Wolf takes you on an adventure of “what if.” What if you could become a scratch golfer after just one, game-changing shot? What would you do? Would you put yourself through Q-school when most of the players there are half your age? Would you sacrifice your family life and your stable job for a shot at life on the PGA Tour? Would your spouse even let you give it a go?

This short novel (167 pages) takes you on Matt’s journey to answer these questions and follow his dreams. I found myself seriously thinking about what I would do if I suddenly were a scratch golfer. And I could relate to the conversations Matt had with his wife over him pursuing his dream. And I could also relate to his concerns about being away from his children for long stretches of time. The only thing I couldn’t relate to was the feeling of being an awesome golfer – so until that happens, I guess I’m not really sure what I would do.

But in the book, you can sit back and enjoy how the story unfolds – how Matt’s decisions lead him to where he ends up when the last page is turned. Little Balls Big Dreams is a thought-provoking and entertaining story of golf, family, dreams and what really matters when you get right down to it.

You can purchase Little Balls Big Dreams HERE. Remember, Father’s Day is coming up!

Book Review: Golf List Mania!

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golf list maniaAs soon as I found out I was getting a copy of Leonard Shapiro and Ed Sherman’s “Golf List Mania!” I began to schvitz in excitement. Besides it being a future 19th hole and coffee table staple, this book offers up (as they perfectly denote), “The Most Authoritative and Opinionated Rankings of the Best and Worst of the Game.” I personally enjoy reading stuff as interesting as this.

Included are lists by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as well as original stuff courtesy of Jim Nantz (who, by the way, offers up a great foreword) and one of America’s greatest sports writer, Dan Jenkins. Shapiro and Sherman delve into this with no holds barred. They have lists ranging from Arnie’s “My Five Most Important Victories” to a personal favorite – Shapiro’s; “Great Caddyshack Pick-Up Lines.”

Another great contribution to this book are the quotes that follow some of the lists. One that sticks out in my mind is Jimmy DeMaret’s, who said: “Golf and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.” Classic.

Fellow hacks, get out there and score yourself a copy for $15. I have lost more than that in golf balls after a round. At least there is a better chance of not losing this book. Good job fellas!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

I Get My Golf Advice From a Guy Who Doesn’t Golf

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golf_senseMy friends, I’m about to take a leap of faith. I’ve decided to change the way I approach my swing, my putting, in fact my entire game. And I’m entrusting this momentous metamorphosis to a man who doesn’t even play golf.

Yep, I’m an idiot.

I’ve just finished reading a book called “Golf Sense – Practical Tips On How To Play Golf In The Zone” (Front Runner Publications, 2010). It’s a book that follows nicely on the heels of another golf book I read recently; “Straight Down the Middle” (see my review HERE).

Both these books are, as it happens, similar in that they don’t really give swing advice, rather, they attempt to put you in a golfing state of mind. Where Straight Down The Middle helped me find “inner peace” on the course, Golf Sense provides you with practical exercises to help you keep that inner peace going throughout your round.

The irony of it all is the author of Golf Sense, Roy Palmer, states right in the introduction that he doesn’t even play golf! I almost closed the book right then and there. But, Mr. Palmer was nice enough to ship me the book gratis from across the pond in England – I figured the least I could do was read it (all the misspellings idiosyncrasies of the Queen’s English included).

I was originally inspired by this golfing inner peace (or getting in the zone) from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance – the scene on the tee when Bagger is explaining to Junuh why Bobby Jones is so good (“he’s in the field”). To me, there’s just something about letting go of all the BS in your head, getting out of your own way (mentally) and just letting your natural swing emerge – it just sounds like the way a golf swing is meant to be executed.

So as I digested Mr. Palmer’s book, I felt his writings and exercises (many of which can be done without a club and while you’re actually reading the book) would really help me find that happy place to exist in during a round. For example, he points to tension in the swing as a major cause of poor play – tension that you may not even know you have since habitually, you’ve swung the same way for so many years.

But realizing the cause of your poor golf shots is only the beginning. Golf Sense is packed with simple ways to put you in (and keep you in) a calm and relaxed state of mind on the course (which will translate into a more relaxed swing, and subsequently lower scores). I have to say, I’m anxious to give it a try.

So my plan is to put Mr. Palmer’s book to the test. Beginning in the new year, I am going to practice a few of the exercises at home. Then, once the weather gets warmer, I will move to the range and finally to the course. I’ll post sometime next season about how I’m progressing.

If you’d care to join me, feel free to get your own copy of Golf Sense HERE and email me (info@golfstinks.com) with your own experiences using this method. Stay tuned…

Book Review: When to Regrip Your Ball Retriever

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imageFor more than a year now, we here at Golfstinks have been telling you not to take your poor play and high handicap too seriously. We’ve posted many colorful articles on this blog that we hoped would instill in you the necessary frame of mind to enjoy golf while still stinking at it. In fact, we plan on posting many more of these types of articles.

But to help you along, I’ve come across some great reading material. Whether in your favorite arm chair or on the porcelain throne, these books are sure to increase your laughter with every page-turn. Endorsed by former U.S. presidents and CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, “How to Line Up Your Fourth Putt” and the recently released “When to Regrip Your Ball Retriever” should be part of every golfer’s book collection.

My copies are now on my bookshelf – wedged right next to Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons. They’re the perfect compliment to each other. I feel it projects to others that: “I’m trying to get better, but I’m not gonna lose any sleep over it.”

Author Bobby Rusher presents his material as a golf instructional manual of sorts. But you wont find advice on how to properly grip a club – instead you’ll find a chapter entitled “The Insignificance of Proper Grip.” My other favorite chapters? “How to Hit a Dunlop 2 From the Rough on your Second Shot, When You Hit a Titleist 1 From the Tee;” or “What to do When you’ve Parred the Course by the 11th Hole;” and the always popular “Body Blocks and When to Use Them.”

One of Mr. Rusher’s more compelling chapters is entitled “The Importance of Realizing that Most Golfers are Bad Golfers.” He explains that when he played Pebble Beach (he shot 141 there by the way), he was intimidated because he feared he would embarrass himself on one of the world’s greatest courses. But he quickly realized that all the other golfers on the course that day were bad too. It took him 6 hours to complete his round because the group he was following was just as terrible.

Of course, I’ve been using the term “chapters” but, these are each typically one page of light and comical reading. The reality is, Mr. Rusher’s books are sarcastic, laugh-out-loud pointers and cheats about taking a light-hearted approach to your stinky golf game. And if you can laugh at these books, you’re one step closer to enjoying golf despite how bad you may be at it. Hats off to you Bobby Rusher – you’re a true stinky golfer.

To help our readers start their book collection, Golfstinks has secured a set of both books to give away to one lucky reader! Simply post the phrase “I Love My Ball Retriever” on our Facebook page, and we’ll select one random winner from those posts on October 29th! If you end up not being our winner, you can email Bobby directly HERE for more info or to purchase either book (hey, the holiday’s are coming up *hint* *hint*).

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