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Book Review: You! A Golf Guru!

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You! A Golf Guru! by Philip Rennett / 2015
You! A Golf Guru! by Philip Rennett / 2015

As usual, the books we read here at GolfStinks are not intended to fix your grip, swing or putting stroke. Rather than tell you about the latest gimmick or trick to lower your handicap, we are hell-bent on helping you have more fun playing golf…regardless of how you score.

One such publication is; “You! A Golf Guru!” – a book that was recently written by Phil Rennett in the UK. Mr. Rennett took-up golf in his 30’s and over the course of the last 20 years, he has figured out what most golfers never do: That to truly enjoy this game, you have to be at peace with your score and find the real reasons you play golf.

Mr. Rennett is quick to point out the book isn’t an instructional manual. As such, he devotes a good portion of its pages to the many pleasures of golf beyond just playing well – highlighting the chance to get out in nature and converse with friends.

This relatively short (103 pages) book is packed with advice that will teach you to see the good through the bad. For example, don’t let a poor shot get into your head – instead, “relish the opportunity to create a memorable moment for yourself with the recovery shot.” As Mr. Rennett pens at the very beginning of the book: Always walk off [the 18th] with a positive.

Perhaps most appealing is his “Lessons for Life” chapter towards the end of the book. There, Mr. Rennett reminds us to not worry; be patient; and accept the skill set we have. Only then can we see golf (and maybe even life) in a new light…and begin to find true enjoyment in the game.

Mr. Rennett’s book resonates a message we’ve been shouting here at GolfStinks for years: That golf is a game and you should have fun playing it! Go HERE to get your copy of “You! A Golf Guru!”

Book Review: Psych-Out Golf

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product_thumbnailBeing that we’re not your average golf blog, we typically don’t review your average golf book. And nothing fits the atypical golf book mold better than Psych-Out Golf. They say golf is half mental. If that’s true, this book can help you in ways you could have never imagined!

Written by a father/son team (Todd and Judah Domke), the recently published Psych-Out Golf has ten chapters and none of them help you shave strokes off your game. Instead, this book helps you add strokes to your playing partner’s game – genius!

Messrs. Domke and Domke have brilliantly put together countless ways to get the best of your opponent on the links – from making subtle yet mentally debilitating statements to getting them a bit tipsy, Psych-Out Golf is packed with ways to win a hole or round without actually playing well yourself!

Now the authors do point out this book is really for those of us who like to wager on the course. That’s when the pressure is really on, and subsequently when a good POG (psych-out golf) will work its magic. But it can be utilized in other situations. As one of their POG “Commandments” states: “Thou shall not practice Psych-Out Golf unless money or pride is at stake. Or if the opponent is a jackass.” Beautifully said if you ask me.

So what are some of these POGs? Well, let’s take the chapter on putting, for example. Messrs. Domke and Domke give you plenty of ammo for launching an all-out assault on your opponent whilst on the greens – from not granting that 18-inch gimme when skins are on the line (after you’ve been granting them the rest of the round) to saying something like “Those [short] putts kill me. The hardest putts can be the easiest” just before your opponent’s seemingly easy putt. While you’re not saying anything flagrant, you are definitely getting into his head!

But the aforementioned POGs while putting are just the tip of the iceberg. There is a chapter on using the rangers or MOFOBETEs to make your opponent nervous; a chapter on citing rules to incite mental disruption in your opponent; and there’s even a section on how to use the (motorized) golf cart to your advantage!

Now I have to admit, I don’t bet too often on the course. But I do like to have fun out there so I’m anxious to put some of these POGs to the test! And who knows, if they seem to work, maybe a friendly wager will be in order!

Psych-Out Golf is a rollicking guide to winning a few skins on the course while driving your playing partners batty – and it’s all in good fun. You can purchase your copy of the book HERE. But as always, the Domke gentleman have graciously provided us with a copy to giveaway to one of you! Simple head on over to our Facebook page, find the “Psych-Out Golf” post on our wall and tell us why you can’t wait to psych-out your golf buddies! That’s it – we’ll choose one winner next week!

Good luck!

Book Review: I Married A Nutritionist; Things I’ve Learned That Every Golfer Should Know

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IMarriedANutritionistWhen the co-author of this book emailed me to write a review, I jumped at the chance – not just because the book’s topic was interesting and rather refreshing (proper nutrition geared towards the average golfer) but also because I had my own story to tell.

Up until fairly recently, I was like many other American males when it came to health: Overweight (by 30+ pounds); out of shape (which affected me both on and off the course); and too ignorant about proper nutrition to do anything about it.

I didn’t have the benefit of reading “I Married A Nutritionist” – if I had, I may have gotten healthier a long time ago. Instead, I ended up reading several books (not diet books, rather books on the food industry and how human beings should really be eating) over the course of several years, which led to me ultimately changing the way I eat and live.

What took me years to wrap my head around and apply to my daily life has been put inside a nutshell in Steve and Karen Roth’s book, “I Married A Nutritionist; Things I’ve Learned That Every Golfer Should Know.” Mr. Roth, a writer and golfer and Mrs. Roth, a certified nutritionist with a masters degree in holistic nutrition, tag teamed to write this book in a conversational style that the average person can truly comprehend (and trust me, understanding which foods are good for you and which foods are not can be very complicated).

This book literally teaches you how a person should eat – especially how to navigate in today’s world of processed foods; artificial flavors and colors; and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). From why eating grass fed beef is healthier to why buying “real” food should matter to everyone, “I Married A Nutritionist” is like having a chat with your own personal nutritionist (which was obviously the intention of the book).

But Mr. and Mrs. Roth don’t stop at what foods you should eat and why – they also provide recipes and meal prep tips along with advice to rid toxins from your life (both from the food we eat and the non-food products we use everyday).

The book’s subtitle (Things I’ve Learned That Every Golfer Should Know) is a little misleading because it’s really for everybody – not just golfers (it should be noted this is the “golfer’s edition” of the book, which was originally marketed as “Things I’ve Learned That Every Guy Should Know”). But in this edition, the Roths’ do try and highlight how their topic relates to golfers – especially in an early section of the book that covers what you should eat before, during and after your round.

The book is also unique in how it’s written – each chapter is literally a conversation between husband and wife – she the educated specialist and he the comedic golfer who uses clubhouse humor to put things in layman’s terms. Their back and forth banter might get a little corny but there were multiple times I laughed out loud – especially the part about preparing a whole chicken to cook in a crock pot.

But let’s get back to my personal story for a moment: As I mentioned above, I have read several books on the current food industry in this country and what human beings should be eating to live healthy. I don’t subscribe to any particular “diet” but I have learned good practices. Those practices allowed me to lose 40 pounds over the past two years. Later this year, I turn 40 and I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life (starting to sound like a late-night infomercial now, huh)?

My point in telling you this is that all the stuff I learned (and then some) is covered in “I Married A Nutritionist.” Being healthy doesn’t have to be hard – all you need is a willingness to change your eating habits and a guide on how to do it – the latter of which is this book.

“I Married A Nutritionist” is the perfect book to get you on a path to changing how you eat for the better. Eventually you might want to do some deeper dives on the subject, but this book will certainly get you started. And if you’re a golfer, you will definitely appreciate a few of the references within its pages.

If you have a willingness to change the way you eat so you can be healthier, then head on over to our Facebook page where you could win a copy of the book. Simply find and “like” the post on our wall for “I Married A Nutritionist” and that’s it – we’ll choose one winner next week!

If you don’t end up winning, you can always purchase a copy of “I Married A Nutritionist” HERE. It’s a great way for you or that golfer in your life to finally eat healthy and stay healthy!

Book Review: The Grumpy Old Golfer’s Putting Tips

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PuttingTipsI’ve never been one to spend a ton of money on a putter. To spend $100+ for something that, in essence, could be replaced by any flat-faced object with a handle never made much sense to me.

For me, it’s always been about the “feel” of the putter in my hands. If I had confidence in it, then I would have success with it. For some, having confidence means spending a ton of money on the latest mallet or blade style putter; for others, like Happy Gilmore, a modified hockey stick did the trick.

So it struck a cord when I read Tip #6 in “The Grumpy Old Golfer’s Putting Tips” book:

“When choosing a putter, confidence in the putter is more important than the cost.”

And then Tip #10 too:

“Choosing the correct putter for you is a very individualistic and personal decision. Never let someone choose your putter for you.”

The Grumpy Old Golfer’s Putting Tips has 300 quips like those mentioned above. Author E.P. Murphy explains at the beginning that many of the tips will convey similar sentiments, but will be stated differently. This is done to address the varying personalities of those reading the book – a tip that connects with one person, may only connect with someone else after a being restated in a different way. Plus the repetitiveness helps drive home his points.

Mr. Murphy is extremely transparent from the start, stating his book alone isn’t going to make you a great putter…but it will make you a better one. He has drawn from his 40+ years on the links and his collection of notes along the way: “This grumpy old golfer and his old worn notebooks will provide all you need to take you to another plateau in your putting skills.” And he might be on to something. After all, putting is a very important part of the game – as he states in his book; “Over 40 percent of the average golfer’s score comes from putting.”

Some of the tips you might have heard before (“Tip #127: On short puts aim to the back of the hole“) while others are unfamiliar, but effective: “Tip #119: On short putts, visualize yourself frozen in a block of ice up to your waist. Use only your upper body to execute the putt.”

But the book isn’t just a collection of tips. Each chapter is a theme (the approach; the setup; etc.) and at the beginning of each theme, Mr. Murphy digs a bit deeper with his narrative. The last chapter (Putting in a Nutshell) is a standalone pocket guide in and of itself, providing tips for short putts; long putts; and even preparing mentally.

But the tips make this book a must read. Perhaps my favorite is this one:

“The only club in the bag specifically made to hit the ball into the cup is the putter. Master it first, master it best.”

When you think about it, the above statement is perhaps one of the most profound pieces of golf advice you may ever receive. And the source is not your typical confusing and hard-to-read golf self-help book. Instead, The Grumpy Old Golfer’s Putting Tips is a simple and easy way to help keep you focused while on the greens.

The Grumpy Old Golfer’s Putting Tips is officially being released today via Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online retailers.

Book Review: Bad Golf

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badgolfThere’s an ethos we live by here at GolfStinks: You don’t have to be good at golf to love it. And in the spirit of that ethos, we strive to write commentary that helps you accept the fact that even though you might stink, you can still get great enjoyment out of this game.

It’s in this spirit that author Dave Simon penned Bad Golf. After receiving my copy and initially thumbing through the pages, I thought I had the book figured out; Mr. Simon had written a comical take on how bad the vast majority of us are at this game. However, after reading a few chapters, I realized Bad Golf is so much more.

In reality, what Mr. Simon has done is create a golf self-help guide. But this guide doesn’t give you tips on how to play better – instead it provides you ways to enjoy the game in spite of your wretchedness on the links! His premise is simple: You’re bad at golf – most of us are. So, why not accept that fact, move on and start having fun despite your high handicap? Sounds like a book GolfStinks can stand behind!

Bad Golf is 34 (somewhat short) chapters of rollicking ideas to help you forget the quadruple bogie you took on the 7th or the sleeve of balls you lost on the 13th. Chapter titles include: “How to get better, briefly;” “450 yard par 4’s made easy;” and “I know what I did wrong (but can’t correct it).”

One of my favorite chapters (Fun topics when things are going worse than usual) encourages you to use comedy to get your mind off the terrible round you’re having. In one example, Mr. Simon suggests you have an exploding gag golf ball in your bag for this occasion. But don’t try to pull the gag on someone else – instead, he suggests you walk to the next tee and use it on yourself! Unbeknownst to your golfing pals, you step up to the tee and drive the ball into a cloud of powdery smoke – resulting in laughter from all (including you). The point is to get your mind off your round and it’s genius! I’m definitely giving that a try next time I find myself playing a particularly miserable round!

Bad Golf is more than just poking fun at yourself and your golf game – it’s an instructional guide to getting more enjoyment out of golf! While you might not lower your handicap reading this book, you’ll surely learn to not sweat the high scores as much. As Mr. Simon says: Live it. Love it. Learn it. Laugh at it.

You can download the e-book version of Bad Golf on Mr. Simon’s website here: justwrite15.com/bad-golf.html (scroll down a bit once the page loads).

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