Rating: 
Summary: An Incredible Fantasy of Golf
Review: My father, an avid golfer, recommended "The legend of Bagger Vance" to me. As I picked it up and began to read, I expected nothing more than a simple innocent story about the underdog holding steady with the favorites in the golf match of a lifetime. Three and a half hours later, I set the book down, sweat pouring down my face, hands numbly releasing the pages. "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is the most daring book I have ever read. In it, the entire face of reality is questioned, and cataclysmic issues are reopened over what appears to be a simple game of golf. The plot is unimportant. What matters is the tone of the book. And believe me, it has tone.
Rating: 
Summary: A Surprisingly Fun Read
Review: I picked up a few golf books this Winter to get me into the spirit and look forward to the upcoming season. One of the books I picked up was recommended to me by a friend, "The Legend of Bagger Vance". I enjoyed this book as a reader and as a golfer. The basic premise: can a golfer return to the game after a long absence, guided by a mystical caddie, to compete with a couple of the world's best competitors? As a golfer, I say no. When I haven't been playing for a while, it takes a lot more than my mental approach to get my game back on track. This story takes you on a mystical journey on e legendary golf course on a foggy, windy island of the coast of Savannah. I always enjoy stories that take me to a different time using some actual characters of the day. The setting is one of the strong points of the book. This author does an excellent job describing the golf world in the early 1930s. The real strength of the book is the mysterious Bagger Vance who encourages the lead character to transcend the physical world to overcome his golfing challenges. We all know how much golf is a mental game. This book takes it a step further. Forget about keeping your left arm straight, your head down, and your wrists firm, this book will remind you that there are "other" elements at play in the game of golf.
Rating: 
Summary: Good golf story muddled by poor attempt at mysticism
Review: This book reminds me of my own golf swing: it starts out promising, straight and true. But as it progresses, it takes a wicked slice and ends up somewhere in the woods, leaving disappointment in its wake. It is the story of an evening's encounter between a wise and experienced doctor/golfer and his young protege. The protege is considering abandoning both his medical career and his attempt to improve his very impressive golf game. The older man, hoping to intervene, begins with a story about a remarkable golf match long ago ... . The tale of the golf match is riveting and fascinating. I won't spoil it for you. But at the end of the match, the writer takes his reader on a detour of mystical proportions, applying golf to life in an impossible way that stretches credulity. This part of the story brings forth the mental image of a punctured balata: under pressure, it doesn't hold up.
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Summary: Starts Great, Ends Good, But Lost Me in the Middle
Review: I read this book for two reasons: (1) I read Pressman's Gates of Fire novel and liked it; and (2) I'm an extremely mediocre golfer who was looking for some perspective. The book told a great story at the beginning and I like both of the central characters, as well as the fictional device that brought together Jones, Hagen and Judah for their match. Pressfield's writing during this section was clear and interesting. Where he lost me was in the middle stages of the book. Although I understand that golf is a game with overwhelming mental aspects, I found the psychological journey through "the Field" somewhat disorienting and felt that the characters lost their personalities as the book progressed. Ultimately, Pressfield pulls it all together for the finish, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't struggle through portions of the book.
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Summary: Vance definately deliveres
Review: I a'm a twenty-five year old male who has never read a golf book ever. But, I'm a big Robert Redford fan and a heard somewhere that this was going to be his next film project. So need-less-to say I checked out the book. I was very impressed with how I couldn't wait to finish this read. To tell you the truth,I haven't read that many books to begin with. So I was vey surprized reading it so quickly. I found it to be very inspiring and magical. So in closing, I highly recommend this book for everyone who is looking for a entertaining sports story.
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Summary: Best Gift for a Golfer - At any price
Review: Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ included a copy of this book with every green fee. I have read it twice and like the movie "The Usual Suspects", nuances appear at every reading. No doubt, the best gift for a golfer....at any price.
Rating:
Summary: Hypnotised
Review: This tale taught me something I wish I had learned twenty years ago, when I gave up the game. Having picked it up again, about a year ago, I longed to just enjoy. The wonderful history and "feel" for this most mental, physical and spiritual game came back, alive to me once more. Truly, the most intense and beautifully told story of the game of golf and our search for the "game of life" I have ever read. Five stars is not enough.
Rating:
Summary: Hypnotised
Review: This tale taught me something I wish i had learned twenty years ago, when I gave up the game. Having picked it up again, about a year ago,I longed to just enjoy. The wonderful history and "feel" for this most mental, physical and spiritual game came back, alive to me once more. Truly, the most intensely, beautifully told story of the game of golf and our search for the "game of life" I have ever read. Five stars is not enough.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Golf Fiction Around
Review: Golf in the Kingdom was my favorite until I read this book. As good as Golf in the Kingdom is, this one is better. They're even making a movie out of this one, but its going to be hard to capture on film.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy Fiction, with emphasis on "fantasy"
Review: I read The Legend of Bagger Vance upon the recommendation of Rush Limbaugh on his radio program. The book is wonderful in describing the little parts of the game of golf that often go unnoticed (the smell of the cut grass, the feel of the clubs, etc.). However, the book was a little hard to follow in places and was a bit too much fantasy for me. This is a great book for the person who is a golf enthusiast and enjoys psychology.
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