Golf Dreams: Writings on Golf

by John Updike

rare and wonderful coming together of author and subject, Golf Dreams includes 30 pieces by bestselling author John Updike, culled from various sources--The New Yorker, Golf Digest, and his own fiction--which knowingly cover everything from the peculiar charms of bad golf to the camaraderie of good golf and the perils of its present boom. Line drawings.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Essays, Short Stories, Memoir, Audiobook, Humor

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

John Hoyer Updike was an American writer. Updike's most famous work is his Rabbit series (Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit Is Rich; Rabbit At Rest; and Rabbit Remembered). Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at Rest both won Pulitzer Prizes for Updike. Describing his subject as "the American small town, Protestant middle class," Updike is well known for his careful craftsmanship and prolific writing, having published 22 novels and more than a dozen short story collections as well as poetry, literary criticism and children's books. Hundreds of his stories, reviews, and poems have appeared in The New Yorker since the 1950s. His works often explore sex, faith, and death, and their inter-relationships.

He died of lung cancer at age 76.

Reviews

[Lady An ☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoyo 17 en Llao Llao Hotel & Resort 💕🙌🏻

[E.J. Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

From whom but Updike are we to read a book of essays on golf that includes Herodotus, Artemis, Florence Nightingale, George Eliot, Dante, and Rabbit Angstrom? The Diker describes a northeastern golfer bemoaning the winter weather that interrupts his golf addiction thus(ly): "(Golf dreams) steal upon the sleeping mind while winter steals upon the landscape, sealing the inviting cups beneath sheets of ice, cloaking the contours of the fairway in snow."

One of his imaginary Scottish caddies, after an unusually smooth swing, cries out to him, "Oh, bravely struck, sir." With this sentence, my mind's eye creates a vision of a happy threesome: Updike, Cheever, and P.G. Wodehouse headed down their last long fairway, heavy bags strapped to their youthful shoulders.

[Bob plunkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

updike captures all the feelings of the average golfer. Enjoyed this book so much more than his classic Rabbit Run, since Updike is the main character, not Rabbit Angstom

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this collection of essays on golf, especially when Updike talks about his own game as I can relate to many of his struggles. The chapter on one of his lessons was the best and the funniest as well.

[John F. Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a golfer, this collection of well-told, golf goodies is a no-brainer. It's easy to put yourself into the pages of most of Mr. Updike's stories, especially those of us who came of age during his timeframe when many of the tales unfold, that is, the nineteen sixties and seventies. We each played on munis when they were often under questionable conditions and still loved every second of it. We each remember our golfing buddies past and present and their erratic swipes at the ball, the bets won and lost, the last second heroics, the serpentine putts that found the hole against all odds, the honors we didn't earn owing to lucky and unlucky bounces, the pros we idolized and tried to imitate, the purchase of magic balls and can't miss clubs, the mentors who changed our game for good or ill, the sun on the back of our neck or the chill winds when the real players had gone south. John always finds an unique angle on which to view the goings on (e.g., try lady golfers as a continuation of the myth of the Amazons, and a caddie who knows John's golf game, life story, and finances better than he does). If I have a quibble, it's simply that he can become too erudite when stretching a metaphor, but we can easily forgive that indulgence in the exposition of such a noble game.

[Stephen Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love of Golf Rekindled

As a sometime in the past, the stories in this collection sparked a desire to return to the course, comforted by the knowledge that there are other golfers just like me who feel hopeless most of the time but who still believe that there are still a few good shots still to come.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than the short story "A&P", which I also love, this is only Updike material I've ever read. Having been raised in an environment rife with terrible golf, courtesy of my father and my high-school self, I greatly enjoyed this collection. The essays accounting Updike's ongoing (and largely unsuccessful, to hear him tell it) attempts to master the links are far more entertaining than the few short works of golf-based fiction included, which aren't bad enough to lose the book any stars but do feel like padding.

I will now read whatever Updike I can get my hands on and we'll see how it goes.

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ultimate book of writing about golf....I have given it to dozens of friends, clients, acquaintances who love golf. Ultimate discussion.....caddies?

[Yeshua Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being at the peak of my summer social scene and a little burnt out from the 15,000 pages of literature I've consumed this year, I decided to toy with this piece over the last week, which I bought some time ago with the intention of reading during the height of golf season. To paraphrase what I said in my review of Don DeLillo's "End Zone," the intersection between literature and sports is quite fleeting. Sure, there are fantastic sports writers, but even the most talented amongst that niche could probably not "carry the jockstrap" of a mediocre prose technician. Enter John Updike, author of the mammoth "Rabbit" series, who happens to be a fanatical golfer. "Golf Dreams" is a collection of various golf-related works Updike wrote throughout the years; excerpts from novels, articles for sports publications, speeches, and personal anecdotes related to the game.

Updike explores non-statistical/analytical/objective/competitive perspectives to the game that will afford any amateur golfer insight and solace through what is undoubtedly a life-long struggle for improvement that may be unattainable. It may seem hyperbolic to the non-player, but seeing the game from the philosophical, spiritual, socioeconomic, psychological, and religious angles that Updike conjures up is nothing short of a revelation. I will definitely shoot an 89 in the next round I play after reading this. No doubt about it. Guaranteed.

"Golf camaraderie, like that of astronauts and Antarctic explorers, is based on a common experience of transcendence; fat or thin, scratch or duffer, we have been somerwhere together where non-golfers never go."

[Richard Koppy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good book for people that are life long golfers.... he uses a writers language that is way beyond the golfers I am familiar with. I doubt that the average golfer would be able to appreciate the author's thoughts on golf. He basically selects several well known golf issues and discusses them from his background in golf. I understand the issues he selected, but couldn't relate to his discussion on many of them. Overall, it was a book i just couldn't get into. Whether it was his writing style or his understanding of the issues he discussed, not sure... but i won't be reading this author's work again.

[Drew Boswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for fans of John Updike, whose writing I have long admired. It might be of interest to golfers too. If you're both a golfer and an Updike fan, this is a collection of short pieces Updike penned throughout his career, all of which at least touch on the game of golf. There's nothing new here, but the book provides us a relaxed dip into the minor works of one of the best stylists of American literature.

[Donald Trump (Parody) · Rating 5 out of 5]

when John wasn't complaining about his fuckin' bladder he played a mean game of golf. five stars for good form. not as good as me though! all those other loser Presidents thought they could golf. they were firing blanks all over the golf course! get this straight: I'M KING OF THE COURSE.

[J-H. vW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories by John Updike about golf. A pastime he clearly seems to enjoy. If you are not resistant to the idea of golf, then you will be pleasantly surprised by this book. It is amusing and very readable.

Also a very good gift.

[John L Romano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected, just like a golf score!

I was not expecting a book of published stories and articles on golf. That said, it was a good and easy read on the love / hate relationship that golf invokes.

[Wallace McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

30 year old book by a great author. In semi retirement I now play golf once a week and am approaching the mediocre level. Had never read this and he does a great job of capturing the essence of golf.

[Zuska · Rating 2 out of 5]

A not entirely unsatisfying read.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Einiges zwar nicht uninteressant, aber Genie ist nur mit Mühe zu erahnen. (5/10)

[Krisi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be better for someone who has been playing for years and has become jaded. For a newbie that is still excited, it is a bit depressing.

[Lagu]

Tradotto da Laura Noulian grande amica di Mario Mieli

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem, one of my favourite books. JU perfectly describes the emotional, spiritual highs and lows that makes the game of golf so compelling. Will reread and reread.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge golf dork. I love playing golf, I love reading about golf.

If I wanted to make someone hate golf, and hate golfers even more, I’d give them this book.

[Marklutherlawoffice · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love to play golf this book is required reading. Funny, inspiring, well written essays from a famous writer about his love for the game of golf.

[theinroad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite sport covered by a favorite author? I’ll take two, thanks.

[Matt Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

amusing

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect marriage of author and subject. Updike writes about golf almost as entertainingly as the great Wodehouse.

[Rhys Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume contains stories, articles and speeches the late great John Updike wrote about his true love: golf. As someone who loves golf but doesn't have enough time (or money) to play, I discovered through this book that reading about it can make a decent enough substitute, kind of like methadone to a heroin addict.

Updike's writing is as beautiful as ever in this book; he describes the game and its courses as though tranposing thoughts from my head. And he notes how once you've played a round of golf with someone you will always have a special bond unique amongst golfers.

There's also a very handy article on Updike's favourite golf writing and from his recommendations I have already procurred PG Wodehouse's The Golf Omnibus, his collected works on the game.

In short, if you like golf or, more precisley, if you like reading about golf, then this book is a must.

NB The copy I have is a lovely hardback first edition that my girlfriend got me for Christmas.

[John Damaso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Updike knows golf. I was expecting an outsider's collection of musings on the game, but like other faithfuls to the sport, Updike has mastered the nomenclature, the nuances, and the heartbreak of a day on the links, so this reads like a player's scrapbook.

The terminology is accurate; the observations are specific. The variety of writing here makes the collection nicely paced: a short story, an excerpt from a tournament program, a personal essay, a poem, a portion of a chapter from the Rabbit series.

Most of the references to PGA players are from 1950-1995, and it was neat to see whom Updike was drawn to (Faldo and Norman and Freddy Couples especially in the last five years prior to publication).

Of all the modes of writing in this book, I'd say the most effective and engaging ones are the fiction excerpts, places where Updike's talent match up with his hobby.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Updike is a great author and I enjoyed his take on the game of golf. Golf Dreams is a collection of pieces he has written through the years. There are pieces from magazine articles he has written for publications like Golf Diagest; a piece from three of his "Rabbit" series; even a speech he gave at the US Golf Associations 100 year anniversary. I enjoyed reading such a great author and how he shared his thought and experiences on golf. There were times, however, that he strayed a bit off of golf and into ramblings philosophical and otherwise. It was difficult at times to plow through sections and get to the next piece. Overall, I give the book 3/5 stars.

[David Whittlestone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful anthology of Updike's writings largely over the 1990s, these musings not only entertained but also enlightened and enlivened an inexpert and often downcast golfer.
Updike makes the lot of the (I suspect) vast majority of recreational golfers much more bearable. I now realise that there are many like me out there and that we all go through the same doubts and sorrows, trials and tribulations, ups and downs. He makes them not necessarily normal but at least shared. He brings these irritations out with a delicate use of the English language, with phrases and constructions that make them alive and real.
A superb read.

[Hrishi Parandakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love updikes humor and sense of wonder. One of the best writers in the game, especially the sense of frustration that comes often. I put him up with Bernard Darwin and Wodehouse as the best golf writers.