Just a Range Ball in a Box of Titleists [Hardcover]

Gary McCord (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1997

The irreverent golfer and sports commentator offers an entertaining look at the world of professional golf, discussing the PGA Tour, the colorful personalities and legendary golfers, the courses, and the culture of golf. 150,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In his 20-plus years as a touring pro, CBS golf commentator Gary McCord may never have won a tournament, but all those hours on the course obviously honed his skills as a raconteur. His memoir, filled with pithy observations of his fellow pros, is funny and self-effacing, enjoyable from tee to green.

From Booklist

McCord injected new life into the pious world of professional golf commentating when he arrived in the CBS booth more than a decade ago. Whether unabashedly criticizing poor play or flamboyantly inventing his own language (in McCordspeak, "Grow hair, ball" means "Slow down"), McCord has managed to infuriate traditionalists and captivate the average fan. (His image as a maverick was only heightened when he was banned from Augusta National, home of the ever-so-stuffy Masters, for saying that the course's notoriously fast greens must have been "bikini-waxed.") Unfortunately, McCord's nineteenth-hole humor works much better delivered in short bursts on television than it does in print over a full-length book. His stories about his own mediocre career on the PGA Tour or about hanging with the boys at San Luis Rey Downs (his local course, sort of a Tin Cup, California style) are amusing enough, but extended to essay length, they often seem forced, the premises belabored and the punch lines flat. And when he tries to really extend himself--as in a mock Shakespearean version of the "The Globe Open" starring the earl of Palmer--the results are, to use one of McCord's favorite terms, roadkill. Still, as Putnam's 125,000 first printing indicates, there are plenty of golf fans out there, many of whom respond to McCord's irreverence. Expect demand, but most readers will quickly realize that McCord should stick to sound bites. Bill Ott

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 206 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (March 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399142339
• ISBN-13: 978-0399142338
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,574,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I thought it was decent, December 29, 2000

By 

Randall Burgess (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just a Range Ball in a Box of Titleists (Paperback)

If you are familiar with Gary McCord then you should know that he is a little off the wall. Therefore, it wasn't a surprise that this book was off the wall. As a golfer, reading this book helped me to relax and enjoy the game more. It also helped in putting a smile on my face. This is not a book that should be taken seriously. Rather, it is a book that can help you find joy in the little things you do.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and peculiar, May 25, 2000

By 

joe_n_bloe (Ester AK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Just a Range Ball in a Box of Titleists (Paperback)

This is an entertaining and somewhat peculiar collection of essays from Gary McCord. I say somewhat peculiar, because I'm never sure whether they are truthful or tall tales. Probably somewhere in between. But what does it matter whether they're literally true or not--it's not as if I have some kind of personal reference what life on the PGA TOUR is like.

McCord has been funnier and is funnier when he's speaking. This book has a weird, atmospheric style. More deadpan than you'd expect. It's as if he's speaking parables to you and you're never quite sure which parts are supposed to be funny. There's something else about the style ... as if he is trying to stay one notion ahead of the reader, which he accomplishes by leaving out a thought or two from time to time. I can't say it's bad, but it's not what one would expect.

I'd rate this 3-1/2 stars but I'm stuck with whole numbers. It's definitely better than average ... but not great. If you want side-splitting, colorful tales, you'll want to check out Peter Dobereiner's work. This book provides a stranger, more meditative experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, March 27, 2010

By 

Robielucy "Robielucy" (Camarillo, California USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Just a Range Ball in a Box of Titleists (Hardcover)

This book won't cure your swing or putting problems...but you'll laugh your club socks off reading it! McCord is top notch in my book!