July 3rd, 2008 — Book Review
This week I am posting the book review early as Friday is a holiday. Happy July 4th everyone! Enjoy the BBQs!
Andy North has won two US Open titles and went on to become one of the most respected commentators on the game. It was pretty much a given that someday he would write a book and although there was a lot of hype surrounding this volume, it’s sad to say that it was undeserved. There are many mistakes throughout the book that make you wonder whether the editor was asleep or was simply lulled into a stupor by the content. The mistakes are glaring, such as misspelling Callaway, and I wish I could say that they were forgivable. But, when you add in the other problems with the book, it was really hard to get past these most basic errors.
If you’re looking for a book on how to become a better golfer, than this is definitely a title you can miss. However, if you’re a fan of Mr. North, you’ll probably get at least some enjoyment out of reading his anecdotes. The book reads more like a biography that was thrown together from a bunch of little snippets, and at times, a lot of the content reads as though it was simply filler that was brought in to keep the book from falling into the category of a novella.
While it’s nice to hear that the man always traveled with two pairs of pants, it’s not really useful information that you can turn around and put into action, unless of course you hate wrinkles. It’s best to keep the right mindset when reading this book and focus on the fact that it’s really about packaging North and has little to do with the game itself. When you keep this in mind, it’s a lot easier to wade through the book, but I’m not sure it’s a read that shouldn’t be missed.
The author himself admitted in the beginning of the book that he really didn’t know why he was writing it. He considered it to be a “where’s the beef” situation and this turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. There’s just a lot of air here when you get right down to it and the tone feels forced throughout the majority of the book. While North is an incredibly talented man, he may not want to quit his day job to become an author.
It’s always tough to pan a book, especially when you were really hoping for a good read. I cannot however recommend this book, unless you’re simply looking to find out more about North. Most of us can do without anecdotes of his many surgeries however, and sometimes that air of mystery should never dissipate.
While it would be too harsh to call this book a waste of time, it just isn’t a title that you have to read. If you already have every golfing book under the sun and enjoy collecting titles, than perhaps this would be a good fit. Otherwise, there are far more interesting titles out there that will provide you with much better information.
Related Articles
Related Stores
June 13th, 2008 — Book Review
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.
Related Articles
Related Stores
May 23rd, 2008 — Book Review
John Anselmo is best known as the man that took a young Tiger Woods and helped him achieve the goals that he is still making today. Anselmo is incredibly well respected in the golfing community and has much to offer golfers of any age that want to work on fixing their game. From novices to pros, there is really something for everyone in this book.
As the title suggests, this book aims to be a starter kit for any golfer to take them from their first game all the way towards playing like a pro. After all, it worked for Tiger, so most people believe that it can work for them too. The book fell a little flat in spots and really couldn’t live up to the hype surrounding it, but this really isn’t Anselmo’s fault. He did a great job providing a terrific resource, but no one should go into the book thinking that they’re going to turn into Tiger Woods overnight.
Earl Woods interviewed countless trainers before selecting Anselmo as Tiger’s teacher and it’s easy to see why he made the cut. The man is a gifted instructor that has produced many champions. However, the advice certainly will not be applicable for all players. You’ve got to go in with the mindset that you’ll glean a few tips to add to your arsenal, but this is not a book that is going to change your golf game overnight.
What it does do however is give you that firm foundation that you can use to continue your growth as a golfer. His methodology is certainly very good and rooted in principles that any golfer can appreciate. He mentions in the book, “I feel sorry for golfers who are trying to improve,” he writes, his own professional ambitions derailed by an errant range ball to the eye. “…I’m frustrated by this because I have taught one way and one way only my entire life, and my method of teaching is based on knowing what the body can and cannot do, and on what I have learned by watching the game’s best players in the world at work.”
This really illustrates the whole principle behind the book and gives some terrific insight into Anselmo as a teacher. Any golfer can walk away with some very useful tips that will help their games, but again, this is not a book that is going to turn you into Tiger Woods. If that were the case, Tiger would have a lot more competition on the links.
That said, we still recommend this book, if for nothing else than it is a rare chance to look inside the mind of a legendary instructor. While not all of his advice will resonate with golfers, there are some terrific tips that will. His methods worked for Tiger - and since he is used as a benchmark for most player’s today, more than a few will feel that this book deserves a place of honor on their shelves.
Related Articles
Related Stores
