28 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LIT Golf began to cause Peter Melton a lot of frustration. That nagging thorn led to a book. Conversations with Par: How A Frustrated Golfer Found Joy Through Golf is at times whimsical, autobiographical and fanciful, yet it is always thoughtful— intended to reunite people with the fun lost in the ambition to play well. From childhood through his college years, the Monterey County resident golfed on a regular basis and became proficient. But life—career, family— tends to pull people away from the game. When he picked up clubs again, the effect was evident. “I started to notice I wasn’t enjoying the game as much when I wasn’t scoring as well,” Melton recalls. An outlandish idea came to him: If the ball wasn’t landing where he wanted, could he play without the ball? “It was a wild experience. You start to realize there is more to the game than your score. But that’s how we’ve chosen to judge ourselves.” In Conversations with Par, a golfer angered by a double bogey that costs him a game rages in his head: “What the hell is par, anyway?” To his surprise, Par responds, beginning a conversation that raises questions and plants ideas about golf and enjoyment. Par plays the role of a guru, guiding the golfer toward enlightenment. Melton draws from his own experimental effort, with Par suggesting he practice without a ball. “That would interfere with the visualization,” Par explains. “Hitting balls is a ‘doing’ exercise. This is a ‘being’ exercise.” And so the path continues. Melton watched his mother go through the same transition from fun to frustration. One day she asked, “How do you play without getting upset?” “I don’t know,” was his answer. She urged him to seek a solution. “‘What if I were more connected to golf?’” he recalls thinking. “The idea to talk to golf came to me.” As the book percolated in Melton’s head, he began to realize his focus on scores obscured joys such as friends gathering around the game, the walk through beautiful spaces, even the beers following a round. “It became self-reflection—‘why are we playing?’ We don’t ask that.” Melton refers to the book as an effort at something playfully philosophical. “Golf is so much like life,” he observes. “We do the best we can, but the results vary.” Conversations with Par is available online. An author talk and book signing takes place noon-2pm Friday, Feb. 13. Pilgrim’s Way Community Bookstore, Dolores between 5th and 6th, Carmel. DANIEL DREIFUSS Score Card In a fun and philosophical book, Peter Melton talks to the game of golf and finds answers. By Dave Faries Peter Melton flips through a copy of Conversations with Par. After playing golf for Cabrillo and Hartnell colleges, the game began to confound him. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’25 LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY from 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari ’25 BEST RESTAURANT IN MONTEREY COUNTY! JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 4:30PM TWO HAPPY HOURS DAILY 4:30-6PM & 8-9PM 3-Course Early Menu, $59, 4:30-6pm Daily Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, Monterey, 831-373-3775 Wood Fired Pizzas, Burgers, Pasta, salads, sandWiches and more 11:30am mon-Fri, 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 haPPY hour Food & drinK sPecials Sun-Thurs 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ CASUAL CALIFORNIA DINING INDOOR & PATIO DAILY AT 4:30PM 620 OCEAN VIEW BLVD. PACIFIC GROVE 831-375-2345 • BEACHHOUSEPG.COM LOVERS POINT BEACH CAFE OPEN DAILY, 9AM–4PM ’24 Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. Now Serving Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu Prime Rib. 763 Wave St., Monterey | 831.373.3778 | thewhalingstation.com ’25 Best Steak Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 BEST PIZZA ’98-’24 BEST PIZZA PLACE ’25 Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 Indoor and Outdoor Dining on the Dog Friendly Patio Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly Saturday & Sunday Brunch 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com ’25 Best Appetizers/ Small Plates
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