While nothing compares to playing the game of golf, sometimes we can't make it to the course and need our golf fix in other ways. You might find yourself watching the professionals go about their craft on the TV, watching videos on Golf Monthly's YouTube channel or perhaps even reading a book about some of the legends of the game. While it's nice to sit back and relax in front of the telly, there is nothing quite like getting lost in a book, especially when on holiday, and ingesting some of the greatest stories that have ever come from golf.
We feel that a good book is one of the best golf accessories that you can get, especially for avid golfers who find themselves traveling a lot. So with that in mind, we've created this list of the best golf books to help you choose.
It's not a definitive list, rather a selection of the ones we at Golf Monthly think will certainly entertain and educate. Whether it's instructional books to help your game or just some of the finest players to ever compete in the game telling their fascinating life stories, we've got you covered. Some of the best golf books are written by talented sports writers describing the most iconic and interesting moments in golf history, so we've included as wide a range of books as possible below.
We have also just included some of our absolute favorites as well, so whatever style of book you like to read there should be something for you on this list. And if you want more buying advice, we recommend checking out a few of the other posts below to make sure you have the perfect gift for yourself or a golfing loved one - such as the best golf bags, best golf balls, or best golf tops.
Best Golf Books
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One of the best selling golf books out there and a truly fascinating read from one of the greatest minds in the game. Dr Bob Rotella is one of the foremost performance consultants and has worked with many of the world's top golfers.
'Golf is Not a Game of Perfect' is filled with delightful and insightful stories about the game of golf and the top golfers Rotella has worked with. Focusing on the mental side of the game rather than the technical aspects of the golfs swing, the information and advice in this book can help anybody who has ever swung a club, from the world's best to the casual weekend player.
Another recommendation of our would be Rotella's 'Putting Out of Your Mind' which is an absolute must read for anybody looking to gain more confidence on the greens and who struggles with the mental side of putting.
This New York Times best seller gives a bold and insightful look into the life of one of golf's biggest characters, Phil Mickelson. The book caused some controversy when it was released due to comments made by Mickelson which he claimed had been off the record. The author, Alan Shipnuck disputed this but the comments made headline news throughout the golf world, prompting some to wrongly assume the book was going to be a hatchet job on Mickelson.
In truth it shows both the good and the bad and overall it's a fascinating insight into the complex character of one of the game's greatest ever entertainers. 'Phil' is a frank and gritty tale of the life of the six-time major winner, covering everything from Leftie's thrilling victories to his crazy controversies and all sorts of stuff in between. If you're looking for something that's going to captivate you for a good couple of weeks, this rollercoaster of a book is something that any golf fan will enjoy reading.
If you could choose to learn about the golf swing from any golfer in history, Ben Hogan should be the first name you go for. Actually we'll probably accept Tiger Woods, but otherwise it has to be Hogan, a nine-time Major winner who many still regard as the greatest ball striker of all time.
Hogan believed that any golfer with a modicum of skill could break 80 and in this book - 'The Five Lessons' - he breaks down the swing into five parts; grip, stance, backswing, downswing and the swing process.
Hogan's simplistic looking swing has been the envy of golfers for decades, and in each chapter he explains and demonstrates each part of the swing with clear illustrations and, along with Penick, it is the most thumbed golf illustration book of all time. It is truly insightful and when reading this book you will want to get down to the range and put Hogan's methods into practice. In fact, this book is probably one of the best golf training aids you can buy!
One for the golf course connoisseur this. If you love the most iconic golf courses then there are few things better than poring over some incredible photos of the best golf holes on the planet. This brilliant coffee table offering puts forward 500 of the most iconic holes from the likes of Pebble Beach and St Andrews to some of the lesser known greats like Yarra Yarra in Australia.
It makes for a great debate as it's a highly subjective subject, but the editors have narrowed it down to their favorite 100. They also put together some fun lists like the ‘best of the best’ and the most scenic or heroic. There are nearly 800 color photographs to enjoy here and the top 18 even have full schematics. If you love golf courses and amazing pictures of them, this is a must-have book.
As referenced above, this must be one of the most digestible books ever written as Penick and his co-author Bud Shrake take you through one of the greatest instruction books of all time with a collection of anecdotes.
It was written in 1992 when Penick was in his late 80s. Penick was one of the most knowledgeable golf coaches the game had seen and he worked with Hall of Famers Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls and Kathy Whitworth, amongst others. Sadly he passed away three years later just before Crenshaw won his second Masters in 1995.
This is the highest-selling golf book ever and is an absolute must-read if you’re looking for some practical and mental help which, let's be honest, we all are.
Peter Alliss’ Reflections On A Life Well Lived reads as if the reader is eavesdropping on a chat between two friends reminiscing, those people being Alliss himself and Bill Elliott. Reflections was Aliss' last book before his death in 2020, and he uses his trademark style, whimsical, digressive, avuncular but occasionally sharp, to talk about his life.
Alliss had requested Elliott’s voice in the book, so Bill often contributes introductions and closing words to the eleven chapters. He also provides a prologue, while Jackie Alliss has written an epilogue. She writes: “When Peter talked of writing the ultimate book, he said he wanted to do it with Bill. My abiding memory is of the two of them giggling away in Peter’s study as they reminisced.” Additionally it includes tributes from fellow commentators like Hazel Irvine.
Mark Frost is best known as the co-creator of Twin Peaks but his contribution to golf writing should not be under-estimated. The Match is an incredible book based on a true story. It's set in 1956 at Cypress Point, one of the most iconic and beautiful courses on the planet, and tells the story of the greatest private match, told through the recollections of the four players involved.
The match came about when Eddie Lowery, once upon a time caddy to Francis Ouimet, claimed that two of his car salesmen – US Amateur champion Harvie Ward and the young Ken Venturi – could beat anyone. Fellow millionaire George Coleman accepted the challenge and then turned up with Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. A remarkable story. Other outstanding golf books by Frost are The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Grand Slam.
Michael Bamberger is a well respected golf journalist known for his work on Sports Illustrated, golf.com and Firepit Collective podcast. He wrote this book after caddying the 1991 season on the European Tour and then playing the linksland in Scotland. The journeyman Peter Teravainen, a practicing Buddhist and graduate from Yale, was his player and the story takes them through Europe and into the lives of those playing the tour in the early 90s.
In Scotland Bamberger meets John Stark, a teaching pro at Crieff GC, and a mystic who taught the American that ‘to feel the proper tempo of a swing, you have to hear the swing’. From there he tackles the likes of the Old Course, Prestwick, Cruden Bay and Royal Dornoch with the new ‘secret’ before a ground-breaking trip to Machrihanish. A great book for your golfing soul from a journalist who remains at the top of his game to this day.
This is a fascinating look into certain aspects of Tiger’s swing and life after the six years Haney and Woods spent together. TW himself was not impressed though and called it ‘unprofessional and very disappointing. I think people understand this book is about money’. Without giving away too much, some tidbits included; Woods allegedly being a bad tipper, that he was put out by Ian Poulter ‘mooching’ a lift on his private jet and thinking Phil Mickelson is ‘too opinionated’.
While Haney is quick to point out how grateful he is to work with Tiger, he picks plenty of holes in his character. As for Tiger’s indiscretions Haney was quick to point out that caddie Steve Williams was ignorant of anything. Ahead of his resignation, Haney, in a series of texts, wrote to Woods, ‘I feel like I have been a great friend to you, I don’t feel I have gotten that in return’.
If you love your golf books then chances are you would've heard of Tom Coyne. In this book he walks around Ireland playing every links golf course he can find, documenting his journey throughout. Whether it be countless days of rain, consuming copious pints of Guinness or being chased by wild dogs, Coyne's writing style is a joy.
We actually met Tom at The Masters in 2022, he's an engaging, sociable fellow and he couldn't be a nicer guy so it came as no surprise to us that he referenced so many interesting characters in the Ireland book either. We cannot recommend the book enough and we would also recommend reading his Scotland and American books of the same name.
Along with the Nicklaus book already mentioned, this is arguably one of the best golf instruction books ever published. Tiger Woods reveals the five secrets to his amazing success in a book that reveals a combination of physical, metaphysical and psychological practices that he used daily to stay at the top.
Released in 2001, a few months after the 15-time major champion completed the “Tiger Slam”, this book uses a mixture of text, pictures and slow-motion photography to help golfers find success at whatever level they compete at. If you want to improve, then learning from the best is a good way to do it.
Of course we had to include a book from the leading major winner of all time! Unlike other offerings by the Golden Bear, which have focused solely on tips, this classic book gives us a proper look into his approach to the game and gives a little peak behind the curtain into what made him such a dominant force.
New material has been added to include a ‘Reflections and Recommendations’ chapter which tells the reader why he added a certain element to his game and how his mental game evolved over the years. If you think how fascinating he is in a 10-minute chat on Sky Sports then this promises to be an enlightening read. How could it not be?
How we test
Here at Golf Monthly, we employ a rigorous testing procedure when reviewing any product on our website. All of our writers are experienced golfers who know and understand how to use golf equipment and can ably analyze the benefits and drawbacks of any product. Essentially, we look to test gear to help you make the most informed decision when purchasing a set of clubs or a pair of golf shoes.
Specifically, when it comes to the best golf books, we look to see which books give the best instructional insight or behind-the-scenes access to the lives of golf heroes we most admire. From Tiger to Phil, there are plenty of books out there on the market that will give you an insight into how these guys became champions of the game. But on this list there are a few other reads we enjoyed getting lost in, from course guides to stories from eras gone by. It is important to note that no manufacturer can buy a good review.
What to consider when buying a golf book
While there might not be as much to consider compared to when buying a putter or a driver, interestingly, there is still a lot to think about when picking your next golf book. From whether you want a hard back or an audio copy to who the book is about, it's good to keep some of the below points in mind when purchasing your next golf book.
Hard back, paper back or audio book
A lot of golf books available on sites like Amazon can be bought in a variety of formats. For that reason, it is best to double check which format you're getting after you've added the book to your basket and make sure also if you are buying an audiobook that you're getting one that is compatible with the devices you're using.
Biography, fiction, or instruction
Golf books tend to come in three different formats, biographies about legends gone by, fictional stories that are written to entertain, or instructional books on how to hit the best shots. Depending on the type of book you're interested in reading, you'll find a range of these above and on websites like Amazon. But to avoid disappointment, it is always good to check which kind of golf book you're getting before buying.
Instructional help
On that note, many of the best golf books on the market come with a lot of instructional information from some of the best players and coaches going. From technique to strategy, you can get a lot out of these books, and depending on what area of your game you want to improve, it is wise to keep an eye out for the best books that can help you do that.
Price
As with anything, your budget should play an important factor in the books that you want to purchase. For the most part, golf books are available relatively cheap, with players able to pick up a book for an average $11-$12. But if you're feeling really savvy, audio books often come in a lot cheaper than that, and can sometimes be free!
Golf books can be some of the most informative and helpful guides and pieces of information on the market and are definitely worth investing in. If you're looking to fully upgrade your whole game though, we have a variety of equipment guides on our website that can help you become a better golfer. Why not take a look at our guides to the best golf irons, the best drivers and the best wedges.
FAQs
Can you learn from a golf book?
People will argue that video is the best way to digest golf instruction but many of us learn better from the written word and all the game's greats have shared their nuggets through a collection of books. Ben Hogan's Five Lessons is the all-time classic and you still won't go very wrong by poring over this while there are so many fantastic mental-game books. Dr Bob Rotella leads the way in this market and has done for years and this is a great way to kickstart your thinking on a certain part of your game. His book on putting is compulsive reading for anybody looking to shave some shots off their score without having to spend hours practicing.
What is the best golf book of all time?
The impossible question! This is all down to taste but there have been some of the best books ever written when it comes to golf. A good starting point would be to look at John Feinstein and Mark Frost offerings who tell a story like nobody else and they have documented some of the most amazing stories in the game and some of the most colourful characters. Harvey Penick's Little Red Book is genuinely beautiful and shows off a very different game to the one that we see today. If you want a warts and all look at the life of Tiger, then the offering by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian will really appeal to you. For something more reflective of the state of the modern game then Alan Shipnuck's 'Phil' is an absolute must read. There are no shortage of great golf books to choose from, so get stuck in and enjoy!
Are golf instruction books helpful?
Yes they are! While video instruction guides are great as you can visually see what's going on with the club, golf books are also fantastic ways to learn about strategy, technique and how to play golf better. When Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods are telling you how a golf swing works, how can that not be helpful?
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