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Golf's Holy War: The Battle for the Soul of a Game in an Age of Science

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As Michael Lewis’s bestseller Moneyball captured baseball at a technological turning point, this “highly entertaining, very smart book” (James Patterson) takes us inside golf’s clash between its hallowed artistic tradition and its scientific future.

The world of golf is at a crossroads. As tech­nological innovations displace traditional philosophies, the golfing community has splintered into two deeply combative the old-school teachers and players who believe in feel, artistry, and imagination, and the technical minded who want to remake the game around data. In Golf’s Holy War , “an obvious hole-in-one for golfers and their coaches” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review), Brett Cyrgalis takes us inside the heated battle playing out from weekend hackers to PGA Tour pros.

At the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California, golfers clad in full-body sensors target weaknesses in their biomechanics, while others take part in mental exercises designed to test their brain’s psychological resilience. Meanwhile, coaches like Michael Hebron purge golfers of all technical infor­mation, tapping into the power of intuitive physical learning by playing rudimentary games. From historic St. Andrews to manicured Augusta, experimental com­munes in California to corporatized conferences in Orlando, William James to Ben Hogan to theoretical physics, the factions of the spiritual and technical push to redefine the boundaries of the game. And yet what does it say that Tiger Woods has orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in sports history without the aid of a formal coach?

But Golf’s Holy War is more than just a book about golf—it’s a story about modern life and how we are torn between resisting and embracing the changes brought about by the advancements of science and technology. It’s also an exploration of historical legacies, the enriching bonds of education, and the many interpretations of reality.

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2021

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Christine.
152 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2021
Despite a bit of a slow start I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me think about why I love golf so much and made me seriously consider looking at jobs in golf tech. That career search will begin shortly. The book goes into technical details about the golf swing so I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to non-golfers despite the interesting history and insights. It’s definitely one book I’d like to read again.
100 reviews5 followers
June 18, 2020
I just....

Man I wanted to like this so much but it didn't come together at all. There is absolutely no sense of a "holy war" in this book anywhere. It's not even particularly tribal. Pretty much every passage that I assume was meant to be tribal comes out to "this might work but also the other is good too."

I think the author had a thesis and title in mind and was completely unable to find the book he wanted to write. There just isn't a scouts v. stats dichotomy in golf. It doesn't really exist. The book was forced and not particularly well written.

Legitimately bummed to not love this one.
Profile Image for Lance.
1,684 reviews166 followers
March 10, 2020
Meh - this book has excellent passages on golf events, especially when discussing the professionals at some of the majors, but overall, I found myself lost on what the author was trying to say when brining in either technology or some type of spiritual sense as was done in some early chapters. Finished it, so it rates at least three for that reason, but overall, I didn't enjoy it all that much.
78 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2023
Enjoyable. I am familiar with both books referenced ; one to teach technical and the second to teach spirituality of golf. Some more Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan background. You can play golf technically or spiritually or a combination of both. The mystery is how to obtain the feel of unconscious shot perfection. When you know before you swing it will be great. The book delves in which process is responsible?
Profile Image for Allen Adams.
517 reviews31 followers
May 27, 2020
https://www.themaineedge.com/sports/t...

Few institutions are as reverent of their own history as sport. And few sports achieve the level of self-reverence of golf, thanks to the game’s lengthy history and cultural reputation. Tradition is important, whether we’re talking about the larger picture or the specifics of the game itself.

And yet, technological evolution is inevitable. If there is an element of competition involved, there will always be those seeking ways in which to give themselves an advantage. There will always be someone pushing the envelope in ways that clash with the conventional wisdom.

That clash is at the center of “Golf’s Holy War: The Battle for the Soul of a Game in an Age of Science” by Brett Cyrgalis. It’s a look at the rapidly diverging worlds of golf instruction, one rooted firmly in the ways of the past and one seeking out the bleeding edge, one that explores the perceived pros and cons of both approaches while also spending considerable time with those who would espouse a particular school of thought.

It’s a book about golf, yes, but one that also seeks to be about more than golf, using the sport as a way into a discussion about our relationship with technology writ large and what that means not just for the future, but for our engagement with the past.

On one side, we have the old school coaches, the sage dispensers of hard-earned wisdom regard the power of one’s mentality in improving their swing. On the other, we have the new tech-driven consortium, the people who believe that the key to success is embracing as much data as possible. Cyrgalis uses a pair of long-ago books as proxies in this conversation – for the feelers, 1972’s “Gold in the Kingdom”; for the thinkers, 1969’s “The Golfing Machine.” These books stand in as representative of the almost diametrically opposing ideologies.

From there, we’re down the rabbit hole, following two very different paths that are ostensibly leading to the same place. Two journeys with one seemingly simple, yet staggeringly difficult goal – teaching the perfect golf swing.

We get a look at some of the high-tech facilities that have sprung up on the hard data side, opened and maintained in cooperation with equipment manufacturers, all of whom recognize that improving a player’s on-course performance can and often does directly correlate with spending off the course. Outfits like Titleist and TaylorMade invest in analytic tech across a broad spectrum, all of it with the singular intention to sell more golf balls or golf clubs. But while these innovations may be the product of corporate profit pursuit, they’re no less impactful or insightful for the nature of their origins.

We also spend time with some of the old guard players and coaches who view the game through a much more spiritual lens. These are the men that are devoted to and bound by the game’s generational traditions; for instance, Cyrgalis spends a lot of time on Ben Hogan, delving into his belief systems and routines and tracing the lineage of that “learn by feel” attitude up through the years.

In “Golf’s Holy War,” swing coaches, each of whom arrived at their current vocation via a different route, are often at center stage. Some viewed the game as a Zen koan to be contemplated, others as a math and physics problem to be solved. But all of them seek to instill in their students that ideal swing, the one that flies predictably and true.

But at the book’s center, whether we’re talking about little-known figures tucked away on the fringes or the biggest players in the world, is the notion of past versus future. It’s golf-specific, sure, but the truth is that the conflict between the functionality of how things have been done before and the potentiality of how they might be done going forward exists … everywhere.

Cyrgalis is meticulous with his insight, offering up the two sides of the coin with nary a preference for heads or tails. He approaches the game and its practitioners with a reverent curiosity; his genuine desire for understanding colors everything. And he makes his stories compelling – the book is not only well-reported, but well-written. They say golf is a good walk spoiled, but this book is good enough to be unspoilable.

“Golf’s Holy War” isn’t for everybody, of course. This is a niche book, aimed at those with an enthusiasm for and interest in the sport of golf. However, if this book is for you, then it is really FOR YOU. Anyone who wonders about the best path to golf excellence and the people devoted to leading you down it should take a swing at this one.
Profile Image for Alex Shrugged.
2,810 reviews30 followers
July 9, 2020
This book attempts to capture the essence of what makes golfing work. It is more than simply mechanical. It is spiritual. It is mind-bending.

I'm not kidding. I used to golf when I was younger. I learned the game moderately well... at least well enough not to embarrass myself at any gold course. I wasn't very good at putting, but you have to get to the putting green before you can putt. I could do that just fine. There is a sort of spiritual place one must go in order to golf well. Mechanics help, but I'm not sure one can think one's way through a golf stroke. You have to see yourself hitting the ball and following through as the ball glides its way to where you want it to go. Then you address the ball and swing.

Golf's Holy War takes you through the history of the game by attempts to analyze what the masters of the game did, and how golf changed as natural talent and character were replaced by the physics of the game and then gradually blending the physical with the spiritual into a coherent whole.

Any problems with this book? At times the narrative became repetitive. That was probably due to the way the narrative unfolded, looking at various famous golfers as they came up through the ranks, learned how to golf, changed how they golfed and learned what it took to play the game well. There are commonalities in how it was done, so that led to some repetition.

The book also seemed to focus a lot on Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. That can be a good thing. Just know that it is so.

The book ends almost as it starts with some strange ideas on how golf is connected to the secrets of the universe. I suppose such an argument can be made. I've read a lot stranger things in spiritual books ("Practical Kabbalah: A Guide to Jewish Wisdom for Everyday Life") and SCIENCE books ("Spooky Action at a Distance: The Phenomenon That Reimagines Space and Time—and What It Means for Black Holes, the Big Bang, and Theories of Everything"). I'd say that both of these books would support much of what you would find in "Golf's Holy War: The Battle for the Soul of a Game in an Age of Science."

I'd read this book again.
Profile Image for Mike.
31 reviews
January 16, 2022
Who Would Like It?

Anyone looking for a deeper understanding of how and why golf has evolved since its inception. It is accessible enough for those with a limited golf background but may be heavy on jargon.

Thoughts:

The book is very much worth reading. When we think about science and golf, we usually think about A) new equipment and B) new swing methodologies incorporating biomechanics. The book shows how these advancements are far more wide-reaching, and no area of the game has been left unaffected. From methods of instruction to psychology to course design strategy, each chapter after the first two highlights how areas of the game have evolved with new science, and the historical overview and individual analyses are quite interesting in their own right and can be read independently if one is interested in a particular area. Even as a lifelong golfer and reader of golf-related content, there was a ton of interesting information that was novel to me, from the inception of launch monitor technology to the three schools of course design strategy.

That said, as many have noted, the title is overstated. Yes, technological innovations have changed how instructors and players approach every area of the game, often challenging and contradicting traditional methods and philosophies. But the author tries too hard to fit traditional and spiritual philosophies into a single camp opposite the “technical” camp, and I am left unconvinced that being more feel-oriented and less technical necessitates a spiritual component that can be grouped in with Michael Murphy's approach.

Other Books I Want To Read Now:

- Every Shot Counts by Mark Broadie
- Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella
- Fearless Golf by Gio Valiante
- Zen Golf by Joseph Parent
Profile Image for Yeshua Branch.
118 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2022
This book was a gift from Katie and Nick, and I am so pleased that the hand of fate led to them to this choice! I've previously done a little golf reading in John Updike's collection of articles and essays, "Golf Dreams," which I thoroughly enjoyed. Updike's work was fictitious and anecdotal, but the title of this piece gave me anxiety that it would be a long-winded lecture about how analytics and mathematics are changing the game. While those topics are touched upon, they are certainly not the focal point. This is really a chronology of the lesser known facts of golf history. Anybody that knows me knows that I am in love with both the game in and of itself as well as following professional golf. I do possess a rudimentary knowledge of the lore of the sport, but I feel like I have a much better grip on that now. And anybody that knows me also knows that I vaguely chase spiritual platitudes. I never imagined that a book about golf could make me ponder like some of the greatest literature. But this begins connecting golf to Eastern religion and ends with connecting it to simulation theory, and it feels like it was written for me. I think my mindset towards the game, and hopefully life, will be more positive and relaxed moving forward.
129 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2020
Golf’s Holy War
The Battle for the Soul if a Game in an Age of Science
By Brett Cyrgalis

A wonderful book aimed at every golfer, especially those of us who get ourselves twisted in knots being overly mechanical and confused every time a new “solution “ is found.

The topics touched on include a dissection of the ups and downs of Tiger, the issues of technology shown in Homer Kelley through all the intermediate permutations and foci ending up at Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy.
It is hard to categorize this book. It is not a how-to book (although there are many items that serve as such) nor is it a mental/spiritual side of golf book.
I enjoyed the book so much I read it twice and will read it again down the road.
I should mention that Hogan’s secret is in this book. You just have discover it on your own.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.
Profile Image for Craig LeVasseur.
133 reviews1 follower
December 24, 2022
A pleasant surprise. I'm not sure what made me finally read this book, but it wasn't exactly about what I thought it was about. I thought it would be entirely focused on the men's pro game and the new data-driven, bomb-and-gauge style of play and the modern chase for speed. It certainly touches on those topics, but deep down I think it's more about the idea that no matter how many frontiers are uncovered through the science of the game, there's still a mysticism about golf that can't be quantified. There are several deep dives into the nature of learning, as well, that I find important to consider if you are trying to improve at the game. It certainly gave me a lot of ideas and concepts to investigate. Thankfully, it comes with a ton of references.
Profile Image for Ric.
1,490 reviews137 followers
August 8, 2025
This is a good breakdown between the two schools of thought in golf, along with the benefits and drawbacks of both. It’s pretty ironic that considering my job is very analytical, I’ve always thought of the golf swing as an art and not a science. And having read The Golfing Machine, I’m also not sure I agree with many of the positive conclusions drawn from it. Alternatively, I loved the chapter on Dr. Bob Rotella, a person who has influenced my competitive golf game more than any swing coach ever has.

Like I said, a really fun breakdown between old school vs new school, feel vs analytics, or art vs technology. It takes you through the history of golf to show its current day, and even its future.
Profile Image for Bennett Windheim.
74 reviews
January 5, 2022
I knew nothing about this book going in, but the title was intriguing. Thing is, it’s misleading. There is no holy war. No epic battle for the soul of the game. No one even gets angry. It’s about the evolution of the game with the introduction of technology. The conflict is no different than the use of data in baseball to determine everything from player value to lineups. But there’s no Billy Beane here, and this ain’t Moneyball. Rather, it’s about two seminal books that look at golf from two divergent perspectives — analytics vs. feel — and a handful of colorful characters, some of the top instructors in the world, who advocate for both sides. It’s also a history lesson for a newbie like me, who never followed the game and is now fascinated by what it takes to hit a little ball with a skinny stick with both power and accuracy.
Profile Image for Jay Gabler.
Author 13 books144 followers
June 5, 2020
Although it’s not bad on its own terms, this book feels tangential at best to the conversations golfers really need to be having. If you find it easy to lose yourself in an easy read about a “battle for the soul” that’s fought almost entirely in the minds of white men, you’re probably not doing much for golf’s future. If, indeed, it has one.

I reviewed Golf's Holy War for The Tangential.
2,072 reviews14 followers
July 14, 2020
(1 1/2). I am a golf nut. Certifiable. I saw some reviews of this book in a couple of golf blogs and I think in one of the major magazines so I got it from the library. There is very little here. A couple of insights into a few of the folks who promoted the “data based” school of golf and a little interesting background on “Golf in the Kingdom” but that is about it. I found myself nodding off several times trying to get through it. Enough said.
Profile Image for Martin Braunton.
227 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2024
I struggled with this early on - the first two chapters quickly lost me. There is some interesting debate but never quite reaches any firm conclusions. Probably because there isn't any.
The book suffers a little too much from backstories. Surely Hogan's tale is well worn by now?
Likewise the various episodes of Tiger Woods in more recent times. I found these familiar tales cumbersome and got in the way of the main argument.
82 reviews
July 7, 2021
A ramble through the various technical advances In golf over the last 50 years. and how they have been adopted by the pros in a neverending quest to find an edge in competition. The author places these mechanical aspects of the game in contrast to the mental issues that golfers face, whether they are PGA members or weekend hackers.
Profile Image for Seth Roy.
51 reviews
February 18, 2025
On the one hand, the book helped reignite my love of golf. On the other hand ... I'm not really sure what the throughline is, or what the book was really trying to say. Really enjoyed the chapter about golf course design and the profile of Michael Murphy, but got a little lost in the rough otherwise.
8 reviews
April 15, 2021
Interesting anecdotes about several big names in the game's history. References several other works that I would consider digging into. Reads more like elongated news articles reporting the facts, which makes sense given the author's career in sports reporting.
Profile Image for Mike Scull.
15 reviews
Read
June 7, 2021
Found the start quite challenging to stick with, but past midway it was an easier read with some interesting anecdotes and insights. Like the golf course architecture chapter best!

Still horrible at golf.
4 reviews
March 30, 2020
Quite good especially the chapter on architecture. Was not into the Shivas Irons mysticism stuff. A recommended read for us golf geeks.
16 reviews
July 19, 2020
There was a ton of theological discussion in this book. I was expecting a more detailed look at how technology has changed the game.
Profile Image for Matthew Stetz.
206 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2020
Couple of the chapter in this book I didn’t get but then some of the chapters were great like the last one on Ben Hogan.
370 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2021
OK book about all the new teaching methods-psychology, physics, computer analysis, -and how it is changing how we learn to play better golf.
5 reviews
February 19, 2021
Finally, someone will to write some truth about the evolution of modern golf. Great work, easy to read.
Profile Image for Stan Lanier.
382 reviews
June 27, 2022
I have no particular interest in golf, but this book made the culture surrounding it interesting for a while.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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