50 Greatest Golf Lessons Of The Century : Private Sessions with the Golf Greats
- Book Review,
by John Jacobs, HarperCollins UK
Amazon.com
John Jacobs, one of golf's most respected teachers, has either played against, talked with, or given a tip to just about every significant player in the last half of the 20th century. Combining his personal experience with an enormous knowledge of the game, he's assembled 50 important lessons--some general, some quite specific--offered alphabetically from (#1) how Seve Ballesteros relies on imagination in his shot-making to (#50) how Tiger Woods sets his eyes over the ball when putting. Jacobs addresses all parts of the game by using the mechanics and mental preparation of 34 pros--from old-timers like Henry Cotton and Harry Vardon to today's bright lights of the fairways. This is no mere tutorial, though. Through bios and photos of each player and lots of Jacobs's personal anecdotes, 50 Greatest Golf Lessons teaches the history and evolution of the golf swing with relevance to today. Better yet, for golfers who want to improve their games--and is there a golfer among us who doesn't?--Jacobs's complete analyses of each lesson come with important suggestions for how to take the lessons with you from the page right out to the golf course. --Jeff Silverman
Book Description
John Jacobs is one of the most respected golf teachers the game has ever known. Perhaps no one is better qualified than Jacobs to teach the greatest golf lessons of the 20th century because he has taught the greatest golfers of the 20th century. His reputation as an authority on the golf swing, with a sharp eye for detail and an uncanny talent for fixing faults, has made him a magnet for aspiring young stars as well as experienced champions. He is unique in having taught, studied, or played against (and often beaten) virtually every great golfer of the last 60 years.50 Greatest Gold Lessons of the Centuryis a remarkable collection of personal anecdotes, expert swing analysis, and fascinating insights into what makes a champion and how these great players play the game. Jacobs reveals the lessons he has given to the golfing greats, recounts many of the great shots he has witnessed in tournament play, and highlights the secrets to their successful swings.The lessons come from a veritable Who's Who of golf, from legends such as Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, to the stars of today's PGA TOUR, such as Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, and Ernie Els.Each lesson is complemented by specially commissioned artwork, as well as full-color action shots of today's players-plus rare, vintage photography that brings to life some of the greatest players of all time.
About the Author
John Jacobs, world-renowned golf coach, has often been referred to as the Professional's Professional. He is the founder of the European Tour and was British Ryder Cup captain in 1979 and 1981. He was awarded an OBE in 1997 for his services to golf. Today, he owns 29 golf schools in the United States bearing his name.Steve Newell is the instruction editor of Golf World. He has written several golf books, including How to Build a Classic Golf Swing and The Complete Short Game, both with Ernie Els.
Excerpted from 50 Greatest Golf Lessons of the Century by John Jacobs. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
John Jacobs: a lifetime in golfJohn Jacobs started his professional golfing life in his father's shop at Lindrick Golf Club in Yorkshire. He would stoke fires in the grate on Monday mornings to burn out snapped hickory shafts of clubs broken over the course of a weekend's play. He grew up to become one of golf's most influential figures. Tournament winner, founder of the PGA European Tour, Ryder Cup player and twice captain of the team, OBE and President of the PGA of Europe; his accolades and achievements are a tribute to his many gifts on and off the golf course.Above all, though, John is one of the most distinguished and experienced teachers the game of golf has ever known. He is a prolific and best-selling author and co-founder of the John Jacobs Golf Schools - currently the biggest and most successful golf schools in the world. His teaching methods have inspired millions of club golfers around the world and his keen eye for the swing, astute diagnosis and skilful way with words mean that for more than 5o years he has been constantly in demand by many of the world's great players. To them, John is a rare breed indeed a proven tournament winner who also happens to be a brilliant teacher.John remembers very clearly the season of his transformation from tour pro to teacher. "I never wanted to be a teacher," he says. "I wanted to be the best player in the world. But within six months of quitting the tour to concentrate on teaching, I knew I'd made the right decision. I was a happy person again. I didn't have the frustrations of trying to become the best player. Instead I was content with believing I was the best teacher."There has never been any shortage of golfers witting to confirm this belief and many of. golf's greatest names consider it a stroke of good fortune that John chose the career path he did, as-is clear from the following tributes.JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL "John is the nicest person I have met in My 25-year amateur and professional career, he realty is a true friend. As a golf teacher he is without doubt 'The Master'. Simplicity is the word I would use to describe his teaching. His theories on the golf swing and the lessonshe gives are so crystal-clear and understandable that he makes the game of golf seem easy. His advice helps bring better golf within everyone's grasp."GARY PLAYER "John Jacobs has been a friend of mine for many years, in fact since the mid-1950s when I first played golf in the UK. We co-designed the Edinburgh Course at the Wentworth Club in London and we have exchanged many thoughts on the golf swing. He is an outstanding teacher. John has also been an excellent golfer and fierce competitor on the course. However, of greatest importance for me is that he is a true gentleman and an asset to the game."DAVID LEADBETTER "John Jacobs has contribute d a great deal to the game and he is considered one of golf's premier teachers. In building my own career as a teacher, he was certainly one of the instructors that I studied and he has an outstanding ability to analyze golfers' problems through their ball-flight. John was the first teacher to discuss the ball-flight taws which enabled teachers to make simple corrections for pupils without getting into detailed theory. He was a master at being able to watch a person hit a shot and then give the necessary fix, more often than not being very successful. His playing skills, Ryder Cup captaincy and golf course architecturalachievements, all combined with his teaching ability have made him one of the game's real grandmasters."As John's collaborator I can only add to those comments my own thoughts on what a privilege it has been to work with him on this project. I have to say that in our many meetings together to discuss all of the marvelous players featured in this book, I have been enthralled by his anecdotes involving golf's truly legendary figures from past and present and enlightened by his knowledge of thegolf swing. What is also abundantly clear is that in an ever-changing game John's teaching methods have remained the same for 50 years and that they are as true, logical and correct today as they have ever been. Moreover, he speaks a language that golfers of every ability can absorb and benefit from. John says: "Being able to help people is I think what it comes down to, suggesting a few things here and there and really seeing the difference. I count myself lucky to have been able to do that and it's always been a pleasure to me." As you read this book I hope you'll agree that the pleasure is, in fact, all ours.
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