Golf Book
Title: The Old Man and the Tee
Golf Book Author: Turk Pipkin
Golf Book Publisher: St. Martin’s
Press – Hardcover 2004
There was something familiar about the author’s
face on the back flap photo of his newest book.
His smile framed by a salt and pepper beard,
I knew I’d seen it before.
Turns out Turk Pipkin’s done some acting,
including a stint on The Sopranos. Turk, in
fact, has lived one of those nomadic, quasi
romantic lives; author, actor, juggler, comedian
and golf writer.
In The Old Man and the Tee, Turk’s
third book, he takes on a mighty challenge,
as the sub-title explains, “How I Took
Ten Strokes Off My Game and Learned to Love
Golf All Over Again”.
The starting point of this year long quest
is at Pebble
Beach where the author receives a phone
call, in the middle of covering the AT&T
Pro Am Tournament, informing him that his father
has had a stroke. The book is as much a middle-aged
son’s attempt to reconcile his feelings
for his deceased father as it is a diary of
handicap reduction.
The author shoots an 89 at Pebble shortly after
his father’s death and vows to come back
in exactly one year to break 80 in his father’s
memory. Being a free lance writer, who specializes
in golf, Turk had some connections the average
hacker might not be able to call on, i.e., lessons
with David
Leadbetter, Dave
Pelz, Colin Montgomery, Ben Crenshaw, Arnold
Palmer and a host of other golfing luminaries.
He also brings us along on a fascinating golf
tour as he spends the year honing his skills.
We travel to Scotland, Texas, Mexico, Florida
and California in search of teachers and gurus
who can help Turk on his quest to shave ten
strokes off his handicap. Along the way, in
a breezy, casual
prose, Turk lets us in on a few secrets such
as the Callaway
Golf Virtual Test Center in Carlsbad, California
where for a mere $50 anyone can get their own
custom club fitting appointment. No purchase
is necessary, but if you do order Callaway
golf clubs, they refund you the fifty bucks!
Sign me up!
One of the more interesting golf aspects of
The Old Man and the Tee is how some
of the most famous gurus of the game give such
contradictory advice. Ben Crenshaw and Dave
Pelz, two of the most acclaimed putting
instructors, differ on the key to putting. Crenshaw
is an advocate of the “fee” style,
while Pelz
teaches an accelerated pendulum stroke. The
book is filled wit such conflicting, and confounding,
advice and Turk is quick to point them out.
Therefore, this is not intended to be your ideal
golf
instruction tome.
Turk’s experience as a stand-up comedian
is also apparent in the easy humor which laces
many of his tales. His cast of characters, and
playing partners, is eclectic and entertaining;
Willie Nelson, Bill Murray, George Plimpton
and Bob Hope to name a few.
At the age of fifty Turk is old enough to appreciate
golf’s history as two heartwarming chapters
about Harvey Penick and Byron Nelson attest.
He juxtaposes these visits with the awe and
jealousy he feels watching young Charles Howell
III ripping drives in the adjoining tee box
at Leadbetter’s
school.
Turk learns a great deal about golf, and himself;
work ethic, passion, sacrifice, and yes, the
book has some “golf as a metaphor for
life” aspects, but it is fortunately lightly
sprinkled.
I will not spoil the suspense concerning Turk’s
return round at Pebble and his vow to his Dad,
but ultimately The Old Man and the Tee
is an entertaining work about discovering, then
attempting to accomplish your dreams.
|