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Donald Trump has gotten a lot of advice about golf. The real estate mogul, television personality, golf course proprietor, author and landlord has written a book titled “The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received.” The 315-page book is divided into 12 chapters with titles like “Mergers and Mulligans” and “Get Tough,” two areas in which Trump has been known to excel. There are lessons from golf professionals (touring and instructors), baseball players, golf course architects, CEOs, broadcasters, golf writers, Pat Boone, Orrin Hatch and more. After reading the book, you might wonder how Trump built his empire while playing lots of golf with lots of high-powered people. Trump doesn’t seem like the type of guy who normally seeks advice, and yet he published a book about it. The book isn’t Trump’s first stab at being an author. His 1987 autobiography, “The Art of the Deal,” sold over 3 million copies and topped the New York Times best-seller list for 32 weeks. “The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received” won’t touch that number, but the country’s fascination with the rich and powerful should help sell a book or two. Want some of Trump’s infamous ego with your golf advice? Look no further than the book jacket, where it boldly states: “Trump’s book of advice is certain to take its place next to Harvey Penick’s “Little Red Book” as the ultimate in golf instruction.” (The person who wrote that should be fired.) Of course, there is some good advice. Just don’t read it all in one sitting or you won’t know your right elbow from your spine angle. The book’s instruction ranges from the humorous — “When teeing off, don’t stand too close to the ball after you’ve hit” (Russ Lewis, CEO, New York Times Co.), to the friendly — “If you play fast, you will be invited to play regardless of how high your handicap” (Lee Scott, president and CEO, Wal-Mart). But perhaps the best advice comes from instructor Mike Adams, who was working with legendary Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer. As the story goes, Palmer was taking a lesson when Adams started scolding him for spending too much time studying the game. “Go home, get all those [golf] books and videos and put them in a box,” Adams told Palmer. “Call your cable company and discontinue the Golf Channel. Bring both boxes down to me and I’ll start the fire. If you had as many pitching thoughts as you had golf and swing thoughts, you would have won 48 games instead of 268.” Adams’ advice to Palmer conveys the biggest problem with Trump’s book. Too much advice can be hazardous to your golf game. — CHARLIE SCHROEDER |
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