Robert Mankoff (editor) - The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons

INDEX OF ARTISTS

Charles Addams

Alain

Perry Barlow

Pat Byrnes

Roz Chast

Tom Cheney

Sam Cobean

Jonny Cohen

Michael Crawford

Whitney Darrow, Jr.

Chon Day

Robert Day

Richard Decker

Eldon Dedini

J.C. Duffy

Ed Fisher

Douglas Florian

Alfred Frueh

Sam Gross

Alex Gregory

J.B. Handelsman

Ned Hilton

Edward Koren

Arnie Levin

Lee Lorenz

Robert Mankoff

Charles E. Martin

Henry Martin

Richard McCallister

Warren Miller

Joseph Mirachi

Ariel Molvig

James Mulligan

Richard Oldden

Garrett Price

George Price

Donald Reilly

Mischa Richter

Al Ross

Charles Saxon

Danny Shanahan

Claude Smith

Ton Smits

Leslie Starke

Kemp Starrett

William Steig

Peter Steiner

Mick Stevens

James Stevenson

Richard Taylor

Barney Tobey

Mike Twohy

Robert Weber

Gahan Wilson

Jack Ziegler

INTRODUCTION

BY DANNY SHANAHAN

Tiger hasnt called me yet, and I find that very surprising. Why? Why would the (arguably) best golfer the world has ever seen bother to pick up the phone to pick the (arguably) nimble, certainly golf-challenged brain of a New Yorker cartoonist? Ill tell you why. Because the world of professional golf and the world of professional cartooning have a hell of a lot more in common than you might think. And a golfer whos having trouble enjoying himself, and having trouble enjoying golf? Well, it doesnt matter how many swing coaches, strength coaches, or life coaches you have; youre spinning your cleats without a humor pro. And thats where I come in.

Being a cartoonist for the past thirty years or so, and a golfer for, oh, a good ten times that long, I possess the unique ability to help anyone, world-renowned pro or struggling hacker, to raise the level of his or her game, to actually take strokes off a handicap. And it has nothing to do with costly instructional videos, weird hinged clubs, medieval straps, or special square golf balls. I dont preach Zen, I dont preach diet and fitness, and, although daydreaming is a huge part of my work week, I steer clear of any kind of stroke visualization or being the ball. My teaching philosophy is a simple one: Learn to laugh at your game. Its a tried-and-true practice that has taken my own game from the horrors of a twenty-eight handicap all the way down to a surprisingly mediocre thirteen. And, as Ive already mentioned, it works for everyone. From Greig, my Largs, Scotland, golf pro friend, to Gregg, my Rhinebeck, New York, contractor friend, everyone benefits (full disclosure: I scored free short-game lessons and a discounted remodel to die for). Golf is simply a flat-out hilarious game, and not taking it seriously will do wonders for you, even if youre a rank beginner. Game face? Nah! Smiley face? Yes! Ive personally laughed my way around eighteen holes so many times that Ive had to use the nineteenth hole to sober up.

As my friends and fellow competitors can attest, I have used humor as the fifteenth club in my bag on countless occasions. My finely honed ability to make light of my game has helped me through the snap hooks, the topped drives, and the screaming shanks. It has helped my friends get over their yips, laugh off their shanks, and give the boot to the dreaded toey (you know who you are). When Im out on the course with my friends in the middle of that infamous good walk spoiled, I always take the time to joke, to rib, to smell the roses; then I mow a bunch of them down with a five iron, la Carl Spackler, one of the greatest golf geniuses of our, or any, time.

Now, I know what youre thinking: fine and good for you and your buddies, Shanahan, but where am I going to find a golf partner funny enough to turn a bad putt into a bad pun, a duffed chip into a deft quip? How can I manage to bust a gut before I bust another seven iron? Can I really go from being a hellacious heckler of the golf gods to being an appreciative, even enthusiastic admirer of their seemingly random, somewhat malicious comedic stylings? Are the polyester plaid pants and the eye-popping poplin sweater vests of Seventies golf fashion the only answer? Or am I going to have to hire some sort of comicaddie, a hybrid golf/laugh machine thats certainly going to cost me as much as one of those new drivers, the ones with all the screws and plates and Faldos and tiny little nanorobot thingies.

No, noa thousand strokes no. You hold the answer in your hand. The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons is the first step, the instructional manual that will improve your game beyond your wildest fever dreams. In this one slim volume youll find more ways to laugh at golf than in all of those other How to Golf at Golf manuals combined. And no weekend duffers here! From Koren, Addams, Price, and Steig to Mankoff, Darrow Jr., and Chast, these are the best cartoonists to ever tee it up, true titans of the game! Once youve thumbed through this collection (keeping a firm yet relaxed gripuse a glove if youd like), youll soon see your drives splitting the fairway, your irons darting the greens, and your putts finding the center of the hole.

So buy the book and lighten up. Its only a game.

Lets let them play through.

Maybe it would be more fun with a smaller hole.

Better use the ink wedge.

Yes, sir, Dave. Out here, under the big sky, I always get back in touch with who I am.

So how was the Edgar Willoughby Classic?

Pretty good, but youre still slicing. Shorten your backswing and start down with your left hip.

Would you like me to tell you how to add fifty yards to your golf drive?

Researchers say Im not happier for being richer, but do you know how much researchers make?