The Year’s Best Golf Books: Best Sellers of 2023

Sharpen Your Strategy and Keep Your Head in the Game With These Golf Books—The Best Sellers of 2023.

On the lookout for some great golf books—the best sellers of 2023, perhaps?

As the weather grows colder and local courses prepare for the inevitable thick blanket of snow (at least for some of us), it’s the perfect time to read up on the sport we love. We’re here to help you out with a round-up of the year’s most popular books.

Whether you want advice, a good story, or a mental escape to the golf course, these books have you covered. From decades-old classics to cutting-edge insight, you’re bound to find something of value in 2023’s best sellers.

Let’s take a look.

Golf Books: Best Sellers of 2023

The Bad Lie: Why Traditional Golf Instruction is Failing You (And What to Do Instead)

By Todd Kolb

Four-time Golf Digest Best-in-State Instructor Todd Kolb presents a compelling argument:

Traditional golf instruction consistently fails the everyday golfer because it wasn’t made for them in the first place.

He argues that common golf advice is based on what works for professional golfers with ultra-fit physiques. It’s no wonder the everyday golfer can’t master skills based on world-class fitness and flexibility. 

And yet, casual players are left feeling discouraged when they fail to succeed with the “tried-and-true” techniques of the elite.

In The Bad Lie, Kolb challenges readers to stop trying to emulate professional golfers’ swings. He lays out a complete tee-to-green strategy based on the physical abilities of the casual and senior golfer. 

This book is loaded with straightforward instruction, practice plans, drills, and checklists. It’s a practical guide that proves Kolb’s inspiring premise that it’s never too late to play the best round of your life.

If you’ve been curious about the Vertical Line Swing System, this is your introduction. And if you’re a golfer struggling to excel despite age, surgery, injury, or even just limited practice time, this best-selling golf book has your solution.

Get your copy of The Bad Lie here.

Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

By Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind

There’s a reason this 1957 guide lands on the list of golf books’ best sellers of 2023. Multiple generations of golfers have mined its wisdom and improved their game as a result. Plus, who doesn’t love Ben Hogan? 

Written by one of the greatest ball strikers in the game, Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons drills down to the fundamentals of a great golf swing. Its practical instruction centers on Hogan’s belief that any golfer with a little coordination has the ability to break eighty.

This decades-old best-seller contains clear illustrations to drive each lesson home. 

Considering Hogan’s reputation as a master of swing theory, you can’t really go wrong with this one.

Get your copy of Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons here.

Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings From a Lifetime in Golf

By Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake

Sports Illustrated once called golf coach Harvey Penick the “Socrates of the golf world.” There’s no doubt about it: Penick’s wisdom is behind several wildly successful golf careers. He also built an unshakeable reputation as a master of the mental game.

Another classic that has stood the test of time, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book was originally published in 1992. It continues to be a popular guide among golfers of all experience levels.

Named for the red notebook Penick kept, this golf book is loaded with straightforward advice and practical wisdom. If you’re looking for common sense tips and a read that will keep your love for the game burning through the off-season, this is a solid option. 

Get your copy of Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book here.

The Four Foundations of Golf: How to Build a Game That Lasts a Lifetime

By Jon Sherman

In this golf book best seller, “player-coach” and owner of Practical Golf, Jon Sherman, offers a comprehensive approach to the game.

He argues that finding success in golf begins with sharpening four foundations. Those foundations include expectation management, strategy, practice, and a sharp mental game.

With step-by-step tips and data-based strategies, Sherman walks readers through his methods for building a better game. The big picture promise of The Four Foundations of Golf is that you’ll not only lower your scores—you’ll also learn to have more fun.

Get Your copy of The Four Foundations of Golf here.

LIV and Let Die: The Inside Story of the War Between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf

By Alan Shipnuck

No one’s going to tell you how to play better golf in this best seller. But that’s not the point.

Billed as “a lively page-turner that reads like a spy thriller,” LIV and Let Die unearths the inside story of the LIV vs. PGA controversy. 

Between jaw-dropping paychecks, friction between golfers, and political complications, the everyday reporting on this shake-up has already been enough to stun the golf world. 

But now author Alan Shipnuck offers new revelations from behind the scenes, featuring interviews with… well, basically everyone. It’s no surprise that this just-released golf book has already hit best-seller status.

Get your copy of LIV and Let Die here.

Which Best Seller Will You Add to Your Bookshelf?

Lots of good options here… and plenty to keep your head in the game until the next season rolls around. 

Do you think you’ll be adding any of these golf books to your reading list? Have you already read any of them? Got any recommendations of your own?

Jump into the comments and let us know!

And if you’re looking for more ways to stay engaged with golf year-round, be sure to visit vlsgolf.com. There you’ll find tons of great instruction made specifically for golfers like you.