The Old Man and the Tee: How I Took Ten Strokes Off My Game and Learned to Love Golf All Over Again

by Turk Pipkin

Book Overview

As a kid caddying for his father on the sunburned links of West Texas, Turk Pipkin had dreamed of great achievements in golf. Unfortunately, life got in the way. A lack of talent didn't help much either. It was not until his father passed away that Turk realized he'd forgotten his childhood dream and had lost the simple joy he'd once found in the game. Deciding that the time for all his pitiful golf excuses was past, Turk embarked upon the golf quest...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312320841
• ISBN13: 9780312320843
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Great book for anyone that has or lost a father.

This book should make you laugh and cry. A great read that moves along fast. In my case I had to slow myself down. I wanted to jump ahead to the final chapter to see what happened. Being a golfer I would have liked more details on the final round at Pebble Beach. All in all a very enjoyable book.

Hilarious and Witty

I'm a huge golfer, but not a big golf book reader. When I picked this book up I thought it would be boring, like most of the golf books. I was pleasantly surprised at how quick I was enthralled with the book and the humor in it. Not only funny, but I could really relate to this book and feel like I'm standing right next to him while he is telling the story. It is a great read and I recommend to give to the golfer in your life. It is truly a joy to read.

Wonderful book on many levels!

First of all, I enjoyed this book as a golfer. To be honest, I expected that when I bought it. But maybe even more, I enjoyed this book as a son and as a father. Mr. Pipkin has made my Christmas shopping easy this year; I'm giving his book to every guy I know who loves his golf and his father. Or his son, for that matter. And right now, I'm reading it all over again...

The answer to your golf dreams

Anyone who has ever been bitten by the golf bug knows that the resulting virus is the unending search for the link's Holy Grail. It may be the latest new club, or that simple suggestion from a member of your regular foursome. It may be several hours on the practice tee, or a new training device seen on an infomercial. Perhaps it is a week at a prestigious golf school or a book by a teaching legend. All golfers believe that somewhere out there is the critical piece of information that will transform their golf game from hacker to hero. If only the dream made the wish come true. Author Turk Pipkin got to live that dream and he shares his adventure in THE OLD MAN AND THE TEE: How I Took Ten Strokes Off My Game and Learned to Love Golf All Over Again. Those who share the dream of long drives, crisp approach shots and curling birdie putts will find this to be more than just an instructional volume. This is a book about life and golf, and how some individuals can enjoy both regardless of the numbers they write down on the scorecard. Pipkin is the perfect person to write this book. Not only is he an avid golfer, he is also an accomplished writer. In addition to eight novels, he has written for numerous major magazines. Beyond his writing, Pipkin has toured with comedian Rodney Dangerfield and has appeared in Christopher Guest's Waiting for Guffman, HBO's "The Sopranos" and Disney's The Alamo. Reading Pipkin's resume is to peruse the record of a true renaissance man. The time devoted to those activities, however, limited the time available for golf. As a result, Pipkin found his golf game in drastic need of repair. As a young man Pipkin had learned golf from his father. While attending the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pipkin is called back to his native Texas to be with his dying father. His father's death rekindles a long-moribund goal that Raymond Pipkin had set for his son: a round of golf at Pebble Beach. But Pipkin wants more than just a round. He sets for himself the goal of breaking 80 at one of America's most difficult courses. To do so, Pipkin, a 16- handicap golfer, will need to cut that handicap by 10 shots in a year, a Herculean task. To reach his goal, Pipkin spends parts of the next year with most of the great golf instructors in America. Ironically, when he first proposed his plan to David Leadbetter, a man who numbers some of the greatest golfers of the world as his personal protégés, Leadbetter was skeptical. "You go to six different instructors, you may add ten strokes to your game," Leadbetter said with a laugh. "But count me in." Over the ensuing year Pipkin's journey takes him to see Leadbetter, short game expert Dave Pelz, Ben Crenshaw --- perhaps professional golf's greatest putter --- and other instructors of note. In each chapter the reader takes a lesson along with Pipkin and acquires some valuable insights concerning golf instruction. Each chapter concludes with a brief summary of an important golf fundamental. Several of th

A must read for anyone who loves the game of golf!

A book that is as touching as it is funny, Turk Pipkin takes us on his year long quest to take 10 strokes off his game and break 80 at Pebble Beach to honor the man who taught him the game - his father Pip. Unlike any golf book you're likely to read, Turk combines his lessons learned from golf teaching greats like David Leadbetter to hilarous stories of golfing with Willie Nelson, George Plimpton and everyone else who was lucky enough to tee it up with him on his quest. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. A must read for lovers of golf, life and humor!