{"product_id":"9780544002173","title":"On Par : The Everyday Golfer's Survival Guide","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eOn Par\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Bill Pennington\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“No one can completely cover the game of golf like Bill Pennington and  no book can comprehensively tell the story of the sport with the same  wit, wisdom and knowledge like \u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e. \"—Jim Nantz, CBS Sports\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBill  Pennington, the voice of the everyday golfer, has traveled the globe in  search of golf’s essentials—those basic principles, those ultimate  truths (and, who are we kidding, any trick or quick fix he can pick up  along the way) that will improve anyone’s game. He has consulted elite  golf instructors as well as countless caddies, groundskeepers, parking  lot attendants, and bartenders. He has played rounds with Tiger Woods,  Annika Sorenstam, and Justin Timberlake. He has spoken with  psychiatrists, economists, and Zen masters. On a particularly bad  outing, he even discoursed on the fickleness of golf with a wise  raccoon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e, Pennington distills this wisdom in  an insightful guide to the game. From equipment to the language of golf,  from camaraderie to the short-game\/long-game debate, Pennington informs  and entertains readers as he gets to the essence of the game, including  that Holy Grail, the hole in one. Part instruction, part therapy, and  shot through with Pennington’s trademark wit and humor, this is a book  for everyone who has felt the game’s distinct pull—and slice. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A  phenomenal guide . . . As all golfers know, the sport is about more  than being able to hit a good shot and this book takes you through the  journey, arming you with everything you need to know.”—Annika Sorenstam\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If you like golf, you’ll like [this book] . . . \u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e  blends practical advice for beginners . . . golf history . . . trivia .  . . and Pennington’s entertaining dispatches from out on the  course.”—NPR’s \u003cem\u003eOnly a Game\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003eThe most humble and humane golf book I have ever read\u003c\/strong\u003e. Relying on insight instead of striving to incite, Pennington reduces golf to its most basic charms and makes the game remarkably accessible. \u003cstrong\u003ePennington...is the most noble of guides, encouraging and realistic, light and enlightening\u003c\/strong\u003e. Laid out like a challenging but attractive tract, \u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e spares us the wiseguy tweaking with wisdom and earnest good humor. \u003cstrong\u003e[\u003cem\u003eOn \u003c\/em\u003ePar] should be handed to every first-time golfer as part of a welcome packet. Better yet, it should be in the zippered compartment of every new golf bag, like an in-flight magazine. Or a Bible.\u003c\/strong\u003e”\u003cbr\u003e-Bill Scheft for the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e \"Golf writing may be unique among sportswriting for the way it often manages to convey the deadly seriousness those passionate about it feel toward the game, while simultaneously joking at their expense. Pennington’s tone shares this trait and will be familiar to those who have read any of the many golf books out there. None of those books, however, offer nearly as much real-world advice to golfers on how to improve their experience.  \u003cstrong\u003eA must for beginning golfers or players looking to get more enjoyment out of their time on the course\u003c\/strong\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e \"\u003cstrong\u003eA hilarious, informative primer on the essentials of golf\u003c\/strong\u003e, schooling novices or the professional bewitched by mastering the links... A chapter on golf-speak will tickle readers with a sampling of the colorful jargon of golf pros... With a few chuckles and basic instruction, Pennington’s book effectively consolidates the wealth of knowledge from his beloved column, while delighting those who are perplexed by the puzzle that is the sport of golf. \"\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e \"No one can completely cover the game of golf like Bill Pennington and \u003cstrong\u003eno book can comprehensively tell the story of the sport with the same wit, wisdom and knowledge like \u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Jim Nantz, CBS Sports \"As a regular reader of Bill's On Par column in The New York Times, I was wondering what fertile golf terrain could possibly be left for him to farm? I soon found out his surplus was even better. And I know he can dig with the best of them. I played a round of golf with him!\"\u003cbr\u003e- Dan Hicks, NBC Sports Golf Host \"\u003cstrong\u003eBill Pennington takes his first-hand experience as a golfer, as well as his years of getting to know professionals, and delivers a phenomenal guide to the sport I love so much\u003c\/strong\u003e. He does a great job of breaking down the fundamentals of golf to something everybody can enjoy and understand. As all golfers know, the sport is about more than being able to hit a good shot and this book takes you through the journey, arming you with everything you need to know.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Annika Sorenstam \"Put a copy of Bill Pennington's On Par on your shelf and another copy in your golf bag. Often funny, always smart, \u003cstrong\u003ePennington zeroes in on the essence of a royally crazy old game\u003c\/strong\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Kevin Cook, author of \u003cem\u003eTitanic Thompson\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eTommy's Honor\u003c\/em\u003e \"One of the great joys during the golf season is reading Bill Pennington’s golf page, 'On Par,' in The New York Times each Monday morning. Imagine that – a whole page devoted to all things golf! My heart be still. And now we have this wonderful book that’s much more than my Monday morning read. \u003cstrong\u003eTrust me, if you’re an avid golfer, you’ll devour each and every word\u003c\/strong\u003e.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Martin Davis, golf historian and author of \u003cem\u003eThe American Golfer\u003c\/em\u003e \"\u003cem\u003eOn Par\u003c\/em\u003e is the ideal guide for golfers who don’t hit their pitching wedge 160 yards, get paid for wearing white belts, or hang out with Las Vegas cocktail waitresses. And it wouldn’t do those other guys any harm, either.\"\u003cbr\u003e- David Owen, author of \u0026lt;\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9780544002173\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Mariner Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":41153705869518,"sku":"9780544002173","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/9780544002173_6d01aa37-f733-484e-b29e-61570dae3e5c.jpg?v=1652135880","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9780544002173","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}