On Par - by Bill Pennington (Paperback)

About the Book

Inspired by his New York Times weekly column On Par, Bill Pennington has created a delightful compendium of all things golf that no golfer--whether a weekend duffer or a PGA pro--can afford to miss. Part instruction, part education, part hilarity, On Par is the go-to guide for the twenty-first-century golfer.

Book Synopsis

"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 On Par. "--Jim Nantz, CBS Sports

Bill 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.

In On Par, 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.

"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

"If you like golf, you'll like [this book] . . . On Par blends practical advice for beginners . . . golf history . . . trivia . . . and Pennington's entertaining dispatches from out on the course."--NPR's Only a Game

From the Back Cover

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 On Par. " Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
Bill 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.
In On Par, 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.
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
If you like golf, you ll like [this book] . . . On Par blends practical advice for beginners . . . golf history . . . trivia . . . and Pennington s entertaining dispatches from out on the course. NPR s Only a Game

BILL PENNINGTON is the award-winning New York Times sportswriter who pens the On Par column and stars in the related video series on nytimes.com. He has also written for the New York Times Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Sporting News. A longtime golfer, Pennington grew up near some of New England s historic courses, but has not been able to get his handicap below 11.

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Review Quotes

"The most humble and humane golf book I have ever read. Relying on insight instead of striving to incite, Pennington reduces golf to its most basic charms and makes the game remarkably accessible. Pennington...is the most noble of guides, encouraging and realistic, light and enlightening. Laid out like a challenging but attractive tract, On Par spares us the wiseguy tweaking with wisdom and earnest good humor. [On Par] 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."
-Bill Scheft for the New York Times Book Review "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. A must for beginning golfers or players looking to get more enjoyment out of their time on the course."
-Kirkus Reviews "A hilarious, informative primer on the essentials of golf, 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. "
-Publishers Weekly "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 On Par."
- 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!"
- Dan Hicks, NBC Sports Golf Host "Bill 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. 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."
- 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, Pennington zeroes in on the essence of a royally crazy old game."
- Kevin Cook, author of Titanic Thompson and Tommy's Honor "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. Trust me, if you're an avid golfer, you'll devour each and every word."
- Martin Davis, golf historian and author of The American Golfer "On Par 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."
- David Owen, author of