An annoucement via our sponsors at Open Road Media:

If you are interested in golf, metaphysics, yoga, spirituality or any combination of them all, take note: next week is the long-awaited New York City premiere of Golf in the Kingdom, the new film inspired by Michael Murphy’s classic novel of the same name. Ask anyone who has read it—this story is about much more than the game of golf.

Directed by Susan Streitfeld (East/West Game, Female Perversions) and produced by Mindy Affrime (Tell Me a Riddle, Female Perversions), the film has been entirely funded by generous individual investors with a common dream: to see Michael Murphy’s thought-provoking, spiritual novel on the silver screen. According to the director, the film is “a visual love poem to those who play the game of golf” and, like the director herself, “those who do not.” It premieres at AMC Empire 25 in Times Square on Friday, July 29, 7–10 PM and will continue playing at the theatre at least through August 4th.

To get tickets while they are still available, visit www.amc.com, search New York City and the theatre, and then select the day you’d like to see the film.

Also exciting are the following rare opportunities to talk golf, meditation, and mysticism with the author of the novel that inspired the film:

On Thursday, July 28, meet and greet Michael Murphy at the New York Golf Center from 5–7 PM;

On Saturday, July 30, discuss the film with Michael Murphy at Chelsea Piers from 12–3 PM;

On Saturday, July 30, stop by the New York Open Center for a discussion with Michael Murphy, time TBD and shared here;

On Sunday, enjoy an exclusive, rare meditation and discussion session with Michael Murphy at Pure Yoga from 12–2 PM.

These opportunities to meet renowned author Michael Murphy should not be missed. From a Stanford psychology student to a seminal figure in ’60s counterculture to a spiritual author of thought-provoking fiction and nonfiction, Murphy is beloved across generations for exploring the limits of human potential through the mind and body. He is the co-founder of the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, home to a myriad of artists and mystics since it’s opening in 1962, and has been profiled in countless magazines and journals worldwide.

His book Golf in the Kingdom is a great introduction to his intellectual preoccupations, such as philosophy, psychology, myth, comedy, self-improvement, and nature, among many others. It is the story of an American traveler’s spiritual journey into the world of golf—starting with a round of golf on one of the most beautiful courses in Scotland and continuing with a night of whiskey, wisdom, and wandering. Amazon.com’s official review states, “for a golfer, Golf in the Kingdom is as essential as a set of clubs,” while Joseph Campbell said, “Golf in the Kingdom is a fascination … the book should have a long and prosperous life.” Indeed it has: with millions of readers in many countries, the book has been in print since its initial 1971 publication. In 1992, it even spawned a nonprofit organization, the Shivas Irons Society, dedicated to exploring golf’s beauty and mystery. Earlier this year, we reintroduced the book to digital readers, along with three more cult classics by Murphy, all of which similarly explore extraordinary human potential: In the Zone,  An End to Ordinary History, and Jacob Atabet.

Watch the trailer for the film and a short interview with author in the videos below.

Spread the word! Tweet this: Meet Esalen co-founder and author Michael Murphy @PureYogaNYC @ChelseaPiersNYC @NYGolfCenter @opencenter @AMCTheatres : http://bit.ly/pVAEbs