18 Holes with Bing

Golf, Life, and Lessons from Dad

By: Nathaniel Crosby, John Strege

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

In this love letter to his father, former professional golfer Nathaniel Crosby shares memories of Bing Crosby on the golf course, and the lessons he taught him about the game and about life. With a Foreword by Jack Nicklaus.

“Bing Crosby was a great ambassador for our game, as well as a great man,” hails longtime friend and golf partner, Jack Nicklaus. The beloved singer and star was also an extraordinary teacher who instilled an abiding passion and mastery of the game in his youngest son, Nathaniel. Winning the US Amateur at nineteen, Nathaniel went on to compete in high-level professional tournaments for his entire life.

In 18 Holes with Bing, Nathaniel introduces us to the Bing Crosby he and his family knew—not the beloved singer who played golf, but a golfer who sang to pay his country club dues. Nathaniel shares exclusive stories about this American icon golfing, working, and playing with some of the most famous people in history—royalty, titans of industry, stars of stage and screen, and champions of the green, including Bob Hope, Dwight Eisenhower, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Louis Armstrong. At the book’s heart is an intimate account of a father and a son—how a mutual love of golf formed an exceptional emotional bond.

Full of anecdotes, vignettes, and recollections of Bing’s time on the course, the tournaments he created and later sponsored, and the constant encouragement he showed his son, 18 Holes with Bing honors this celebrated golfer, entertainer, and father, and illuminates his life as never before.

Misleading title

The title and summary made it sound like it was about Nathaniel's relationship with his dad and their relationship with golf. It is really an autobiography. Almost half the book is about events after Bing's death. And for a short book, he repeats himself several times. That being said there many good stories and those who are fans of The Crosby will enjoy it.

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This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The content should have been enough to be make it enjoyable, but maybe Nathaniel is not very good at telling stories and maybe Strege couldn't get much out of him. Hope it paid well.

What could Nathaniel Crosby and John Strege have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Read Mark Frost and write like that.

What three words best describe Sean Pratt’s voice?

Pretty good. It's not his fault.

What character would you cut from 18 Holes with Bing?

Nathaniel Crosby

Any additional comments?

I regret making this my monthly selection.