10 Golf Books for the Avid Reader this Christmas

For those whose Christmas gift request lists are dominated by golf books, here’s 10 recommendations to educate, entertain, and confirm we play the greatest game on Earth.

The Greatest U.S. Opens by David Barrett

Barrett does this sort of thing so well, maybe better than anyone else. His insight, and the depth of his research, are evident on every page and bring the events of perhaps the 20 most significant, most exciting, and most notable U.S. Opens between 1913 to 2021 to life. It’s a very enjoyable read that will fill gaps in your knowledge and perhaps give you a newfound respect for the game’s most difficult 72 holes. (BUY NOW)

Playing from the Rough by Jimmie James

Becoming the first golfer to play every course on America’s Top 100 list in a single year is quite an achievement in itself. Doing so as an African-American born into abject poverty and raised in the Jim Crow South before working his way to an executive position at Exxon-Mobil via an HBCU is beyond impressive, and makes James’s account of his journey from East Texas to Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills, Chicago Golf Club, Cypress Point, etc., the most compelling golf book of the year. (BUY NOW)

Seve Ballesteros’s Touch of Class by Kenny Reid

The long-iron second shot he hit to the par-five 5th in the third round of the 1984 Open Championship at St. Andrews was among the best shots the brilliant Ballesteros hit during his illustrious career. So good was it, in fact, playing partner, Lee Trevino, exclaimed, “Touch of class, baby, touch of class” moments after the ball had left the clubface. Scotsman Kenny Reid was there that week and tells the story of the championship in terrific detail, capturing how profound an impact watching Seve had on him. (BUY NOW)

Lessons From the Best by Mark Immelman & James Sitar

Immelman’s popular podcast, “On the Mark,” first aired eight years ago, since when the radio/TV presenter has spoken with hundreds of Tour pros and top-rated instructors about how listeners can play their best golf. Current stars like Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, and Viktor Hovland, former greats like Fred Couples, Nick Price, and Justin Leonard, and great teachers like Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and Bob Rotella contribute to the mountain of knowledge within. (BUY NOW)

The Tiger Slam by Kevin Cook

If you think you or your significant golfer own enough Tiger Woods books already, make room for one more because Cook’s The Tiger Slam has the combination of insight, research, anecdotes, and quality prose that distinguishes great books from the merely good. Published in the second week of December, it’s a late addition to your Christmas book wish-list… but it’s a must-add. (BUY NOW)

The Golf Courses of New England by Patrick Koenig & James Sitar

In 2023, Back 9 Press published its first coffee table book with Michael Wolf, Jon Cavalier, and James Sitar’s excellent The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor. The Chicago-based publisher followed it up this year with another gorgeous creation, this one showcasing the talent of widely published photographer Patrick Koenig. More than 70 courses are featured, with words from Sitar, including The Country Club, Myopia Hunt Club, Essex County Club, Boston Golf Club, Old Sandwich, Kittansett Club, and Eastward Ho! (BUY NOW)

The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National by Ward Clayton

Clayton, sports editor of the Augusta Chronicle from 1991 to 2000 and a former Director of Editorial Services for the PGA Tour, wrote his first book on Augusta National’s black caddies, Men on the Bag, in 2004. This year’s update reveals more stories about Stovepipe, Burnt Biscuits, Skillet, Skinny, Marble Eye, and the other great characters who carried for Masters champions and Presidents. (BUY NOW)

Life on the Green by Ann Liguori

Liguori, host of “Talking Golf” on WFAN-NY; host and executive producer of the “Sports Innerview” cable TV/radio show and podcast; and a former CBS Radio and Golf Channel presenter, interviewed 12 Hall of Famers—six men and six women—for Life on the Green, asking them to share the life wisdom they learned during their distinguished careers and which they still use every day. It’s an inspirational and, at times, moving book that brings a different perspective to these celebrated figures. (BUY NOW)

Searching in St. Andrews by Sean Zak

Put a really good writer/storyteller in St. Andrews for a whole summer, give him frequent access to the Old Course, have him spend time with a number of intriguing characters from the town and experience the joys of playing the game in its homeland (while drinking in its colorful pubs), let him attend the 150th Open Championship, and throw a divisive, pro-game-changing hand-grenade like LIV Golf in amongst it all, and you end up with a charming, humorous, entertaining, and informative book like this. (BUY NOW)

Allan Robertson of St Andrews, King of Clubs, 1815-1859 by Roger McStravick/Bill Williams

A couple of admissions—1) I haven’t yet read this book; and 2) It hasn’t even been printed yet. I felt it safe to assume, though, that anything with two-time Herbert Warren Wind Award winner Roger McStravick’s name on the cover was obviously going to be worth reading, and I wanted to recommend you put your order in as soon as possible (finegolfbooks.com). Williams, who authored books on Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, was part-way into his Robertson biography when he tragically died in 2020. His daughter traveled to St. Andrews to spread his ashes and, while there, asked McStravick to complete the book. Williams, says McStravick, had found some interesting new material on the great clubmaker/player who was the first to break 80 on the Old Course and whose death in 1859, at the age of 43, led to the creation of the Open Championship. (BUY NOW)