Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game

As the author requests at the beginning of the book, this book will only help those that approach its message and tips with an open mind. Naturally skeptical, it took a few chapters before I was able to stop silently criticizing the flowery "zen" language and new-age metaphors and actually hear the message being delivered.

Once I did, however, it was well worth it. As I stated in the review title, the author offers simple but solid tips and concepts to improve the mental aspects of your golf game. At first blush a lot of it appears to be common sense (stay in the present, choose positive self talk over negative, be curious), but it's funny how often we humans (and golfers) tend to ignore this advice and continue committing the same mistakes time and time again.

And, at the very least, the author is 100% correct: if you spend even a fraction of time replacing bad habits with good ones, and replace frustration with intrigue, you will undoubtedly enjoy your rounds (and life) a lot more. I know I sure do.

This book really gives you a good foundation for building a state of mind for great golf. My only wish is that it gave more of a structure to handling certain situations on the course. But all in all, a great read. And it's very likely that I will reread this one a few times.

Thinking a bit differently now when I play golf. Letting go of mistakes and thinking more in the present.
No longer measuring myself with par golf scores but rather thinking in terms of my personal par score.

I have probably read a dozen books about the mental side of golf. Everything from Rotella to Prince's "Thought Free Gol" to Pia Nilsson's "Every shot must have purpose". All filled with great information. Zen Golf is the best.

really focuses on the mental side of the game. has improved my game overall...mostly by putting me in the correct mind frame. has actually made the game more fun, adding perspective to the entire game.

recommended for all golfers...give this book a try. it might not subtract 10 strokes off your game, but will make the game more enjoyable, which in the end is what we are all looking for.

This book is just incredible!.
Essential for those looking to improve their game through concentration and mental working.
I haven't finished reading even the first half; I've already lowered my score by, say, 20 shots though. Honestly I'm shocked!. I mean, it's not magic, but it helps you [re]discover the magic inside of you.
Dr. Parent has done a very good job here, I'm so greateful.

I've bowled competitively most of my life, and have come to terms with the fact that my mental approach has become the bottleneck. Of course, I had no idea how to approach improving the mental side of my game until a friend gave me "Zen Golf". I read it carefully, made pages and pages of notes, and began using its lessons both in my practice sessions and when competing. I've already noticed a huge difference in my practice sessions and over the coming months, I expect to see improvement in my league and tournament play. If you bowl, even if you don't golf, this book can really help you.

Great book. Borrowed it digitally and found it to be so insightful after the first few chapters that I decided to spend the money to buy it. Has helped me save a couple of strokes per round already. Can't wait to see what it will do for me once I get totally into it.

Although I read nothing new, hearing the advice from a stranger was different from hearing it from my golf coach and partners. Oddly, enough, coming from a stranger allowed me to let go of old habits.