Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game [Hardcover]

Joseph Parent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2002

The best players know that golf is a game of confidence, and most important, concentration–the ability to focus and block out distraction. The goal of achieving clear thought is also at the heart of Buddhist teachings. In his highly original and groundbreaking book, noted PGA coach and Buddhist instructor, Dr. Joseph Parent, draws on this natural connection and teaches golfers how to clear their minds, achieve ultimate focus, and play in the moment for each shot.

Zen Golf presents a simple system for building “mental game mastery.” Dr Parent’s unique PAR Approach (focusing on Preparation, Action, and Response to Results) guides golfers with specific techniques for each aspect of their games. In chapters such as “How to Get From the Practice Tee to the First Tee”, “You Produce What You Fear”, and “How to Enjoy a Bad Round of Golf”, the author shares a personal teaching regimen that has helped improve the games of professionals and amateurs alike. By combining classic insights and stories from Zen tradition, Zen Golf helps eliminate the mental distractions that routinely cause poor shots and loss of concentration, allowing golfers to feel in “the zone” that professionals have learned to master.

Clear, concise, and enlightening, Zen Golf shows golfers how to prepare for, execute, and equally important, respond the results of any golf shot. A different approach to golf instruction, this book shapes ancient philosophies into new teachings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The lessons in Zen Golf make the mental game seem so simple. Dr. Parent has given me very effective methods for working with thoughts and emotions, and for taking the negatives out of the picture.”
-Vijay Singh, Masters and PGA Champion

“Soothing and enlightening, Zen Golf exposes us to the storm-tossed waters of the golfer's psyche, but in short order, Dr. Parent has us bobbing easily amidst the waves.”
-Guy Yocom, Senior Writer for Golf Digest

“There’s no other book like this one. If you want to know what has gotten in the way of playing better and what you can do about it, look no further.”
-Mike “Radar” Reid, PGA Tour Winner

“Doc’s unique teaching methods helped me to concentrate and to go from the range to the first tee in a way that gets my round off to a much better start.”
-Willie Wood, PGA Tour Winner

“Dr. Parent’s use of golf as a metaphor for business is full of great insights that have helped our staff grow as people and professionals.”
-David Hausdorff, Vice President, Merrill Lynch, Private Client Group

“Here is a roadmap to inner confidence, self-awareness and the feel of a purely struck golf shot. This approach to learning and life is a wonderful and powerful expression of the future for golf instruction.”
-Fred Shoemaker, author of Extraordinary Golf and co-teacher of Golf in the Kingdom seminars with Michael Murphy

From the Publisher

A senior writer for Golf Digest described ZEN GOLF: Mastering the Mental Game as "Soothing and enlightening, entertaining and provocative; here is a book that is highly original, exciting, and deserves notice."

In May 2002, ZEN GOLF was released in hardcover. By December it went to its fifth printing, charted as the current bestselling instructional golf book in America.

In response to many requests for an audio version (especially for listening to while driving to the golf course), the audiobook has been produced as an unabridged edition, a 4 CD set in an attractive jewel case, read by the author, PGA TOUR Instructor Dr. Joseph Parent. It conveys through the author's own expressions the wisdom so many golfers of all levels have found in ZEN GOLF.

Fred Shoemaker, author of Extraordinary Golf, wrote, "Dr. Parent has beautifully melded the timeless wisdom of Buddhism with his timely insights as a golf coach. Here is a roadmap to inner confidence, self-awareness and the feel of a purely struck golf shot. We are approaching a turning point in the way golf or anything else is learned. This approach to learning and life is a wonderful—and perhaps our most powerful—hope for the future." --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (May 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385504462
• ISBN-13: 978-0385504461
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Golf
  • #98 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism

More About the Author

Dr. Joe Parent has been coaching the mental game in business, life and golf for over 25 years. After completing his Ph.D. in psychology in 1979, Dr. Joe began bringing his insights in mindful awareness to golf and business. Since then he has become a renowned and sought-after instructor of the mental game, teaching the path to success to hundreds of professionals and amateurs in golf and other sports, as well as to top executives seeking cutting-edge business insights.

He is a highly regarded keynote speaker at corporate, celebrity and charity events hosted by companies such as US Trust/Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Dreyfus, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Salomon Brothers, CBRE, World President's Organization, PGA of America, Tiger Woods Foundation, First Tee Foundation and many others.

A distinguished PGA Tour Instructor, he has attracted such clients as major champions Vijay Singh, David Toms, Cristie Kerr and Juli Inkster. About his first book, the bestselling ZEN GOLF: Mastering the Mental Game, Golf Digest reviewers say, "Here is a book that is highly original and exciting, destined to become a classic. Dr. Parent is a groundbreaking writer in the history of golf." Now in its twelfth printing, there are over 200,000 copies in print world-wide, including editions in seven different languages.

Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens is the follow-up, incorporating the groundbreaking yet timeless strategies from his Zen Golf philosophy to the all important game-within-the-game, putting. GOLF: The Art of the Mental Game is Dr. Joe's most recent book, pairing 100 of his mental game tips with the classic golf drawings of the renowned illustrator, Anthony Ravielli.

As a result of his writing and his instruction of PGA TOUR players, Golf Digest named Dr. Joe to their first list of "Top Ten Mental Game Experts" in the world, and made him a featured instructor in their popular instructional section: "Breaking 100-90-80 and 70." His instructional articles, rich with tips from his lessons, appear in many major golf magazines and online, and he has been quoted and praised in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Joe has been featured on CNN, NBC's Today in New York, HBO Sports, ESPN, and many appearances on The Golf Channel. The ZEN GOLF book has been featured in a widely circulated MasterCard "Priceless" ad, and had its own cameo appearance being read by Ray Romano on "Everybody Loves Raymond." Dr. Joe has coached Ray, Kevin James, Malcolm McDowell, Michael O'Keefe (Danny Noonan in Caddyshack), Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, world champion boxer Oscar de la Hoya, and many other celebrity golfers.

Dr. Joe Parent teaches at the Los Angeles Country Club and at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa Resort, Ojai, California. Speaker materials available on request; demo video www.ZenGolf.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Point, October 8, 2002

By 

William Ray (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game (Hardcover)

What's the point of golf? What are we trying to achieve while we're out there? Simply put, the point is to get the ball in the cup as quickly as possible and enjoy the process. I played a round early this summer, had an awful time, came off the course stressed and feeling bad about my behavior. I was literally hyperventalating over putts. Turns out I scored well. So something was amiss, right? This book has me enjoying the game again. Zen Golf is not a deep and difficult treatise of the deeper meaning of life and golf. It is closer to an instruction manual on how to play better golf and enjoy the game more. It addresses concepts like trust, confidence and positive thinking. I now enjoy those 3-iron punch shots out of the trees. I'm learning to enjoy those 5-footers. Every shot is an opportunity and there's no need for fear or negativity. My "evil caddie" seldom comes around, and when he does, I know what to do. This is simply the best golf book I've ever read.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars get your mind out of the way of your golf game, June 3, 2002

By 

David M (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game (Hardcover)

The one time I had a perfect (for me) round of golf I noticed that the game seemed extremely simple. The rest of the time, I wonder how it can be so complicated to try and reproduce that simplicity. Zen golf gets to the root of this and offers a path there, and the opportunity to have that round at any time.
Joseph Parent's advice applies to all levels of golfers and is a guide to consistent and reproduceable results. It is one of those rare books on golf that doesn't fill your head with things to consider while you play, it does the opposite by showing you how to clear your head and in doing so clear away the obstacles that prevent us and our bodies from naturally performing the way we are capable of. I expect that the short time it took me to read this book will have a long-lasting effect on the way I will play golf from now on, and I am in the process of reading it for a second time.

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why you should buy this book!, August 14, 2002

By 

Ross Bagdasarian "J. Karman" (Montecito, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game (Hardcover)

As an avid, yet struggling golfer I was ready for just about anything that could improve my game, including a lobotomy. Zen Golf was not only straight forward, but incredibly useful. Shortly after reading the book, I went out and "trusting" my swing not only hit a lot of great shots, but actually began having fun again. I enjoyed myself so much that I scheduled a full day lesson with Dr. Parent. Talk about a book brought to life. He was wonderful. Not only was he full of insight and stress relieving approaches, but he was really fun to play with. In the last year or so, I have been shooting a lot of 80's and even some 90's. Employing Dr. Parent's concepts I shot 77 AND had a fun time. I don't dread golf anymore. I highly recommend the book to every golfer looking to play to their full potential and take the hernia out of the game. For those luckier still, I recommend a lesson with Dr. Parent. If you are struggling with your game, either take up tennis or get this book.