What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Solid Perfect
When Dead Solid Perfect was first published in 1974, golfers in real life on the PGA Tour were wearing trendy, bell-bottom trousers and tournaments were offering $150,000 in prize money. Touring pros now wear pants and events offer an average of $600,000 in prize money.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
72 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jenkins
84 books55 followersDan Jenkins was an American author and sportswriter, most notably for Sports Illustrated.
Jenkins was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School and Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played on the varsity golf team. Jenkins worked for many publications including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. In 1985 he retired from Sports Illustrated and began writing books full-time and maintained a monthly column in Golf Digest magazine.
Larry King called Jenkins "the quintessential Sports Illustrated writer" and "the best sportswriter in America." Jenkins authored numerous works and over 500 articles for Sports Illustrated. In 1972, Jenkins wrote his first novel, Semi-Tough.
His daughter, Sally Jenkins, is a sports columnist for the Washington Post.
Jenkins was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School and Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played on the varsity golf team. Jenkins worked for many publications including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. In 1985 he retired from Sports Illustrated and began writing books full-time and maintained a monthly column in Golf Digest magazine.
Larry King called Jenkins "the quintessential Sports Illustrated writer" and "the best sportswriter in America." Jenkins authored numerous works and over 500 articles for Sports Illustrated. In 1972, Jenkins wrote his first novel, Semi-Tough.
His daughter, Sally Jenkins, is a sports columnist for the Washington Post.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 16, 2015
Required F$@&ing Reading
Dead Solid Perfect was a masterwork when my dad tossed it on my bed, which happened to sit 45 yards from the 17th tee on the north course of Turf Valley Country Club in roughly 1976.
Dan Jenkins is an original wit, a sports writing sage, and a literary hero.
I downloaded the book to reread a scene so that I can recall it in front of a large crowd of people next month in Seattle. And I caught myself laughing hard while trying not to cry as I reread the damn thing all the way to the end.
The book is pure genius. Dan Jenkins is a Texas Treasure. Buy the damn thing.
Dead Solid Perfect was a masterwork when my dad tossed it on my bed, which happened to sit 45 yards from the 17th tee on the north course of Turf Valley Country Club in roughly 1976.
Dan Jenkins is an original wit, a sports writing sage, and a literary hero.
I downloaded the book to reread a scene so that I can recall it in front of a large crowd of people next month in Seattle. And I caught myself laughing hard while trying not to cry as I reread the damn thing all the way to the end.
The book is pure genius. Dan Jenkins is a Texas Treasure. Buy the damn thing.
June 22, 2018
Pretty good. More thoughtful than I probably anticipated. A lot about golf obviously, but also race relations, life and death, marriages, and high jinks. Maybe not laugh out loud funny (and some of the games played with words and phrasing is potentially outdated due to the publication date) but very much a fun read. And you don't have to be a huge golf fan to enjoy it either. Not bad. Not bad at all.
March 4, 2019
To love this book you need to love four things: 1) golf; 2) casual racism; 3) sexism; 4) homophobia. As I like only one of the four (golf) I give this one star.
This book was written in 1974 and has not aged well. In some books, the language was of the time period and you accept it because it adds to the story. Unfortunately here, it is gratuitous and offensive.
It's unfortunate, because Dead Solid Perfect is otherwise an interesting fictionalized history of the PGA tour in the 1970's. Parts of it are very funny. But the overall tone of the book was off-putting for me.
This book was written in 1974 and has not aged well. In some books, the language was of the time period and you accept it because it adds to the story. Unfortunately here, it is gratuitous and offensive.
It's unfortunate, because Dead Solid Perfect is otherwise an interesting fictionalized history of the PGA tour in the 1970's. Parts of it are very funny. But the overall tone of the book was off-putting for me.
June 13, 2017
I would have enjoyed this more if it focused more on the golf. I didn't really like any of the characters and the juvenile humor got old pretty quickly. It was entertaining enough to read in the airport, but I was happy when it was over.
October 6, 2020
Meh. I’ve always heard so much about Jenkins’ writing but never got around to read any of his stuff. This really didn’t do much for me.
April 20, 2026
This review is presented in the form of an interview between myself and the massively underrated author Skippy Brennan:
Me: OK, Skippy, what did you think of the book?
SB: Well, there were some funny parts, some acrobatics with the English language that were amusing, ranging from wry smiles to brief moments of out loud barking laughter. And a lot of good golf writing too, not surprising since Mr. Jenkins was a golf writer for sports illustrated for something like 40 years. That said, it didn’t age any better than blue cheese left in a toolbox up in the attic.
Me: that’s surprising, because I know Dan Jenkins is one of the three people to whom you dedicated your best selling novel Boomer By God Sooner, the other two being Mel Brooks and some guy named James Scott. Tell me more about how you feel it didn’t age well.
SB: casual use of the N word, even in a humorous ironic sense, is best left to Chris Rock and other black comics. Although Mel Brooks did OK with it in Blazing saddles, urged on by none other than Richard Pryor. The book came out the same time as Mr. Brooks’s movie, but I do think the movie ages better than that sort of language in the book
Me. Anything else?
SB: plenty of raunchy sex jokes and sexist comments, which is to be expected from the author who once wrote that if women didn’t have genitalia (he actually used the P word) they would be hunted for a bounty on their ears. And with the context I wasn’t overly offended although the jokes didn’t ring nearly as funny as they did 50 years ago, but the attempt at Nazi humor really really put me off. I’m talking the scene where these drunken high school toughs lock up a Jewish woman in her pantry – she’s the mother of their classmate, who they also assault, stopping just short of rape – while yelling stuff at her like don’t insult the gestapo! That was just effing wrong, then and now. I will say there were times I thought Boomer by God Sooner was maybe too crude an inappropriate, but compared to this book it’s Little House on the Prairie.
Me. Yikes, that does sound bad. I know you used to be a big fan of his, will you reread any more of his books?
SB: hey, let’s keep things straight here. You are the one who read the book, I am a humble little pen name that you dragged out for this cheesy interview book review. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed today is 420, any plans for this evening?
Me: thanks, Skippy, always a pleasure.
Me: OK, Skippy, what did you think of the book?
SB: Well, there were some funny parts, some acrobatics with the English language that were amusing, ranging from wry smiles to brief moments of out loud barking laughter. And a lot of good golf writing too, not surprising since Mr. Jenkins was a golf writer for sports illustrated for something like 40 years. That said, it didn’t age any better than blue cheese left in a toolbox up in the attic.
Me: that’s surprising, because I know Dan Jenkins is one of the three people to whom you dedicated your best selling novel Boomer By God Sooner, the other two being Mel Brooks and some guy named James Scott. Tell me more about how you feel it didn’t age well.
SB: casual use of the N word, even in a humorous ironic sense, is best left to Chris Rock and other black comics. Although Mel Brooks did OK with it in Blazing saddles, urged on by none other than Richard Pryor. The book came out the same time as Mr. Brooks’s movie, but I do think the movie ages better than that sort of language in the book
Me. Anything else?
SB: plenty of raunchy sex jokes and sexist comments, which is to be expected from the author who once wrote that if women didn’t have genitalia (he actually used the P word) they would be hunted for a bounty on their ears. And with the context I wasn’t overly offended although the jokes didn’t ring nearly as funny as they did 50 years ago, but the attempt at Nazi humor really really put me off. I’m talking the scene where these drunken high school toughs lock up a Jewish woman in her pantry – she’s the mother of their classmate, who they also assault, stopping just short of rape – while yelling stuff at her like don’t insult the gestapo! That was just effing wrong, then and now. I will say there were times I thought Boomer by God Sooner was maybe too crude an inappropriate, but compared to this book it’s Little House on the Prairie.
Me. Yikes, that does sound bad. I know you used to be a big fan of his, will you reread any more of his books?
SB: hey, let’s keep things straight here. You are the one who read the book, I am a humble little pen name that you dragged out for this cheesy interview book review. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed today is 420, any plans for this evening?
Me: thanks, Skippy, always a pleasure.
September 14, 2022
I've know about this book forever but somehow never got around to reading it. If you thought Caddyshack cast the game of golf in a new light, you should read Mr. Jenkins' treatment. Profane, non-PC, and hilarious, Dead Solid Perfect is packed with "I've gotta remember that one" turns of phrase and laugh out loud passages. I thought the story meandered briefly in the third part but rallied strong as Mr. Jenkins account of the final round of the US open was pure page-turning joy.
July 17, 2007
This is quite possibly the funniest novel I have ever read. Dan Jenkins, a former columnist for Playboy and the New York Times has a style all his own. With more curse words per page than any other novel while talking about a guy on the professional golf tour, Jenkins makes an already laughable lifestyle absolutely ridiculous. Another easy, very quick read yet I have read this book four times. So funny.
March 8, 2009
While I was reading this book, there were a couple of times that I just had to put it down and roar with laughter. It is absolutely hilarious. For every golfer who ever played Goat Hills.
October 24, 2020
Funny, profane, raunchy book about life on the PGA tour. Published in 1974. Very politically incorrect, and couldn’t possibly have been published today with its casually racist and misogynistic remarks. A product of its times. Still, for someone who lived in the 70’s, and isn’t easily offended, it was a little comedy gem!
July 3, 2017
As enjoyable a beach read as you'll find. Jenkins' characters are profane and a little off-kilter, but the wild setup of Kenny Puckett's life rings true, and it's about as funny a book as you're ever going to find.
May 11, 2018
Great reading for golf fans. Some great insights on what it is like to battle against yourself and other golfers on the course, along with some decent background plot.
This isn't a masterpiece, but it is fun.
This isn't a masterpiece, but it is fun.
May 1, 2019
After Dan Jenkins passed away I decided to read this book as a tribute to him. Plus, it was repeatedly mentioned as a golf masterpiece. I love golf. I did not like this book. Too much casual racism for me. I stopped and started 3 times but I could not finish. Really painful to read.
July 30, 2025
Interesting to read this book decades after it was published. The humor in many areas is still pretty good but many of the recial comments would not likely be acceptable today, although probably conceptually accurate.
July 8, 2018
Half-way through I was ready to give it 2 stars. There were a lot of parts that were terrible- but there was some funny stuff too. The golf story was good. That’s about it.
March 29, 2020
Jenkins is always a treat to read- keeps a smile on your face constantly. Read this book about 15 years ago and on the reread it still amuses.
March 30, 2020
Thought this book was hilarious about the PGA tour in the 1970s. I did not care for the racist remarks though. Fun, easy read.
June 25, 2020
Read in 1975. Another enjoyable book by Jenkins. Funny, crass and shameless.
August 2, 2020
A fun read, especially for a golf fan
Want to Read
March 21, 2021Was looking forward to reading it. In my opinion, it doesn't hold up. Unfunny vulgarity.
July 8, 2021
I don’t play golf, but oddly… this is not my first golf book. A lot like Tin Cup... Characters are flawed, dialogue is hilarious.
June 21, 2025
Profane Golf Novel
Stupid and profane with unbelievable derogatory language for current times (was written in the 70s), but a decent quick read.
Stupid and profane with unbelievable derogatory language for current times (was written in the 70s), but a decent quick read.
September 23, 2025
Fun if you're in the mood for adolescent humor. Mercifully short. So-so for me.
February 8, 2017
Read this one back in 1974.
October 19, 2011
This was a really fun, quick read. Jenkins' writing is mostly hilarious, definitely not politically correct, but also surprisingly good. While the book is about a golf pro playing in the US Open, Jenkins brings all sorts of other topics into the story, and none are spared his sarcasm. Golf, love, life, Texas, and gambling all receive hilarious treatments. And while a lot of the book is poking fun at things and people, the overall feeling of the book is not cynical. The main character is well written and sympathetic, and the reader gets completely behind his quest for the US Open. If you like golf you will really like this book, but I would imagine it would still be a good read for people who aren't golf fans.
August 25, 2015
Clearly a book written in a different era, and certainly not for everyone. I listened to this while packing up my house, which it was perfect for.
Some of the language is 100% offensive (as I said, writing of a different era), and that is coming from me. The story is fun and silly, and the characters are all unlikable in their own way.
Entertaining, if you can get around the use of several offensive words used repeatedly.
Some of the language is 100% offensive (as I said, writing of a different era), and that is coming from me. The story is fun and silly, and the characters are all unlikable in their own way.
Entertaining, if you can get around the use of several offensive words used repeatedly.
July 21, 2016
If you don't smile often and occasionally catch yourself laughing out loud when reading Dan Jenkins as he brings life to his characters like Kenny Lee Puckett, then you're in the wrong section of the library.
No one has--nor likely will anyone ever--bring so much fun to satire of our games and those (especially Texans) who play them.
"Dead Solid Perfect," like his other novels, is just more fun than sometimes I think ought to be allowed.
No one has--nor likely will anyone ever--bring so much fun to satire of our games and those (especially Texans) who play them.
"Dead Solid Perfect," like his other novels, is just more fun than sometimes I think ought to be allowed.
July 18, 2025
The funniest novel I ever read. (All of Jenkin's books are good). It is remarkable how Jenkins can keep you smiling on almost every page of the book. Maybe being a golfer helps you to relate to the situations, but I think anyone would enjoy this.
2nd Read, 50 years later. I am now an opinionated old curmudgeon and I might not have rated this book 5- stars today, but it is still hilarious and I am not going to change the rating. Check out Semi-Tough and all of Jenkins novels.
2nd Read, 50 years later. I am now an opinionated old curmudgeon and I might not have rated this book 5- stars today, but it is still hilarious and I am not going to change the rating. Check out Semi-Tough and all of Jenkins novels.
Read
December 2, 2009Hmm. . . well I didn't even read the first page b/c I picked it up for a little blurb and found this totally not my kind of book. Too foul and attempting to be funny about a game I care nothing about. I must be careful about getting book recommendations from talk show hosts in the future.
May 21, 2016
I cannot remember who recommended this book to me. It's an interesting tale once you get past the language. Being a fan of The Colonial and having heard the stories of the antics from the 1970s, made it interesting. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews