When Harvey Penick's Little Red Book (1991) started climbing best-seller lists, it was clear that something was up. Even when written by the likes of Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus, golf instructionals just don't sell more copies than show-biz autobiographies. Well, they do now, thanks to an elderly, arthritic teaching pro from Austin, Texas, who has rescued the golf swing from the theoreticians who have tied us into knots with talk of pronation and swing angles. The same simple aphorisms that were the heart of the Little Red Book--and that have guided Penick's Texas pupils (including U.S. Open champion Tom Kite) to lower scores and greater peace of mind--are once again in evidence in this sequel of sorts to the first book. Whether he's admonishing average players to strengthen their grips or counseling Davis Love III to "roll the ball up to the hole and give luck a chance to happen," Penick always keeps his advice as basic as possible, usually focusing on flaws in a golfer's grip or stance. It's the minimalist school of golf teaching, and it's found a hungry audience. Expect demand. Bill Ott
From Kirkus Reviews
Follow-up to golf instructor Penick's megabestselling Harvey Penick's Little Red Book (1992--not reviewed), featuring further discrete nuggets of grandfatherly advice from the now-88-year-old author. Penick's vision is of the golf ball as fortune cookie: ``I have always tried to impress on my members and my pupils that the rules of golf are made to protect you, not for you to gain by them''; ``In the game of golf, the ball is played as you find it''; ``If you want to change yourself, you must change how you think.'' Little vignettes and anecdotes coat much of the wit and wisdom, which no doubt can go some way toward making one a better golfer, if not a better person. In general, though, this is mediocre sportswriting, saccharine and banal--but with golf lacking a Roger Angell or a Roger Kahn, it's about the best that golfers are being offered these days, which is one reason, no doubt, why it'll drive, not putt, onto the bestseller lists. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From the Publisher
Since the publication of Harvey Penick's The Little Red Book, hardly a day goes by without a stranger arriving at the Penick home, hoping for more pearls of wisdom, an autograph, or just wanting to say, "thank you." And If You Play Gold, 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 every word. 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.
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.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
My Son-in-Law's First Lesson
My son-in-lax, Billy Powell, was captain of the University of Texas basketball team. When my daughter, Kathryn, married him, Billy's pals accused him of trying to improve his golf game.
Everybody knew that was meant as humor, because Billy had never touched a golf club. Basketball was Billy's idea of a real game, not golf.
After college, Billy and Kathryn served a tour in the Air Force. They were stationed at Clovis, New Mexico. Billy tried golf for the first time in Clovis. Playing with a friend who had a 2 handicap, Billy learned what a thrilling experience golf can be. He was hooked.
Billy phoned me that night. He was so excited, he could hardly catch his breath.
"Harvey, I'm on my way to Austin to take a lesson," he said. "How soon can you fit me in?"
I said, "Billy, I will send you a set of golf clubs. Play golf for six months. Then we'll talk about lessons."
Six months later, Billy and I went to the practice range at Austin Country Club.
"I have to ask you a question," Billy said. "I've had an awful struggle for six months. Why did you make me wait so long for this first lesson?"
"This is the second lesson," I said. "Your first lesson was six months of struggle on your own."
"But why?"
I said, "Athletes like you, who have had success in other sports, need to be humbled before they can learn the game of golf."
There's an old saying: The student must be ready for the teacher to appear.
Teaching Billy
I watched my son-in-law swing at the ball on the practice range for a while without comment. I could tell he wanted me to say something.
Finally I said, "Billy, if you handled your fork the way you do that 7-iron, you would starve to death."
We set the ball on a low tee.
"Now take a swing and just clip off that tee," I said.
He hit behind it. He topped it. He hit it sideways.
I said, "You're a good athlete. Learn to clip off that tee. We can go no further until you do."
I left him alone on the range.
He swung his 7-iron for two days before he learned to clip off the tee.
Copyright © 1993 by Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake, and Helen Penick
