Since the day several hundred years ago that a Scottish shepherd first struck a rock with a shillelagh, perhaps no single athletic pursuit has brought man more joy and frustration, more fulfillment and utter despair, than the game of golf. It has been said by many that it is a microcosm of life itself—a beautiful game which tests the mind, body, and spirit. And as a testament to that, there is no shortage of inspired writing on the topic, as golf has long caught the interest and imagination of some of the world's finest and most celebrated writers.

In Great American Golf Stories, editor Jeff Silverman collects some of the best classic writings, both fact and realistic fiction, that reflect the rich history, tradition, agony, and ecstasy of one of our most enduring and endearing pastimes.