There are two worlds of golf. Professional golfers live and play in the first world. The second world includes the rest of us. Both are worth taking a look at, and Glen Waggoner’s charming book does it well.

Divots is divided into two parts, the Front Nine and the Back Nine. The Front Nine focuses on professional golf. For example, Waggoner does a great profile of Tom Kite, detailing both his stunning collapse in the 1989 U.S. Open and his stirring victory in Pebble Beach in the 1992 Open. It’s a fine character study.

His piece on Mark Calcavecchia is also illuminating. Calcavecchia properly credits his wife with a lot of his success, and reaffirms the notion of a successful marriage.

Waggoner also writes a very interesting review of Jack Nicklaus’ career. His business career, that is. While not neglecting Nicklaus’ golf accomplishments, Waggoner tells a fascinating story about Golden Bear International and the rocky periods that company has undergone. Apparently Nicklaus’ legendary caution on the golf course was not matched in his approach to business, and things were a little dicey for a while. His private enterprises seem to be doing fine now, but his publicly traded companies continue to be troubled. Waggoner uses Nicklaus’ story to illustrate the old business adage that success in one field is no guarantee of success in another, even if the two areas are related.

The Back Nine is devoted to the world of golf the rest of us inhabit. Waggoner includes a funny, informative travelogue about playing golf in Florida. He goes to two golf schools, one run by Jim Flick and the other using Zen philosophy. The search for improvement is everywhere and never-ending.

He provides tips on proper club throwing, for those whose tempers are more highly developed than their skill at golf. He makes a modest proposal for the use of 840 acres in New York City as the perfect location for several new public golf courses. The fact that these acres are currently known as Central Park is not important, is it?

Waggoner is a good writer, and he’s obviously smitten about the two worlds of golf. That is a nice combination. Take advantage of it. You’ll enjoy this book.

Review Date July 14, 1998/revised October 10, 1998

Hole By Hole's
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Divots, Shanks, Gimmes, Mulligans and Chili Dips: A Life in 18 Holes

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