Top 15 Best Golf Books Updated 04 /2024

There is always more to learn when you play golf, and you're never done. Putting together a list of books that I think will help your golf game, as well as giving you new ideas about your technique and how you think about golf, was my goal for this list of books. Golfers should read these 10 books at least once.

If you buy them used on Amazon, you can save a lot of money. Many of them have been in print for a long time. All of these have been read to me at some point, and I think they all have good advice.

You can learn so much about golf from the books that are on this list. It's not realistic to think that you can use everything these authors have written in your game, so you should not. One or two big ideas from each of these books will help move you in the right direction.

Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book

I think this is the only book on this list that you should read. I've written a review of this all-time favorite here. I think this is one of the best golf books ever written for a lot of different reasons. You can learn a lot from this book without getting too technical.

A book written by Harvey Penick is one of the best golf books to help you improve your game. Socrates of the golf world: As Sports Illustrated put it, he is "the best."

If there was a bible for golfers, this would be it because it's the best-selling golf book ever written. The reason this book has been so popular is because Harvey found a way to make golf easy, even though the game is very hard.

The head pro at Austin Country Club, Harvey, kept a little red book where he wrote down golf tips and observations. After almost 50 years there, Harvey kept it. Golfers around the world have come to love and know this book.

As I said, he doesn't get technical like Ben Hogan. Instead, he gives you simple advice that will help you play your best golf. The updated 20th-anniversary edition also has new pictures from the Penick family archives and a new foreword by Davis Love III, the captain of the 2012 Ryder Cup team (whose dad had the experience to learn the game under Penick).

Take "dead aim." Harvey always said this in his little red book.

Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

Some people think that Ben Hogan is a very interesting player. This is a man who worked so hard that golf had never seen before. He found his swing in the dirt. This is even though he didn't have access to any kind of technology at the time. He found things about the golf swing that are still important decades later. Don't forget about his section on grip technique. I think this is the most important part of the book for any golfer, no matter what their skill level is, so don't skip it.

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella

I want to be able to write like Dr. Rotella. Because he talks about the game in an easy-to-understand way, everything he says about it makes sense You should read all of his other books. This is probably his most important one. It will give you a new way to think about the game that I don't think other writers can.

The Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz

Several times in my articles, I have talked about how this book changed the way I played. People who play golf might find this hard to read. As long as you can understand how important the game is in less than 100 yards, you've won half the battle. You can learn a lot about golf from this book. It can help you make a real plan and stop you from taking a shot without confidence.

The Big Miss by Hank Haney

You should read this because there are two good reasons. The first thing is that Hank Haney talks about Tiger's personal life in a way that made me want to read more. The second reason this book is so good is because Haney reveals things about Tiger's game that you wouldn't expect to be flaws. This is why this book is so good. How did the best golfer of all time (or maybe the second best) not like his driver? It almost makes you feel better about your own game when you read that.

Unconscious Putting by Dave Stockton

Making good putts is hard, and it's almost impossible to figure out what it takes. I think this book is the best one that comes close to doing that. I like that it's not a 500-page technical book. Dave Stockton has only 100 pages, but he gives you some real advice on how to become a better golfer. Because this book is so short, you might think it's more complicated than it is.

Make sure to read my complete guide to putting together the whole thing.

101 Mistakes All Golfers Make (and how to fix them) by…Me!

I would be a bad person if I didn't include my own work.

My book will be your one-stop shop for years to come. It's also very simple to understand.

Fearless golf: Conquering the Mental Game by Dr. Gio Valiante

People who are afraid of golf make their own fears come true. There's no way to get rid of all of your negative thoughts before you take your shot. However, the more you can put them behind you, the better your scores will be. When you read this book, it will show you how important and difficult it is for a golfer to stay in the moment.

Every Shot Counts by Mark Broadie

Mark Broadie has made a big splash in the world of golf with his new strokes gained stat. Changed how we measure a player on the PGA tour, and his data have shown how amateurs can improve their own games, too. This book is mostly based on data, but I think it can help you see some parts of the game in a new way. In this book, I don't agree with everything he said. His section on putting makes it worth reading.

Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game by Joseph Parent

Food for your brain: Here's more. Psychology is just as important for a golfer as how well they swing on the golf course. Take everything he says in this book to heart. There are always Zen Golfers even if they don't know it.

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