The Poetics of Golf: Meditations on the Meaning and Beauty of a Game

Many golfers would agree with Andy Brumer that there is poetry in the game of golf. Nor is Brumer the first to insist that there is more to it than the superstars, swing gurus, and high-tech equipment that dominate talk of the game today. Brumer, one of the most insightful writers on golf, considers the game from unexpected and often surprising angles. Contemplative and compelling, The Poetics of Golf explores the links between golf and life by way of art and literature, philosophy and psychology.
In portraits of various players—including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sörenstam, and Arnold Palmer—Brumer teases out the truths that their games can tell us, not just about golf but about character and courage. And he also offers an unconventional yet enlightening look at the intricacies of the golf swing, course architecture, and golfing equipment. Above all, Brumer reminds us that golf is by no means only a game.