What do you think?
Rate this book
This Golfing Life
Librarian note: The ISBN 0-8021-4275-3 also appeared on "Cain's Book" that was published in 1979.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer at Sports Illustrated and author of the highly acclaimed Wonderland, has been writing about golf for twenty years. He has lived the game as few others have—from his experience as one of the first white, college-educated caddies in 1985, to hanging out with Arnold Palmer at the Masters. This Golfing Life brings together Bamberger’s acclaimed, intimate profiles of stars (Tiger, Jack, and Annika to name a few), as well as the behind-the-scenes people who make the game what it is. In his last round of golf before an amputation, Bamberger’s high school golf coach, John Sifaneck, makes his first hole-in-one; John Stark gets Bamberger to relearn the game as a Scotsman; Bob Rubin, a Wall Street master-of-the-universe, builds his own golf course—one so difficult he can’t break 100 on it; Bruce Edwards continues to caddie for Tom Watson while dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Bamberger interweaves these stories with his own life in a way that will remind golfers why they love the game.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer at Sports Illustrated and author of the highly acclaimed Wonderland, has been writing about golf for twenty years. He has lived the game as few others have—from his experience as one of the first white, college-educated caddies in 1985, to hanging out with Arnold Palmer at the Masters. This Golfing Life brings together Bamberger’s acclaimed, intimate profiles of stars (Tiger, Jack, and Annika to name a few), as well as the behind-the-scenes people who make the game what it is. In his last round of golf before an amputation, Bamberger’s high school golf coach, John Sifaneck, makes his first hole-in-one; John Stark gets Bamberger to relearn the game as a Scotsman; Bob Rubin, a Wall Street master-of-the-universe, builds his own golf course—one so difficult he can’t break 100 on it; Bruce Edwards continues to caddie for Tom Watson while dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Bamberger interweaves these stories with his own life in a way that will remind golfers why they love the game.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Michael Bamberger
32 books56 followersMichael F. Bamberger is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and the author of multiple books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 23, 2026
Not my favorite of Michael Bamberger's books. It was a slow read, mostly a collection of stories, with each chapter focused on a topic (Ladies, Death, etc.). I found stories about the weekend duffers (i.e., the non-famous golfers) most interesting. Many of the stories involving Pro golfers (both PGA and LPGA) are well known to fans.
June 7, 2020
One of the best golf books I’ve ever read.
March 31, 2025
Paints a good picture how nothing in life is as simple as it seems on the surface, a lot like golf.
November 20, 2025
Best golf writer alive
Fantastic read. Mr. Bamberger’s insight and humanism, as well as his deep reverence for the game, always shines through in his work.
Fantastic read. Mr. Bamberger’s insight and humanism, as well as his deep reverence for the game, always shines through in his work.
November 20, 2015
Amazing love for golf and it's characters.
Every time I read a Bamberger golf book I realize how much alike we golf "kooks" are. It does not seem to matter your position in the game - tour pro, teaching pro, caddie, writer, or back. We all love it but never can quit the search. His access to the people that make up the game and their stories is amazing. I can't wait to find another one.
Every time I read a Bamberger golf book I realize how much alike we golf "kooks" are. It does not seem to matter your position in the game - tour pro, teaching pro, caddie, writer, or back. We all love it but never can quit the search. His access to the people that make up the game and their stories is amazing. I can't wait to find another one.
September 17, 2014
Fun recounting of Mr. Bamberger's life as a golf correspondent. I really enjoyed the stories he's covered, and it brought back some nice memories. He does a good job of recounting he life, without giving the air that he was somehow superior.
March 29, 2010
A nice collection of Bamberger's golf writing. Makes a nice companion to his To the Linksland (some of which is reprinted in This Golfing Life).
June 20, 2020
Some good golf stories. Really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews