If you’re like most golfers, you eat, drink and sleep the game.
Your passion for the game is evident because you spend a significant amount of time playing golf, watching golf, and scrolling through golf content on social media.
While doing all that will help you improve - I suggest you carve out some time to read some golf books. I narrowed down the 5 best ones to make it simple.
Keep reading to check out the list of the ten books we believe will help enhance your game.
1. Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, by Harvey Penick
One of the best golf books to improve your game is written by Harvey Penick. As Sports Illustrated called him the - “Socrates of the golf world.”
This book is considered the bible for golfers - as it’s the highest-selling golf book ever published. One of the main reasons this book has been so successful is because Harvey simplifies the game.
While serving as the head pro for nearly 50 years at the Austin Country Club, in Austin, TX Harvey made a habit of writing down golf tips and observations inside a little red book.
These notes were eventually made into the book that golfers around the world have come to know and love.
The book provides straightforward advice and the updated twentieth-anniversary edition features exclusive rare images from the Penick family archives and a new foreword by 2012 Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III (whose dad had the experience to learn the game under Penick).
The Little Red Book can be purchased here
2. How I Play Golf, by Tiger Woods
If your goal is to get better at the game of golf - why not learn from the greatest player of all time?
In How I Play Golf, Tiger he takes us behind the scenes to describe his process for playing golf. He breaks down every part of the game to make it clear and easy to understand. Plus, there are tons of visuals to help you learn the right positions for every shot in the bag.
In this book, Tiger will show you how to:
- Drive it long and straight
- Shape shots either direction
- Structure each day you get to practice
- Hit piercing iron shots (and the 2-iron stinger)
- Read greens and create a rock-solid putting routine
- And much more…
Plus, he shares a lot of his own experience in the book so you get to learn a little bit more about the living legend.
Although it was published in 2001, the content is still extremely relevant. This book proves that while technology and gadgets may change, the fundamentals of golf remain the same. This is a great book for golfers of any skill level.
How I Play Golf can be purchased here
3. Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game, by Dr. Joseph Parent
Dr. Parent teaches golfers (including several PGA Tour pros) how to clear their minds, focus and play at the moment. Zen Golf is one of the most effective self-help books to help you master your mind and enhance your confidence.
The book will help you improve your focus and cultivate the ability to block out distractions so you can play your best golf. Dr Parent is PGA coach and a Zen Buddhist instructor that uses both areas of knowledge to build mental mastery.
While there are many great book choices in mental strength category, Zen Golf is unique in its concise, clear delivery. It shows you how to prepare, execute, and respond to situations on the course where your mentality can impact your performance. Remember, sometimes improving your game is less about your swing and more about your mind.
Zen Golf can be purchased here
4. Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, by Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan is one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game and believed that any golfer with average coordination can learn to break 80 - as long as you are patient and have a desire to learn. Hogan was known a range rat as he was known to stay on the range for hours at a time.
In each chapter, he teaches a different tested fundamental with clear illustrations to help you understand the exact position for each part of your game. It reads as if Mr. Hogan himself is giving you a personal lesson with the same skill and precision that made him a legend in the game.
The four main sections, include:
- How to grip the club correctly
- How to master your posture and perfect your stance
- The backswing – everything you need to know
- The downswing – everything you need to know
This book will help you lay the groundwork for building a solid motion from the ground up. If you’re looking for the fundamentals of golf taught by one of the best ball strikers of all time, this one is for you. If you’re looking for anything short game-related, skip this one as Ben Hogan only focuses on the full swing.
Five Lessons can be purchased here
5. Golf My Way, by Jack Nicklaus
Jack’s book, Golf My Way written by the legend himself, has sold more than two million copies since it was released in 1974. It is another instructional classic where the Golden Bear takes you through every aspect of his game.
Inside the book, you'll learn about his practice routines managing his golf game, short game tips and a lot more. Plus, he shares how the game has changed since 1962 and how you can play your best golf yet with tons of mental techniques.
Golf My Way can be purchased here
Final Thoughts
There is no shortage of amazing golf books to equip you with the skills and mentality to take your game to the next level. Remember though, to be most effective a book has to be read, re-read and then the advice must be applied and and practiced until the skills become second nature.