Golf Book Roundup

By: Jeff Shelley

Here's a brief recap/review of some recent golf books I've received. They run the gamut: from personal observations, how-tos, a novel and a large compendium of all things golf. Here we go.

"The Legend of Joe Golfer - A Salute to the Regular Player," by Chris Kalwa, Authorhouse, 368 pages, $23.95, ISBN 978-1-4918-4987-3

This entry-level book claims to celebrate the "trials and tribulations" of everyday golfers. It seeks to do that by mixing personal observations with tips on nutrition, fitness, lifestyle choices, equipment selection and swing technique. The Toronto-based author - an educator and coach - also injects narrative about touring pros (he's a big fan of John Daly) and other subjects. The book expresses Salwa's personal philosophies in a manner he hopes will draw players to the game; a noble effort but about twice as long as it needed to be.

"Play Golf Better Faster," by Kalliope Barlis, Building Your Best Publications, 203 pages, $19.95, ISBN 978-0-00-45-262-1.

A protégée of noted golf instructor Chuck Hogan, Barlis focuses on the mechanical and mental techniques she believes will enhance your golf game. Her approach is direct, and the book's organization allows readers to readily skim the brief - and welcoming - individual sections. Though it's not four-color (and thus pricier), the layout includes many photos, illustrations and sidebars to make the information accessible. Adding insight are quotes from such diverse luminaries as Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan and Nikola Tesla.

"Church of Golf - A Novel about Second Chances," by Spencer Stephens, Saint Pete Press, 367 pages, $14.25, ISBN 978-0-990-08437-0-2.

A Maryland-based attorney by trade, Stephens has woven an entertaining yarn about a former college football star who frittered away all his personal equity and ended up broke and a drunk. But the protagonist, Donald Gibson, rises from his abyss thanks to a wealthy aunt who, after dying, bequeaths him her fortune and a home on the remote Hawaiian island of Lanai. What emerges is a storyline that, though sometimes overwrought with detail, provides a fun read.

"You Can't Make This Up," by Al Michaels with L. Jon Wertheim, William Morrow, 288 pages, $28.99, ISBN 978-0-05-231496-3.

Though far better known as an iconic voice of pro baseball and football and the Olympics (especially his famous call for the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" when an undermanned American hockey team took the gold medal at Lake Placid) for ABC and NBC, Michaels also covered golf - including the Monday Night Golf shows involving Tiger Woods. Here, the 70-year-old -whose sports-casting career began in 1964 - recounts many behind-the-scenes anecdotes that shine more light on some of his amazing on-air experiences.

"Mastering Golf's Mental Game - Your Ultimate Guide to Better On-Course Performance and Lower Scores," by Dr. Michael T. Lardon with Matthew Rudy, Crown Archetype, 210 pages, $25, ISBN 978-0-553-41791-3.

Dr. Lardon, an expert on maximizing athletic performance, channels his scientific pedigree into the often mind-boggling game of golf. In this book he attempts to integrate the reader into the process of developing confidence and the right attitude needed to become an improved player. Though some of the chapters stray a bit into psychological vernacular ("optimization" and "thought-word link"), the information here is pretty straightforward. If this book helps you play better by eradicating some the bugaboos embedded in the depths of your golfer's mind, its $25 price tag is worth it.

"The Golf Book," by Chris Millard, Harper Design, 240 pages, $50, ISBN 978-0-06-236456-2.

This coffee-table-sized, four-color tome - co-branded by NBC and the Golf Channel - represents an impressive review of the past 20 years in golf. It tells the story of how Golf Channel began and then, like a well-budgeted documentary, scrolls through the major tournaments, people and milestones that took the network to international prominence. All the stars are here - Arnie, Tiger, Rory, Payne, Brandel, Ryder Cup - along with verbiage that suitably recounts the drama. There's also a look ahead to the next 20 years. The design is fine, with beautiful images throughout, but the tiny, hard-to-read text doesn't match the magnitude of the events.

Jeff Shelley is the editorial director of Cybergolf.

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