Tag: PGA

Smart Golf: Play Golf More Intelligently by Ronan Keene Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Ronan Keene shares practical tips and practices for improving one’s golf game in the book Smart Golf: Play Golf More Intelligently.

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The Synopsis

Smart Golf – Play Golf Intelligently is the ultimate guide for golfers who want to think smarter and score better.

This modern take on golf instruction books covers everything from smart golf strategies to mastering the mental game. Perfect as a stylish playing golf coffee table book, it’s packed with practical tips to help you learn to play golf with confidence. Whether you’re working on your swing, your course management, or your mindset, this golf strategy book will change the way you play. An ideal choice for gifts for golfers, Smart Golf stands out among golfing books for offering real tools to level up your game.

✔️ Learn Winning Golf Strategies: Master course management, smarter shot selection, and proven tactics used by top players.

✔️ Unlock the Secrets of Golf Mental Games: Build confidence, sharpen focus, and stay calm under pressure to outperform your competition.

✔️ A Fresh Take on Golf Instruction Books: Practical advice you can actually use, perfect for beginners and seasoned golfers alike.

✔️ A Beautiful Playing Golf Coffee Table Book: Elegant design and powerful insights make it a stylish addition to any golfer’s home or office.

✔️ Perfect Gifts for Golfers of all skill levels: A must-have among golfing books for birthdays, holidays, Father’s Day, or any golf lover’s special occasion.

✔️ Easy to Read, Easy to Apply: Written in clear, simple language — because smart golf doesn’t have to be complicated!

Golf Isn’t Just Physical — Master the Mental Game -Success in Golf Starts With Smart Thinking

The Review

This was a well-researched, fast-paced, and engaging read. The author brilliantly crafted a balanced book of golf techniques, strategies, and guidance that spoke to those immersed in the sport wholly and completely. The author’s natural style felt philosophical and practical, and came across as very conversational.

What stood out to me was the author’s choice to focus on the physical aspect of golf, the techniques, and the mental game. Using practices like visualization, journaling, and even concentrating on your breathing helped focus the discussion on mental health through the sport. This aspect gets lost far too often in sports in general. 

The Verdict

Whether you seek helpful tips to improve your golf game or a fun coffee table book that speaks to a love for the game, author Ronan Keene’s “Smart Golf” is a must-read nonfiction golf book. The author does a great job of discussing other issues, such as utilizing technology to study one’s own game, the importance of inclusivity in the game, and so much more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Ronan Keene is a passionate golfer with over 30 years of experience playing the game. A lifelong student of golf strategy and course management, he has spent decades refining both the mental and physical sides of the sport. With a deep understanding of the challenges amateur golfers face, Ronan offers practical, real-world strategies to help others play smarter, lower their scores, and enjoy the game more. In Smart Golf, he shares clear, relatable advice that speaks to golfers of all skill levels—from weekend players to serious competitors. Ronan currently lives with his wife in Bluffton, SC near Hilton Head Island where great golf is never far away.

Shafted (Nemesis Series Book 1) by John Mahaffey Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A rising superstar in the world of golf must reclaim his self-worth amid a criminal investigation that threatens to tear his family apart in Luthor John Mahaffey’s “Shafted,” the first book in the Nemesis series.

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The Synopsis

Trey McCall, an up-and-coming superstar on the golf circuit, staggered past a mirror and gasped at his reflection; horrified, he froze and stared at his pathetic image—sweating profusely through a torn and faded Bob Seger tee shirt, eyes blood red and glazed, hands shaking, mouth dry and scratchy as sandpaper. The disciplined essence of an athlete, a thing of the past—each intoxicated day mirrors the last and the next—lured from his principled sheltered life on The Circle M Ranch by unscrupulous forces in the real world.

Suddenly fully aware—he must escape this highway to nowhere—to regain purpose in and for his life. The obstacles were infinite—four truths, his only vehicle:

He would need significant help to get there.

He must own his past to have a future.

Karma is real.

Trust is earned.

Lucky Richards, his nefarious business manager—a catalyst for disaster—vanishes, leaving in his wake an international trail of egregious felonies implicating McCall and his family. Survival becomes Trey’s primary concern, as golf takes a backseat.

Find out who steps in to help set Trey straight. Can McCall reclaim his self-worth on his journey back from rock bottom and come out on top in the unfamiliar territory of organized crime investigation?

The Review

As far as mystery and suspense novels go, this book took the cake. I was thoroughly surprised and engaged in the direction this story took. The character development of this book, especially the protagonist, showcased his arc from up-and-coming popular pro golfer to disgraced athlete to head of a heroic company, which was unique and creatively done. It showcased a more extraordinary world-building and mythos developed by the author for this series, which will instantly draw readers in.

The powerful themes running through this book, from the toxicity that can come from pursuing money and fame to the need for resilience in the face of failure and hardship, kept me as a reader invested in these characters. The balance the author found in really honing in on the struggles and temptations that those in professional athletics find themselves with, the mystery and suspense surrounding organized crime, and the formation of a force for good made this such a compelling novel.

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The Verdict

Remarkable, highly creative, and thoroughly entertaining, author John Mahaffey’s “Shafted” is the grand opening narrative in the Nemesis series and a must-read mystery. The twists and turns in the story and the affluent journey readers are treated to as the protagonist evolves and grows throughout the novel make the book feel accessible and engaging. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

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John Mahaffey is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. Between 1973 and 1999, he won ten events on the PGA Tour. His last PGA win was on the Champions Tour, at the 1999 Southwestern Bell Dominion.

Two of John’s most exciting years on the PGA tour were 1978 and 1979. In 1978 he won back-to-back tour events: the PGA Championship followed by the American Optical Championship. He also won the World Cup individual that year, plus the team event paired with Andy North at Princeville on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. John played on the victorious 1979 Ryder Cup team and the World Cup team that same year in Athens, Greece, with Hale Irwin as his partner.

In 2003, John was successful in making the challenging transition from pro golfer to announcer/analyst on Golf Channel covering the Champions Tour.

Off the course John released his first book Hogan’s Boy: A Journey In Golf, plus he hosts a monthly radio show called A Glimpse of Greatness, on Sirius 208 XM 93 PGA Tour Radio.

John also delivers motivational keynote speeches filled with great stories about golf and life.

In his spare time John enjoys fishing and writing, and he always enjoys promoting the game of golf.

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