Book Review: "Now for the Back Nine"

"Now For The Back Nine" (Zsazseva Ltd, $24.50), by former Ryder Cup player and European Tour stalwart Peter Dawson and his pupil Simon Hawkins, addresses the challenges of age and physical decline. Dawson (not the former CEO of the Royal & Ancient who shares the name) presents his instruction with the understanding that senior golfers have limitations and constraints, and he has devised methods to get the best out of one's game with what capabilities remain. 

In addition to being an accomplished competitor, Dawson has coached several international teams including Denmark where one of his team members was Thomas Bjorn. He and Hawkins are both in their 60s, so they can empathize with their audience. The book covers everything from basics such as grip, posture, stance/alignment and ball position, to how to chip from numerous lies, to playing a variety of bunker shots, and tips on putting.  Dawson and Hawkins demonstrate the right and wrong way to play a shot, letting the many color photos the photos communicate the lesson. 

Sprinkled throughout the pages are anecdotes from Dawson about his experiences on the European Tour and with the 1977 GB&I Ryder Cup team.  He offers stories about playing with and against Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Seve Ballesteros, and Tom Watson.  The book also features quotations from well-known personalities including Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Payne Stewart, Vince Lombardi, Jack Lemmon, and Albert Einstein. My favorite, however, was by an unknown contributor who said, "A 'gimme' can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers, neither of whom can putt very well."

-By Les Schupak