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Best golf book you've ever read

By T.J. Auclair
Published on
Best golf book you've ever read

EDITOR'S NOTE: We're republishing this post today, as it's National Book Day.

There's nothing like a good book, right? And even better if it's a good golf book.

This week, we asked our PGA.com Facebook friends to tell us: What's the best golf book you've ever read?

There were plenty of titles to choose from and with nearly 200 responses, you covered many of them. Here are the nine that stood above the rest, according to our readers:

9. The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods by Hank D. Haney. Probably the newest golf book to hit the bookstore shelves, but also -- arguably -- the most talked about ever. Is it one of the best golf books ever? That's for you, the reader, to decide.
Facebook fan quotes:

"'The Big Miss.' Come for the Tiger stories, stay for the unique golf/life insights." -- Jamal Speller

"'The Big Miss,' is a must read!" -- Skip Maiwald

8. Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game by Joseph Parent. Dr. Parent, a noted PGA coach and Buddhist instructor, presents the PAR approach (focusing on Preparation, Action, and Response to Results). When this book came out in the early 2000s, many players on the PGA Tour raved about it.

Facebook fan quotes:

"'Zen Golf.'" Mind over matter." -- John Steinberg

"'Zen Golf.'" -- Dustin Thompson

7. A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour by John Feinstein. This book is a quick read that provides an amazing inside look at life on the PGA Tour.

Facebook fan quotes:

"'A Good Walk Spoiled.' A little dated now, but a great inside-the-ropes look at the PGA Tour.' -- John Cinnamon

"A Good Walk Spoiled." -- Alexandra Irish

6. Caddy for Life: The Bruce Edwards Story by John Feinstein. Feinstein made the list again, with this incredible book about Bruce Edwards, the late caddie of eight-time major winner Tom Watson, who lost his battle to Lou Gehrig's Disease at age 49 in April, 2004. Edwards was on the bag for all of Watson's majors and continued to do the job even as his health deteriorated.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Anything by Feinstein, but, 'Caddy For Life,' is especially good." -- Mike Rexroat

"'Caddy For Life.'" -- Dan Hipp

"'Caddy for Life, The Bruce Edwards Story.'" -- Brent Swyryda

"'Caddy for Life." -- Eric Thomas

5. Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy. Written in 1971, Murphy's novel has sold over 1 million copies. It's about a young traveler's golfing experience in Scotland during a layover, where he meets a golf pro (Shivas Irons), who teaches him about the game and spirituality.

Facebook fan quotes:

"'Golf in the Kingdom,' Michael Murphy." -- Carl Davis

"'Golf in the Kingdom.'" -- David J. Enger

"'Golf in the Kingdom,' by Michael Murphy or anything by Mark Frost." -- Alex Demitraszek

4. Greatest Game Ever Played by Mark Frost. Set in 1913, this book brings to life the story of Francis Ouimet, who became the first amateur to win the U.S. Open. Making Ouimet's unlikely victory all the more special, was that it came on the course where he caddied -- The Country Club in Brookline -- against the greats of the day, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, Jim Barnes and Walter Hagen.

Facebook fan quotes:

"'The Greatest Game Ever Played.'" -- Brennan Leslie

"'The Greatest Game Ever Played,' I actually read it before I saw the movie!" -- Jeff Daniels

"'The Greatest Game Ever Played,' Mark Frost." -- John Cissel

"'Greatest Game Ever Played.' Hands down." -- Sean P. Wells

3. Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf by Ben Hogan. Hogan's emphasis in this classic, and it's a great one: "The average golfer is entirely capable of building a repeating swing and breaking 80."

Facebook fan quotes:

"'Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf.' If you apply yourself after reading, you'll not only get better, you'll enjoy yourself more." -- Scott Floyd

"Hogan's, 'Five Lessons.'" -- Harry Nash

"I have two. Like wine, a red and a white. I read, 'Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf,' and it took 10 strokes off my game almost instantly 25 years ago. I also read Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book,' over the winter and found it a marvelous read for any golfer. So, like a good wine, I take both down off the shelf if need be. The white book, (Hogan's), if I have technical or swing problems, or, a red, (Penick's), if I have a need for soothing or reinforcing my game, mentally. Taken in moderation, both can make your game much more enjoyable." -- Mike Osterbur

"Ben Hogan's, 'Five Fundamentals.' It has been my favorite. I refer to that book over and over." -- Hanes Myers

"I can't believe Ben Hogan is not on this post more than just a few!" -- Hanes Myers

2. Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella. For years, Rotella has served as a mind doctor to many of the best players in the world. In this book, Rotella explains how you can develop a great mindset to take to -- and use on -- the course.

Facebook fan quotes:

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' Dr. Bob Rotella." -- Robert Leonard

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' Dr. Bob Rotella. Outstanding!" -- Ken Tirohn

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' Bob Rotella." -- William Bishop Saunders

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' by Dr. Bob Rotella. My favorite golf book, because since golf is not a game of perfect shots, the author gives you the mind set to deal with it. (Which happens to be a lot of commonsense which interestingly, many of us don't bring to the course.)" -- Kim Zagajeski Gallagher

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' by Rotella. Really helped me to become a better player when I learned to let go of my bad shots. Changed my thinking about the game." -- David Watson

"'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,' by Dr. Bob Rotella. It changed my golf game tremendously. I went from shooting around a five handicap to always shooting under par. Now I'm not saying that it can take 10 strokes off everybody's average as it did mine. But it will change the way you think when you're out on the course. I'm also a very committed golfer." -- Cody Dezern

1. Harvey Penick's Little Red Golf Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf by Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake. This is the highest selling golf book ever published by one of the game's most beloved figures. This is an absolute must read for anyone who loves the game.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book.'" -- Mattie Trump

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book.'" -- Cathleen Twohig

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf.' A must read for all golfers. Full of wisdom for everyone!" -- Annette DeMarrais Gester

"Gotta be Harvey's, 'Little Red Book.' It stays by my bedside so I can brush up from time to time." -- Mark Boyd

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book.' My high school golf teacher gave me a copy seven years ago when I was senior and I still haven't lost it. Not only does it teach you golf but also how to be a golfer." -- Joseph Tyler Walski

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book!' End of story!" -- Patrick Burns

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book,' it has and will stand the test of time." -- Kris E. Wilson

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book.' A timeless classic. If the lessons are good enough for Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite, they're good enough for me." -- Aaron Levine

"Harvey Penick's, 'Little Red Book.' It is full of a lifetime of learning by one of golf's best students and teachers. It also contains sage advice for golfers when they are off the course." -- Neil Swartz

"Penick, 'Little Red Book,' is the only book you ever need." -- Jimmy McCants