F
rom the course to the shop, PGA of America Golf Professionals are always looking for new perspectives or ideas that can improve their businesses and their lives. That search for innovative content includes books, podcasts, YouTube videos and a number of other avenues where experts share their thoughts.
PGA Magazine asked a number of PGA of America Professionals and golf industry experts what books and podcasts they’ve enjoyed, and why they’d recommend them to their peers.
by Jim Murphy
This book has been a favorite with golf professionals since it was published in 2020, and it has gained a whole new audience via football after A.J. Brown of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles was spotted reading it on the sideline of a playoff game. Murphy himself is a former minor league baseball player, and his book focuses on mental techniques to overcome anxiety and train your mind to remove mental blocks. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re trying to do the same, or if you have students who require some mental game help.
with Shankar Vedantam
This long-running podcast series delves into the patterns that drive human behavior that often go unnoticed. The show recently had a series of episodes called “Wellness 2.0” that included topics like handling the random events that can upend our plans, what it means to feel overwhelmed and figuring out the direction we want our lives to take. This is a thought- provoking and entertaining series with tangible suggestions for our everyday lives.
by Michael Bungay Stanier
Subtitled “Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever,” this book is built around seven coaching questions leaders can use to help team members or students improve their habits and overcome challenges. Part mental how-to manual and part coaching guidebook, it’s also a fun, easy read that will resonate with leaders at every level who are trying to have better interactions and increase performance.
by John G. Miller
Still a strong seller after two decades, this essential management book gets to the heart of personal accountability for leaders and employees. It’s a quick read that can help teams end finger-pointing and the blame game by understanding why people ask the questions they ask, and learning how to get them to a place of wanting to fix problems rather than pass the buck. The end result should be a stronger team with better relationships and a willingness to take ownership of difficult situations.
