Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf

The twentieth anniversary edition of this classic work—the bestselling golf instruction book of all time and hailed as “the golfer’s equivalent of The Elements of Style” (The New York Times)—includes a new introduction by a prominent golfer, twenty new illustrations, and never-before-published materials from the Penick family archives.

The most beloved golf book of all time, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book has become required reading for all players and fans of the game, from beginners to seasoned pros.

The legendary Harvey Penick, whom Sports Illustrated called the “Socrates of the golf world,” began his golfing career as a caddie in Austin, Texas, at the age of eight, and over the course of nearly a century worked with an amazing array of champions. In this classic book, which is named for the red notebook he always kept, Penick’s simple, direct, practical wisdom pares away the hypertechnical jargon that’s grown up around the golf swing, and lets all golfers, whatever their level, play their best.

This twentieth-anniversary edition features a treasure trove of rare images from the Penick family archives, commemorates Penick’s lasting achievement with a moving new foreword by 2012 Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III—whose father learned the game under Penick’s tutelage—and reminds golfers everywhere to “take dead aim.”

From the Publisher

Harvey Penick’s life in golf began when he was eight years old, caddying at the Austin, Texas, Country Club. Eight decades later, he is still there, dispensing wisdom to pros and beginners alike. His stature in the golf world is reflected in the wide array of champions that he has worked with including those featured on this audio program, and it is not for nothing that the Teacher of the Year Award given by the Golf Teachers Association is called the Harvey Penick Award. Now after sixty years of keeping notes on the things he’s seen and learned and on the golfing greats he’s taught, Penick is finally letting the secrets in his Little Red Book be heard by the golf world. His simple, direct, practical wisdom pares away all the hypertechnical jargon that’s grown up around the game, and lets all golfers play their best—whatever their level. Already a classic in hardcover, the audio adaptation of Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book will be a constant source of guidance and inspiration to anyone who has ever stepped up to the first tee.

About the Author

Harvey Penick and Bud Shrake The late Harvey Penick’s association with golf and with the Austin (Texas) Country Club dates back to 1913, when he began there as a caddie. This was his first book. Bud Shrake, a former newspaper columnist and Sports Illustrated writer, is also a novelist, screenwriter, and author of three best-selling nonfiction books. He would still rather play golf than be President.

From Library Journal

Penick, a golf instructor who has been credited with improving the scores of several professionals on the mens and ladies’ tours (including Tom Kite and Sandra Palmer) here provides both physical and psychological tips for golfers. He also instructs on the preparation required before approaching the first tee. Though the value of this book is its information, libraries owning previous works on the mental aspects of golf (e.g., Peter Cranford’s The Winning Touch in Golf: A Psychological Approach , 1961. o.p.) can pass. Illustrations not seen.
– Jim Paxman, Tennessee State Univ., Nashville

9.8Expert Score

Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf

The famed Harvey Penick started working as a caddy at the age of eight in Austin, Texas. He worked with a staggering array of champions over the period of nearly a century, earning him the nickname "Socrates of the golf world" from Sports Illustrated. This famous book, which is named for the red notebook he always maintained, by Penick, strips away the hypertechnical terminology that has arisen around the golf swing and enables all golfers, regardless of skill level, to play their best.

PROS

• All participants in the game, from novices to seasoned veterans, are expected to read Harvey Penick's Little Red Book.
• The hypertechnical language that has developed around the golf swing is removed by Penick's straightforward, practical advice, allowing all golfers, regardless of skill level, to perform at their best.
• A treasure trove of priceless, archival photos from the Penick family collection are included in this 20th anniversary edition.