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Golf's Holy War
Book

Golf's Holy War

The Battle for the Soul of a Game in an Age of Science

Avid Reader Press, 2020 more...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Engaging
  • Insider's Take
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

This journey through golf’s evolution from the mysterious and mystical to the mechanistic, with data and technology driving the cart, will evoke strong feelings among those who love the game and ring a chime for people in many other fields challenged by technology. Sportswriter Brett Cyrgalis cautions against emphasizing art over science, or vice versa, because technology and analytics are now an essential aspect of the pro game. Cyrgalis describes golf’s soul by invoking the spirit of Ben Hogan and recounting the games’ most magical moments – still meaningful even in the days of big data.

Take-Aways

  • You can’t replicate your own golf swing, let alone anyone else’s.
  • Golfers have long looked to science to perfect their movements and lock them in for consistency.
  • Two classic texts represent the opposing camps: The Golfing Machine for technical knowledge and Golf in the Kingdom for the game’s mystique.

About the Author

Veteran sportswriter Brett Cyrgalis writes about the New York Rangers and New York Islanders for the New York Post, where he also covers everything related to golf.