The remarkable story of a curious genius whose lifelong quest to unlock the science behind the perfect golf swing changed the game forever.
In 1939, an average Joe named Homer Kelley played golf for the first time and scored 116-a respectable score for a beginner, but frustrating for a science-minded perfectionist like Kelley. He did not play again for six months; then when he did, he carded a seventy-seven. Vexed, he grew increasingly obsessed and devoted over the next thirty years to solving the science behind the perfect golf swing, self-publishing his findings in 1969 in a book titled "The Golfing Machine." This revolutionary book "explained" golf, unlike every other tome that merely "described" it. Unfortunately, the majority of golfers dismissed the book because it was all but unreadable, too thick with physics and geometry and scientific vernacular. "The Golfing Machine" seemed doomed to obscurity until visionary teacher Ben Doyle and superstar-in-the-making Bobby Clampett brought Kelley's teachings to prominence-only to witness Clampett implode on golf's most public stage. Validation finally came seventy years after Homer Kelley's lifework began, and twenty-five years after his death, when a teenage prodigy named Morgan Pressel became the youngest golfer, male or female, ever to win a major championship.
In "Homer Kelley's Golfing Machine," veteran journalist Scott Gummer brings to light the untold story of golf's most curious genius. A colorful portrait of obsession and an enlightening look into the nuances of the game, Kelley's amazing journey illuminates an important but underappreciated chapter in the history of golf.

Remarkable Golf Courses encompasses the extremes of the sport from the highest golf course in La Paz, Bolivia, to the lowest, in Death Valley, USA; from the most northerly in the Arctic Circle to the most southerly in Tierra del Fuego.

The many quirks of the golfing world are covered, such as the 18^th green the other side of the River Lea which is serviced by an electric ferry, or the LA golf course that has its own funicular railway, or the floating golf hole in Idaho, where it s not just the pin position that s changed every day, it s the distance from the shore!

Golf courses that feature neolithic standing stones (Scotland), Roman roads (England), and ruined medieval castles (Wales) take their place alongside the old temples of Delhi or a UNESCO World Heritage bridge that is used to link the 9th and 10th at Angkor Wat.

There are the beloved classic courses of St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal St. George and Westward Ho!. There are spectacular golf courses hewn out of the Nevada and Arizona desert, green oases in a cactus-strewn, rocky landscape, along with Hawaiian courses fringed by barren black lava flows. But nothing can beat the thrill in Guatemala of lining up your drive on an active volcano at the Fuego Maya course.

In comparison there are the traditional wind-blown Scottish links, such as the Machrie Hotel on the island of Islay which has the most blind greens on any course, or the remote Isle of Barra where greens are only accessible via a kissing gate.

Fancy swapping countries mid-round? You can at the Llanmymynech club in Wales. At the fourth hole golfers tee off in Wales and putt out on the green in England. Remarkable Golf Courses brings together some astonishing stories with some extraordinary photography.

What makes nine-hole golf so extraordinary? What can a shorter course offer an experienced player? How can these courses compare to the Scottish championship-level courses? The beautiful, quiet and often little known nine-hole golf courses offer even the lowest handicap golfer a challenge and with a level of difficulty rarely found on 18 hole courses it's hardly surprising that there are even nine hole courses no one has ever played below par. Walk in the footsteps of golfing legends and find some surprising gems, from the prestigious nine-hole courses which hosted some of the earliest Open Championships to the more unusual, such as Harris where a renovated shipping containter acts as a clubhouse. You can even take on the giants of Gleneagles and St. Andrews and play the nine-hole layouts at these celebrated golf meccas. Helpfully divided into geographical areas, The Nine-Holer Guide includes statistics and contact details for each course. Learn about the history and the rare wildlife that can be seen while playing - and enjoy the unique experience of visiting Scotland's wealth of beautiful nine-hole golf courses. Whether you're the Open Champion or an occasional golfer, The Nine-Holer Guide tells you everything you need to know before you tee off.

Play It As It Lies brings together a glorious collection of Thelwell's golfing cartoons. The perfect gift for any golfer who has experienced the horrors of sporting the wrong attire on course, losing his ball, or been wronged by unforgivable gamesmanship. Thelwell guides the reader out of the bunker and onto the fairway.

A book about golf that will appeal to both players and non players, by Scottish poet and novelist. Surely golf is a game for posh people, country clubs and networking businessmen, for unfortunate sweaters, politics and trousers? Andrew Greig grew up on the East coast of Scotland, where playing golf is as natural as breathing. He sees the game as the great leveller, and has played on the Old course at St Andrews as well as on the miners' courses of Yorkshire. He writes about the different cultural manifestations of the game, the history, the geography, the different social meanings, as well as the subjective experience, the reflections between shots. He plays alone, with friends and brothers, with ghosts. He is looking for the essence of golf, the pure heart of it, which can be found, Andrew Greig believes, on the free 9 hole course on North Ronaldsay.

This is the golf book anyone who plays the game must read. It will declutter your mind and free you to develop your own potential at whatever level you play, weekend amateur through to young aspiring tour player. Brian Sparks, a British PGA Pro since 1967, helps you to demystify all of the standard golfing jargon and show you how easily you can swing a golf club and hit a ball. This book is the natural antidote to the over-complex, mechanical way that most golf teachers now think you need to be able to improve. Scientific research now proves that this is not the way we learn. After showing you the power of traditional misconceptions about the golf swing Brian goes on to give you simple advice about how to cope with the bad shots this game will always throw your way. It is easy to understand and will prove to be the best purchase you ever made for your game. Although essential reading for all golfers it is particularly valid for women and for any man in the senior division. For you, it will take a lot of the unnecessary effort away from your game and leave you able to play 18 holes and go on to play another 9 with a smile on your face

Dr. Bob Rotella is one of the hottest performance consultants in America today. Among his many professional clients are Nick Price (last year's Player of the Year), Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Pat Bradley, Brad Faxon, John Daly, and many others. Rotella, or "Doc," as most players refer to him, goes beyond just the usual mental aspects of the game and the reliance on specific techniques. What Rotella does here in this extraordinary book, and with his clients, is to create an attitude and a mindset about all aspects of a golfer's game, from mental preparation to competition. The most wonderful aspect of it all is that it is done in a conversational fashion, in a dynamic blend of anecdote and lesson. And, as some of the world's greatest golfers will attest, the results are spectacular. Golfers will improve their golf game and have more fun playing. Some of Rotella's maxims include:

* On the first tee, a golfer must expect only two things of himself: to have fun, and to focus his mind properly on every shot.
* Golfers must learn to love 'the challenge when they hit a ball into the rough, trees, or sand. The alternatives -- anger, fear, whining, and cheating -- do no good.
* Confidence is crucial to good golf. Confidence is simply the aggregate of the thoughts you have about yourself.
* It is more important to be decisive than to be correct when preparing to play any golf shot or putt.

Filled with delightful and insightful stories about golf and the golfers Rotella works with, Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect will improve the game of even the most casual weekend player.

From the 15th century royal ban to a game stopped for seven months because of rain, this is the story of golf as it's never been told before!

Any golfers who have pined for their putters, waxed lyrical about their sand wedge, or fondled a five iron will appreciate this fun compilation of sports reports, spoof correspondence, and reminiscences from pros, caddies, playing partners, and armchair pundits. With humorous illustrations on every page, it captures the comedy, controversy, and curious courses that are all part of the game.

Among the stories it tells: Mary Queen of Scots playing a round just after her husband got killed; the origin of the term “birdie”; champion Lee Trevino’s prank with a rubber snake; and a fly-on-the-wall documentary that embarrassed an upscale golf club so badly that the entire board resigned.

USA Today Bestseller Now available in trade paper! Jack Nicklaus II shares stories, insights, and lessons he's learned from his father, the "Golden Bear," that will delight golf fans of all ages, encourage fathers, and inspire readers to focus on what's most important in life: family. Best Seat in the House, written with New York Times bestselling author Don Yaeger, gives us eighteen valuable lessons that Jack Nicklaus II learned from his father, PGA champion Jack Nicklaus. Although the "Golden Bear," as he is known by fans, is widely regarded as the best golfer of all time, with a record number of PGA major championships, his life and values show that true legacy lives on through your children, grandchildren, and others we are blessed to call family and friends. For the first time, the public is given the opportunity to see what made Jack Nicklaus an off-course success, including how he and his wife, Barbara, fashioned fifty-plus years of marriage, understanding that they both had to give of themselves "at least 95 percent of the time" the importance of having boundaries and limits that everyone in the family agrees on how Nicklaus taught his son Jack, who worked as his caddie for several years, to value his competitors and treat them as he would hope to be treated the need to be connected to what we'll leave behind: our legacies One June day, Jack Nicklaus II had just completed his second round in a Palm Beach County Junior Golf Association tournament and was sitting at the scorer's table, signing his scorecard, when somebody told him his dad was on the telephone. He was a little frustrated because he didn't want to be bothered on such an important day, but his dad wanted to know how he had played, so Jack II spent the next twenty minutes detailing every hole and every shot. Afterward, his father said, "Jackie, would you like to know how your dad did today?" Of course he wanted to know, and he felt a little guilty for not asking. "Well, I just won the US Open." It was Father's Day 1980, and on that day Jack II learned a valuable lesson that he carried with him into adulthood: family is more important than anything in the world.

The best players know that golf is a game of confidence, and most important, concentration–the ability to focus and block out distraction. The goal of achieving clear thought is also at the heart of Buddhist teachings. In his highly original and groundbreaking book, noted PGA coach and Buddhist instructor, Dr. Joseph Parent, draws on this natural connection and teaches golfers how to clear their minds, achieve ultimate focus, and play in the moment for each shot.

Zen Golf presents a simple system for building “mental game mastery.” Dr Parent’s unique PAR Approach (focusing on Preparation, Action, and Response to Results) guides golfers with specific techniques for each aspect of their games. In chapters such as “How to Get From the Practice Tee to the First Tee”, “You Produce What You Fear”, and “How to Enjoy a Bad Round of Golf”, the author shares a personal teaching regimen that has helped improve the games of professionals and amateurs alike. By combining classic insights and stories from Zen tradition, Zen Golf helps eliminate the mental distractions that routinely cause poor shots and loss of concentration, allowing golfers to feel in “the zone” that professionals have learned to master.

Clear, concise, and enlightening, Zen Golf shows golfers how to prepare for, execute, and equally important, respond the results of any golf shot. A different approach to golf instruction, this book shapes ancient philosophies into new teachings.

Dave Pelz's Putting Bible is the second book in a four-book series, the Dave Pelz Scoring Game Series.

Over 150,000 readers have purchased Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible after just its first year of release publication, making the book an instant classic.  Now, let Dave help you shape up your game on the greens with his new Putting Bible, which is sure to make all other putting manuals obsolete.

Dave Pelz looks at putting, golf's least-understood skill, as no one has ever approached it before.  Because a putt is the terminal shot on every hole and there is no possibility of recovery from short misses, putts count almost a disproportionate amount.  Every golfer knows a 2-foot putt counts the same as a 300-yard drive--one stroke.  And while the putting stroke is only one of several types of swings golfers make, it accounts for nearly half of all the swings made--43 percent--and perhaps as much as 80 percent of all the anguish and frustration involved in the game.  These are some of the reasons every golfer needs Dave's insights into the putting game and the simplicity he brings to improving their ability to putt.

Putting is also different in another way:  It is one of the few skills in all of sport in which any player, regardless of size, strength, speed, gender, or education, can compete equally with--and have a realistic chance to surpass the skills of--the best professionals in the world.

As Dave explains, putting is actually simple to understand and do. Once golfers grasp his concepts, they can perform on the greens as never before.

Using decades of scientific research from studying thousands of golfers, Dave shows readers the simplicity of putting that escapes most golfers and lays out the fifteen well-defined building blocks of the putting game that each of us already has and owns. This comprehensive guide from the internationally revered master of the short game and putting game--packed with charts, photos, and easy-to-understand instruction--will be the essential volume for all golfers who want to take strokes off their score with better putting.

A former NASA physicist and founder of the World Putting Championship, Dave brings a scientific rigor to his instruction that has made him the top putting expert in the world.  Observing and teaching thousands of golfers to better their scores, Dave's body of knowledge in putting is unequaled.  By uncovering the mysteries of this part of the game, Dave Pelz's Putting Bible raises putting instruction to a new level.

Dave Pelz's Scoring Game Schools and clinics are renowned worldwide, attracting top players like Jesper Parnevik, Tom Kite, Colin Montgomerie, two-time U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen, Vijay Singh, Steve Elkington, and many LPGA players including Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann.

Many years before his death in 1948, legendary golf course architect Donald Ross wrote a book that was never published. Within the manuscript, Ross offered many of his thoughts on the game that he so dearly loved. In the mid-1990s, the book was miraculously rediscovered and published to great acclaim. "Golf Has Never Failed Meis" presents an insightful look at the game by one of its most famous and beloved people. And what may surprise you is that many of the astute observations that he made so long ago still hold true today.

Mind Over Golf Whether you struggle to break 100 or consistently break par, you've already discovered that golf is the most mentally demanding of all sports. Dr. Richard Coop, one of the foremost sports psychologists in the country, has developed a unique mental approach to the game, helping both skilled pros and beginning amateurs alike to play better. Mind Over Golf examines all the demanding psychological challenges of golf and explains in detail how to conquer them. Golfers have discovered that there are ways to lower their scores that go beyond getting tips on their swing and stance. In order to play better, you have to find the key that allows your natural athletic ability to come to the fore, without being impeded by anxiety about making a poor shot. By following Dr. Coop's principles and ideas you'll be in the strongest possible position, both physically and mentally, to put your best swing on each shot. As Payne Stewart says in his foreword to Mind Over Golf, ""Not everyone can swing like a tour pro, but most everyone has it within himself or herself to think like one, and Dr. Coop lays the foundation for that within these pages."" Visit us online at http: //www.mcp.com/mgr/macmillan

Every year thousands of golf tournaments are held across the globe, from high profile majors like the PGA Championship and British Open to smaller regional, amateur, and member-guest events. Superintendents are responsible for preparing the course in anticipation of a tournament and maintaining the course during the event. This book offers superintendents and allied professionals all the tools they need to prepare and maintain golf courses for tournaments. It offers practical guidelines for a successful tournament, from how to prepare greens, tees, fairways, bunkers and rough through cup-cutting, pest management, and fertilization prior to and during the tournament to tips on managing professional events.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "One of the best golf books this century." -Golf Digest Tom Coyne's A Course Called Scotland is a heartfelt and humorous celebration of his quest to play golf on every links course in Scotland, the birthplace of the game he loves. For much of his adult life, bestselling author Tom Coyne has been chasing a golf ball around the globe. When he was in college, studying abroad in London, he entered the lottery for a prized tee time in Scotland, grabbing his clubs and jumping the train to St. Andrews as his friends partied in Amsterdam; later, he golfed the entirety of Ireland's coastline, chased pros through the mini-tours, and attended grueling Qualifying Schools in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Yet, as he watched the greats compete, he felt something was missing. Then one day a friend suggested he attempt to play every links course in Scotland and qualify for the greatest championship in golf. The result is A Course Called Scotland, "a fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the width of much of the British Isles" (GolfWeek), including St. Andrews, Turnberry, Dornoch, Prestwick, Troon, and Carnoustie. With his signature blend of storytelling, humor, history, and insight, Coyne weaves together his "witty and charming" (Publishers Weekly) journey to more than 100 legendary courses in Scotland with compelling threads of golf history and insights into the contemporary home of golf. As he journeys Scotland in search of the game's secrets, he discovers new and old friends, rediscovers the peace and power of the sport, and, most importantly, reaffirms the ultimate connection between the game and the soul. It is "a must-read" (Golf Advisor) rollicking love letter to Scotland and golf as no one has attempted it before.

In this book Tom Crow, the founder of Cobra Golf and former Australian Amateur Golf Champion, shares his insights and views on golf, its growth as a sport and its development as an industry.

This title includes step-by-step techniques to improve your game. It is a new look at this popular sport, focusing on the essential techniques needed to improve your game. It includes expert instructions on grip, swing, putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play, shaping your shots, as well as a guide to traditional golfing etiquette. It emphasises the importance of good body posture in getting the best shot, and explains the correct set-up, alignment and ball position needed for better results. It features an illustrated guide to golfing equipment, from clubs, putters and balls to shoes, hats and umbrellas. Each shot is explained and photographed in a step-by-step sequence so you can clearly see the movement of the club, ball and body as the shot progresses. All golfing exercises, techniques and possible pitfalls are shown in over 250 dynamic photographs. Golf is an extremely popular sport all over the world, and is much more fun when you are playing well. Whether you have just taken up the game or have been playing for years, this book will help you. It highlights the importance of posture, showing how to get the stance right and how to hold the club. Key techniques include chipping, putting, pitching, shaping shots, bunker play and how to swing. There are exercise routines to encourage you to practise each technique, as well as solutions to possible pitfalls, all illustrated with practical photographs. The book will make the dream of an improved handicap a reality for all golfers, whatever their skill level.

A wry look at the golfing world, from the beloved cartoonists at "The New Yorker"

A hilarious hole-in-one for golfers and cartoon-lovers alike, "The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons, Second Edition" brings together over a hundred classic images from across the magazine's eighty-plus-year history. Edited by Robert Mankoff, acclaimed cartoonist and cartoon editor at "The New Yorker," and featuring work from legendary artists including Charles Addams, Roz Chast, Whitney Darrow Jr., Edward Koren, George Price, William Steig, and many others, the book is a side-splitting tribute to the game.Brings together over 100 golf-related cartoons by the best-loved cartoonists at "The New Yorker"Edited by the cartoonist and "New Yorker" cartoon editor Robert MankoffNewly revised and updated to include coverage of the most recent developments in the golfing world, including Tiger Woods's troubles and moreFeatures an introduction by Danny Shanahan

A timeless anthology of the very best golf cartoons ever to grace the pages of America's favorite magazine, "The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons" captures the passion and the pain of the game.

"Focus not on the commotion around you, but on the opportunity ahead of you." -- Arnold Palmer
Most people live their lives chained to the oars of a life of their own choosing, whether defined by one's job, relationships, self-image or even their golf game. More often than not, the biggest obstacles one faces in life are those that we ourselves have placed in our own path. In the words of golf's great champions, there is undeniable wisdom, focus, passion and depth of purpose that goes well beyond the confines of the golf course. "Golf Wisdom of the Legends" celebrates these universal truths and messages of empowerment that will appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike.

Golf saved Drew Millard’s life, and he wants it to save yours, too. At its core, golf is about developing new skills, honing them through practice, and then contemplating the moment and figuring out which skill fits the circumstances. It’s like therapy, just minus the therapist—plus cooler gear and beer. Golf offers camaraderie, time in nature, and a prism through which to view the world. It can genuinely help people live better and more fulfilling lives. Author Drew Millard writes from experience: When a doctor prescribed exercise to help with depression, golf gave him the tools to recenter himself. For him, “sucking at golf was a calling,� one that helped him find a sense of balance and rhythm—both on the course and in his own mind.Brimming with personality, accessibility, and a freewheeling spirit, How Golf Can Save Your Life is a celebration of the sport and an examination of all it offers: the pleasures, benefits, personal growth, and friendships, as well as an appreciation for the land, ourselves, and our time. This book will cause you to fall in love with golf, whether for the first time or all over again.

Students of golf course architecture are well aware of Robert Hunter -- and it's all because of "The Links." This scholarly work was different from other architecture books of the day because Hunter was not a designer attempting to attract commissions through his writing. His goal -- through the use of detailed drawings, contemporary photographs and thoughtful text -- was not only to explain what made the classic holes so great but why they would stand the test of time.

This exact reprint of "The Links"belongs in the libraries of all aficionados of golf course architecture.