A Fairway to Heaven: My Lessons From Harvey Penick On Golf And Life [Hardcover]

Tom Kite (Author), Mickey Herskowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 1997

The late Harvey Penick always told Tom Kite to "take dead aim...before every shot." In this unique memoir, Kite, captain of the 1997 U.S. Ryder Cup team, tells the story of Penick, the greatest teacher golf has ever known, his golf secrets, and how he taught them; of Kite's own friendly rivalry with Ben Crenshaw; and of the special relationship enjoyed by all three men. More than just another golf book, Tom Kite's story is of the bonding of generations - between the teacher who recently died at the age of ninety and two of his pupils who are among the world's best golfers. Tom Kite is one of the most consistent low scorers on the tour. Winner of the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Kite claims a total of nineteen tour victories and annual career earnings approaching $10 million. He was recently the all-time leading money winner on the PGA Tour. Few golfers have a better Ryder Cup record; in seven years of play, Kite has earned fifteen wins and 17 points. Mickey Herskowitz's previous bestseller-list collaborations include All My Octobers with Mickey Mantle, The Camera Never Blinks with Dan Rather, Cosell by Cosell, and This 'n' That with Bette Davis.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most golfers know the great teacher Harvey Penick, longtime pro at the Austin Country Club in Texas, through the lovely epigrammatic writings of his Little Red Book and the sequels it spawned. Tom Kite, the former U.S. Open champion who captained the 1997 American Ryder Cup team, knew Penick more intimately. He was Kite's instructor, coach, confidante, and touchstone for three decades. His memoir of life with the master is warm and touching, an engaging tribute to a man whose life was the game and whose devotion to the game absolute. Kite also tees up a moving examination of his longtime friendship and rivalry with Ben Crenshaw, Penick's other star pupil. Ultimately, writes Kite, "Penick wasn't meant to be explained or analyzed. He was meant to be enjoyed." In Fairway to Heaven, Kite "takes dead aim"--as Penick always counseled--and the enjoyment is contagious. (Penick fans take note: The Wisdom of Harvey Penick: Lessons and Thoughts from the Collected Writings of Golf's Best-Loved Teacher is also available.)

From Library Journal

With coauthor Herskowitz (In History's Shadow, LJ 11/1/93), Kite tells the reader how, at age 13, he got the best golfing break of his life when his father was transferred to Austin and Kite met Harvey Penick, the sport's premier teacher. Penick was golf coach for 33 years at the University of Texas and instructor for 48 years at the Austin Country Club, living to age 90. A patient and philosophical individual in many respects, Penick once told Kite that "you are what you are, not what you do." Penick "was meant to be enjoyed," according to Kite, which is what this memoir is all about. It is a treat to read. Recommended for libraries with golf collections.?James A. Paxman, Tennessee State Univ., Nashville
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (August 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688146724
• ISBN-13: 978-0688146726
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,142,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Onlt those who truly love the game can appreciate this., February 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fairway to Heaven: My Lessons From Harvey Penick On Golf And Life (Hardcover)

This book really touches that special feeling that comes with really loving the game. There is so much that goes along with the words in this book, if you can read between the lines, you can learn an immense amount about life.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 26, 2008

By 

Carlene Beall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fairway to Heaven: My Lessons From Harvey Penick On Golf And Life (Hardcover)

A good book for all golfers. Tom's relationship with Harvey Penick is obvious and he learned a lot from Harvey and it shows in his golf game. It's a great book.

5.0 out of 5 stars About A Life of Golf, May 26, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Fairway to Heaven: My Lessons From Harvey Penick On Golf And Life (Hardcover)

Kite (as Crenshaw in his new book) were so closely attached to Harvey Penick. His calm, relaxed approach to golf and life certainly produced two of golf's finest in Kite and Crenshaw.

Here Kite adoringly relates his life and the influence that Penick had, "take dead aim." As Kite relates, it meant to him to be calm yet aware, to focus on what one is doing at the time, blocking out all the rest.

This guy is so consistent! One learns much here from this book about practice, persistence and taking dead aim.