5 Responses to “The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life”

1. Anonymous Says:
   August 8th, 2010 at 1:48 am

   It’s either funny or sad that none of the reviews I’ve read about this book, either in print or on Amazon, recognize the source of this story: the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata is one of the greatest stories ever told – and the Bhagavad Gita is given smack dab in the middle of it.

   “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is a retelling of this epic, and a summary of the Bhagavad Gita, in a wonderful golf story. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna must fight a war against his step-brothers and cousins over possession of the kingdom. It is a righteous war, for he and his brothers are the heirs. But he refuses to fight, saying that war is futile and that it would be better to die than to fight one’s family. So his charioteer, Lord Krishna, an incarnation of God, has to park the chariot and give him a really long lecture about why he should put aside his doubts, do his duty, and fight. Of course, it takes him the whole Bhagavad Gita to explain why this is a good thing to do, and it involves helping Arjuna understand who he really is, who God is, and what the nature of reality is. Along the way, he explains how to find peace in the midst of action, and to discover our true nature.

   The Bhagavad Gita explains how to find union with God in the midst of daily life, and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” gives a very readable restatement of how to live a truly authentic life (and play great “golf” – whatever your form of “golf” is).

   In “Legend,” our hero, Rannulph Junah (R.Junah for those who like things spelled out) is a world-weary war veteran who is asked to play a game of golf with Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones. He reluctantly agrees, then tries to withdraw, saying that in a world torn apart by conflict and the Depression, it was futile, senseless, stupid, and insulting to hit a small dimpled ball around a course in yet one more form of combat. His caddy, Bagger Vance (Bhagavan, an honorific title for the Lord or for a spiritual master), then spends the rest of the story talking him through the 36-hole tournament, stripping away his confusion and delusion to help him find the truth of his Authentic Stroke and see the value of doing our inborn duty that life presents to us.

   Does he succeed? Can we? Read this fun story and find out!

   Afterwards, get Kamala Subramaniam’s version of the “Mahabharata” and enjoy an even more interesting story.
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. David Savage Says:
   August 8th, 2010 at 3:20 am

   I picked up a few golf books this Winter to get me into the spirit and look forward to the upcoming season. One of the books I picked up was recommended to me by a friend, “The Legend of Bagger Vance”. I enjoyed this book as a reader and as a golfer.

   The basic premise: can a golfer return to the game after a long absence, guided by a mystical caddie, to compete with a couple of the world’s best competitors? As a golfer, I say no. When I haven’t been playing for a while, it takes a lot more than my mental approach to get my game back on track.

   This story takes you on a mystical journey on e legendary golf course on a foggy, windy island of the coast of Savannah. I always enjoy stories that take me to a different time using some actual characters of the day. The setting is one of the strong points of the book. This author does an excellent job describing the golf world in the early 1930s.

   The real strength of the book is the mysterious Bagger Vance who encourages the lead character to transcend the physical world to overcome his golfing challenges. We all know how much golf is a mental game. This book takes it a step further. Forget about keeping your left arm straight, your head down, and your wrists firm, this book will remind you that there are “other” elements at play in the game of golf.
   Rating: 4 / 5

3. Tim Smith Says:
   August 8th, 2010 at 3:22 am

   I was browsing the shelves of my local library and was surprised to see that “The Legend of Bagger Vance” was sitting next to “Gates of Fire”, both written by Steven Pressfield. Since I was thoroughly captivated by “Gates…” I thought I’d give “…Bagger” a chance. Even though I’m not an active golfer, having golfed twice, several years ago, this story is relevant to anyone who is interested in learning and remembering life’s lessons.

   Initially, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but as the characters were brought to life and the basic storyline was established, I began to realize I was reading something special. For example, Pressfield gives a great description of being in the “Zone”, that rare and special time when ability is maximized with fluid and natural effort resulting in optimal performance. Winning becomes a by-product; the act itself or the Authentic Swing as Bagger Vance identifies it is what’s important. Life’s lesson seems to be for us not to worry about the results of our behavior. Instead, each of us strives for being our Authentic Self, and the results will take care of itself. If, in our striving, we feel isolated, we also need to remember we are never alone but are accompanied by a Higher Power, however we choose to define it.

   Obviously,”The Legend of Bagger Vance” has so much more to offer than can be explained in this short review. However, I’m here to tell you that by just reading it the lessons learned will take care of themselves.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. Frank Wheeler Says:
   August 8th, 2010 at 3:35 am

   The story tees off with a golf caddy named Bagger Vance, a local hero and golfer named, Jonas and two world reknown golfers at a local country club in the deep humid south of the 1930′s. The event of a fictional golf game is watched and recorded by a young boy who years later retells the story of the game to another young man. After the author takes us on a stroll through a southern golf course we come to the realization, God is every where, even on the links. The story is a metaphoric tale that puts the work of God into a human perspective. We also realize that we all possess inate abilities that often are lost by our earthly desire to conform with our environment. After reading the Legend of Bagger Vance you will want to begin working on “your” game and never again will you look at inane activities without considering the past. Great book should be read by anyone who loves the south, golf, history, and God.
   Rating: 4 / 5

5. Nancy Martin Says:
   August 8th, 2010 at 6:09 am

   I’m a sucker for wanting to read a book before seeing the movie and actually finished this one a few hours before I left for the theater. What I particularly enjoyed in my reading was being able to picture Matt Damon and Will Smith in the starring roles. For the first time ever, though, I enjoyed the movie more than the book. In reading through a number of Amazon reviews, I note that most of the 5 star reviews are given by those who love the game of golf even if it doesn’t love them at times.

   I am not a golfer so I found all the paragraphs devoted to the perfect swing, the right club and every other minute nuance of golf to be quite boring and tedious. I did, however, enjoy the lessons on life taught by Bagger Vance to anyone who would listen.

   The overall story is good. In order to save Krewe Island Golf Club from going under during the depression, the owner comes up with the wonderful idea of having a first class golf match between professional golfers Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. Unfortunately, the founding fathers of this great Southern city of Savannah will not support it unless one of their own golfers gets to compete. They choose Rannulph Junah, who once was a great golfer in his own right — before he went off to fight in the war and returned a troubled man who likes to drink heavily. He initially refuses to compete but Bagger Vance convinces him otherwise. He helps Rannulph to reconnect with his “authentic swing” — the swing that is ours alone — the swing that each person is born with. At this point I’m thinking that every golfer out there is loving this. But Bagger Vance’s message is farther reaching than just finding your authentic swing. While you’re there, find your authentic self — the one you were born with before you were deluded by life’s experiences.

   Throughout the book, you wonder if Bagger Vance is real or someone just sent here to help Junah through the match. Junah himself, in referring to Bagger, says in the book that “he was unable to assimilate his (Bagger’s) wisdom or any wisdom. Nothing he said worked, then or later, except one single truth: the fact of his existance and of his love. That is all I needed then and all I will every need.”

   Isn’t this all any one person needs in life? And it is there for the taking. That is the message of Bagger Vance or whatever higher power you deem him to be. Do yourself a favor after reading this book — go see the movie to continue your fascination with this character and your connection to a higher being.
   Rating: 4 / 5

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.