Books About Golf Fathers

"Always By My Side"

Golf broadcaster Jim Nantz shares stories of his career, tales from the golf courses and also other sporting events that he has called for CBS over the years, while weaving in the story of his father's battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Funny in places, wistful, sad and touching in many others.

"Elegy for a Golf Pro: Memories of a Might-Have-Been"

The subject of this book is the father of its author (big surprise, given the nature of this list, eh?) Dexter Westrum. Westrum's dad was a club professional who thought he could be more - who longed to be a touring professional. Definitely bittersweet in many places, the book details the unfulfilled desire of Westrum's father and its impact on family life.

"Every Shot I Take: Lessons Learned About Golf, Life, and a Father's Love"

Davis Love III is the son of Davis Love Jr., a teaching pro whose students included, in addition to his son, Beth Daniel. Love Jr. was in turn a student of Harvey Penick. Love Jr. was killed in a plane crash in 1988, just three years after Davis III turned pro. This book is the son's collection of his father's golf wisdom.

"Fairways and Dreams: Twenty-Five of the World's Greatest Golfers ..."

The full title of this tome is "Fairways and Dreams: Twenty-Five of the World's Greatest Golfers and the Fathers Who Inspired Them." That mouthful just didn't fit on the title line above. The book is by Michael Arkush and it's a compilation of professional golfers' reminiscences about the impact their fathers have or had on their lives and games.

"Fathers, Sons & Golf: Lessons in Honor and Integrity"

One of two memoirs on the list told from the perspective of the father, rather than that of the child. The author, Andrew Shanley, tells of how - as a divorced father of two - he introduced his sons to golf in order to teach life lessons. But all three of them wound up learning plenty more than they expected.

"Final Rounds: A Father, a Son, the Golf Journey of a Lifetime"

James Dodson is a highly honored writer about golf, both as a magazine writer and as a book author. In 1994, shortly after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Dodson and his father took a golf trip to Great Britain, visiting the great courses of Scotland and England. It's a powerful story of love and loss.

"Golf Dads: Fathers, Sons, and the Greatest Game"

Like James Dodson, the author of the book above, Curt Sampson has written a biography of Ben Hogan among his many golf projects. Unlike Dodson's golf fathers book, however, Sampson's is not a personal reminiscence but a collection of stories about golfers - both famous and not-so-famous - and their dads.

"Playing Partners: A Father, a Son and Their Shared Passion for Golf"

This is the second book on the list told from the father's perspective, writing mostly about his relationship with his son. The author, George Peper, was the longtime editor of Golf Magazine, and his job - and passion for that job and for golf - took him all around the world. He writes about not always being around for his family, but also of the bond between himself and his son that grew out of their shared love of golf.

"Pro: Lessons From My Father About Golf And Life"

Not your ordinary golf instructional book. This one is written by Butch Harmon, whose name is actually Claude Harmon Jr. Claude Harmon Sr. was one of the best golf instructors of his generation. And, oh by the way, also happened to win The Masters one year.

"Tommy's Honour: The Extraordinary Story of Golf's Founding Father and Son"

Author Kevin Cook visits the early days of professional golf, when Tom Morris Sr. and Tom Morris Jr. - better known today as Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris - dominated the game. Both Morrises are among the most influential individuals in the sport's history, and the book tells of their triumphs - and of the great tragedies that befell them.