LinksLifeGolf

by Jeff Skinner

“The Swinger” hits the bookshelves today and no, it’s not going to help you with your swing.  But it will give you some laughs and keep your interest peaked. It’s a novel by prominent golf journalists Michael Bamberger (Sports Illustrated) and Alan Shipnuck (Sports Illustrated) that chronicles the downfall of the world’s richest and most celebrated athlete, Herbert X. Tremont.

“Tree” as he is nicknamed, has the world in the palm of his hand.  He is the most well known athlete in the world, is the best golfer on the planet by far, earns hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsements, is married to a beautiful bikini model, hobnobs with titans of industry and even calls the President of the United States his buddy.  His picture perfect life is shattered by the revelation that he is a serial philanderer and has been having sexual affairs with women, lots of women.  From porn stars to the waitress at his local diner, his interior designer, his college aged next door neighbor, cocktail waitresses and anyone else he could work his charm on. He was more than a “player.”  He was, as the authors call him “The Swinger.”

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.  Yes, this is a behind the scenes tale of the fall of Tree Tremont.  Any resemblance to Tiger Woods is purely coincidental, yea right.  The names have been changed to protect the guilty and also to keep Bamberger and Shipnuck from being sued.  For the life of me I can’t imagine how many hours the lawyers had to spend on this “novel” to make sure they were safe from litigation.

Yes, it is a novel, fiction for sure after all who would believe that Tiger Tree could have affairs with 342 different women while being one of the most well known faces on the planet and win a dozen major championships at the same time

So, fiction it is but it has all the players that we know so well.  Tree is Tiger.  His gorgeous wife and mother of his two children is Belinda.  Notice that “elin” is right in the middle of her name.  His agent is Andrew Finkelman or “Finky” as Tree calls him.  Tiger’s agent is Mark Steinberg, “Steiney.” His agency is IGM, not IMG.  Tree’s biggest rival is the ultimate family man, Will Martinsen (Phil Mickelson).  Tree is sponsored by Arrow Golf (Nike) and its chairman Turner Darlington (Phil Knight).  Tree lives in and frequents the strip bars in Tampa, not Orlando. The nine iron wielded by his wife was replaced by a fireplace poker and the Thanksgiving “accident” was swapped out for a birthday celebration.

The story is told from the perspective of Josh Durta who was Tree’s Director of Communications for Tree Corporation and he also managed his website.  Durta was recruited into Tree’s world after he was given a tip on his infidelities.  Durta is unwillingly drawn into Tree’s web of lies and deceits and ends up becoming a trusted friend and confidant of Tree and Tree’s father who is a major factor in Tree’s life.  A bit of reality here, Tiger’s website is managed by established golf journalist Mark Soltau.  With the authors standing in the golf community we can be sure that they have many information sources.  In the novel, the business of trading information between writers is commonplace so it’s a natural conclusion that the authors got inside information from their “friends” in the business.

We get an inside look at Tree’s life and all the sordid details that go with it.  From the quickie in Augusta National’s wine cellar to a tryst in a custodial room at his steroid dispensing doctors’ office we see a sex addict that has little regard for the consequences of his actions.

The authors do manage to make Tree a sympathetic character, one that is well liked by all he works with and a man that treasures family and friendships.  Despite his flaws, and he has many, Tree comes off as likable at times at least when he’s not in a threesome in his own bedroom.

One of the intriguing aspects of this read is how topical Bamberger and Shipnuck make it.  There are conversations and interactions with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer woven into the story.  Current professional golfers are referenced and places like Augusta National and St Andrews bring this novel a strange feeling of reality.  It’s hard not to picture Tiger Woods each time Tree Tremont is mentioned.

We get an intimate accounting from Durta of all the outrageousness that went on in Tree’s inner circle as he tries to right his life after he is forced into the tabloid spotlight.  After being brought down by a horde of cheap cocktail waitresses, porn actresses and a high profile, ruthless, million dollar, female attorney Tree tries to become a new man:  a man that is open and honest, loyal and faithful and truly cherishes his friends and family.  This is where we realize that this is indeed fiction.

“The Swinger” is funny, outrageous and at times, a touching story.  Bamberger and Shipnuck do an excellent job of keeping you wanting more.  I have to say they had me right from the first chapter.  I’ll say the two things authors love to hear: I couldn’t put it down and you should go out and buy it.  It was funny, engrossing and a very exciting read.  It was like being on the inside of Tiger’s Tree’s inner circle and that’s a place few people ever get the chance to experience.

by Jeff Skinner

“If you ain’t moving forward, you’re moving backwards” or so goes the old saying.  With Augusta National still yielding plenty of birdies Phil Mickelson was unable to take advantage of the day and shot a mediocre par 72.  Still having trouble with his driver, his short game looked pedestrian also.  He said afterwards that he had at least six up and downs that he would normally convert but wasn’t able to get it done today.

He’s hoping for a repeat of last Saturday when he shot a sizzling 63 to propel him on to win at Houston.  He’ need to go low to catch the leaders but he has done it before so don’t count him out yet.

by Jeff Skinner

The USGA has announced that David Barrett’s “Miracle at Merion” has won their Herbert Warren Wind Award for golf literature.  “Miracle at Merion” chronicles Ben Hogan’s comeback from his near fatal car crash to win the 1950 U.S Open at Merion Country Club.

The USGA started the award in 1987 and “the award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to golf literature while attempting to broaden the public’s interest in, and knowledge of, the game of golf.”

Believe it or not I just finished the book yesterday and in my humble opinion The USGA got it right.  It’s a wonderful book that details one of the most enigmatic figures in golf.  Hogan rarely shared intimate facts of his life with anyone but through what must have been a great amount of painstaking research, Barrett was able to reveal the human side of Hogan.

Barrett takes plenty of time to give the reader the background surrounding Hogan, his accident and his miraculous comeback.  He also was able to capture the characters and personalities that impacted Hogan’s life and walked the fairways with The Hawk.

This isn’t a Hogan biography, but rather an inside and up close trip with Hogan from his hospital bed to Merion.  Hogan’s win at Merion is a seminal moment in golf history and Barrett is able to put you right there as Hogan strikes that iconic pose as he watches his famous one iron land on the eighteenth green.  The photo that graces the cover of the book is one of the most well known photos in sport.  But few realize that Hogan did not win The Open that day.  He used that shot to par the eighteenth hole and force an eighteen hole playoff the next day.  After walking 36 holes on Saturday, on legs that could barely survive a short walk around the block, Hogan found the strength to play another 18 on Sunday and the rest as they say is history.

“Miracle at Merion” is a fact filled, interesting account of one of the most unlikely victories in sports history.  David Barrett does a superb job in telling us that story.

by Jeff Skinner

It’s no coincidence that they named his tournament The Bob Hope Classic.  He was indeed a classic in the highest regard.  It never mattered to him where he went for his USO show to entertain the military.  He never cared where but he always knew when.  The when was Christmas time and for over fifty years he spent his Christmases in front of the troops everywhere in the world.  From World War II to Desert Storm, everything in between and even beyond, Hope was there for the troops.

by Jeff Skinner

Bobby Jones once said, “Competitive golf is mainly played on a five and a half inch course…the space between your ears.” Anyone who has played golf and tried to improve their game can attest to the accuracy of Jones’s statement. This game is more mental than physical. During a round of golf it is estimated that only five per cent of the time we spend on the course is the physical act of swinging. That leaves too much time for our minds to take over and screw up any chance we had at maintaining a good swing and a positive state of mind.

The mental game of golf is often overlooked by many golfers. We are too willing to spend money on the latest high-tech equipment in an effort to try and improve when we have the capacity to get a better game without parting with a bunch of cash for that new driver. It is the mental game, our state of mind as we play and practice that can help us much more than any new equipment.

I recently listened to an audio program designed to help us with our mental game. “Golf State of Mind” is an audio CD that offers mental strategies and routines to help improve our games. “The Golf State of Mind is a teaching program designed to show golfers the most effective way to discover their true potential. Through learning powerful techniques to visualize, feel and trust your ability, good golf will become an automated sub-conscious process. You will discover the power of your golf mind.”

David MacKenzie is a mental coach and in his “Golf State of Mind” CD, he offers plenty of advice on how to improve your mental state to enable you to play better golf and improve your scores. MacKenzie knows his stuff and he references a few of my favorites during the program, Harvey Penick, Dr. Bob Rotella and Jack Nicklaus.

One of MacKenzie’s practice drills involves hitting balls with a “clear vision” of the ball flight and to be more concerned with the feel of the shot, even to the point of closing your eyes. He also suggests hitting the same club different distances and being aware of the feel of each stroke. I consider myself a feel player and I loved his drills.

I am a big believer in the mental game ruling the physical game on the golf course. MacKenzie’s Golf State of Mind will certainly help you learn the finer points of controlling your mental state and should help your scores. It’s another tool we can use to master those five and a half inches between our ears.

by Jeff Skinner

The series of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books are one of the best selling series of books in history. They have covered a myriad of subjects and one of the latest is “The Golf Book…101 Great Stories from the Course and the Clubhouse.” This book follows the same format as all the Chicken Soup series and is a compilation of short stories and anecdotes from numerous contributors. The authors represent a cross section of professional golfers, amateur golfers, sportswriters and regular, everyday people. The stories range from the comical to informative to inspirational.
The subjects cover crazy incidents on the course, stories from inside the ropes on tour, great courses, golf personalities, those special moments when golf grabs a hold you and those relationships formed and strengthened by the game. There are many familiar names that have contributed to this book. Legendary sportswriter Dave Anderson writes of the first golf tournament he ever saw and calls it the best show in sports. Golf Channel personality and Golf World writer, John Hawkins tells how golf and his “mentor” have kept him sober. There are many touching stories of friendship and fellowship from pros and celebrities, but many of the accounts are from everyday golfers that felt inspired enough to send in their contributions for publication.
Editors Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Max Adler have compiled a wonderful and entertaining selection of stories the will give you a laugh and some that will touch your heart. You won’t find anything but amusing or uplifting stories here and that is what “Chicken Soup” is all about. “Chicken Soup for the Soul… The Golf Book” is good for your soul and your heart and your funny bone.

First Sunday in April: The Masters, Book Review

Even though there has been plenty of golf played already this year, the real start to the season is right around the corner. Every year the golf season really begins in April with the start of the Masters Tournament. The Masters is the first major tournament of the season and the professionals try to get their games to peak for what many call the best tournament of the year. The Masters has a special atmosphere that surrounds it. It is like no other major. It is loved and revered for its history and traditions and is the most popular golf tournament in the world. Golfing professionals and everyday fans have fallen in love with Augusta National and all it brings to us in that first week of April every year. It is that love affair with the Masters, Augusta and its people that is captured in The First Sunday in April: the Masters.

This book is actually a collection stories, magazine articles, essays and newspaper accounts of the Masters and the characters involved with it. It has pieces from many of the most highly regarded golf writers; Herbert Warren Wind, Dan Jenkins and John Feinstein, Dave Anderson and Rick Reilly. It includes excerpts from books of many of the greatest players; Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and Lee Trevino.

The writers, players and fans are all united in their affection for the Masters. The course and the tournament, the atmosphere and traditions are all acknowledged as factors that make this event so loved and cherished.

The subjects in the book are interesting and varied. It is separated into seven categories: Traditions, Personalities, The Course, Background, Caddies, Moments and Controversies. Some players give first person accounts of their first or favorite Masters. The men who put the tournament on are exposed in a few pieces. These are the members. They are some of the most powerful and influential men in the world. This is their tournament. They run it as they see fit and do not take advice or suggestions from anyone. This was one of the more intriguing sections of the book.

Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones, but it was run by his partner Cliff Roberts. Roberts was called by a member as “our dedicated bastard.” He was feared by members and players alike and had all the characteristics of a slave owning Nazi. Bobby Jones is the mythical figure that we all think of when it comes to the Masters Tournament, but it was Roberts that built it and shaped it over the years.

The chapters that cover the inside of the tournament were extremely interesting. Ken Venturi and his account of the Arnold Palmer controversy were fascinating. The old Masters caddies had insights only caddies could have. The pain and heartache that the twelfth hole has caused over the years seems impossible for such a beautiful par three. Tiger Woods and his world changing victory, and Phil Mickelson’s emotional account of his first Masters win were touching and emotional.

This book has many pieces written by skilled writers who revere this tournament as much as all the players and fans do. It gives you a history and background of the tournament, accounts of many of the most exciting tournaments and intimate views of the characters that make the Masters the most popular tournament in the world.

First Sunday in April: The Masters

Introduction by Brad Faxon

Foreword by Don Wade

Sterling Publishing

As I was digging through the golf section of a bookstore recently I came across a book by Jack Nicklaus that I hadn’t seen before. Since I am a big Nicklaus fan, and I often wander the sports section of all the local bookstores, I was surprised to find a book by Nicklaus that was new to me. I was sure I either had them all or at least read most of them while I sat in one of those comfy chairs that are scattered about those bookstores. Any book by Nicklaus is certainly worth a look and this one was indeed worth it.

This book, “Jack Nicklaus Memories and Mementos from Golf’s Golden Bear”, includes reproductions of mementos and collectibles from the Jack Nicklaus Museum. Nicklaus selected ten special pieces of memorabilia that he collected over his career and included them along with the book. All of the items held a special place in Jack’s career. He includes a copy of his first invitation to the Masters, a scorecard from the 1961 US Amateur at Pebble Beach, letters from Presidents and his scorecard from the 2005 British Open. Those and the other pieces offer a unique insight into Jack’s time spent on the links. These extras alone were enough to convince me to add this book to my collection.

The text itself is a conversation with Nicklaus through the years, he speaks and you listen. He covers his childhood, parents and his early years in the game and all subjects worthy of opinion. Each chapter is dedicated to a single topic and Jack relates an interesting story or gives an opinion that is classic Jack Nicklaus. He is a man of many experiences and beliefs that were shaped by over fifty years in golf. He gives an intimate and inside account of many famous moments that all of us had only seen as outsiders. The Ryder Cup, Augusta, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, The Duel in the Sun, Bob Jones are but a few of the golf related subjects. Nicklaus also relates stories and his feelings on sportsmanship, music, fishing, popularity and those subjects that were always the most important to Nicklaus, his family and his wife Barbara.

This book will be interesting to any golf fan and is a must have for any Nicklaus fan. You get a long conversation with Jack and he shares some of his treasures with us as a bonus.

Shortly after I found the Nicklaus book, I was given a similar book,” Arnold Palmer, Memories, Stories and Memorabilia from a Life On and Off the Course”. Palmer’s book was actually published earlier and also offers reproductions of memorabilia from Palmer’s life in golf. I thought this to be a fantastic find. Palmer offers fourteen reproductions of pieces from his own personal collection. It may seem corny or sophomoric but looking over some of these pieces is pretty cool. If you are a golf fan or a member of Arnie’s Army, these souvenirs are captivating. Palmer includes reproductions of his 1961 US Open winning scorecard from Cherry Hills, an Arnie’s Army Badge, a golf tip gadget called the “Dial-a-Problem’, letters from Presidents and Byron Nelson, Tiger Woods and more. With one of these props in your hand you can’t help but try to imagine what Arnie was thinking at the time he was holding it. For years all of us try to imitate these golfers on the course and these little gadgets let us get that much closer to them.

In the book Palmer recounts his entire life from growing up in Latrobe to his days at Bay Hill. Arnold gives us a clear picture of his dad and their relationship. He also covers his relationship with President Eisenhower; only Palmer’s dad had a bigger impact on Palmer’s life than Ike. Palmer give us details on his career as one of the most successful product endorsers ever, how he named the modern “Grand Slam”, his days with Mark McCormack, and how he and Bob Hope helped each other for years. Palmer’s love of clubs and planes and golf and partying and friends are each covered in short concise chapters. Foremost in this book is his relationship with his wife and family.

Palmer’s style is easy and direct, much like his life. He gives us many details of a life spent entirely in the spotlight, but still offers a perspective we could only imagine. If you like golf you’ll love the book. If you love Arnie you’ll love him even more.

Note: Both of these books were released years ago and both were found on the “Discount” table of the bookstores. That only made them more appealing.

‘The Golfer’s Guide to the Meaning of Life’ By Gary Player

The title of Gary Player’s recent book, “The Golfers Guide to the Meaning of Life” may appear a bit philosophical but the subtitle captures the essence of the book; “Lessons I’ve Learned from My Life on the Links.” Player is a golfing icon. He has won nine major championships and travelled more miles than any golfer ever. He has been the de facto Ambassador of Golf since he left South Africa to take his game to the world stage. If you know of Player then you know that he has an unwavering positive outlook on everything in life. It is that attitude that comes through in his book.

This book serves as a forum for Player to impart his beliefs on a variety of subjects. Many of the chapter titles sound as if they have been pulled from a self help book; “Success”, “Learning”, Winning”, “Motivation” and “Goals”. Other chapter are pure Player dogma; “Family”, “Sportsmanship”, “Dignity”, and “Physical Fitness”.

Player gives his opinions and formulas for living a successful and dignified life. It is classic Player. You see, in Player’s life there are no gray areas. It is black or white, right or wrong. He gives us his views in a direct and straightforward style. As you read this book you get the feeling you are walking eighteen holes with the Hall of Famer and in between shots he is giving you tips on life. Player addresses the spiritual dynamic in the game of golf in sections called “The Transcendent Moments of a Golfer” and “The Sounds of Golf.” He writes:

“The Silent Sounds of Morning”…Having the opportunity to be the first group off the tee on any given day gives a golfer the opportunity to experience sensations that otherwise would be lost in the noise of midday. The mornings are silent. The players are less apt to be chatty, and cool air and dewy ground are conducive to sticking hands in pockets and walking noiselessly along. Only in the morning do you hear the sound created by shoe bottoms grazing the tops of the grass. Only in the morning does the sound of irons clinking together in the golf bags reverberate through the trees and seem to carry for miles. Only in the morning do you hear your ball land on the green 150 yards away, making a thud like it would if you dropped it on the ground next to you. These seldom-heard sounds help us appreciate the solitary nature of our game.”

While Player recounts many of his golfing experiences in this is book, is not limited to golf only. Player deals with subjects such as personal growth and virtues and character and family values. He relates how his physical fitness has kept him healthy and strong. Player tells us how the game of golf instills integrity, dignity and honor in those who abide by its rules. Player conveys how sportsmanship, fear, change and goal setting have shaped his life and how all these topics are essential to a successful and rewarding life. It is obvious that Player’s beliefs have served him well and he presents them to us as an outline for achieving success in our personal lives.

“The Golfer’s Guide to the Meaning of Life” brings us up close to Gary Player and his values and his way of life. It is an enjoyable and entertaining read filled with Player’s strategy for a value based, contented life. It has certainly worked for him.