Time to do some reading, especially on golf

Summer is a great time for catching up on your reading. By the pool, or in your soft lounge chair, summertime reading is relaxing. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Dr. Bob Rotella stands as golf’s pre-eminent sport psychologist. In his latest of a dozen books – “Make Your Next Shot Your Best Shot” – he covers bouncing back from adversity, believing in yourself, and using statistics to help you practice and play. In Chapter 3, “Harnessing the Power of Persistence” Rotella writes: “You must be willing to do whatever it takes to get as good as you dream of getting. You can call it patience, dogged determination, perseverance or simply old-fashioned persistence.” That’s exactly how I felt at Notre Dame as captain of the Irish swim team, and later the highest age-group finisher in four Ironman Triathlons in Hawaii. In Chapter 7, “A Quiet Mind Will Set Your Talent Free,” Rotella reminds us that “if you don’t trust your swing on the golf course and play with an unconscious mindset, you’ll never reach your potential. I like to say ‘there’s a time to train and there’s a time to trust.’” Soon I will be devoting additional space here to unconscious golf.

In 2003, popular spiritual teacher Deepak Chopra came out with his first golf book: “Golf for Enlightenment: The Seven Lessons for the Game of Life.” Chopra has also authored or co-authored 20 other books, including “the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” and “Ageless Body, Ageless Mind.” As an average high-handicapper, Copra loves the game of golf, with all of its delights and frustrations. Confronted by the wild ups and downs of his own play he consulted with golf professionals and developed a unique approach to the game that any golfer, whether novice or expert, can follow. “Golf for Enlightenment” is the story of an Everyman named Adam who we can follow as he starts out as a terrible golfer and ends up mastering the game thanks to an extraordinary and mysterious teacher named Leela. The chapters are in the form of “lessons.” Lesson 5, “Winning Is Passion with Detachment,” notes the following: “Once you appreciate the emotional drama being played out, it’s no wonder that golf pierces the soul. At any moment defeat be snatched from the jaws of victory, yet the most impossible shots can also go right. The whole game is like life condensed to its essence, lightning caught in a bottle.” Ain’t it the truth.

James Dodson has risen to one of the most famous golf book writers in America, having won the coveted USGA Herbert Warren Wind Award in 2004 and 2012. His most celebrated books include “Final Rounds (a father, a son, the golf journey of a lifetime);” “The Dewsweepers: Seasons of Golf and Friendship;” “A Son of the Game: A story of Golf, Going Home and Sharing Life’s Lessons;” “A Golfer’s Life” with and about Arnold Palmer. However, my recommended reading today is his 2017 “The Range Bucket List: The Golf Adventure of a Lifetime.” When he was a kid of 13 and already addicted to golf, Dodson wrote himself a list titled “Things to Do in Golf.” It included the golfing aspirations of a young boy who had no idea where life would take him. A few years ago, in his mid-60s, Dodson rediscovered the piece of paper in an old trunk. Number one on the list was “meet Arnold Palmer and Mr. Bobby Jones.” One out of two isn’t bad. Number 7 was “live in Pinehurst.” He’s close now. Number 4 was “play on the PGA Tour.” Well, James, you can’t have all your wishes. In 21 chapters and 307 pages, Dodson takes us on a journey of his personal history, remembrance of famous and valued persons and reflections on the joys and the challenges of the game of golf. Dodson recalls dining with Arnold on one of his trips to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, as he was writing the “Life” book: “Arnold’s memory never fails to amaze me. During the nearly two years I traveled with him to open new golf courses or make public appearances, I frequently saw him surprise and delight scores of fans by remembering names.”