Women & Golf: Golf book club

One of my New Year's resolutions had been to read more. My aim had been a book a month, which was extremely do-able. I now sit here with a month to go and barely managed one every other month! I am disappointed in myself. It's a case of learning to put down my phone and pick up a book more often.

Anyway, maybe I will go with quality over quantity. I thought as Christmas is approaching, I would share four golf books that I have read (well, the last my niece read to me). I've also chosen ones that you may not have heard of (yet). All completely different genres but hopefully one that will make you want to add to your reading list (or gift to someone this festive season).

When Girls Win - MaryJo McCloskey

You can't help but come away from reading When Girls Win by MaryJo McCloskey without thinking you can take on the world, let alone a golf course. Don't be fooled by the title, this is not a book just for young women. You will learn something from this book, no matter your age or whether you're a golfer or not.

The book explores Coach MJ's (MaryJo McCloskey) journey to the top whilst spending the last 20 years working in collegiate golf in America. By sharing first-hand experience and insights, you can not only appreciate the obstacles that Coach MJ has had to overcome, but you can personally learn from them (and you don't need to be a golf coach).

The Mental Toughness Training tips dotted throughout the book, give you ways to embrace difficult situations, handle nerves and ultimately perform better at whatever you're doing. Each chapter starts with a quote and ends with a main point to take away from what you have just read.

All in all, it's a really digestible book with great advice, whilst learning about what it takes to coach a college golf team to the ultimate prize.

Definitely a great stocking filler and some mantras in there to embrace as we head into a new year.

When Girls Win - MaryJo McCloskey, published Nov 2023 in paperback (236 pages). £14.99 from Amazon (£7.77 on Kindle)

Dogs And Women Allowed - Emma Briggs

There is a lot to like about this debut novel from Emma Briggs, a golfer turned writer. Briggs builds a story around a fictional club called Peckers Wood. A club where misogyny is rife and where women, initially, do not have a locker room to get changed in. A situation that may feel like it's placed many decades ago but very much focuses on modernising a club and its attitudes or facing an uncertain future.

It examines the lives (both golf and love) of the main characters that have been brought to life by Briggs. Briggs' father wrote short stories for his golf club 50 years ago, she told me in a recent interview:

"I found some of them, and I started reading them, and they were really funny and very, very British, very dry, and some of the characters, they were waiting to be pushed back into life again. Prudence Love, the Hackketts, that was all from my father's brain. So I added a few characters and brought them into our world."

As a new golf club threatens to lure away Peckers Wood's women members with its more progressive approach. It's down to Lady Captain Philly Hackkett and Prudence Love to guide the club’s male stalwarts in the right direction.

In the end, it comes down to golf and showing them exactly why women should be on the golf course. And in the clubhouse.

As someone who prefers Tudor historical fiction, it took me a few chapters to get into the book. But once I did, I was keen to see how it all ended. A debut novel, six years in the making. I am sure that Emma's father would be really proud. I also hope the themes in the book very much become a thing of the past.

Dogs and Women Allowed - Emma Briggs, published 2024 in paperback (443 pages). £14.99 from Amazon (£2.49 on Kindle)

The Art of Scottish Golf - Martin Dempster

I don't keep books on a coffee table (or kitchen table, in my case), but if I did, this would be the perfect addition. This hardback book's cover has an image from a railway poster of St Andrews in 1927, which sets the tone perfectly.

But it's not just a pretty book cover! It's so much more. This is the first golf book written by well-known and acclaimed Scottish golf writer Martin Dempster. Golfers may be more familiar with his musing which grace The Scotsman's golf columns. A passionate golfer, Dempster brings extensive knowledge of both women’s and men’s golf, extending far beyond individual players.

So there aren't many people better placed to produce a book that focuses on Scotland, the home of golf. Not strictly a history book, it explores the game, players, courses, caddies, brands, and golf-related businesses. Also featuring player insights, stories, and striking photos, the book perfectly captures the essence of golf in Scotland.

If you love golf in Scotland and want a little bit of golfing nostalgia but with a modern outlook on the game, then this book is for you. If, like me, you live outside of Scotland, then you'll want to book a trip there in 2025, there's no doubt we're spoilt for choice.

The Art of Scottish Golf - Martin Dempster, published 2024 in hardback (243 pages). £16.99 from Black & White Publishing or Amazon.

Granny Gets Golf - Stephanie Kwok

Last but not least, is a golf book for the younger generation. Author Stephanie Kwok was inspired to write a golf-themed children's book after her young son took up the game. Having no prior golf knowledge, she looked for a book that would help her and her son understand the golfing terms that we all take for granted.

Years later, Granny Gets Golf was born. It's a story of a little boy who takes his granny to the golf course, where he teaches her how to play. Granny gets confused by the terms and takes them in their literal sense. This makes the grandson say "No, Granny, No!"

Having two teenage daughters, this wasn't one to test on them, so I recruited a younger member of the family. If you're reading the book then you can gain audience participation with the "No, Granny, No!" part! It's simple to read, has some fun themes and moments for a little snigger behind your hand (for the children) and in the end, we get to find out whether Granny has learnt anything at all!

It's nice to have a way to introduce golf to children. I would say this book is most suitable for children aged between five and seven years old.

Granny Gets Golf - Stephanie Kwok, published 2024 in paperback (26 pages). £7.99 from Granny Gets Golf.

There you have it, four golf book recommendations, three for you and one for a younger member of the family.

What golf books should I add to my reading list from the last 12 to 18 months? Let me know via [email protected]