Beyond the Fairway: Zen Lessons, Insights, and Inner Attitudes of Golf (Paperback)

by Jeff Wallach (Author) "The names of Scottish golf courses are like mantras to me now..." (more)
Key Phrases: unmanicured terrain, swing path, penalty stroke, Head Pro, John Daly, Jack Stallings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Golf involves far more than hitting a perfect approach to the green. Every shot is an invitation to self-discovery, transcendence, and adventure. That is the theme behind Jeff Wallach's unique approach to a game that, as any true golfer knows, is much more than a game - it's an experience often bordering on the mystical. Beyond the Fairway explores the joys and subtle mysteries of golf and provides a whole new perspective on the game as it transports you through some of the world's most challenging, legendary, and downright strange courses to test yourself against their mental, physical, and spiritual hazards. From a venue hacked into the foothills of the Himalayas with a python loose on the first tee; to the annual Midnight Sun Tournament on the evening of the summer solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska; to the ancient home of golf in Scotland, where stone walls mark old property lines and sheep graze the fairways; to the Lakeview Challenge, the most sadistic par-three in the world, here is the rarely glimpsed wild side of golf. Here too is an irreverent insider's look at some of the game's most sacred rites and sites. Through it all, Wallach weaves the metaphysical lessons that golf teaches about life, friendship, competition, and even the fragile bond between fathers and sons. Beyond the Fairway is not about reducing your handicap or improving your swing (though it may do both), but about enjoying every stroke of the journey on the way to the pin.

From the Publisher
Beyond The Fairway is a guide for getting to the heart of golf and self by measuring a not by the score, but by the overall experience. Going against conventional approaches to golf, disproving that a straight fairway drive is golf's ultimate thrill, golfer and author Jeff Wallach steers his cart into the rough and even dangerous terrain where golf becomes an adventure into the unknown, into the greater mysteries of life, love, friendship, endurance, being a son, and being a man. Each chapter presents the unique physical and spiritual challenges of exotic and exclusive courses around the world from Scotland, Africa, and Thailand to Oregon, Alaska, and Nepal. The book gives an insider's often humorous, sometimes irreverent perspective on the sacred sites and rites of golf, and pros from around the world provide practical tips and insights into the game.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553373331
• ISBN-13: 978-0553373332
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,242,938 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The journey vs. the destination, February 15, 2000

By	Andrew Larson (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews

I loved this book. I've read a lot of instructional works, but I think this book may do more for my game than all those others put together. I was not familiar with the ways of Zen before I read this, and I think Jeff gave just enough information about it to intrigue me. This book will help your game.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Fairway, December 13, 1999

By	Dave Berner (USA) - See all my reviews

Author Jeff Wallach takes the golfer to places he may never have been. Not only physically, but spiritually. Jeff writes about playing golf in many areas of the world, but also about using golf to explore many areas of the mind and one's own emotions. The Zen philosophy is clearly the road map for this journey, and Wallach is able to pull together aspects of the sport's traditions, frustrations and beauty to show us how golf is far more than just a game. The chapter about playing golf in Scotland and the one on meeting Peter Martin, a golf professional in New York state's Adirondack mountains who believes golf can enlighten us, are the two most enjoyable passages in this book. It's a better read and any overly detailed instructional book. And it probably will help your game more, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars just okay, March 26, 2002

By	Martin Barrett (Omaha, Ne United States) - See all my reviews

This is a very hard book to enjoy. Although it is written about my favorite subject, it is also written with a somewhat snobbish attitude. I don't care to be told that all the courses I play and have played don't constitute real golf because they aren't in Scotland. Once I got past my annoyance at these revelations, I found there are actually many good moments in the book. The Zen golf koans are also enjoyable. I'm glad I bought it used.