It's a familiar tale we can all relate to ...

Man tries golf. Golf eats man.

Homer Kelley's first round of golf was a painful day of 116 shots. Some people quit at that point, but not Kelly. He studied the swing for six months, came back and shot 77.

From there, Kelley spent the next 40 years trying to solve the science behind the perfect golf swing, culminating with the publishing of his un-enjoyable book, "The Golfing Machine," in 1969.

The same can't be said of Scott Gummer's tribute to the man in his latest book, Homer Kelley's Golfing Machine, released May 4 by the Gotham Books. It is much more readable and enjoyable than the scientific mumbo jumbo Kelley incorporated into his original book.

Gummer had exclusive access to Kelley's archives to help us all understand this misunderstood genius just a little better. Kelley's work has mostly been dismissed by golf pundits, but a handful of people involved in the game have proven his theories have merit.

Kelley's Golfing Machine ideas -– his 24 basic components of the stroke -- are solid enough to have influenced Bobby Clampett, who recently nearly won on the Champions Tour, and current LPGA star Morgan Pressel in their careers. Clampett, a decorated amateur, won one tournament and $1.5 million in prize money in 15 years on the PGA Tour. Pressel, the youngest player ever to have won a major, knows nothing about Kelley, Gummer discovers, but her coach, Martin Hall calls her a "Golfing Machine baby."

Maybe this book will finally afford Kelley the recognition he deserves. It retails for $16.

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