Russell J. Levenson Jr. has been an ordained Episcopal priest for over thirty years and the spiritual advisor to thousands. He served as Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, the largest Episcopal Church in North America, for seventeen years until his recent retirement. Levenson co-officiated and offered a homily at the state funeral for President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C. and in Houston. He also officiated and preached at the funeral for First Lady Barbara Bush in Houston. He is the author of many books, included the acclaimed, Witness to Dignity. He lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama.

"Russ Levenson has done a masterful job of showing how the game of golf is a metaphor of living a good life through the Gospels and that when we are in 'God's Grip', anything is possible!"—Joe Sweeney, Author of Networking is a Contact Sport

"If you enjoy golf, as I do, you think often about how to improve your game. Russ Levenson's well-written, well-researched new book, In God's Grip, is a winsome parable that uses golf to gently confront us with profound, life-changing tips to improve something far more important, our relationship with Christ."—Max McLean, Founder & Artistic Director, Fellowship for Performing Arts

"Golf is a skill that requires practice and that can bring you hours of joy. The Rev. Dr. Russ Levenson shows that faith is a skill that requires practice and that can bring you hours of joy. He is a gifted apologist, past, and preacher. All three gifts are apparent in this compelling and beautiful book. Buy it for your friends, family, and for that person you know who just happens to play golf!"—Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary

"If golf had been a game played in first century Palestine, undoubtedly Jesus would have told a parable about it. In In God's Grip: What Golf Can Teach Us About The Gospel, Russ Levenson writes beautifully about the spiritual life, using the game of golf and Ben Hogan's timeless lessons. In God's Grip comes from a life devoted to pursuing a relationship with God from the perspective of a seasoned priest and pastor who takes ancient truths and puts them int the context of our 21st-century life. It's a 'must read!'"—Fredrick Robinson, Editor, The Anglican Digest

"This delightful little book on what golf can teach us about the most important questions people have about their lives is a truly great read. As a former teenage caddy at the oldest 18-hole golf course in North America (the Chicago Golf Club), who once caddied for the likes of Charlie Coody, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Weiskopf, and others, and is now pleased to serve as a divinity school dean, I recommend it wholeheartedly. Kudos to my friend Russ Levenson for combining these passions of his in just the right order."—Doug Sweeney, Dean of Beeson Divinity School

“There is a direct correlation between faith and golf. It is the belief in one’s own ability with a clean confidence, and the conviction that God is always in control!! I am grateful for the gift of this book.”—Ben Crenshaw, PGA Tour Champion