Synopses & Reviews
“No one can completely cover the game of golf like Bill Pennington and no book can comprehensively tell the story of the sport with the same wit, wisdom and knowledge like
On Par. "—Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
Bill Pennington, the voice of the everyday golfer, has traveled the globe in search of golf’s essentials—those basic principles, those ultimate truths (and, who are we kidding, any trick or quick fix he can pick up along the way) that will improve anyone’s game. He has consulted elite golf instructors as well as countless caddies, groundskeepers, parking lot attendants, and bartenders. He has played rounds with Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, and Justin Timberlake. He has spoken with psychiatrists, economists, and Zen masters. On a particularly bad outing, he even discoursed on the fickleness of golf with a wise raccoon.
In On Par, Pennington distills this wisdom in an insightful guide to the game. From equipment to the language of golf, from camaraderie to the short-game/long-game debate, Pennington informs and entertains readers as he gets to the essence of the game, including that Holy Grail, the hole in one. Part instruction, part therapy, and shot through with Pennington’s trademark wit and humor, this is a book for everyone who has felt the game’s distinct pull—and slice.
“A phenomenal guide . . . As all golfers know, the sport is about more than being able to hit a good shot and this book takes you through the journey, arming you with everything you need to know.”—Annika Sorenstam
“If you like golf, you’ll like [this book] . . . On Par blends practical advice for beginners . . . golf history . . . trivia . . . and Pennington’s entertaining dispatches from out on the course.”—NPR’s Only a Game
Review
"Don't open this book! It's far too addictive."
--Alan Shipnuck, authorof Bud, Sweat, & Tees
Review
"Avid golfers and newcomers alike will revel in the choices of Jeff Neuman and Lorne Rubenstein."
Links magazine
Review
"Golf is full of quirky bits and pieces along with stories and information. There's something on every page of this entertaining book to interest and amuse every golfer. Not surprising with Lorne Rubenstein involved--one of the best."
--Arnold Palmer
Review
"It's the ultimate can't-miss Christmas/Father's Day gift for anyone who plays golf....give these guys an Oscar for research.
--Sports Illustrated
Review
and#8220;The most humble and humane golf book I have ever read. Relying on insight instead of striving to incite, Pennington reduces golf to its most basic charms and makes the game remarkably accessible. Pennington...is the most noble of guides, encouraging and realistic, light and enlightening. Laid out like a challenging but attractive tract, On Par spares us the wiseguy tweaking with wisdom and earnest good humor. [On Par] should be handed to every first-time golfer as part of a welcome packet. Better yet, it should be in the zippered compartment of every new golf bag, like an in-flight magazine. Or a Bible.and#8221;
-Bill Scheft for the New York Times Book Review
"Golf writing may be unique among sportswriting for the way it often manages to convey the deadly seriousness those passionate about it feel toward the game, while simultaneously joking at their expense. Penningtonand#8217;s tone shares this trait and will be familiar to those who have read any of the many golf books out there. None of those books, however, offer nearly as much real-world advice to golfers on how to improve their experience.and#160; A must for beginning golfers or players looking to get more enjoyment out of their time on the course."
-Kirkus Reviews
"A hilarious, informative primer on the essentials of golf, schooling novices or the professional bewitched by mastering the links... A chapter on golf-speak will tickle readers with a sampling of the colorful jargon of golf pros... With a few chuckles and basic instruction, Penningtonand#8217;s book effectively consolidates the wealth of knowledge from his beloved column, while delighting those who are perplexed by the puzzle that is the sport of golf. "
-Publishers Weekly
"No one can completely cover the game of golf like Bill Pennington and no book can comprehensively tell the story of the sport with the same wit, wisdom and knowledge like On Par."
- Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
"As a regular reader of Bill's On Par column in The New York Times, I was wondering what fertile golf terrain could possibly be left for him to farm? I soon found out his surplus was even better. And I know he can dig with the best of them. I played a round of golf with him!"
- Dan Hicks, NBC Sports Golf Host
"Bill Pennington takes his first-hand experience as a golfer, as well as his years of getting to know professionals, and delivers a phenomenal guide to the sport I love so much. He does a great job of breaking down the fundamentals of golf to something everybody can enjoy and understand. As all golfers know, the sport is about more than being able to hit a good shot and this book takes you through the journey, arming you with everything you need to know."
- Annika Sorenstam
"Put a copy of Bill Pennington's On Par on your shelf and another copy in your golf bag. Often funny, always smart, Pennington zeroes in on the essence of a royally crazy old game."
- Kevin Cook, author of Titanic Thompson and Tommy's Honor
"One of the great joys during the golf season is reading Bill Penningtonand#8217;s golf page, 'On Par,' in The New York Times each Monday morning. Imagine that and#8211; a whole page devoted to all things golf! My heart be still. And now we have this wonderful book thatand#8217;s much more than my Monday morning read. Trust me, if youand#8217;re an avid golfer, youand#8217;ll devour each and every word."
- Martin Davis, golf historian and author ofand#160;The American Golfer
"On Par is the ideal guide for golfers who donand#8217;t hit their pitching wedge 160 yards, get paid for wearing white belts, or hang out with Las Vegas cocktail waitresses. And it wouldnand#8217;t do those other guys any harm, either."
- David Owen, author of My Usual Game
Review
"
No one can completely cover the game of golf like Bill Pennington and no book can comprehensively tell the story of the sport with the same wit, wisdom and knowledge like
On Par: The Everyday Golfer's Survival Guide."
-- Jim Nantz, CBS Sports "As a regular reader of Bill's On Par column in The New York Times, I was wondering what fertile golf terrain could possibly be left for him to farm? I soon found out his surplus was even better. And I know he can dig with the best of them. I played a round of golf with him!"
-- Dan Hicks, NBC Sports Golf Host "Bill Pennington takes his first-hand experience as a golfer, as well as his years of getting to know professionals, and delivers a phenomenal guide to the sport I love so much. He does a great job of breaking down the fundamentals of golf to something everybody can enjoy and understand. As all golfers know, the sport is about more than being able to hit a good shot and this book takes you through the journey, arming you with everything you need to know."
--Annika Sorenstam "Put a copy of Bill Pennington's On Par on your shelf and another copy in your golf bag. Often funny, always smart, Pennington zeroes in on the essence of a royally crazy old game."
--Kevin Cook, author of Titanic Thompson and Tommy's Honor "One of the great joys during the golf season is reading Bill Penningtons golf page, 'On Par,' in The New York Times each Monday morning. Imagine that - a whole page devoted to all things golf! My heart be still. And now we have this wonderful book thats much more than my Monday morning read. Trust me, if youre an avid golfer, youll devour each and every word."
-- Martin Davis, golf historian and author, The American Golfer "On Par is the ideal guide for golfers who dont hit their pitching wedge 160 yards, get paid for wearing white belts, or hang out with Las Vegas cocktail waitresses. And it wouldnt do those other guys any harm, either."
- David Owen, author of My Usual Game
Synopsis
Compiled by two fanatical lovers of the game, here are hundreds of lists, records, anecdotes, quotes, instruction, humor, surprises, and the sheer mesmerizing minutiae of a world whose pleasure lies in the details.
Synopsis
The obsessive book about the obsessive game, and more fun to read than a green at Ballybunion. Written by two authors who have misspent their lives in thrall to the sport, A DISORDERLY COMPENDIUM OF GOLF digs into the odd, the fascinating, the historical, the random, the unexpected, and the curmudgeonly, and serves up hundreds of pages of lists, anecdotes, humor, surprises, and the sheer compelling minutiae of a game whose pleasure lies in the details.
It's all here, including history: oldest courses, top 5 money-winners at 10-year intervals, the importance of James II of Scotland. Colorful characters, like the hustler who would bet you that he could roll out of bed in the morning and make a 40-foot putt on his first try, and his secret for doing it every time. Odd rules: Did you know youmay take a free drop from a fireant hill but not from poison ivy? Good golf instruction--how to hit Phil Mickelson's trademark flop shot--and confusing golf instruction: Tom Watson says "Never feel you're reaching for the ball," while Johnny Miller advises" Reach for the ball. . . ." Embarrassing moments and helpful tips. The lexicon: professional caddie nicknames, terms for an ugly shot, names of golf balls. Plus gambling games, the grasses used in greens, unusual patents, Shakespearean quotes on golf, golf at midnight, longest and shortest holes . . . and more, and more.
Synopsis
Inspired by his New York Times weekly column "On Par," Bill Pennington has created a delightful compendium of all things golf that no golfer—whether a weekend duffer or a PGA pro—can afford to miss. Part instruction, part education, part hilarity, On Par is the go-to guide for the twenty-first-century golfer.
Synopsis
Bill Pennington, author of the beloved and widely read and#8220;On Parand#8221; golf column for the New York Times, knows how to interpret the experts and pros for the rest of us. For years, he has traveled the globe in search of golfand#8217;s essentialsand#8212;those basic principles, those elusive truths (and who are we kidding, any trick or quick fix he can pick up along the way) that will improve anyoneand#8217;s game. He has consulted the worldand#8217;s leading golf instructors as well as countless caddies, groundskeepers, parking lot attendants, and bartenders. He has played rounds with Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, and Justin Timberlake. He has sought the advice of psychiatrists, physicists, economists, zen masters. And on a particularly bad golf outing, he has even discussed the fickleness of golf with a quite helpful raccoon.
On Par captures it all: From equipment and instruction, to the rules and language of golf, to camaraderie and psychology, to the short game/long game debate, Pennington informs and entertains as he gets to the essence of this mercurial game, including golfand#8217;s holy grail, the hole in one.
Part instruction, part education, part therapy, and shot through with Penningtonand#8217;s trademark wit, this is a book for everyone who has ever felt the gameand#8217;s distinct pulland#8212;and slice.
About the Author
BILL PENNINGTON is an award-winning sportswriter for the New York Times. A former syndicated columnist, Pennington was a beat writer who covered much of Billy Martin's tenure with the New York Yankees. A fifteen-time finalist and six-time winner of the Associated Press Sports Editors' annual writing award, Pennington lives with his family in Warwick, New York. This is his fourth book.
Table of Contents
Introductionand#8195;xi
1. Essential Golfand#8195;1
2. The Rules of Golfand#8195;20
3. The Language of Golfand#8195;42
4. Being a Good Golf Partner
(and Surviving a Day with a Bad One)and#8195;56
5. Youand#8217;re Not Alone Out Thereand#8195;79
6. If You Had One Wish . . .and#8195;99
7. Our Biggest Fearsand#8195;115
8. Golfing Godsand#8195;139
9. Golf Is a Sport; Are You Game?and#8195;162
10. Golf Safetyand#8195;180
11. The New Culture of Golfand#8195;193
12. Shanks, Choking, and
Other Tales of the Dark Sideand#8195;214
13. Nine Places Every Golfer Should Playand#8195;245
14. Golfand#8217;s Holy Grailand#8195;276
Acknowledgmentsand#8195;287
Indexand#8195;289