The Golf Book Club: Every day, we share a mental game lesson inspired by great golf books—stories and strategies to help you think better so you can play better.
Who taught Harvey?
Harvey has become such a legendary teacher that we forget to ask: Who taught Harvey?
One of the most influential people in Harvey’s education was PGA pro and teacher, Jack Burke Senior. Ben Hogan, who never asked for advice, said Jack helped shape his downswing.
Harvey spent a lot of time at Jack’s house. He says, “Jack compiled a list of golf maxims that grew out of discussions with players and teachers, one of whom was me.”
These maxims were a forerunner of Harvey’s Little Red Book. They were short, simple, and effective. That’s why Harvey used these statements with his own students.
Jack Burke’s Top 10.
Here are Jack Burke’s Top 10 Golf Maxims. If one of these nuggets resonates with you, write it down and add it to your mantra library.
Here we go...
Let the ball get in the way of the swing instead of making the ball the object...
Picture the shot going perfectly to the line...
If your hands are joined together as one unit, you will be surprised at the amount of relaxation you attain...
Hitting behind the ball is caused by the weight being on the back foot. If the weight is forward, it is impossible to hit behind the ball...
Keep your feet moving to the line of flight. Don’t let your feet freeze to the ground...
Save a little power. Don’t put it all in the swing. You may need it before the round is over...
The face of the club going offline produces more poor shots than anything else...
et a system or routine in place. Any kind of a system beats trusting to luck...
What you would find out in six months of practice, your pro can tell you in five minutes...
No negative thoughts: always give yourself the benefit of the doubt...
The artist Ai Weiwei said, “A small act is worth a million thoughts.”
Brevity and simplicity are two of the qualities most admired in Harvey’s book. But nothing comes from nothing. Harvey was inspired by Jack’s maxims. They not only helped Harvey’s students become better golfers, they also helped Harvey become a better teacher.
So read this lesson again. The maxims are so simple, so fundamental, they’re easy to dismiss. But as the success of Harvey’s book has proven, simple and fundamental is the most reliable way to improve.
We hope you enjoyed revisiting “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book.” This is one of the few indispensable golf books. As you read, you’ll feel Harvey’s gentle hand on your shoulder, guiding you to your best golf and your best self.
That’s all for now. Next week, we’ll launch a new series to help us pay as much attention to how we think as to how we swing.
Until then, keep imagining what’s possible.
GOLF PHOTO OF THE DAY
Golf-de-Chantilly, France (Hole Clubhouse)