Books on golf offer fact, fiction

HOW I CUT 50 STROKES OFF MY GOLF SCORES, by Fred Fields

Fields is back after writing his best-selling book, How Short-Hitting, Bad Golfers Break 90 All the Time. This time around, Fields – the “Weekend Golf Pro” – divides the book into two parts. The first part is an autobiography focused on his golf game. The second part gives instructional tips on the full swing, short game and course management. Average and bad golfers alike will find this book to be helpful for their game.

THE SECRET OF GOLF: THE STORY OF TOM WATSON AND JACK NICKLAUS, by Joe Posnanski

One of the top sports writers, Posnanski offers a fascinating take on the relationship between two of the game’s greatest golfers on and off the course, taking readers to Turnberry in 1977 for the famous “Duel in the Sun” and Pebble Beach in 1982 when Tom Watson bested Jack Nicklaus with his highlight chip-in on the 17th hole in the final round. The book continues through present times and touches on the death of Nicklaus’ 18-month-old grandson in 2005 and Watson’s U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy last year. In addition, Nicklaus and Watson provide golf tips throughout the book.

UNPLAYABLE LIES: THE ONLY GOLF BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED, by Dan Jenkins

Golf-writing legend Jenkins presents a collection of 41 essays, half of them already published in Golf Digest and the rest completely new. Jenkins provides a humorous, engaging take on golfers and tournaments through the years and gives his insights into golf’s four majors, including his Masters memories. This is classic Jenkins, a must-have book for golf fans.

MIRACLE AT AUGUSTA, by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge

Known for his mystery novels and middle school series, Patterson, along with de Jonge, shifts gears to golf. Miracle at Augusta is centered on fictional character Travis McKinley, who won the U.S. Senior Open as an amateur. The book, set in the 1990s, is about redemption and features classic golfers such as Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino. Masters aficionados will notice inaccuracies in the first chapter, such as the first hole “doglegs left” (it’s a mostly straight hole that doglegs slightly to the right). But aside from some early bogeys, the book recovers with its length – 240 pages – stor-telling and short chapters.