Golf in the Kingdom

by Michael Murphy

A spiritual journey, a lush travelogue, a parable of sports and philosophy—John Updike called this unique novel “a golf classic if any exists in our day.” When an American traveler on his way to India stops to play a round on one of the most beautiful and legendary golf courses in Scotland, he doesn’t know that his game—and his life—are about to change forever. He is introduced to Shivas Irons, a mysterious golf pro whose sublime insights stick with him long after the eighteenth hole. From the first swing of the Scotsman’s club, he realizes he is in for a most extraordinary day.   By turns comic, existential, and semiautobiographical, Michael Murphy’s tale traces the arc of twenty-four hours, from a round of golf on the Links of Burningbush to a night fueled by whiskey, wisdom, and wandering—even a sighting of Seamus MacDuff, the holy man who haunts the hole they call Lucifer’s Rug.   “Murphy’s book is going to alter many visions,” The New York Times Book Review declared. More than an unforgettable approach to one of the world’s most popular sports, Golf in the Kingdom is a meditation on the power of a game to transform the self.  

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Self Help, Novels, Cultural

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Bestselling author Michael Murphy has been called the father of the human potential movement, one of the most influential movements in twentieth-century American culture. His bestselling book Golf in the Kingdom (1972) inspired the creation of the Shivas Irons Society, a nonprofit group dedicated to finding beauty and discovery through the game of golf, and has recently been adapted into a movie starring Malcolm McDowell (2010). His other books include Jacob Atabet (1977), An End to Ordinary History (1982), In the Zone (1995), and The Kingdom of Shivas Irons (1997). He lives in California.

Reviews

[Syl Sabastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many many golf books, at the time I pretty much read all I could lay my hands on with none of them really standing out, except this one. besides being a good story, there is real value in the book. It's been a long time since I read it, so don't remember the details specifically, but do remember it impacted me at the time and made a difference. how exactly I cannot say, other than perhaps connecting to a predilection of mine, which is to come at matters from an abstract perspective, to go deeper, and look beyond the obvious. This marvellous read does just exactly that. *Gravity Golf* - need I say more?

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book held much promise for me. I'll be playing golf in Scotland in a couple of months so I was very interested to see what this was about. Set in the mythical town of Burningbush, Scotland on the Firth of Forth (sounds suspiciously like St. Andrews), this is the story of the author Murphy's one day in Burningbush on his way to India to study with a spiritual leader.

Murphy decides to walk on and play the legendary course at Burningbush and through fate is paired up with a Scottish golf professional named Shivas Irons. At first he is somewhat put off by the engaging Scotsman but as the round progresses he receives some instruction from Shivas that transforms his golf game and the way he views it. Murphy suddenly becomes fascinated with the oddly charismatic Irons.

The round leads to an invitation to dinner with a group of local friends, a late-night search for Shivas' mysterious mentor Shamus McDuff, an early morning visit to Shivas's apartment to view his writing on golf and life, and their ultimate parting as the author continues on his journey.

This part of the book, roughly the first half, was entertaining. I loved the way the author captured the local's Scottish brogue in print. However the second half devolved into the lessons learned from Shivas, which to me was a bunch of 1960's psycho-babble about mysticism, the inner-self as it relates to golf, and so on. That said, this book has an enormous following so it's probably just me.

In my mind this book equates to a 3-putt bogey after a good drive and approach shot to the green.

[Milanimal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of the book has its charm but by the end Murphy is listing out thinkers he admires and opting for block quotes over his own writing. I don't begrudge the ideas, only that the author doesn't trust in his ability to convey them allegorically. Putting these thoughts into the Plato style symposium in the first half could have spared us the feeling that Murphy is cutting and pasting from his notebooks. An amusing premise that gives way to a less imaginative explication of the subject matter.

[Sarah Boselovic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate that my Dad will see this review. 😩

I’ve been getting more into golf lately, so I was excited to read this book. I loved the beginning and loved how the author quickly invited readers into the mystique of golf through the curious and charismatic character of Shivas Irons. The early chapters are compelling, weaving philosophy and sport together in a way that makes even the most skeptical reader pause and reflect. However, as the narrative progresses, it veers into abstract territory, less about the game and more about metaphysical meanderings that may lose some readers (ahem, me) along the way.

For those open to exploring the intersection of mind, body, and sport, Golf in the Kingdom offers a unique, if unconventional, journey.

In golf terms, reading this book is like hitting a perfect drive off the first tee, being full of promise and precision going into the second, only to hit your next ball into the rough, wondering how you got so far off the fairway.

[Casey Durkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second half of this book reminded me of going into a thick grouping of trees off of a fairway to find my errant drive. While I didn’t find my ball, after much effort and rummaging around I did find a couple muddy replacements.

[Noah Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Golf. Love philosophy.

[Daniel Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine book. Absurd and, overall, fairly funny. If I liked golf more, I probably would have liked this book more.

[Robert Strandquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a re-read for me from the 1990's. My memory of Murphy's tale held more magic than this reading revealed. But, retaining its magic is the myth-spinning character Shivas Irons along with his midnight shenanigans that inspire the love for the game of golf. He espouses the 'inner body' to guide one's journey of a golf course, which provides a good keel for all us duffers. For my money, Murphy reaches too broadly trying to weave fiction, memoir and essay into a coherent whole. Even though all three genre focus on the spiritually mystic nature of a player's relationship to golf, their varied textures break the spell like changing radio stations or flipping t.v. stations. Nevertheless, I will attempt to invoke the spirit of Shivas Irons the next time I stride up to the first tee and gaze down the fair-way.

[Dave Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't have to be a sports lover to appreciate this book--but if you are, it's a must read. I love golf and this book really deepens my love for the game. There was a frustration surrounding the game with me lately, and this book reminds me of the mysterious beauty of the game.

[Thomas Gingerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third time I've read this book. IMO this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys playing golf because it speaks to the love of the game and the love we share with others when we play. That sounds corny, but it's true. I've made more friends on a golf course than anywhere else.

[Jared · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

I wanted to like this book so I was pretty disappointed when I didn't. I like other books like this... quasi-mystical and quasi-philosophical fiction. A few examples would be Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or The Life of Pi or Jonathan Livingston Seagull . But this one was just too hard to get into. The Scottish dialogue was indecypherable, the conversations were odd, trite, or banal. And it was tough to follow the philosophy threaded throughout.

I felt like I was reading an inside joke that probably spoke to other readers but not to me. I liked what he was trying to do, but it just didn't work for me. Sorry.

[Eric Brauneis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, this is lousy. I had tried and failed to get through this a few times over the last five years, but came back to it since its always felt like part of the canon of golf writing. Maybe I’m too cynical (well, definitely, but not usually about golf) and it has some valid and interesting points to make about the inner game, the spirituality of golf and the reasons why we play, but delivering it as a work of fiction and sort of a pseudo-philosophical journey was just too much of a long walk.

I’m not entirely sure why, but any kind of “sports fiction” is so rarely good.

[Sebastien · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of the book is a story; the second half is half story, half trying to tie spiritualism & mysticism to the game of gold (some of it works, a lot of it doesn’t). The story in France randomly abruptly ends before devolving into the weird mysticism - I thought I had skipped chapters accidentaly… but alas, I hadn’t.

I came in thinking this book would be some golfer’s version of eat pray love, it was very much not that.

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average rating for a book I only read the first 20% of. I couldn't do all the meta-physical stuff. I liked the characters and the writing, it was just the content that disinterested me.

[Cameron M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me justification for how much I hate/spend on golf

[Lauren Hiebner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for golfers. It is a book about the mysticism of golf and the most difficult distance to master, seven inches between the ears!! Golf is a game of concentration/focus versus emotions and negative thoughts. A round can run the gamut of all emotions, even one hole from sheer frustration and anger to the joy of a great shot. That is what keeps one coming back, the notion of a perfect shot, perfect hole, perfect round. This was a fun book to read as Murphy includes his sense of humor throughout as he plays a round of golf with a mystic and discovers the true meaning of life. Parts of it should be read out loud to appreciate the Scottish dialect. A good read.

[Michael Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the written version of the internal thought-life as it pertains to the game of golf and how it is approached. The eastern religion ideals were difficult for me to follow. Nonetheless I found this book very enjoyable and think highly of the authors name.

[Charlie Hawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t actually finish this. Sorry to all of my fellow good readers, I didn’t know how to mark it otherwise. Got halfway through and couldn’t make any sense of it.

[Josh Woodward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rather play golf than read about it. That being said, there are certain times when playing golf is impossible, such as while at work, or while driving to the golf course. This book is ideal for those times.

Much like my golf game, Kingdom starts strong. The opening holes describe Burningbush, a fictional Scottish dunes course that will resonate with lovers of the game as a close spiritual relative of Troon or St. Andrews. There by chance, a young American protagonist shares a round with the mystical golf shaman Shivas Irons. The youngster fancies himself with the stick, placing high expectations on himself to turn in a cheeky low score before departing. His chutzpah is quickly tested on the windy links and his game spirals out of control with every attempt he makes to win back shots. As his high hopes for his game diminish so does his facade as a handy golfer. Herein lies a lesson known to any lover of the game - that while a course may present us with many obstacles, the largest one to our success in the game is ourselves. By presenting us with this message, Murphy is also suggesting that this lesson applies not only to golf, but also to life. This is important to all golfers as life seems to be a necessary, if not slightly superfluous feature of golf.

Like a long par 4 that you can never quite make in regulation, the book trails on for a while. This is owing to a heavy explanation of the spirituality inherent to the game. At times I have experienced transcendental spiritual episodes on the course, and I relate to some of the zen like philosophy espoused by Murphy. I have searched in deep thickets for a stolen range ball only to return with a Titleist Pro V1 and pondered what universal force of nature caused such an immaculate transformation. In spite of my own experience, I struggled with this part of the book, feeling that Murphy had played a bit of a slice on a dogleg left, where a hook would have been more appropriate. Like fresh slacks from the pro-shop and a glistening white cart bag, spirituality will only take one so far on the course. Eventually one has to concede that natural talent and a lack of daytime commitments are the central components of golf course success.

That is not to say I did not enjoy Murphy's zen framework, I just felt he shot through the green with the philosophy. I ran into a similar issue with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I agree to a certain extent that mechanical work might take on a consuming and enlightening sense of sublime experience, but at some point even the most Buddhist of mechanics must uncross his legs, stop humming, and fix the motorcycle. I have been to a number of Buddhist temples on my own travels, and have never recognised in any of them a suitable range or practice net to work on my driving. (As a sidenote I have not been to Japan, and I believe the zen rock/sand gardens would provide adequate facility to those looking at improving bunker play.)

In spite of its heavy application of philosophy, this book is by no means a flop shot. It has sold over one million copies, and this is in part due to its touching on a spiritual element of golf that is felt by anyone that has ever struck a ball or sunk a putt. It is also in part due to the fact that golfers will purchase anything that has even a vague promise of improving their game. However, don't judge a player by one scorecard. Golf in the Kingdom goes into the club house with more pars than birdies, but there are a few ugly bogeys along the way. Read it if you love golf.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book starts out in a promising manner with a golf round that plays as a wonderful allegory for life. Then, it takes an odd odyssey into philosophy and metaphysics to explain everything from the allure of golf to the purpose for its existence. While potentially insightful, the book fails to deliver as its lacks any organization or underlying coherency.

Readers will end up rolling their eyes more than once at the randomness of the observations and explanations that the characters share. Apparently, almost every character in the book has spent a significant amount of time ruminating on the intricacies of golf, as each of them has two cents worth to contribute in the story. Also, every observation by the main characters is supposed to be illuminating, but instead comes off as either pretentious or contrived.

The second part of the book is more a notebook on the meaning of golf by one of the main characters. The friend that recommended this book had done so with a caveat. He called it "needle in a haystack" reading, as there are some great gems and insights in the book (which it does), but it comes mired in an abundant amount of silly and random writing, not unlike the gorse oft mentioned in the book in which several golfers find themselves entangled.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I'm a novice golfer, it does not stop my questions and dilemmas about the game. #1 dilemma- I feel like I'm missing something. If I actually got that 'something', then I would be really good. Right? That's why I read this book. Maybe it would help me figure it all out. Figure what out- you ask. I have no idea.

The first half of the book is fun to read. The author tells an entertaining philosophical golf tale. It was very entertaining to try and decipher the phonetically-written Scottish accents (in a Scottish accent in my head, of course). The second half of the book is a haphazard attempt at explaining the philosophy of golf. Or is it an explanation of life? Or is it spirituality? Or is it...?

One thing I did learn is that Americans screwed up the game. It's supposed to be relaxing. Spending a nice afternoon, outside, walking, is supposed to be savored. Huh. How 'bout that?

Despite it's flaws, I will keep this book on my shelf and look at it from time to time. Maybe it will help me figure things out later on.

[Barry Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you can stand not one more second of your preppy, financial sector and ethereal nonprofit in-laws going after each other at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Give them each a copy of Golf in the Kingdom. Guy goes to Scotland to play one of the legendary courses and runs into Zen master/Golf pro who changes his life. This is no Kwai Chang Caine/Kung Fu monk nor Razor's Edge contemplative. This guy is a balls-out lunatic. I guarantee you your warring in-laws will find common ground in Golf in the Kingdom. I can't guarantee that having done so they won't both turn on you.

[Jonathan Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golf and metaphysics, what more could you ask for? Michael Murphy's classic work that bridges that uses the game of golf as a metaphor for spiritual development... a story told so well you can taste and smell the setting, a good read with or without analysis of its deeper implications.

"We're all kites on that wind...."

[Michael Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read for golfers of all abilities.

[Evan Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 but I’m rounding up due to some injustice I see in other reviews. I’m seeing multiple 2 and 3 star reviews from two types of folks 1. People who are about to take a trip to Scotland, and 2. People who didn’t want the philosophy of the 2nd half. As to the former, this isn’t a travel book, so if you are looking for a warm up/travel book you should go elsewhere. And to the latter, that’s just what this book is. In my view it’s written in a much more intellectual expressive format than a typical novel. The story, which at a lot of points was yet more philosophy, is very much secondary to the insights.

I don’t necessarily blame the latter type of reader though. I went into this book without much primer, and I expected something closer to Michael Chabon’s baseball odyssey “Summerland.” This ain’t that. And I can understand people who were expecting a story being disappointed. In particular a lot of the thinking in this book will be very foreign to most western golfers/readers. (I know it was to me!) And at points before I reached the end to read more about Michael Murphy I was unsure if a lot of the thoughts were genuine or not. That feeling can be off-putting, as a reader tries to delve into some pretty heavy spiritual advice.

In the end, I enjoyed the book. Though it was a bit disjointed, and it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, I think it’s likely I’ll return to this down the line. For better or worse, I guess we’ll see.

[C Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book for every golfer...First published in the 70's. Set in the 50's.
Some call it "the magical power and mystical musings of golf" It is a book of philosophy...if you like that.
I do, so it worked for me. I don't take golf too seriously, and I would recommend the reader stop at page 189 before the author or his sensa goes off the rails...He lists people in Shivas' journal that believe in reincarnation and revolution of the soul... It is a pretty traditional male dominated lists, so I was a little put off, however that aside

4 stars for such quotes: "Replacing the divot is and exercise for the public good. ..There would simply be no game if every golfer turned his back on the damage s/he did. " (i added the s/he)

A great thought about Alan Shepard in the Chapter, "Of a Golf shot on the moon."
Other passing passages:
"The panel on Hell does seem to reflect the agonies I have seen on many a golf course"
"I will never forget a friend who declared after his tee shot that he wanted to kill himself but when the hole was finished... he had never been so happy in his entire life...
"All golf is yoga"
The game is meant for walkin' ...Twas said tha' he sometimes forgot his shots, the walkin got to be so good. Had to be reminded by his caddy to hit the ball"

Yep, Michael Murphy captures the highs and lows of golf. Just don't take it (golf or the book) too seriously...

[Dan Shonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Murphy's Golf in the Kingdom is a very different book for improving your golf game. That's mostly because it's also about improving your life. Murphy relates what many of us know about golf; playing rounds of golf mirrors life. (It is certainly a window to a person's character.) The first round mentioned in the book is cringe-worthy at least for me because I have absolutely been there. You may feel like I do that Murphy slides a bit too far from golf into philosophy/spirituality, but for the most part he is spot on. Are swing techniques, green-reading, short-game skills and course management important. Certainly. But eventually you have to just play, and Murphy's text about the feeling you must allow to overtake you has been the key to most if not all the good bits of golf I've had. I've got all of Harvey Penick's books (great!), Bob Rotella's books (outstanding psychology), and Ben Hogan's Five Lessons (excellent!). This book fits right in with all of those. They all have little bits that will help your golf and can also be applied to your other aspects in life. I recommend this book highly.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, where Murphy tells of his time in 1956 playing a round of golf "In Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay, lies the Kingdom of Fife," where he's paired with Shivas Irons, a mystical golfer who teaches the more spiritual aspects of golf to his students. Murphy ends up hanging with Irons for the whole day, meeting his friends, golfing and night, learning more about this legend-in-his-own-time man. A wonderful story for any golfer to read. The 2nd part of the book goes into Irons' personal notes, which Murphy saw for a short time at the teacher's home. I didn't like that part of the book as well, as it wasn't a story at all, just a list of what could be called spiritual lessons that golf can teach us.

On another note, I can't believe I never knew this book existed. I love "The Legend of Bagger Vance" so you would think I would have found this one. I wonder if Max ever read it? Thanks to Pam for giving it to me while my wrist heals from my shuffleboard accident.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whole lot of over-spiritualizing about what’s been documented and described as being in the zone, or the flow. The story about his experience and conversations with Shiva, both the golf round and back at his apartment was all I needed for the gist. But then part two he tries to reinvent the wheel and I was mostly bored and even bothered by a lot of things he says.
The most interesting chapter was “The Game’s Hidden But Accessible Meaning. Golf as a journey. The mystery of the hole. A good part of our life is passed in plugging up holes, filling empty spaces, in realizing and symbolically establishing a plenitude.
Replacing the Divot. A game for the multiple amphibian from Religio Medici.
Maybe a quote in the book to summarize a lot of it:
Can you see the brook that golfers fear and not fearing but feeling can you put that flowing water into your swing?
Perhaps I’m a little more interested in trying out golf now.
Read this at Nate’s CO June 2023

[John Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually two books... the first being an easy-to-read tall tale about a young man trying to find himself after a romantic breakup. The story revolves around a golf game on a course that sounds remarkably like Saint Andrews... it is here where the young man meets a golf pro/legend and yet another person of interest.
The game of golf has many lessons for any player but those same lessons become the point of analysis as we read on to a satisfying conclusion.
My strong four star rating is based on the metaphysical aspects of the game of golf. Those who are players of the royal and ancient sport are very much aware of the things I speak of.

The second part of the book re-examines the story in great detail and would require devotion to the subject to acquire the wisdom the author is trying to pass on.

I still enjoy reading it from time to time.