Everyone loves golf, and many of us love reading, so the question arises: what are the best narrative & fiction golf books?
In this list, we will tell you about some of the best narrative & fiction golf books out there in the world. You might recognize some titles, as well as discover your next new favorite golf book.
18 Best Narrative & Fiction Golf Books
1. The Golf Omnibus by P. G. Wodehouse
The Golf Omnibus by P.G. Wodehouse is a collection of 31 fictional funny stories about golf. The style of P.G. Wodehouse is quite clever and charming. This collection of funny stories was published in 1996, and that is undoubtedly part of its charm. Take a trip in the time machine and you are sure to be smiling.
The Golf Omnibus hilariously explores a wide variety of themes and elements you would not normally think about. There are stories in this collection about the game of golf being divine, an old woman killing wasps with a teaspoon, love on the golf course leading to crazy hazards, and so much more!
Overall, The Golf Omnibus is a great bedside book to read, to cheer yourself up, or even to gift to a friend.
2. Albatross by Terry Fallis
Albatross is a national bestseller that follows the story of Adam Coryell, a man who seems genetically engineered to become a great golfer, despite not enjoying golf. Adam Coryell humorously struggles between following the easy & natural path as a golfer, or chasing down his less likely dreams as a writer.
Terry Fallis is an experienced humor writer who has won the prestigious Stephen Leacock medal twice in his lifetime. The Leacock medal is awarded to some of the most humorous writers in Canada.
Albatross by Terry Fallis is both a book filled with humor, and a book that explores one of humanities greatest struggles: what you will do with your life?
3. Dead Solid Perfect by Dan Jenkins
Dead Solid Perfect is a hilarious book about life on the PGA Tour back in the 70s. It is a critically acclaimed book and filled with incredible humor, despite discussing certain “politically incorrect” themes that can be off-putting to some.
Dan Jenkins is a well-known comedic author, as well as a former columnist for Playboy and the New York Times. Dead Solid Perfect is perfectly filled with curse words on nearly every line, which feels hysterical, as most authors try to avoid profanity.
If you are not easily offended (which is a quality), and like raunchy humor, then Dead Solid Perfect is a book you will enjoy.
4. The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf by Mark Frost
The Greatest Game Ever Played is a narrative non-fiction book that relates the tales of Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, two professional golfers in the 20th century. Mark Frost describes Vardon and Ouimet as two vastly different, yet similar golfers who were destined to meet some day.
The Greatest Game Ever Played by Mark Frost explores the lives of Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet as they grow and eventually meet in an epic clash at the 1913 US Open. This book is full of golf history sure to satisfy any golf nerd. On top of discussing the 1913 US Open, this book also discusses the early days of golf.
We will not spoil the ending of this epic book for you, but The Greatest Game Ever Played is a must-read.
5. Paper Tiger: An Obsessed Golfer’s Quest to Play with the Pros by Tom Coyne
Paper Tiger by Tom Coyne is a lovely book that talks about an amateur golfer doing absolutely everything possible to become a professional golfer. This story discusses how Tom Coyne vowed to outwork, over optimize his golf game more than any professional in the world.
This book has a really intriguing premise of an average joe trying to become a professional golfer through hard work alone, without talent. Does hard work beat talent? This book discusses exactly that question of debate.
In Paper Tiger, Tom Coyne puts all the golf improvement tools to use, such as diet plans, workouts, basement driving ranges, sports psychologists, expensive equipment, and more.
In each chapter, Tom Coyne tracks important golf stats such as his handicap, and describes the progress he is making as he trains and competes in progressively more prestigious tournaments. Paper Tiger is an amazing book.
6. A Course Called Ireland by Tom Coyne
Yet another book by Tom Coyne, A Course Called Ireland is also a fabulous read. In this book, Tom Coyne describes how he wanted to design the best golfing trip ever, as he grew past his thirties. He finally set his sights on Ireland, where he plans to spend around 4 months playing golf.
While deciding on the destination of his golf trip, Tom Coyne noticed just how many golf courses Ireland is packed with. Being a rational man, Tom Coyne decided to play just about every golf hole in Ireland.
A Course Called Ireland takes you deep into golf, but it also lets you travel to Ireland in a lively and animated manner. A Course Called Ireland is an entire experience when you read it, more than just a simple book. This book is great for daydreamers and travel enthusiasts alike.
7. The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever by Mark Frost
The Match is the second book on this list written by Mark Frost, an American novelist. The Match is a great historical book that relates the tales of 1956, the year when rich aristocrats bet large sums on the result of a game of golf between 2 legendary golfers, and 2 amateur golfers.
The 2 golf legends are Ben Hogan & Bryon Nelson, while the 2 amateurs in question are Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi. The 2 amateurs were actually employees of one of the aristocrats, Eddie Lowery. One morning, the golf legends met up with the 2 amateurs to settle the bet.
Did the amateur golfers manage to beat the 2 golfing legends despite the obviously huge gap in skill? Were the amateurs pummeled by the pros? If you are dying to find out, you will have to read The Match by Mark Frost. A great story.
8. Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy
Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy is a very unique golf book that takes you on a philosophical journey through the game of golf, fueled by mysticism like you have never seen before.
Golf in the Kingdom is not a golf book like the others…but rather a crazy journey that might just change the way you think about golf, as well as life. In sports, it can be good and make you a better athlete to think in spiritual ways sometimes; this book delivers that spirituality.
This book by Michael Murphy can and will teach you about mastery, the mind-body connection in golf, and becoming better than the golfer you used to be. Golf in the Kingdom is a must read, even if it were just for the uniqueness of this body of work.
9. The Big Miss by Hank Haney
The Big Miss by Hank Haney is an incredibly insightful book about his 6 years coaching Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time. The Big Miss takes you into a deep, intimate dive around the life of Tiger Woods, which we are incredibly lucky to have exist.
Hank Haney was alongside or in contact with Tiger Woods on most days during their 6 year collaboration, and that is what makes The Big Miss incredibly. This book gives you a close look into a world class golf coach and a generational class golfer in Tiger Woods.
If you are just looking for an entertaining read, or instead for an insightful book with knowledge, little habits to get better at golf, then The Big Miss will be valuable to read for you.
Whether Tiger was training, resting, playing golf tournaments, at home with his family, Hank Haney was there sometimes. Hank Haney was there in all situations, and he is here to tell you the tale of Tiger Woods in his incredible book The Big Miss.
10. Afternoons with Mr. Hogan: A Boy, A Golfing Legend and the Lessons of a Lifetime by Jody Vasquez
Afternoons with Mr. Hogan is yet another intimate style of book, just like The Big Miss. However, instead of exploring the life of Tiger Woods, Afternoons with Mr. Hogan relates parts of the life of Ben Hogan.
Ben Hogan was one of the best golf players who ever played the game. He won 71 professional golf tournaments during his career, including 64 in the PGA Tour. Ben Hogan is the real deal, and someone we can all learn from to improve at golf.
Jody Vasquez, the author of Afternoons with Mr. Hogan, was hired as a ball retriever when he was but a teenager. Thanks to this job, Jody Vasquez fostered a multi-decade long friendship with Ben Hogan, who taught him golf tips & tricks, about values, philosophy, and more.
Afternoons with Mr. Hogan gives you a deep look at what Jody Vasquez lived with Ben Hogan, and how you would have felt if you were there in his place. This book will teach you about golf, but also about life, and give you a window into an otherwise obscure and mysterious golfer.
11. Buried Lies: True Tales and Tall Stories from the PGA Tour with Jack Sheehan
Buried Lies is an interesting book written by a former professional golfer, Peter Jacobsen. Peter Jacobsen was a good PGA Tour player, racking up 18 professional wins and reaching a peak ranking of 15th at the height of his career.
In Buried Lies, Peter Jacobsen shares stories about his life on the PGA Tour. Some of his stories are insightful, while others are will make you burst out into laughter. Buried Lies gives you a unique insight from a professional about the PGA Tour life used to look like in the 70’s and 80’s.
This book is well written, easily digestible, almost as if PGA Tour professional Peter Jacobsen is having a conversation with you, which makes it a pleasant read for all. If you love insightful and funny stories and wonder what it was like to be in the PGA a few decades ago, then embark on this journey, and read Buried Lies.
12. A Nasty Bit of Rough by David Feherty
A Nasty Bit of Rough was written by David Feherty. David Feherty is yet another author on this list who used to be a PGA Tour Professional. David Feherty racked up 10 professional wins during his career, and peaked at a highest ranking of 33. Those are some pretty good numbers.
A Nasty Bit of Rough is a comedy novel that follows the story of Major General Sir Richard Gussett, a harsh uncle type of golfer. Major General Sir Richard Gussett actually first appeared in David Fetherty’s column in Golf Magazine.
Read this book, and follow the unusual character in Major General Sir Richard Gussett, who battles it out in Scotland golf courses against bad luck such as the appearance of incontinence and many more hilarious hazardous elements.
A Nasty Bit of Rough will be more than enough to raise the spirits of any golfer, thanks to incredibly funny jokes, descriptions, and stories. This book is one of the funniest golf books out there.
13. Four Iron in the Soul by Lawrence Donegan
Four Iron in the Soul is a hilarious golf book (you probably noticed that from the title) written by Lawrence Donegan, a former PGA Tour caddy. He has also written Maybe It Should Have Been A 3-Iron.
Four Iron in the Soul is the story of Lawrence Donegan (the author) caddying for Ross Drummond, a professional PGA Tour player ranked in the top 500 players in the world.
In this book, Lawrence Donegan uses a very witty style of language that will catch you off guard from the first page. Four Iron in the Soul will take you directly into the heart of the world of professional golfing, and show you just how weird of a place it can be.
14. An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course by Oliver Horovitz
An American Caddie in St.Andrews is the hilarious story of Ollie, a Harvard student working a golf caddie job at the St.Andrews Old Course, until his university program commences. Oliver Horovitz, the author of this book, is actually the protagonist.
This book describes the trials and tribulations Ollie has to endure while he struggles to get used to caddying at the Old Course. During his time at the Old Course, Ollie meets many interesting people, including…girls, and it is through these people that he gradually comes of age into a hardened man.
15. The Green by Troon McAllister
The Green by Troon McAllister is a golf book that heavily focuses on the Ryder Cup, a famous and prestigious golfing tournament. The Ryder Cup is famous for being a battle between Europe and the US, as golfers from each region compete for glory.
The Green starts off by describing how strong the European lineup of golfers is, while the US team is a lot weaker, and missing one player. In a hail Mary attempt, the US golf team captain for the Ryder Cup recruits some random guy from the local Florida golf course to join the team.
What could go wrong? Either way, this random bloke joins the team, and The Green by Troon McAllister will have you shuffling through the pages frantically to see what happens next.
The Green is an excellent, extremely successful novel with characters that feel very real and alive. On top of being exceedingly intriguing, as well as entertaining, this book may even teach you some golf tips you had never heard of before. This book is a must read.
16. Missing links by Rick Reilly
Missing Links by Rick Reilly is the story of a small group of young & dumb golf addicts who compete to see which one can infiltrate a certain private golf course first. To up the ante, some of these young boys put up a thousand dollar bet.
They agree that no method would be too vile to be used to get into the private golf club, including lying, stealing uniforms, and document forging.
Missing Links is a hilarious, teen angst filled book that will take you on an entertaining rollercoaster ride from start to finish. You will laugh, you will anxiously rush through pages just to see what happens next, and you will smile. Get this book for a great time.
17. Bud, Sweat, & Tees: Rich Beem’s Walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour by Alan Shipnuck
Bud, Sweat, & Tees by Alan Shipnuck relates the tale of Rich Beem, a man who won the 2002 PGA Tour championship. Rich Beem is an amazingly interesting hero of golf because he just looks like your everyday unassuming local course golfer.
In Bud, Sweat, & Tees Alan Shipnuck brings you closer to the man known as Rich Beem, in a surprising amount of detail. This book does not stray away for a second from politically incorrect topics, such as drugs, strip clubs, and weird confessions.
In this book, the author Alan Shipnuck spares no details inside what the life in the PGA can look like, especially for such an odd golfer as Rich Beem who seemingly came out of absolutely nowhere. Average Joe lookalike to Tour Winning Pro.
Bud, Sweat, & Tees is a great golf story book that is just as unpredictable as it is entertaining. Get this book if you like unique stories that stray from the mainstream.
18. The Amateurs by John Niven
The Amateurs by John Niven is an incredibly funny novel about amateur golfers who get angry when things do not go their way on the golf course. We have all experienced similar emotions when our golf ball hooks hard, ending up nowhere near where we aimed.
The protagonist of the book, Gary Irvine, starts out as a rather sad man who is bad at golf, and whose wife is dead set on leaving him. However, one day, Gary takes a golf ball to the head, and falls unconscious.
When Gary finally wakes up, he is suddenly a changed man, and an incredible golfer. Something in his head changed. The story progresses with Gary improving at golf at breakneck speed, racking up tournament wins and climbing the ranks, but we will let you read the book to know the rest.
On top of being a great golfer after his accident, Gary develops Tourette’s Syndrome, a condition that makes people unpredictably blurt out slurs and insults! This new development leads to many changes in relationships for Gary.
Hands down, The Amateurs is one of the funniest narrative golf books that have ever been written. You will not regret reading this book.
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Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have discovered a large list of some of the best narrative & fiction golf books out there on library shelves for you to devour!
All these books are sure to keep you entertained and take you on wild mental adventures!
Do you have any books for us to add to this list? What is your favorite narrative or fiction golf book? Let us know in the comments down below!
