Bobby Jones on golf

by Robert T. Jones Jr.

Here's the bad news: "Golf," suggests the great Bobby Jones, the largest shadow ever cast on a fairway, "is the one game which becomes more and more difficult the longer one plays it." Here's the good news: If his classic instructional can't change the diagnosis, it may at least ease the pain. Written by the master himself--no ghost ever stepped between Jones and his ball--as a series of twice-weekly newspaper columns between 1927 and 1935, the collection of tips and ideas moves from the simple ("Nobody ever swung a golf club too slowly") to the complex ("The art of appraising slope and speed--that is, of reading a green, can be derived only from experience"), the physical to the mental, the obvious to the arcane, and is penned with an elegance as smooth and fluid as Jones' liquid swing. Some of it, especially to golf's newcomers, will seem out of date--the game has changed much through the years--but that's OK; this is a book to savor as much as learn from. It's biggest drawback is its lack of illustrations, but the recent uncovering of a cache of unpublished photographs and tips--available in Jones' Classic Instruction--repairs that divot. Indeed, taken together, Jones' On Golf and Classic Instruction should cure several Royal and Ancient disorders. --Jeff Silverman

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Robert Tyre Jones Jr., known as Bobby Jones the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level.

Not to be confused with
Robert Trent "Bobby" Jones, Jr. the Golf course designer
Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Reviews

[Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby Jones was perhaps the most natural golfer of all time, and his writing is the same, natural. His language is as smooth as his swing, not wasting a single word, but leaving everything unmistakably clear.

[Gerald Matzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been a part of personal golf library for several years. It is considered by many to be a true classic. It was actually a compilation of articles that Bobby Jones has written between 1927 and 1935. Thirty years later he was asked to edit and revise them for this book. His concluding chapter was written just for this book, looking at the current state of the game as it was in the early 60’s. The first two thirds of the book deal with the mechanics of the golf swing and the remainder deals with the mental side of the game. Modern readers will find his writing style a bit stilted but that be expected of a lawyer writing in the late twenties and early thirties. He does show a bit of humor at times. For example he refers to the less accomplished golfer as a dub. He seems to enjoy describing golfers who never seem to improve their game even after many years of frustrating play simply because they either have too high an opinion of their talent or are too dense too realize how bad they really are.
While golf instruction has come a long way with technology and better understanding of technique, this book shows that the basics are still the same and a golfer who looking to improve can learn some good information about how he or she could improve and find more enjoyment in playing the game of golf.

[Jason Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why not learn the game from perhaps the greatest to ever play the game? The sole winner ever of the Grand Slam and an amateur who retired from the game at the age of 28.

Recommended for fans of the game of golf.

[Mike Impagliozza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I will continue to read and re-read, as I continue to learn all about the game of golf. Bobby's tips are very relevant today and will stand the test of time. Must read for any golfer of any level!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I can’t believe I played golf for so many years and I’ve never even heard of this book but it was fabulous I really appreciate it I loved the tips on the mental part of the game and how the game has changed since his time

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

great prose style, and some very interesting thinking about golf.