Smart Golf: Wisdom and Strategies from the "Thinking Man's Golfer"

Three-time U.S. Open winner Hale Irwin's message is an obvious one, but even good golfers fight it every day--the lowest score on the course wins. Period. A Fred Couples swing and the power ofTiger Woods might elicit oohs of envy from your playing partners, but the ability to navigate the course in the fewest strokes requires more than looking good and hitting long. It's a talent that takes its inspiration and direction from a golfer's most powerful but overlooked muscle: the brain. And that's exactly the muscle Irwin wants to help you stretch; he'll let others tweak your mechanics.

Irwin, like any good teacher, mixes instruction with encouragement, drawing on personal experience and anecdotes to illustrate his points. The first half of his course covers "Smart Game Management," which includes setting reasonable goals, establishing an intelligent practice routine, choosing the right equipment and properly caring for it, and--the most radical concept of all--staying healthy. This latter lesson includes tips on mental fitness ("Temper and smart golf don't go together"), physical fitness ("Those that stay in shape have a better chance of succeeding"), and proper diet and nutrition. The second half of Smart Golf targets course management--setting up pre-round checklists and strategies, using the game's byzantine rules to your benefit, and saving valuable strokes with an intelligent short game. In the end, Irwin guides you through an imaginary round, thinking you through various tactics and shot options. Smart stuff indeed, regardless of your level of play. All Hale! --Jeff Silverman