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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.
by Jeff Skinner
When Tom Coyne decided to write a book on golf in Ireland he decided to go all the way. No one can say that Coyne doesn’t immerse himself in his projects. In “A Course Called Ireland” he tells the story of when he looked at all the links courses rimming the coast of Ireland he thought of playing the island as one large loop. He would start from the south east coast of Ireland and then play his way to the north and follow the coastline until he returned to the same area and finish with a round at legendary Ballybunion. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime, but the kicker here was that Coyne would walk. He would not only walk the courses, but would walk the entire trip. When I first heard of his plan I had two thoughts: He must be crazy and will soon be divorced. As it turns out only one of these is true, he still is married.
Coyne combined his love of golf and his fondness for Ireland into a unique and inventive golf expedition. He gives us a good mix of golf, Irish culture and humorous anecdotes that keeps the book from being too much travelogue or a course by course, hole by hole description of his trip. You have to marvel at Coyne’s determination and adaptability. He travelled over a thousand miles, played fifty six courses over a four month trek that saw more rain than the Amazon rain forest. He spent most nights looking for the “craic” (fun) in local Pubs and stayed in Bed and Breakfasts. He came across many varied and formidable obstacles. From the full Irish Breakfast that some days weighed him down, Irish drivers running him off the road, to dogs, sheep and cattle, not to mention the blisters and chafing in places I won’t mention. In spite all of his difficulties Coyne tells the story of a country full of fun loving welcoming people and golf courses both grand and quirky. His trip reinforced his love of unspoiled links golf and brought him many new and interesting friends. Coyne was joined by his wife and friends for some legs of the trip and one can only assume that his wife is the most understanding woman, or she was glad to get rid of her golf crazed husband.
Coyne has done a marvelous job at retelling his adventures, golf and otherwise and selling links golf in Ireland. I’m convinced and I’m of Scottish descent whose only goal was to go play golf in Scotland. I’m ready to add Ireland to my list. With all respect to Mr. Coyne, I’ll walk the links but splurge for a ride to the course.
Purchase “A Course Called Ireland”
“Hooks and Slices” will bring you our view on whats happening in the golf world.
It was Playoff City at the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour yesterday. Both tournaments had to go to
extra holes to get their winner. Two time Comeback Player of the Year, Steve Stricker who was sporting his playoff beard, finally got his win and completed his “Trifecta Season.” He has his Colonial win, a second at the Northern Trust Open and a third at the Bob Hope, not a bad “Trifecta” for Stricker. He has 6 top tens, is second in FedEx Cup points and moved to thirteenth in the World Golf Rankings. You have got to feel for both Tim Clark and Steve Marino who tied for second. Marino has been playing well; his last six finishes prior to this second were T16, T79, T38, T5, T13, T19. All Clark had to do was par eighteen, but his bogey left him in the playoff. He then pulls a short putt for the win and hits one off the pin in the playoff. Clark is the perennial bridesmaid on the PGA Tour. He has at least one second place finish in each of the last five years on the Tour. This year he has made eleven of twelve cuts. This is two years in a row that he could have won the Colonial. Phil stole it from him last year with that crazy birdie on eighteen from over the trees.
Mark McNulty won The Principal Charity Classic for his seventh tour win. He beat Fred Funk and Nick Price on the fourth playoff hole.
In another instance of the long ball hitters being out played by the shorter hitters, Frenchman Christian Cevaer won the European Open at The London Golf Club. Cevaer averaged 263 yards of the tee all week. The three players that tied for second all out drove him. Alvaro Quiros had a 324 average, Steve Webster averaged 303 and Gary Orr had a 275 yard average. Big John Daly missed the cut and sits in 100th place in The Race for Dubai.
“Hooks and Slices” will bring you our view on whats happening in the golf world.
Life on the PGA Tour looks like a sweet deal. The professionals earn a great living playing golf on the most beautiful courses in the world. They travel to warm and exotic locations to play a game. Any of us would gladly trade places with them. Life is good on the PGA Tour. 104 golfers earned over one million dollars last year in tournament winnings (See List). They all have endorsement deals where they earn more money.
The PGA Tour donates more to charity then any other sport and the players are no different. Many players have their own foundations that work with charities throughout the world.
The Tour leading money winner in 2008, Vijay Singh uses The Vijay Singh Charitable Foundation to help women and children of domestic abuse. He also works with the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Tiger Woods was the second leading money leader last year and has many charitable causes. The Tiger Woods Foundation manages the Tiger Woods Learning Center in California that works with children and their educational choices. Tiger also helps charities through The Chevron World Challenge, Tiger Jam and The A.T. &T. National tournament.
Phil Mickelson finished in third place on the money list last year. Phil and his wife have established The Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Gift Foundation. They work with many programs; The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (college for children of deceased Special Ops servicemen), Homes for Our Troops (housing for returning military), America Supports You (support for troops families) and Birdies for the Brave which supports the previously mentioned charities.
The money they earn on the tour may seem unreal but it is great to see these players taking a very active role in helping out the many causes that their charities support.
“Hooks and Slices” will bring you our view on whats happening in the golf world.
When the tour comes to Arnie’s place there is never a shortage of great Palmer stories. It seems like every pro and fan has an Arnold Palmer story. Jason Gore is no different. Read how Palmer’s kindness and generosity changed Gore’s life when he stalked Arnold at Latrobe as an eleven year old kid. Gore is playing on a sponsor’s exemption from Arnie and starts the weekend in second place. Looks like Arnie made a good choice and Gore’s life continues to be touched by the King. Check out Jason Gore’s story.
We have been following rookie Webb Simpson all year. After a hot start to the season, he has cooled off a bit. Yesterday he aced the 17th at Arnie’s Bay Hill. Arnie and Simpson are both Wake Forest boys. Maybe some of that Demon Deacon magic is helping Simpson. He made the cut and starts Saturday tied for 27th. Watch Simpson’s ace.
‘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 tra
velled 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.
