Synopses & Reviews
Since the publication of
Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, the world has almost literally beaten a path to Harvey Penick's door. Hardly a day goes by without a stranger arriving at the Penick home, book in hand, hoping for more pearls of wisdom, an autograph, or just wanting to say, "Thank you."
Bud Shrake, Penick's coauthor, noticed that Penick usually inscribes the books, "To my friend and pupil." How could he do that, Shrake asked him, when he didn't know these people?
"Well," replied Penick, "if you read my book you're my pupil, and if you play golf, you're my friend."
And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend picks up where the Little Red Book left off. It features the same blend of simple wisdom, sound golfing instruction, and good common sense that has made the Little Red Book so popular with golfers of all ages and levels of ability. And, as in the previous volume, Penick's deep love for the game and his delight in teaching shine through on every page.
Penick tells the story of his son-in-law's first golf lesson, a story with a twist right out of O. Henry. He relates the tale of a player from Houston who had only one flaw in his game -- that his scores were too high -- and who exploded with anger when Penick told him so. He gives advice to parents on how to help their children learn golf, shows how to overcome a slice by "playing baseball," and shares the pride and joy he felt while watching his pupil Tom Kite win the U.S. Open.
Warm, witty, and wise, And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend shows why Harvey Penick has become America's best-loved teacher of the great game of golf.
Synopsis
The author of Harvey Penick's Little Red Book has done it again. And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend picks up where Penick's first bestseller left off--offering the same mix of simple wisdom, sound golfing instructions, and good common sense.
About the Author
Harvey Penick's association with golf and with the Austin (Texas) Country Club dates back to 1913, when the began there as a caddie. He still lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Helen. This is his second book.
Table of Contents
ContentsMy Son-in-Law's First Lesson
Teaching Billy
A Value of Knowledge
Identify the Problem
The Lawyer
God Knows
In the Mind's Eye
What Does It Mean?
Take Pleasure in It
Flavor That Lasts
The Oracle Speaks
A Story by Helen
Another Call
Toss It
An Irony
The First Choice
A Strange World
Look Here First
Toward a Stronger Grip
All You Need to Know About the Wrist Cock
Higher Aspects
A Method for Madness
Making a Comeback
A Distinction
Preacher Mann
The Reason for It
From the Fringe
South of the Border
The Lay Up
Tommy Wins the Open
A Story by Christy Kite
Make Up Your Mind
The California Woman
The Judge
Keep It Moving
The Learning Game
A Story by Tom Kite
The True Way
Club Selection
A Special Club
A Golfer's Prayer
Give Luck a Chance
The Bench
A Teacher's Guide
Musings on Rulings
Wilmer's Woes
The Power of Negative Thinking
The Champion
Practice It First
Wrongheaded Husbands
Children
Crosshanders
The Left Arm
The Secret of the Golf Swing
Hit It Hard
Brand-Name Aiming
Slices and Hooks
Pressure
The Erratics
How to Stop the Bleeding
The Dashing Demaret
Luck
Sweet but Incomplete
Paula Granoff's Story
Indoor Teaching
Masters Manners
A Golfer's Poem
Wasting Your Time
Mr. Connerly
Fate Takes a Hand
Unfair to Ben
Made in Heaven
Chipping
What Do You Look At?
Telephone Lesson
Still the Most Dreaded Shot
Reassurance
A Future in Golf
The Sweet Spot
Playing Hurt
The Feeling of Far
In the Eyes
In the Mind
Old Familiar
Governor Hobby
Life in the Mind
My First Lesson
A Soft Wedge
The Examination
Club Fitting
The Best Hands
A Hard Job
Mr. Aminex
An Inexhaustible Subject
A Tip
The Fee
Timing
Time to Move
Mr. Roberts
Randy's Driver
Jack Did It
The Downhill Lie
Haunted
Hogan Whiffs It
Caddie-Yard Psychology
Where Is He?
My Prayer
Training Aids
Necessity
Summing Up
Game of Honor