A Fairway to Heaven: My Lessons from Harvey Penick on Golf and Life

It is pretty much agreed in the golfing world that Penick (1904-95) was the best teacher of the game in this century. Skeptics should be reminded that he is the only instructor to have sent two top players, Kite and Ben Crenshaw, to the PGA tour. In his book, assisted by Herskowitz, who previously collaborated with Mickey Mantle and others, Kite delivers a history of his contacts with Penick framed within a loving appreciation of his teacher and coach. He also covers his own links career, capped by his win in the U.S. Open in 1992 after 20 years of trying, and his selection as captain of this year's Ryder Cup team, to him the greatest honor he could achieve. Penick was forever jotting down his thoughts in a notebook, and Kite scatters them throughout the book; each quote is labeled ""Watering Hole,"" and each is a salient observation on players, techniques and what the game teaches participants about life. An admirable book. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)