Beyond the Fairway : Zen Lessons, Insights, and Inner Attitudes of Golf

Rating:
Summary: Beyond the Fairway
Review: Author Jeff Wallach takes the golfer to places he may never have been. Not only physically, but spiritually. Jeff writes about playing golf in many areas of the world, but also about using golf to explore many areas of the mind and one's own emotions. The Zen philosophy is clearly the road map for this journey, and Wallach is able to pull together aspects of the sport's traditions, frustrations and beauty to show us how golf is far more than just a game. The chapter about playing golf in Scotland and the one on meeting Peter Martin, a golf professional in New York state's Adirondack mountains who believes golf can enlighten us, are the two most enjoyable passages in this book. It's a better read and any overly detailed instructional book. And it probably will help your game more, too.

Rating:
Summary: The journey vs. the destination
Review: I loved this book. I've read a lot of instructional works, but I think this book may do more for my game than all those others put together. I was not familiar with the ways of Zen before I read this, and I think Jeff gave just enough information about it to intrigue me. This book will help your game.

Rating:
Summary: The journey vs. the destination
Review: I loved this book. I've read a lot of instructional works, but I think this book may do more for my game than all those others put together. I was not familiar with the ways of Zen before I read this, and I think Jeff gave just enough information about it to intrigue me. This book will help your game.

Rating:
Summary: just okay
Review: This is a very hard book to enjoy. Although it is written about my favorite subject, it is also written with a somewhat snobbish attitude. I don't care to be told that all the courses I play and have played don't constitute real golf because they aren't in Scotland. Once I got past my annoyance at these revelations, I found there are actually many good moments in the book. The Zen golf koans are also enjoyable. I'm glad I bought it used.