LinksLifeGolf

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.

By Jeff Skinner

What do you call someone that follows you to work each day and watches everything you do? Under normal circumstances that would be a stalker. In this case his name is Bob Smiley the author of Follow the Roar and he is not a stalker. Smiley came up with the idea to follow Tiger Woods for every hole of every tournament of 2008.

It is not that Smiley had many options to choose from before he started his season long task. As he explains, he was an out of work writer with out many prospects. He came up with the idea to follow Woods so he may try to improve his own golf game. Well, he may or may not have succeeded, but he could not have timed it any better. Smiley was front and center for one of the most memorable golf seasons in history. Timing is everything sometimes and Smiley happened to pick the right time to stalk the greatest player in the world.

Tiger Woods and all the players on the PGA tour are followed by hundreds of reporters and journalists each week they play. The difference between them and Bob Smiley was that they were legitimate members of the press. Bob was not. He had no credentials or press passes. He was a fan. Just like all the thousands of ticket buying regular Joe’s who stand behind the ropes. He had no special access or parking pass or free food or air conditioned press tent to operate from. Smiley was stuck in the pack with the real golf fans. It is from that perspective Smiley tells his story and that is what makes this book fun.

Originally, Smiley had planned to go the entire season and that would have cost him money he did not have. He certainly had a very understanding wife. He was determined that this had the potential to be a successful undertaking for him, but even he could not have seen the dramatic climax Tiger’s year was to have.

If you live on the planet earth you know how Tiger’s season ended. So there is not much suspense here. The joy in this book comes from Smiley’s journey. He traveled far indeed but it is his travels that entertain not his miles. The characters he met and the friends he made along his way are interesting and entertaining.

Smiley started this trip anything but a Tiger Woods fan. He says he actually hated Tiger and would root against him each week. Smiley was eventually won over by Tiger’s talent, determination and courage. He is like many that witnessed this season. All of us were astounded by the way Woods finished the season with the U.S. Open win on half a leg. Smiley’s account of this wild season makes you feel like you were there for each shot, standing behind the ropes with all those converted Tiger fans.

Book Review – Driven

Senior Staff Writer: Jeff Skinner

In Driven Kevin Cook delves into the ever evolving world of junior golf. The David Leadbetter Golf Academy is one of a growing number of youth camps whose mission it is to create the next great, dominant golfer. Cooks’ subtitle is “Teen Phenoms, Mad Parents, Swing Science and the Future of Golf, A Year at the David Leadbetter Academy”. You get a close up view of the pressure filled life of many of the top junior golfers in the world. This academy is really a living laboratory. These kids are given the best equipment, facilities, nutrition and instructors. They spend time in classes for academics but their real focus is on golf. The mission here is to get better at golf. The kids are looking for two things…college scholarships and professional golf. The Academy is their means to that end. That end being a professional golfer… the next Tiger Woods.

Kevin Cook is a former Editor in Chief of Golf Magazine, has been a senior editor at Sports Illustrated, and an executive editor of Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. Cook has won the USGA’s Herbert Warren Wind Book Award for his 2007 book Tommy’s Honor. With a professional pedigree like that you expect something special in this book. You get it. Cook spent a year at the academy giving him great insight into the kids, the parents, the instructors, and the pros that still seek Leadbetter’s teaching and knowledge.

The kids are from all over the globe and most of them are truly motivated to be the best. Unfortunately many things can get in the way. Cook focuses on the issues that confront the students, anything from puberty to their overbearing parents can cause the kids to struggle. This academy can cost over one hundred thousand dollars per year. That can bring plenty of pressure on a teenager to perform. Leadbetter’s instructors do what they can to get the most from their students but sometimes the kids worst enemies are their parents.
In the book, Cook gives you an intimate look at one of Leadbetter’s principal students, Michele Wie and the dynamic between her and her parents. It is apparent that while Leadbetter’s advice is sought by Michele’s parents, it was rarely adhered to. Michele Wie and her struggles were an intriguing section of Driven

The Leadbetter Academy and its students are not the only point of interest in Driven. David Leadbetter has coached or is coaching many prominent golfers. Leadbetter is credited by Nick Faldo with rebuilding his swing. Faldo then went on to win six majors. Nick Price was one of Leadbetters’ first major players. Leadbetter had his work cut out for him. It seems the two Nicks’ did not get along at all and Leadbetter would have to try and keep them apart so Faldo would not get jealous. Faldo may have been grateful to Leadbetter early on, but he showed unusual insensitivity by leaving Leadbetter and starting his own golf school and informing Leadbetter of it in a “Dear John Letter”.

This insider information and many more stories and anecdotes made Driven a great read for any golf fan. The Nicks, Sean O’Hair, Trevor Immelman, Ernie Els, Sean O’Hair, Paula Creamer Michele Wie and Lorena Ochoa are some of the pros that flow in and out of Leadbetters’ life, always leaving a good story.

The students in the academy offer us many interesting and genuine storylines. Peter Uihlein is the patient, mature son of the Titlest CEO. Carly Booth is the Scottish phenom who disagrees with her coaches. Annie Park is the Korean star. Charlie Winegardner refuses to change his baseball grip. Mu Hu is China’s version of Tiger Woods. The daughters of tennis great Ivan Lendl run him raged. Michael Wade is the humble, adopted son of a Pastor.

Cook follows each of these stories, and more, giving us a true, unbiased glimpse into the personal lives of these kids, their families and Leadbetters’ connection with them. The drama is not limited to the students. Cook gives us plenty of adult intrigue with details of Leadbetter’s trouble with his bickering professionals, employees that betray him, pros that desert him and of course the ongoing Wie soap opera.

Driven is an interesting book that any golf fan will certainly enjoy. Kevin Cooks’ skill as a writer is obvious and his years in the world of golf have given him an expertise and an awareness that few writers have.

Driven

Teen Phenoms, Mad Parents, Swing Science and the Future of Golf
A Year at the David Leadbetter Academy
by Kevin Cook
Gotham Books 2008