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So Help Me Golf: Why We Love the Game
A beloved New York Times bestselling author and golf aficionado shares his insatiable curiosity, trademark sense of humor, and vast knowledge of the game in this cavalcade of original pieces about why we love the sport, now featuring three additional new pieces.
This is the book Rick Reilly has been writing in the back of his head since he fell in love with the game of golf at eleven years old. He unpacks and explores all of the wonderful, maddening, heart-melting, heart-breaking, cool, and captivating things about golf that make the game so utterly addictive. We meet the PGA Tour player who robbed banks by night to pay his motel bills, the golf club maker who takes weekly psychedelic trips, and the caddy who kept his loop even after an 11-year prison stint. We learn how a man on his third heart nearly won the U.S. Open, how a Vietnam POW saved his life playing 18 holes a day in his tiny cell, and about the course that's absolutely free.
Reilly mines all of the game’s quirky traditions—from the shot of bourbon you take before you tee off at Peyton Manning’s course, to the way the starter at St. Andrews announces to your group (and the hundreds of tourists watching), “You’re on the first tee, gentlemen.” He means that quite St. Andrews has the first tee ever invented. We’ll visit the eighteen most unforgettable holes around the world (Reilly has played them all), including the hole in Indonesia where the biggest hazard is monkeys, the one in the Caribbean that's underwater, and the one in South Africa that requires a shot over a pit of alligators; not to mention Reilly’s attempt to play the most mini-golf holes in one day.
Reilly expounds on all the great figures in the game, from Phil Mickelson to Bobby Jones to the simple reason Jack Nicklaus is better than Tiger Woods. He explains why we should stop hating Bryson DeChambeau unless we hate genius, the greatest upset in women’s golf history, and why Ernie Els throws away every ball that makes a birdie. Plus all the Greg Norman stories Reilly has never been able to tell before, and the great fun of being Jim Nantz. Connecting it all will be the story of Reilly’s own personal journey through the game, especially as it connects to his tumultuous relationship with his father, and how the two eventually reconciled through golf. This is Reilly’s valentine to golf, a cornucopia of stories that no golfer will want to be without.
** The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**
This is the book Rick Reilly has been writing in the back of his head since he fell in love with the game of golf at eleven years old. He unpacks and explores all of the wonderful, maddening, heart-melting, heart-breaking, cool, and captivating things about golf that make the game so utterly addictive. We meet the PGA Tour player who robbed banks by night to pay his motel bills, the golf club maker who takes weekly psychedelic trips, and the caddy who kept his loop even after an 11-year prison stint. We learn how a man on his third heart nearly won the U.S. Open, how a Vietnam POW saved his life playing 18 holes a day in his tiny cell, and about the course that's absolutely free.
Reilly mines all of the game’s quirky traditions—from the shot of bourbon you take before you tee off at Peyton Manning’s course, to the way the starter at St. Andrews announces to your group (and the hundreds of tourists watching), “You’re on the first tee, gentlemen.” He means that quite St. Andrews has the first tee ever invented. We’ll visit the eighteen most unforgettable holes around the world (Reilly has played them all), including the hole in Indonesia where the biggest hazard is monkeys, the one in the Caribbean that's underwater, and the one in South Africa that requires a shot over a pit of alligators; not to mention Reilly’s attempt to play the most mini-golf holes in one day.
Reilly expounds on all the great figures in the game, from Phil Mickelson to Bobby Jones to the simple reason Jack Nicklaus is better than Tiger Woods. He explains why we should stop hating Bryson DeChambeau unless we hate genius, the greatest upset in women’s golf history, and why Ernie Els throws away every ball that makes a birdie. Plus all the Greg Norman stories Reilly has never been able to tell before, and the great fun of being Jim Nantz. Connecting it all will be the story of Reilly’s own personal journey through the game, especially as it connects to his tumultuous relationship with his father, and how the two eventually reconciled through golf. This is Reilly’s valentine to golf, a cornucopia of stories that no golfer will want to be without.
** The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**
288 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2023
285 people are currently reading
1711 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 13, 2022
This book is a valentine to the game of golf. It includes real stories about people playing Golf. It covers the funny side and the emotional side of it as well. The author talks about all the significant figures in the game, from Phil Mickelson to Bobby Jones to Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods. Throughout the book, the author also interjects his personal story on how he started loving Golf at a young age and how it's remained in his life.
I love how the author talked about caddies and wrote, "Golf is the one place where a man who sleeps on satin will take advice from a man who sleeps on streets. Golf is like that. Golf is so hard. It strips a guy down to his soul. The caddy, his only ally, gets a front-row seat to it, which is why I spent a year caddying very badly for all kinds of famous golfers." The book talks about all the things we don't understand about Golf. But whether you play Golf, are a casual fan, or don't know anything about the sport, this book is for you.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
I love how the author talked about caddies and wrote, "Golf is the one place where a man who sleeps on satin will take advice from a man who sleeps on streets. Golf is like that. Golf is so hard. It strips a guy down to his soul. The caddy, his only ally, gets a front-row seat to it, which is why I spent a year caddying very badly for all kinds of famous golfers." The book talks about all the things we don't understand about Golf. But whether you play Golf, are a casual fan, or don't know anything about the sport, this book is for you.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
March 29, 2024
Lots of short, funny stories in here that made this very easy to read. An example for my audience:
*interviewing OJ Simpson on an LA golf course right after he was found innocent*
“Do you mind if I walk the back nine with you and ask a few questions?”
“Only golf questions,” he said sternly. “No questions about The Incident.”
So off we went. My first question was: “Now Juice, has your backswing changed since you killed those two people?”
Classic
*interviewing OJ Simpson on an LA golf course right after he was found innocent*
“Do you mind if I walk the back nine with you and ask a few questions?”
“Only golf questions,” he said sternly. “No questions about The Incident.”
So off we went. My first question was: “Now Juice, has your backswing changed since you killed those two people?”
Classic
May 29, 2024
Audiobook read by the author.
Liked this one, didn't love it. Some fun golf stories about iconic people and courses but some stories dragged on when I got the impression that telling some of the stories was for him and not the reader.
Liked this one, didn't love it. Some fun golf stories about iconic people and courses but some stories dragged on when I got the impression that telling some of the stories was for him and not the reader.
March 7, 2025
This book was packed full of stellar stories from all walks of life. Each chapter was something you’d hear on some in-depth podcast that you never knew existed. Does that make sense lol? I’m kinda crazy when it comes to compiling my thoughts haha. Anyways, really good and easy read!! Y’all should totally check it out.
- Adam
(P.S. this book is for everyone! Not just golfers!!)
- Adam
(P.S. this book is for everyone! Not just golfers!!)
January 22, 2023
Must read if you love the game of golf! Great book that makes you realize golf has so much to teach you about life and yourself.
July 22, 2023
Enjoyed the various different stories of a game I love to play. Nothing else to say about the book!
May 20, 2024
It was so much fun to read. I am still laughing about the 4 hole in ones at Lahinch.
November 20, 2023
Fantastic, fun, funny and fast read! Infused throughout with humor though a sadder storyline is the undercurrent in regard to the author’s relationship with his father. Whether a golf novice, intermediate or expert - totally enjoyable book!
November 10, 2022
Small stories compiled by the author of his life in golf. Interesting incite in his golfing from age 11. His stories are his while working for Sports Illustrated, ESPN and being the National Sportswriter of the year 11 times.
January 22, 2024
Very fun listen if you love the game. Reilly is a great golf historian.
January 9, 2022
If you like golf at all you will love this book. It’s a paen to golf but more importantly, its a paen to how the love of golf can shape your life and your relationship to your friends and family. Reilly is always funny , but here he is also serious-about his upbringing, his relationship with his father and his relationship with his kids and grandkid. Please read this book. I guarantee you will like it
December 17, 2024
Loved all of the stories and anecdotes about the game of golf. Wide range of stories to keep the reader engaged. Love how it connected the authors life to each section and the stories related to that section. Only critique is a small one, that the use of simile was exhausting. Other than that, nothing left to say. One of the fastest I’ve ever read a book.
Read
November 27, 2023Independent reading Project option #6
Tanner Kmetz
The book So Help Me Golf: Why We Love the Game was one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend it to all golf fans. Being a golf fan myself I love reading golf books and especially those that I can really understand because it is written more recently. I also love reading books about the time of golf where I wasn’t alive to learn about it, and this book brings both of those options to the table. It doesn’t just talk about golf but talks about the friendships he made through golf and the ups or downs that golf brought to his life. So Help Me Golf: Why We Love the Game isn’t just some normal book. Throughout the book he talks about different stories that he went through with golf or even just some of his opinions. The book has no plot or even a storyline really, it's just an author talking about the reasons why he loves golf and that's why I like it.
I would give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Like I said before this was one of the best books I have ever read because I just couldn’t put it down. I am someone who can’t really get into books too well and find myself getting uninterested quite easily but that didn’t happen with this book. As you're reading these incredible stories you always just want to read another and another. Especially as I was reading this book as a homework assignment it didn’t really feel this way because I was just so excited to read this book before I fall asleep. Even for someone who doesn’t even really like golf this book could change your whole perception of the game. For me golf is one of my favorite things to do and I love to talk about it with other people. Reading this book was something I could almost relate to because of his love of the game and the fact that he just has so much fun playing it just like me.
After reading this book there are many things that I liked about it. The first thing is the style of the book which I mentioned earlier. I liked how there wasn’t really a plot but there were just different stories inside the book. I also liked the part where he explained the 18 most unforgettable holes of golf he played. This might have been my favorite part of the book because I love to play holes that are interesting or different, to me that is really fun. Listening to his holes and what they were like was amazing and something I found really cool. The last high of the book that I will talk about is the fact that I can relate to parts of the book. I loved when he talked about his opinions on the game and the players in which some I agreed with and some I didn’t.
Although I really did like this book there were also some things that I thought could have been improved. One thing I didn't like about the book was the way the book started and how he talked about his dad and a little about his early life. I feel like that didn’t really have too much of an impact on the rest of the book. It also didn’t come up much in the other parts of the book and I feel like if that was taken away from the book it would have made it a better read. I also wish that some of the stories were a little longer and I wish that maybe the author could have found ways to make these stories longer which would be better for the book and better for the reader also.
In conclusion I am giving this book 4.5 out of 5 because it was very intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. I liked the fact that the book was written in stories and there was no plot like a normal book. Although there were some downfalls like the beginning of the book and the length of the stories, I enjoyed the fact that I could relate to some of the parts in the book and I really enjoyed reading the authors 18 most unforgettable holes. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to any reading whether you're a golf fan or not, it might just change your perception on the game.
Tanner Kmetz
The book So Help Me Golf: Why We Love the Game was one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend it to all golf fans. Being a golf fan myself I love reading golf books and especially those that I can really understand because it is written more recently. I also love reading books about the time of golf where I wasn’t alive to learn about it, and this book brings both of those options to the table. It doesn’t just talk about golf but talks about the friendships he made through golf and the ups or downs that golf brought to his life. So Help Me Golf: Why We Love the Game isn’t just some normal book. Throughout the book he talks about different stories that he went through with golf or even just some of his opinions. The book has no plot or even a storyline really, it's just an author talking about the reasons why he loves golf and that's why I like it.
I would give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Like I said before this was one of the best books I have ever read because I just couldn’t put it down. I am someone who can’t really get into books too well and find myself getting uninterested quite easily but that didn’t happen with this book. As you're reading these incredible stories you always just want to read another and another. Especially as I was reading this book as a homework assignment it didn’t really feel this way because I was just so excited to read this book before I fall asleep. Even for someone who doesn’t even really like golf this book could change your whole perception of the game. For me golf is one of my favorite things to do and I love to talk about it with other people. Reading this book was something I could almost relate to because of his love of the game and the fact that he just has so much fun playing it just like me.
After reading this book there are many things that I liked about it. The first thing is the style of the book which I mentioned earlier. I liked how there wasn’t really a plot but there were just different stories inside the book. I also liked the part where he explained the 18 most unforgettable holes of golf he played. This might have been my favorite part of the book because I love to play holes that are interesting or different, to me that is really fun. Listening to his holes and what they were like was amazing and something I found really cool. The last high of the book that I will talk about is the fact that I can relate to parts of the book. I loved when he talked about his opinions on the game and the players in which some I agreed with and some I didn’t.
Although I really did like this book there were also some things that I thought could have been improved. One thing I didn't like about the book was the way the book started and how he talked about his dad and a little about his early life. I feel like that didn’t really have too much of an impact on the rest of the book. It also didn’t come up much in the other parts of the book and I feel like if that was taken away from the book it would have made it a better read. I also wish that some of the stories were a little longer and I wish that maybe the author could have found ways to make these stories longer which would be better for the book and better for the reader also.
In conclusion I am giving this book 4.5 out of 5 because it was very intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. I liked the fact that the book was written in stories and there was no plot like a normal book. Although there were some downfalls like the beginning of the book and the length of the stories, I enjoyed the fact that I could relate to some of the parts in the book and I really enjoyed reading the authors 18 most unforgettable holes. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to any reading whether you're a golf fan or not, it might just change your perception on the game.
May 16, 2022
Next month is Father’s Day. If your dad is a golfer at any skill level, then I suggest you buy him a copy of SO HELP ME GOLF. But do not wait until the last minute to purchase the book; you will need to leave yourself enough time to read it before you wrap it. Even though it will not improve my golf game in any fashion, I have never enjoyed a book about golf as much as I did this one.
Rick Reilly is no newcomer to the world of golf. He was the lead columnist for Sports Illustrated, the Bible of the sports world, and appeared on and wrote for ESPN. In addition to being voted the National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times, he was the recipient of the Damon Runyon Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His numerous books include the bestsellers THE LIFE OF REILLY, WHO’S YOUR CADDY? and COMMANDER IN CHEAT.
SO HELP ME GOLF is an eclectic collection of articles, columns and thoughts wrapped around Reilly’s autobiography, which includes stories from his childhood and the strained relationship he had with his father. The titles of his articles hint at some of the unique stories you are about to enjoy, but they do not do justice to accounts that will envelop you in laughter, tears and occasional head shakes. Here are some for you to ponder: “The Tour Pro Who Robbed Banks,” “How to Play Without Clubs,” “The Jailhouse Caddy,” “The Best Golf Food in the World,” “The Golfer with Three Hearts.” Each story is captivating in its own right and explores the elements that can make golf such an incredibly addictive game.
I will not go into great detail about the myriad of stories here so that readers can discover these gems for themselves. However, I will report that in the Phil Mickelson-Tiger Woods debate, Reilly sides with Phil. In a lengthy piece on the two golfers who dominated the game for several decades, he opens by saying, “I’m a Phil Mickelson guy, not a Tiger Woods guy, and here’s why: Phil lets us into his life. Tiger stations Dobermans at the door of his.” After an extensive discussion of their careers and a grudging acknowledgement of Tiger’s far greater accomplishments, he concludes by asking, “Whose life would you rather have?”
Other legends of the game are portrayed and chronicled in SO HELP ME GOLF. There is a poignant discussion of the life of Jack Nicklaus, now seemingly a great from a long-ago era. Readers meet announcer David Feherty, who Reilly says is the “most fun you can have without the use of psilocybin.” When golfing with basketball great Michael Jordan, he explains how an athlete driven to excel in one sport can be literally driven crazy by the game of golf. It warms the hearts of many of us who are still playing and struggling.
I could go on and on and on. But I need to stop. Quite honestly, I made my first journey through the pages of SO HELP ME GOLF at a fast pace. I was on deadline and needed to complete this review. Now I can go back, reread it and savor one of the best golf books I have ever read. After I finish, I will put it on the shelf, but I know I will return again and again to this joyous ode to a game that I love, even though it makes me crazy.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
Rick Reilly is no newcomer to the world of golf. He was the lead columnist for Sports Illustrated, the Bible of the sports world, and appeared on and wrote for ESPN. In addition to being voted the National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times, he was the recipient of the Damon Runyon Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His numerous books include the bestsellers THE LIFE OF REILLY, WHO’S YOUR CADDY? and COMMANDER IN CHEAT.
SO HELP ME GOLF is an eclectic collection of articles, columns and thoughts wrapped around Reilly’s autobiography, which includes stories from his childhood and the strained relationship he had with his father. The titles of his articles hint at some of the unique stories you are about to enjoy, but they do not do justice to accounts that will envelop you in laughter, tears and occasional head shakes. Here are some for you to ponder: “The Tour Pro Who Robbed Banks,” “How to Play Without Clubs,” “The Jailhouse Caddy,” “The Best Golf Food in the World,” “The Golfer with Three Hearts.” Each story is captivating in its own right and explores the elements that can make golf such an incredibly addictive game.
I will not go into great detail about the myriad of stories here so that readers can discover these gems for themselves. However, I will report that in the Phil Mickelson-Tiger Woods debate, Reilly sides with Phil. In a lengthy piece on the two golfers who dominated the game for several decades, he opens by saying, “I’m a Phil Mickelson guy, not a Tiger Woods guy, and here’s why: Phil lets us into his life. Tiger stations Dobermans at the door of his.” After an extensive discussion of their careers and a grudging acknowledgement of Tiger’s far greater accomplishments, he concludes by asking, “Whose life would you rather have?”
Other legends of the game are portrayed and chronicled in SO HELP ME GOLF. There is a poignant discussion of the life of Jack Nicklaus, now seemingly a great from a long-ago era. Readers meet announcer David Feherty, who Reilly says is the “most fun you can have without the use of psilocybin.” When golfing with basketball great Michael Jordan, he explains how an athlete driven to excel in one sport can be literally driven crazy by the game of golf. It warms the hearts of many of us who are still playing and struggling.
I could go on and on and on. But I need to stop. Quite honestly, I made my first journey through the pages of SO HELP ME GOLF at a fast pace. I was on deadline and needed to complete this review. Now I can go back, reread it and savor one of the best golf books I have ever read. After I finish, I will put it on the shelf, but I know I will return again and again to this joyous ode to a game that I love, even though it makes me crazy.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
June 30, 2023
3.5
Covid gave me golf. That's for sure. I'd never heard about the sport before covid. It seemed a stuffy thing. Back in 2020, my brother and I were channel surfing and suddenly came across a golf championship on ESPN. Curiously, it seemed like a good time to find out about the rules of golf. The rule system was pretty clear, despite scoring being a bit confusing. I remembered seeing Rory Mcllroy and Justin Thomas on TV, although we didn't know who the hell they were back then. My dad joined us and we spent the whole evening watching golf. This was how golf came accidentally into our lives.
Months later, I came across a golf program consisting of 4 lessons to learn to play golf. Those are the only 4 times I've played the sport in my life. They were enough to fall in love for the game. It blew my mind, what can I say?
I live in Chile. My interest in golf also came along with the good performances of Mito Pereira and Joaquín Niemann in the PGA tour. They've made Chile really proud. However, golf here is still pretty damn expensive. We only have one public course, which I think it is the only public course in South America (I might be wrong- or not). I am really striving to get my first set of clubs but it's ok. I'll hang in there. Once I'll have them, I'll come back to play golf forever.
The book in a way encouraged what I think is an entire world for me to find out. I loved the emotional side of it, particularly the "She's got this" story, which made me cry like a baby. I hated the "Gambler" section. Personally, I thought the stories would be longer and more developed, but they were really short. Nevertheless, I found comfort in many of them.
Now here goes my favorite quote of the book:
"Golf isn't like other sport. You didn't lose on the last hole because somebody forgot to block the linebacker or the guy had a backbreaking curve. In golf, it's on you. You put yourself in this prison. Now, can you scape it? Golf tells you exacly who you are. Did you cheat? Were you smart? When you stood over a throw-up putt, were you brave? When you failed, did you forgive yourself so you could go forward? Golf taught me that the messes I make are my fault. Not my dad's and not my 7 iron's."
Covid gave me golf. That's for sure. I'd never heard about the sport before covid. It seemed a stuffy thing. Back in 2020, my brother and I were channel surfing and suddenly came across a golf championship on ESPN. Curiously, it seemed like a good time to find out about the rules of golf. The rule system was pretty clear, despite scoring being a bit confusing. I remembered seeing Rory Mcllroy and Justin Thomas on TV, although we didn't know who the hell they were back then. My dad joined us and we spent the whole evening watching golf. This was how golf came accidentally into our lives.
Months later, I came across a golf program consisting of 4 lessons to learn to play golf. Those are the only 4 times I've played the sport in my life. They were enough to fall in love for the game. It blew my mind, what can I say?
I live in Chile. My interest in golf also came along with the good performances of Mito Pereira and Joaquín Niemann in the PGA tour. They've made Chile really proud. However, golf here is still pretty damn expensive. We only have one public course, which I think it is the only public course in South America (I might be wrong- or not). I am really striving to get my first set of clubs but it's ok. I'll hang in there. Once I'll have them, I'll come back to play golf forever.
The book in a way encouraged what I think is an entire world for me to find out. I loved the emotional side of it, particularly the "She's got this" story, which made me cry like a baby. I hated the "Gambler" section. Personally, I thought the stories would be longer and more developed, but they were really short. Nevertheless, I found comfort in many of them.
Now here goes my favorite quote of the book:
"Golf isn't like other sport. You didn't lose on the last hole because somebody forgot to block the linebacker or the guy had a backbreaking curve. In golf, it's on you. You put yourself in this prison. Now, can you scape it? Golf tells you exacly who you are. Did you cheat? Were you smart? When you stood over a throw-up putt, were you brave? When you failed, did you forgive yourself so you could go forward? Golf taught me that the messes I make are my fault. Not my dad's and not my 7 iron's."
July 9, 2022
Would have rated it 5 stars if the author didn't continually feel the need to reveal himself as an elitist snob. If you aren't familiar with Amy playing the 16th at the Waste Management Tournament, look it up. Golf lover or not, you will have a tear in your eye watching this gifted player. At least you will if you are a human being. For some unknown reason, the author felt the reader would be interested in the shots he got to take on the same hole while describing Amy's "no fear" adventure. There's more throughout but if you love the game of golf and wish to be continually pandered to, this is the book for you. Too bad for those of us who simply love the game and enjoy reading about anecdotes that we haven't heard of. There are some of those in there. And they are described in detail by a gifted writer. But, in my opinion, they unfortunately get drowned out. You may feel differently. That's what makes reading so interesting after all.
May 31, 2022
This book, For the Love of Golf, is Reilly’s love letter to everything golfers love (and hate) about the game—from the most famous moments, the most difficult courses, drama between players, and the inexplicable things we all do because we think it will make the ball go further, straighter, higher, or just get closer to the 4 and a quarter inch hole placed a couple hundred yards away. Reilly covers the storied past of the game beautifully. And somehow manages to address hundreds of years of history, the good bad and ugly, in a succinct 270 pages. There’s something for everyone in this book—for those who just spent time riding in a cart with their parent, to the weekend warrior, to the local club champion—everyone will enjoy Reilly’s candid take on one of the world’s most wonderfully frustrating games
June 4, 2023
This collection of essays, written and published by Rick Reilly in 2022, is surprisingly good. The stories sound fresh, not stale as I somewhat feared. The author was a weekly must-read on the back page of Sports Illustrated in what I perceive as his prime, but he has been far less prominent in his post-SI career.
Most of the essays are about the length of those one-page SI stories. They cover his personal experiences playing the game and covering the sport he loved most. He also writes about the game's greatest stars: Tiger, Phil, Jack, Jordan, etc. Many of the stories are humorous, others touch the heart.
Throughout, the author demonstrates how golf is much more than a game. That the human aspects of golf make the sport so compelling to those participating in it.
All in all, a very enjoyable and uplifting book.
Most of the essays are about the length of those one-page SI stories. They cover his personal experiences playing the game and covering the sport he loved most. He also writes about the game's greatest stars: Tiger, Phil, Jack, Jordan, etc. Many of the stories are humorous, others touch the heart.
Throughout, the author demonstrates how golf is much more than a game. That the human aspects of golf make the sport so compelling to those participating in it.
All in all, a very enjoyable and uplifting book.
May 13, 2022
“That’s when I got hooked on this game. There is no feeling like launching one of those little white rockets so far and high you could stop and watch it fall against the blue of the sky”
Brief synopsis: Golf, golf and more golf!
My thoughts:
- I don’t normally read books on sports but as a new golfer I thought it would be fun to read and learn more about game
-The writing is so clever, witty and fun!
-All the facts and stories about golfers and the game were so interesting. I had to reread some stories to my husband who is an avid golfer
-Overall if you love golf or even just love witty writing and sports you need to check out this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review
Brief synopsis: Golf, golf and more golf!
My thoughts:
- I don’t normally read books on sports but as a new golfer I thought it would be fun to read and learn more about game
-The writing is so clever, witty and fun!
-All the facts and stories about golfers and the game were so interesting. I had to reread some stories to my husband who is an avid golfer
-Overall if you love golf or even just love witty writing and sports you need to check out this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review
January 28, 2024
This is a solid 4.5. I have always enjoyed Rick Reilly’s writing style. I’d always read the last page of Sports Illustrated first just so I could read his piece before the rest. Always a perfect mix of great stories and humor. His style is so easy to read, like you’re listening to them as you’re sitting around the table over food and drinks. Loved the fast pace snippets that never get too long or bogged down. So many times I could relate, smiling or laughing, to a golf scenario he depicts.
I love how he opens us up to his heart - whether it’s family or friends, there are many touching moments that show how golf has been a common thread in creating lasting memories.
Very heartfelt ending which I can appreciate as a dad.
I love how he opens us up to his heart - whether it’s family or friends, there are many touching moments that show how golf has been a common thread in creating lasting memories.
Very heartfelt ending which I can appreciate as a dad.
July 22, 2025
Imagine playing a round with someone who has played golf all their life and they want to share their stories and love for golf with you. This is the premise and a nice one. It is exactly as advertised. :)
I read this on the way to and from my trip this week to The Open in Portrush so I was in a total golf mood.
This is a nice read that will indeed pass a few hours and give you a giggle and something to think about. Some of the stories were hits yet some misses.
A book I would recommend to pass a few hours but nothing here stands out, in all honesty. I won’t remember much of this in 3 months but maybe I wasn’t supposed to. It very much felt like a golf lover just opening their heart.
Make sure to grab ‘Commander in Cheat’ from the same author instead.
I read this on the way to and from my trip this week to The Open in Portrush so I was in a total golf mood.
This is a nice read that will indeed pass a few hours and give you a giggle and something to think about. Some of the stories were hits yet some misses.
A book I would recommend to pass a few hours but nothing here stands out, in all honesty. I won’t remember much of this in 3 months but maybe I wasn’t supposed to. It very much felt like a golf lover just opening their heart.
Make sure to grab ‘Commander in Cheat’ from the same author instead.
April 14, 2024
Reilly never fails to please
This is my 3rd or 4th Rick Reilly book and each one of them have been a delight. Reilly's irreverent, witty, and honest looks at life, golf, and the people who play it resonate with me. Now this is a guy I could have a great time with on the course and then later over a beer at the 19th hole!
This book is a collection of anecdotes and personal experiences that Reilly has covered or been part of over the last 40 years. The sheer number of interesting stories and people described in the book will keep you engrossed. Well done, Mr. Reilly. Now about that beer...
This is my 3rd or 4th Rick Reilly book and each one of them have been a delight. Reilly's irreverent, witty, and honest looks at life, golf, and the people who play it resonate with me. Now this is a guy I could have a great time with on the course and then later over a beer at the 19th hole!
This book is a collection of anecdotes and personal experiences that Reilly has covered or been part of over the last 40 years. The sheer number of interesting stories and people described in the book will keep you engrossed. Well done, Mr. Reilly. Now about that beer...
April 15, 2024
Rick Reilly is probably the best sports writer on the planet. I have now read 11 of his books and they always put me in a good mood after reading. This is kind of his ode to golf and contains a bunch of short stories, some personal, some not that make him love the game. This book will make you laugh, smile and even cry a little bit. An absolute must for anyone that even kind of likes golf. A quick read at around 250 pages, I really enjoyed the stories on his book signing event, his favorite golf holes in the world, his father, his brother, his mom, his take on Phil Mickelson vs. Tiger Woods, Casey Martin, speed golf, Jack Nicklaus and much, much more. I finished in about two days.
May 20, 2022
(2 1/2). I used to wait anxiously for the next Rick Reilly column in Sports Illustrated. He was always so witty, intuitive and entertaining. This book is mostly a large collection of Reilly stories on golf, with a touch of family history (and how golf related to it) included. There is some funny stuff, some poignant stuff, and some pretty amazing inside information that only he would have access to as one of the leading sportswriters on the planet. Not great, but certainly enough in my wheelhouse that I was kind and marked it up to 3 stars. Golf stuff.
December 2, 2022
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my brother--and when I buy him a book, I read it first. I get my money's worth that way. Anyhow, the first few pages about the author's childhood were disturbing, and I thought about returning it to Barnes & Noble, but I kept reading--and am so glad I did. An easy read with a bunch of small stories, some of which make you laugh out loud (see the part about OJ Simpson) and some that will have you in tears. Well worth reading, even if you aren't a golfer.
June 27, 2022
Holy cannoli, did I love this book!!!! I loved his relationship with his father weaved throughout. I loved learned more about the golfers I’ve seen on TV (and those I’ve heard about from before my time). I loved reading about all the fun courses I need to get to in my life. Wowza. Would recommend to anyone who even remotely likes golf; a MUST READ for anyone who loves to play (and watch) the game!!
July 4, 2022
Very enjoyable work. Reilly is such a good writer that for a time it became fashionable to declare him overrated. Untrue. And less time in the limelight has probably only strengthened his work. He's collected myriad anecdotes and relates him well, while also pulling the curtain back on some of his own difficult past. Yet he's a blessed man and seems to know it. A very light read, but one worth the inconsequential amount of time spent devouring it.
July 5, 2022
this is an ode to golf chock-full of fun factoids, inside scoop on famous players, a few anecdotes that may bring a tear to your eye, and nary a mention of TFG (covered extensively in reilly's previous book - commander in cheat). it brought back fond memories of lazy weekend mornings watching tiger woods with my dad. I'd have awarded more stars if I'd actually experienced the game, which would make this book even more enjoyable. pretty sure this is a must read for actual golfers.
April 6, 2024
I’ve always like Rick Reilly, loved reading his articles in SI for years but I never ready any of his books. This was the audiobook version narrated by Rick himself which made me enjoy it even more. Some of his stories really made the pollen count soar if you know what I mean.
All in all it was very entertaining and enjoyable to hear the tales, the stories and the anecdotes straight from Reilly himself.
All in all it was very entertaining and enjoyable to hear the tales, the stories and the anecdotes straight from Reilly himself.
August 29, 2025
Reilly’s lifelong journey in the game of golf is on full display in this witty, wild collection of stories that show off the ups and down of this beloved game. While sometimes bouncing around quite randomly, the overall progression of the book through his life gives the reader, whether an avid golfer or fresh beginner, a developed sense of how funny the game can be. Fun read, and look forward to checking out some of his other works.
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