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The Pro: Lessons from My Father About Golf and Life
Butch Harmon is the world’s number one golf coach. He taught Tiger Woods through one of the greatest stretches of victories in golf history (and, perhaps even more conspicuously, did not teach Tiger Woods following his unprecedented run), as well as superstars like Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Natalie Gulbis, and Davis Love III. How did he become such a legendary teacher and mentor? The answer is simple: He learned from watching his father.
The Harmons are the First Family of golf, and Claude Harmon, Sr., was the greatest of them all. His skill as a player, an innovator, a teacher, a devoted father, a loyal friend, and a peer of giants such as Ben Hogan has gone largely unappreciated by all but those who knew him best. In this book by his son, he finally gets his due. In The Pro, Butch Harmon paints a compelling portrait of an era in sports before the emergence of big media and bigger money, and shows how the lessons he learned about life and golf at his father’s knee made him the man he is today.
The Pro is both a family and a golf memoir, as well as an inside look at what it takes to teach the Tigers of the world. It describes how Butch and his brothers, who are also teachers, transfer their father’s unique wit, wisdom, and philosophy to the next generation of golfers. Sometimes their advice relates to the game, sometimes they simply offer words of encouragement and motivation, sometimes they make pointed criticisms intended to shock their students into focus, and sometimes they try to impart simple advice about “walking around through life.” The Harmon brothers are teachers who share a special quality: All of their lessons are passed down from their father.
Millions of golf fans know Butch Harmon; many are even familiar with his father and brothers. But never before have we been given such an intimate look at life among the legends of golf. The Pro is the story of an extraordinary father and son that will resonate with anyone who has ever looked back on life and recognized the wisdom of their parents’ teachings.
"Golf's hard," Dad would say, pointing a meaty finger at me as if he were about to reveal the secret of the Rosetta Stone. “Good golf is damn hard, and championship golf is something only a few will ever see. But that’s how it should be. If it were easy, everybody would do it. And where’s the fun in that?”
From Butch Harmon, the world’s number one golf coach, comes the inside story of how he learned everything he knows about golf and life from his father, Claude Harmon, Sr. Both a family memoir and a reminiscence of growing up among the legends of sport, The Pro is a portrait of one extraordinary family and the game that will carry their legacy for years to come.
From the Hardcover edition.
The Harmons are the First Family of golf, and Claude Harmon, Sr., was the greatest of them all. His skill as a player, an innovator, a teacher, a devoted father, a loyal friend, and a peer of giants such as Ben Hogan has gone largely unappreciated by all but those who knew him best. In this book by his son, he finally gets his due. In The Pro, Butch Harmon paints a compelling portrait of an era in sports before the emergence of big media and bigger money, and shows how the lessons he learned about life and golf at his father’s knee made him the man he is today.
The Pro is both a family and a golf memoir, as well as an inside look at what it takes to teach the Tigers of the world. It describes how Butch and his brothers, who are also teachers, transfer their father’s unique wit, wisdom, and philosophy to the next generation of golfers. Sometimes their advice relates to the game, sometimes they simply offer words of encouragement and motivation, sometimes they make pointed criticisms intended to shock their students into focus, and sometimes they try to impart simple advice about “walking around through life.” The Harmon brothers are teachers who share a special quality: All of their lessons are passed down from their father.
Millions of golf fans know Butch Harmon; many are even familiar with his father and brothers. But never before have we been given such an intimate look at life among the legends of golf. The Pro is the story of an extraordinary father and son that will resonate with anyone who has ever looked back on life and recognized the wisdom of their parents’ teachings.
"Golf's hard," Dad would say, pointing a meaty finger at me as if he were about to reveal the secret of the Rosetta Stone. “Good golf is damn hard, and championship golf is something only a few will ever see. But that’s how it should be. If it were easy, everybody would do it. And where’s the fun in that?”
From Butch Harmon, the world’s number one golf coach, comes the inside story of how he learned everything he knows about golf and life from his father, Claude Harmon, Sr. Both a family memoir and a reminiscence of growing up among the legends of sport, The Pro is a portrait of one extraordinary family and the game that will carry their legacy for years to come.
From the Hardcover edition.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 31, 2022
A lovely, heartwarming story. Uses golf as a basis but mostly just some v nice life lessons and an unbreakable relationship between father and son - bloody loved it
August 9, 2018
(1 1/2). For major golf nuts only. One of the young assistant pros at my club knew I was an avid reader and suggested this one for me. It is an easy, short read and perfectly enjoyable if you like reading golf books. Yes, it does try to teach us a few life lessons along the way but they are mostly common sense items with an emphasis on consideration and civility. Claude Harmon was a pretty remarkable guy, the only club pro who ever won the Masters. A hell of a player and obviously, a fabulous instructor as well. This biography by his son, Butch, who came to major fame and awareness when he took on Tiger Woods as a client, does have a lot of interesting tales. The relationship between Ben Hogan and the Harmon's standing out the most. Great for us golf guys.
February 17, 2026
The Pro is not exactly a book about golf. Despite being dressed head-to-toe in Peter Millar, it really reads more like an old timer's general life lesson, shared on the clubhouse back patio at about 5:45 PM. And like that old timer, it has your rapt attention the entire time.
The author, Claude "Butch" Harmon Jr., is one of golf's most prolific instructors & a personal coach to such tour pros as Adam Scott, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and The Pro carries the lucid voice of a born teacher. Each page passes easily with just the right mix of storytelling and fatherly lecturing, and by the end I could hear the late Claude Sr.'s stern, to-the-point "pearls" of advice buzzing in my own ear. I feel like old pals with the legendary Ben Hogan, a regular dinner guest of the author's family growing up. And most of all, I've gained some perspective on what my own parents are really after when they try to tell me something.
The book uses a little bit of golf jargon, but if you've ever touched a golf club (or want to learn something new), you're sufficiently equipped. The Pro, itself a gift to me from my dad, is one of my favorite books.
The author, Claude "Butch" Harmon Jr., is one of golf's most prolific instructors & a personal coach to such tour pros as Adam Scott, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and The Pro carries the lucid voice of a born teacher. Each page passes easily with just the right mix of storytelling and fatherly lecturing, and by the end I could hear the late Claude Sr.'s stern, to-the-point "pearls" of advice buzzing in my own ear. I feel like old pals with the legendary Ben Hogan, a regular dinner guest of the author's family growing up. And most of all, I've gained some perspective on what my own parents are really after when they try to tell me something.
The book uses a little bit of golf jargon, but if you've ever touched a golf club (or want to learn something new), you're sufficiently equipped. The Pro, itself a gift to me from my dad, is one of my favorite books.
February 7, 2022
I like golf. I play golf, watch golf, and I love to practice on the range and try different shots but I find golf books to be a bit boring. I’d rather be out hitting the ball.
This book however excelled in every way. First of all the history of Claude Harmon, Sr was fascinating. His golf history and the players he knew like Ben Hogan were special. Harmon Sr won the Masters while making a living as a club pro. The courses he worked at like Winged Foot and Seminole are historic. Then the history of Clyde Jr was just as compelling especially about working with Tiger.
I appreciated the tidbits of golfing wisdom; less about technical details but more about approach and mindset. Some of these thoughts I find helpful to me on the course.
And finally, maybe most important were the life lessons the old pro taught his sons that Butch really brings home.
Well done Mr Harmon.
This book however excelled in every way. First of all the history of Claude Harmon, Sr was fascinating. His golf history and the players he knew like Ben Hogan were special. Harmon Sr won the Masters while making a living as a club pro. The courses he worked at like Winged Foot and Seminole are historic. Then the history of Clyde Jr was just as compelling especially about working with Tiger.
I appreciated the tidbits of golfing wisdom; less about technical details but more about approach and mindset. Some of these thoughts I find helpful to me on the course.
And finally, maybe most important were the life lessons the old pro taught his sons that Butch really brings home.
Well done Mr Harmon.
June 3, 2020
Overall very good, great stories interspersed with insights into teaching Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and other pro golfers. Some good golf tips included. I do get the idea that he is writing to Tiger Woods and Greg Norman at times, things he wants to say to them but hasn’t had the opportunity. Overall a good read.
December 5, 2024
Great book about golf and life
I really enjoyed this book,being an avid golfer and fan of Butch. What I didn't expect was the life lessons the Pro taught him ,and what he relayed so masterfully in the book!!
I really enjoyed this book,being an avid golfer and fan of Butch. What I didn't expect was the life lessons the Pro taught him ,and what he relayed so masterfully in the book!!
August 10, 2012
This is a really sweet and loving semi-autobiography written by golf pro Butch Harmon. He touches on the lessons that his father, Claude Harmon, taught him and his brothers and developed narratives for how that advice has stuck with him. The book has some ok golf tips (three most important aspects of golf are grip, alignment and balance) but the book isn't a how-to about getting a better golf game. Rather, it uses golf as a stage to present greater lessons about life. Butch talks about his low points in life - divorce, reckless spending during youth (his father once asked him how he planned to continue to afford living the life he led under his father's roof!), alcoholism and gambling. It also touches on the importance of the bonds between brothers and gives the reader a glimpse into what it means to work with pro golfers. I enjoyed this book but the "Claude's pearls of wisdom" at the end of each chapter was a bit too kitschy for my taste.
March 24, 2012
reading is far from what i call a hobby, what i do call a hobby is the game of golf which in my opinion is the greatest game i have ever played. but while mentioning the greatest game lets talk about the greatest player whose ever played the game in the 21 century which would be tiger woods. taught by the greatest butch harmon. a man whose life revolved around golf as he was growing up. in this book it talks about the childhood life of butch and while he was growing up that may surprise the world. the reason fro choosing this book is because i have an interest for golf, so hearing about his book sparked an interest in me.
November 7, 2018
This was better than I expected. I mainly checked it out since I used to work for one of the Harmon brothers (Craig) at Oak Hill many, many years ago and was curious to know more about their father. I knew he had won a Master's years before, but little else.
Turns out to be a great peak into the golfing world from the early 20th century up until the present. Sounds like Claude Harmon was a great role model as well for the kids, and not just in golf.
It is a short read, and not especially comprehensive or thorough if you're looking for a straight-up biography, but it is a fascinating look into the golfing world nonetheless.
Turns out to be a great peak into the golfing world from the early 20th century up until the present. Sounds like Claude Harmon was a great role model as well for the kids, and not just in golf.
It is a short read, and not especially comprehensive or thorough if you're looking for a straight-up biography, but it is a fascinating look into the golfing world nonetheless.
December 23, 2008
I loved reading about Claude Harmon and the world of mid-century golf. Reading about Butch's childhood wasn't so bad, either. Truthfully, I was expecting something a lot more self-indulgent (and unbearable) but was pleasantly surprised.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews