50 Greatest Golf Tips – author John Richardson on how to make your dream come true

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Back in the 2000s John Richardson began the process that transformed the Northern Irishman from an innocent criminal to a movie hero.

The first step was a desire – not unlike Dave Tindall of Golf365 – to start playing the game well again.

The story was simple: Richardson had despaired of his inability to break 100 in his annual golf game and, ironically, accepted a bet that he would not be able to break 18 holes during the year.

When he told Sam Torrance about the bet, the legendary Scottish Ryder Cup captain unwittingly gave away the title of his quest.

“Dream,” he said.

But Richardson was devoted to his work. He checked books and manuals, talked to golf coaches and psychiatrists, watched a young Rory McIlroy in person in his hometown, and watched hours and hours of videos on his TV and on YouTube.

He also hit hundreds of shots.

He hit thousands of shots.

Tens of thousands of images.

Maybe even more.

And then, in time, he finally passed his homework.

The dream came true, he wrote a book about it, and in 2016 it was turned into a movie starring Richard Coyle (Coupling, Fantastic Beasts) and Sienna Guillory (Love Actually, Resident Evil).

At the end of the trip the truth came out that he was not alone. Okay, not many people dedicate 12 months of their lives to success on the course like Richardson did, but many want to uncover the mystery of golf.

The next step

Which led Richardson to the idea for a second book: ‘The 50 Greatest Golf Tips – make that dream come true’.

The book, which is still in print and popular, seeks to share the lessons Richardson learned.

And it’s good to learn a little, easily digest it at once or there to choose when your swing or your game goes to the pot.

A big question for some readers may be: why turn to Richardson for help? Why should you take the advice of a colleague (at least at first) instead of the famous names in golf instruction?

The simple answer is: *because* Richardson is like us, not in spite of that fact.

Because Richardson had quick lessons in what many of us will spend our lives doing: reading those books, following those tips, watching those videos.

He never claims to know how to swing golf inside (in fact he is pointing directly at the experts at that). Instead he uses what he has learned and explains how it has worked for him – and that is the strength of the book.

So are two other factors, which are related.

The first is that Richardson’s approach is interdisciplinary. Other books are often written by experts in their field – by skating coaches, fitness gurus, lay tsars and psychologists. Each of them believes that their discipline holds the key.

Richardson can stand aside from that. He can pick and choose from all their advice. So the book has advice on the long game, short game, driving, putting, mental games, course management, fitness and equipment.

But there is another aspect, which is almost a secret and that is Richardson himself who is revealed behind his business.

A successful businessman, introduces us, for example, to the 80/20 rule: “The main principle is that 80 percent of our results come from only 20 percent of what we do.”

To elaborate would be to reveal the tip – but it’s very good and can change your game. That, and other ideas, are unlikely to be found elsewhere in the golf section of your local bookstore. Unique, too, are the video links that come with the book, one for each tip.

One of my favorite tips was taken by placement and the effect was amazing. Within hours of reading the tip I was on the course and hitting long putt after long putt.

Landing the trophy has never been easier. It was amazing.

Above all Richardson’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm shine through throughout the book, as they did in ‘Dream On’.

He accomplished his goal that time – he broke the law. And his biggest secret at the end of it? Nothing legendary, nothing like Hogan, no secret code breaking, it was all down to hard work.

There’s more and more.

But over time some tips and tricks became better than others – and in this book Richardson shares them with us.

* 50 Great Golf Tips published by Blackstaff Press. It’s just £8.99 and available from your local bookshop.

READ MORE: Stop moaning! A top mental health coach reveals four tricks to staying positive on the golf course