The Legend of Bagger Vance: Golf and the Game of Life

I was browsing the shelves of my local library and was surprised to see that "The Legend of Bagger Vance" was sitting next to "Gates of Fire", both written by Steven Pressfield. Since I was thoroughly captivated by "Gates..." I thought I'd give "...Bagger" a chance. Even though I'm not an active golfer, having golfed twice, several years ago, this story is relevant to anyone who is interested in learning and remembering life's lessons.Initially, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but as the characters were brought to life and the basic storyline was established, I began to realize I was reading something special. For example, Pressfield gives a great description of being in the "Zone", that rare and special time when ability is maximized with fluid and natural effort resulting in optimal performance. Winning becomes a by-product; the act itself or the Authentic Swing as Bagger Vance identifies it is what's important. Life's lesson seems to be for us not to worry about the results of our behavior. Instead, each of us strives for being our Authentic Self, and the results will take care of itself. If, in our striving, we feel isolated, we also need to remember we are never alone but are accompanied by a Higher Power, however we choose to define it.Obviously,"The Legend of Bagger Vance" has so much more to offer than can be explained in this short review. However, I'm here to tell you that by just reading it the lessons learned will take care of themselves.

Steven Pressfield has blended the historically unmixable- Eastern religions (the obvious Buddhism and Hinduism, mixed with the implicit Taoism), a Southern Baptist tragic WWI hero, and an African-American in the 1930's South with power - to create a wonderful tale of inter-generational friendship wrapped around the perfect swing, an item that we golfers will chase to the ends of the universe to find. Pressfield delivers this in a wonderful manner, using the story inside the story, to create this magical tale where if the listeners (the characters Junah and Michael)are not careful, history will repeat itself. As I read this I was reminded of two things - the television show "Quantum Leap" and the Michael Murphy novel "Golf in the Kingdom." Bagger Vance may be the closest parallel to Murphy's wonderful caddie, Shivas Irons. If Vance isn't, then young Hardy Greaves is, without the wisdom of knowing it. The match between the golfing gods Hagen and Jones, and the local hero Randolph Junah is great reading, reading that will capture the non-golfer. The golfer will read it because it is golf. I speak from experience. The God referred to in the title is probably who you think it is, but there's a twist. I'll let you discover it. It is a book that I devoured in the midst of my summer reading lists. It was a risk, but I have come to realize that sometimes you need to go for the par-5 in two, rather than play the safe shots. To rephrase, The Legend of Bagger Vance is the double eagle novel golfers have been seeking, but the non-golfer will realize this is a keeper.

I have just finished reading the book, and I cannot truly describe what I think to be one of the greatest books ever written. There is so much sage advice and lessons to be learned about life until it makes you wonder if you have to play golf in order to learn these lessons. However, one thing golf does is teach you the art of discipline. When Bagger Vance describes the "Authentic Swing" in Chapter 11, I, who have played the game of golf for 37 years, realized that in all this time, I never realized all that he was describing, but that was all so true. When my wife read the book, she called me on the phone at work and said, "You have always known the path. You just didn't know it was the path." Maybe we all know the path, but if you don't read this book, if you don't grasp the subtle meaning of life translated through a simple sport, then you are missing out on so much. This is truly a classic and the lessons learned from this book will last long after the book does become a classic. It is not just for those of us who hack it up out there on the course. It is also for those who watch us.

My father, an avid golfer, recommended "The legend of Bagger Vance" to me. As I picked it up and began to read, I expected nothing more than a simple innocent story about the underdog holding steady with the favorites in the golf match of a lifetime. Three and a half hours later, I set the book down, sweat pouring down my face, hands numbly releasing the pages. "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is the most daring book I have ever read. In it, the entire face of reality is questioned, and cataclysmic issues are reopened over what appears to be a simple game of golf. The plot is unimportant. What matters is the tone of the book. And believe me, it has tone.