Golf Unplugged, by Jim Apfelbaum, is a look into the musty basement of golf. In the deep, dark recesses, Apfelbaum shares treasures from the game that have likely been obscured from the light of day for years.
The blurb on the back cover says, “With niblick-sharpened wit, Jim Apfelbaum wades into the historical second cut of rough in an engaging series of essays.”
Indeed he does.
Jim Apfelbaum told me via letter that the “idea was simply to give golfers reasons to look beyond the scorecard and enjoy all that golf offers beyond simply how well, or not, we happen to be playing.”
As a certified golf nut, not only am I fixated on the scorecard, but I’m also obsessed with the history of the game. This book took me on an enjoyable trip into golf’s past and present.
Chapter List
- The Sixth Lesson
- Mastering the Fundamentals
- Presidential Pardon
- Hello Bob
- Dear Ms. Sorenstam
- Shot Heard ‘Round the Block
- Glorious Uncertainty
The Good
- This book is the work of a seasoned professional. It is well-written with a distinct style. Apfelbaum is witty and informative and even shares a few touching moments, like one where an aging Bob Jones took the time to critique a proposed golf course design sent to him by a young boy, not sure if it was actually intended for Robert Trent Jones, the famed course architect, going so far as to include the latter’s office address in his reply.
- A great many of the historical tales told in this book are likely ones you’ve never even heard. We’ve all heard about Hogan’s one iron at Merion, but what about his lost sixth lesson? Certainly everyone knows of Gene Sarazen’s double eagle in the 1935 Masters, but how about his shot through the window of a refreshment stand during the Ryder Cup? The book is filled with moments like these.
- There are some fun stories from the modern game, such as Notah Begay III trying to beat Tiger Woods to the course on several occasions and finding that the early-rising Woods bested him, yet again.
- Apfelbaum exhibits his unique humor throughout the book, including an in-depth analysis of the proper way to remove a ball from the cup, complete with a break-down of Tiger Woods’ technique, as well as a primer on the proper way to pick up ball with a wedge.
The Bad
- What’s not to like?
Conclusion
If you’re a fairways and greens type of person, you may not appreciate the meandering trip through the gorse and heather. If you can appreciate the ride off the beaten cart path, you’re going to enjoy this book. I read it twice from cover to cover and will certainly read it again at some point.
Not only does this book let you see golf from the proverbial tips, you’ll also spend time skirting the out of bounds fences, leaping over hazards, trudging through the deep rough, and taking side trips into the deepest bunkers.
It requires a certain appreciation of where golf came from and where it’s going. If you’re a player that can look beyond the scorecard, as Apfelbaum put it, then you’re going to enjoy this book.
I highly recommend it.
Loading ...
Great review. Thanks for the info!
My pleasure, Lane.
“look beyond the scorecard and enjoy all that golf offers” It’s a nice theory, but players of all standards would disagree I’m sure.
Either way, nice review.
Oliver, do you disagree that golf offers much more than a score on a card? What about things like competition, camaraderie, exercise, history, sportsmanship, gamesmanship, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and so on?
Interesting review and looks like a great book.
I too just got done reading/reviewing The Complete Golfer by Harry Vardon. Great little (or should I say big at 300+ pages) book. Written in 1905, tells of the game of golf when it was quite different. Vardon sounded truly amazing.
Dan