|
Anyone who has ever been bitten by the golf bug knows that the resulting virus is the unending search for the link's Holy Grail. It may be the latest new club, or that simple suggestion from a member of your regular foursome. It may be several hours on the practice tee, or a new training device seen on an infomercial. Perhaps it is a week at a prestigious golf school or a book by a teaching legend. All golfers believe that somewhere out there is the critical piece of information that will transform their golf game from hacker to hero. If only the dream made the wish come true.
Author Turk Pipkin got to live that dream and he shares his adventure in THE OLD MAN AND THE TEE: How I Took Ten Strokes Off My Game and Learned to Love Golf All Over Again. Those who share the dream of long drives, crisp approach shots and curling birdie putts will find this to be more than just an instructional volume. This is a book about life and golf, and how some individuals can enjoy both regardless of the numbers they write down on the scorecard.
Pipkin is the perfect person to write this book. Not only is he an avid golfer, he is also an accomplished writer. In addition to eight novels, he has written for numerous major magazines. Beyond his writing, Pipkin has toured with comedian Rodney Dangerfield and has appeared in Christopher Guest's Waiting for Guffman, HBO's "The Sopranos" and Disney's The Alamo. Reading Pipkin's resume is to peruse the record of a true renaissance man. The time devoted to those activities, however, limited the time available for golf. As a result, Pipkin found his golf game in drastic need of repair. As a young man Pipkin had learned golf from his father. While attending the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pipkin is called back to his native Texas to be with his dying father. His father's death rekindles a long-moribund goal that Raymond Pipkin had set for his son: a round of golf at Pebble Beach. But Pipkin wants more than just a round. He sets for himself the goal of breaking 80 at one of America's most difficult courses. To do so, Pipkin, a 16- handicap golfer, will need to cut that handicap by 10 shots in a year, a Herculean task.
To reach his goal, Pipkin spends parts of the next year with most of the great golf instructors in America. Ironically, when he first proposed his plan to David Leadbetter, a man who numbers some of the greatest golfers of the world as his personal protégés, Leadbetter was skeptical. "You go to six different instructors, you may add ten strokes to your game," Leadbetter said with a laugh. "But count me in."
Over the ensuing year Pipkin's journey takes him to see Leadbetter, short game expert Dave Pelz, Ben Crenshaw --- perhaps professional golf's greatest putter --- and other instructors of note. In each chapter the reader takes a lesson along with Pipkin and acquires some valuable insights concerning golf instruction. Each chapter concludes with a brief summary of an important golf fundamental. Several of those tips have already been put to good use on my game.
In addition to the instructional portions of THE OLD MAN AND THE TEE, Pipkin pursues several side trips that offer him guidance separate from instructions on the fundamentals of the game. We follow Pipkin on a trip to Scotland, a round of golf with singer Willie Nelson, and a tournament partnership with author George Plimpton. At each stop, Pipkin shares a lesson on a subject more important than reducing his handicap. We learn some endearing lesson about life itself. Those lessons complete the message of Pipkin's quest.
Many writers have journeyed into the spiritual side of golf. To some it is more important than the physical aspects of the game. Turk Pipkin has found a magical formula for combining physical instruction and mental awareness of the game of golf. This is an engaging and pleasurable story that all golfers will enjoy and savor. It is a keeper for your collection of golfing literature. Who knows --- this book may be the answer to your golf dreams.
--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
• Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
