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Ever read a good golf book? OK how about, ever read a book? All right, all right, can you read? We assume you can if you got this far. We at Waggle.com have taken the time out of our our extremely busy schedules (usually on rainy days when we're not golfing) to read some golf books. After all, you're here because you like golf and apparently can read! We've reviewed some golf books and you may want to check out our reviews to get a quick look of what the book is all about before you buy.
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Ben Hogan's Secret - Bob Thomas
As the players came down the stretch of the 1950 US Open, Life Magazine photographer Hy Peskin snapped perhaps the most famous golf photo ever as Ben Hogan stroked a 1 iron to Merion's 18th green. The surreal moment captured by Peskin showing Hogan's ball in flight ahead of his picture perfect follow through speaks volumes of golf's most intriguing and enigmatic player as he displays perfection while reveling nothing. It's truly a magical moment and serves fittingly as the backdrop for this wonderful book in which Bob Thomas provides a unique account of golf's greatest mystery - Ben Hogan's Secret.
I have to say that this was a difficult review to write and it shouldn't have been. But, as is often the case, the more I enjoy a book, the harder it is for me to write about it. And folks, I really enjoyed this one. Rather than being just another history book about Hogan that guesses at what his secret might have been, Thomas took the approach of weaving a novel around the actual events in Hogan's life. Through clever dialog and character development, he portrays Hogan as a shy and reserved person who gains confidence through his interactions with the people he allowed to get close. People such as his mother, his wife Valerie, and Bobby Jones are shown as confidants to Hogan who help him overcome his own obstacles through hard work, sacrifice, and never settling for failure. Together they enable Hogan to understand what he must do in order to become a champion and to realize the true secret of the game.
For the true Hogan fan, this is a great read in that it provides a behind the scenes look into the Hogan life that you always wanted to believe existed. Contrary to the cold and aloof person typically associated with Hogan, Bob Thomas portrays Hogan as a big hearted, honest, hardworking man who cared dearly for everyone he knew. It's a great story that I highly recommend and know you'll enjoy. To get a copy, visit the author's web site at www.hoganbook.com where you can order a signed and numbered author's special edition. And while you're there, take a few minutes to look around… there's a lot there to like.
But getting back to this book, what actually was Ben Hogan's secret? Hogan claimed he gave us everything through his writings and illustrations, but the world has always believed he held something back. Sam Snead wrote that Hogan's secret was in the right wrist through and beyond impact. Hogan's practice caddie Jody Vasquez claimed it was in the position of the right knee on the back swing. Biographer James Dodson concluded that is was simply in the dirt, and that you, like Hogan had to dig it out for yourself. Others have claimed that there was no secret - Hogan just wanted you to think there was. So, what was it? Sorry - with apologies to both Ayce and Bogeyman, you're going to have read this little gem yourself - I'm not telling.
C. Hofmann
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The Lost Masters: Grace and Disgrace in '68 - Curt Sampson
Unlike any other sport, golf relies on the integrity of the player to know and self-enforce the rules of the game. It's not uncommon for players to penalize themselves and for players to treat the rules as sacred; enforcing them without compromise. But, never has strict adherence to the rules had a more profound impact than at the 1968 Masters when a simple oversight on the part of Roberto De Vicenzo cost him a major tournament after he signed an incorrect scorecard. During the final round his marker, Tommy Aaron, mistakenly wrote down a four on seventeen when De Vicenzo had actually made a three. And, because the rules say so, the higher score on the signed card had to stand resulting in De Vicenzo losing to Bob Goalby by one shot.
Ok, that's the story and as you might expect the actual event took about twenty-five pages to cover. So, it should come as no surprise when I tell you that quite a few red flags went up when I first considered reading this book. I've read a lot of his books and the notion of Curt Sampson once again writing anything about the Augusta National just seemed like a train wreck waiting to happen. And, given that this book was based on an incident that was dealt with in about an hour, I was a bit concerned when considering what else he would write about in order to fill the other 213 pages. But hey, I read it anyway…
For the most part, Sampson took the high road and behaved while stuffing the book with extensive biographical information on De Vicenzo and Goalby, their families, their caddies, and most anyone else directly involved. Other players profiled at length include Bert Yancy, Tommy Aaron, Billy Casper, Bobby Locke, and Vinny Giles with shorter discussions of other players from the late 60's. He also provides detail on the last years of Bobby Jones' life and how this incident was one of the last times Jones was involved directly with the Masters. But predictably, Sampson did manage to get in a few jabs at the Establishment of the Augusta National while also lobbing a couple of grenades in the direction of David Owen. I knew it would be there and when I read it I just had to laugh as I imagined Sampson standing in the middle of Washington Road with a big smile on his face giving the place the old one digit salute… with both hands.
But for me, the part of the book I found most intriguing was the part Sampson didn't actually write. That would have been the speculative discussion of what would have happened if Jones and the Augusta National had bucked the rules and allowed the original score to stand. Sampson went to great lengths to discuss the effect the event had on both De Vicenzo and Goalby, but he never really discussed the long term ramification or the precedent that would have been set had they gone against the USGA rules that were in effect. Through the years, this incident has been discussed over and over by golf writers, but I have to believe that had the ruling gone the other way, the writers would have been far more vocal and much less accepting of the result.
C. Hofmann
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Going for the Green - Tom King
2009 looks like it will be a tough year for charity golf tournaments as sponsor donations and player participation will be harder to get. For the new golf tournament coordinator this book can help.
Subtitled “an insider's guide to raising money with charity golf” Tom King's “Going for the Green” delivers on its promise. Assuming that you need to read a book for this type of fundraising… this is the one. Tom's basic account of how to run an event earns a star for the specifics on no-cost “side-bar' activities, many of which are often overlooked by non-golfer development directors. The book has helpful timelines, good advice on the reasons for a tournament, and a nice overview of such fundraising. It focuses a bit too much on the organization side for this grizzled vet of many golf tournaments. This quick read would be a nice motivating or reassuring tool for someone tapped to “Hey, you run our tournament.”
Ayce
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Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes - Stephen Goodwin
Long before the first rounds of golf were ever played at the Bandon Dunes Resort, its beauty and uniqueness were touted and praised in virtually every golf and travel magazine around the world. Bandon Dunes was declared golf's new, “must play” destination and anyone connected to the game was aware of what lay on a remote stretch of the Oregon coast. But, even with these rave reviews, I was still hesitant to pick this one up wondering just how much could be written about a brand new golf course. Nevertheless, after seeing a couple of endorsements I respected, I opted to read it and soon realized this book was really not about a course, a resort, or even golf. It was actually about Mike Keiser; a man with the vision and determination necessary to buck the system and go against the norm in order to create what he calls “Dream Golf”.
As the book unfolds, author Stephen Goodwin dives deep into the quiet and unassuming life of Mike Keiser, presenting him as a non-traditional person who has sought and made his fortunes by taking risks. He presents Keiser as both a golfer and a businessman and methodically brings the two worlds together in a captivating story of success. He details how Keiser co-founded Recycled Paper Greetings and then built it into the third largest greeting card company in America. From there, Goodwin explains how Mike began studying golf course design first as a hobby and later as an obsession that led him to build a nine hole course not far from his home in Chicago. That course, the Dunes Club, is one of the few nine hole courses to ever make Golf Magazine's list of the Top 100 courses.
But, as the story continues, you come to realize that the success of the Dunes Club was simply foundational for what Mike Keiser envisioned as his next project - building a true links course in the United States. A course with caddies and no cart paths, a course that required imagination and shot making, a course that played differently based on the weather, or simply put - a course that played the way golf was meant to be played. Mike knew this type of course required the right land and when he found the rugged shoreline tract in Oregon, he knew he'd found land that was meant for golf. And, by the time he was done with it, he built not one, but two links courses and threw in an inland course for good measure.
I hope someday to visit Oregon and play Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Trails, but I have to admit that after reading this book, I feel like I already have. Stephen Goodwin's highly descriptive writing vividly details the raw land with which they started, the courses during the construction phases, and the finished products. And, as an added bonus, Goodwin caps off the book by detailing rounds he played at each course with the course architects. (He didn't say what he shot!) In each instance he puts you there on the Oregon coast where you can almost feel the wind and hear the waves crashing. Put this one on your list… you'll enjoy a great golf book and a true American success story.
C. Hofmann
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The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever - Mark Frost
I've read bits and pieces of this story over the years in various books and magazines, but I never really understood the magnitude of everything that happened during that practice round at the 1956 Crosby Clambake - until now. Conceived as a wager between millionaires Eddie Lowery and George Coleman, "The Match" faced the young amateurs Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward head to head against the aging professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson with a lot more at stake than just money. Many say that what ensued was some of the greatest golf ever played on one of golf's greatest courses; Cypress Point.
By 1956 Hogan and Nelson were semi-retired, but both retained much of the form that had allowed them to dominate the game during their primes. Ward and Venturi were two of the top amateur players of the day and supported themselves by working for Eddied Lowery as car salesmen. Lowery, who forty years earlier had been the 10 year old caddie for Francis Ouimet in the 1913 U.S. Open, was now a USGA executive and a staunch supporter of amateur golf. He proposed the bet boasting that his boys could beat any two professionals Coleman could find. Coleman called his bluff, but rather than finding just any two professionals, found Hogan and Nelson, and The Match was on.
I want very badly to tell you about the golf played on that January day… I've never read anything like it. But, I'm really afraid that any details might ruin the book for you. (I will say that the four combined scores were 26 under par!) But, aside from reporting on great golf, the book also exposes the transition golf underwent during the mid-fifties. The Old Guard was desperately searching for a successor to Bobby Jones as the next gentleman golfer who would remain a lifelong amateur playing solely for love of the game. But with the arrival of big money and mass media, highly competitive amateurs were quickly becoming a thing of the past. Venturi and Ward lived at the heart of this dilemma and, as the subplot of the book unfolds, you the reader come to realize that The Match would be the last time such a competition could ever take place.
The book itself is organized in short concise chapters that allow the author to jump between the actual golf match, short yet thorough biographies of all involved, and the history of the golf course. At about 250 pages, it's an easy read that's written more in the style of a novel rather than a biography or history book. It does get a little wordy at times with long run-on sentences that can slow you down a bit, but aside from that, there's really nothing not to like about this one. It's a great golf book that finally tells one of the greatest golf stories ever and I highly recommend it. Put this one toward the top of your list - you won't be disappointed.
C. Hofmann
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Cherry's Jubilee Singin' and Swingin' through Life with Dino and Frank, Arnie and Jack - Don Cheery with Neil Daniels
My parent's generation is often called "The Greatest Generation". They survived the Great Depression, fought the Second World War, and then went on to created the most prosperous society the world has ever known. And as their generation prospered, they fully embraced the worlds of both show business and sports by making heroes out of those found starring in either arena. One man, Don Cherry, was lucky enough to straddle both worlds and this book is his story.
Don Cherry has lived the life of both a golfer and a singer and he has taken both professions to their highest levels. As a golfer his credits include playing on three Walker Cup teams, winning the Canadian Amateur, playing in the Masters nine times, and almost winning the 1960 U.S. Open. As a singer he recorded dozens of hits including his mega hit Band of Gold, performed in the best venues throughout the country, made starring appearances on TV variety shows, and was the voice of Mr. Clean in TV commercials. He performed on both the stage and the golf course with names such as Dean Martin, Jimmy Demaret, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ben Hogan, Bob Hope, and Arnold Palmer. And, this book is filled with stories and antics of all of these people plus a whole lot more.
Cherry's Jubilee was a great read and surprisingly honest. Unlike most autobiographies that are typically written to tell only the good, Don Cherry bared his soul in this book telling the details of his personal and professional life. He wrote about the people who touched his life and at the same time provided a wonderful insight into both the recording industry and the game of golf during the post war era. Put this one on your list. It's funny, captivating, and filled with information that you won't find anywhere else. This book is one of a kind and you'll really enjoy it.
If you're a youngster and not immediately familiar with Don Cherry, check out his web site at www.doncherry.us. Each page on the site loads a different song crooned by Don's timeless voice and there are sixty years of wonderful photos showing him playing golf and entertaining. You can order his book directly from the web site along with a huge selection of CDs. If you do visit the site, be sure to send Don an email… who knows… you may just get a reply from Mr. Band of Gold himself. It's all good.
C. Hofmann
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Tommy's Honor: The Story of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, Golf's Founding Father and Son - Kevin Cook
I really want to thank Kevin Cook for researching and writing this book. I'm so sick of writers portraying Old and Young Tom Morris as the patron saints of golf who forged the modern game through divine intervention. Let's get real, folks. These men weren't prophets or holy men; they were just a father and son who loved playing golf with a friendly wager followed by a beverage or two at the 19th hole. And finally, someone has written a book telling the real story of the men known around Victorian St. Andrews as simply Tom and Tommy.
Thomas Morris, Sr. was born in St. Andrews in 1821 and from an early age had the bug to play golf. At 14 he apprenticed to Allen Robertson, the first tradesman to turn caddying, ball making, and playing golf into a full time profession. This appointment became the springboard that took Tom Morris on a journey through golf that lasted until the day he died in 1907. During his journey, he played golf at the highest level. Tom won the Open Championship four times, played for the largest sums of the day, and even developed the first documented case of the yips. He built hundreds of golf courses in Britain, taught architects such as Donald Ross and Charles Blair McDonald, and influenced most every major architect of the twentieth century. As Keeper of the Greens he developed many innovations still used today such as top dressing greens and the use of mowers. But to him, his greatest accomplishment was his family and within that circle, he was the proudest of Tommy.
Tommy was raised by his father to be a golfer. He never worked as a caddie or ball maker and grew to become the first person to earn a handsome living by only playing golf. He partnered with his father to form a team that defeated all challengers playing for sums that continually grew larger and larger. Tommy won the Open Championship four times with the help of powerful distance off the tee complemented by a great short game and a smooth putting stroke. He is also credited with making the game's first ace. Tommy was truly golf's first superstar who always dressed and acted the part, but unfortunately died too young.
If you're a golfer wanting to learn more about the development of the modern game, you owe it to yourself to read Tommy's Honor. This book gets the story right and with the depth of Cook's research the myths get debunked and the records are set straight. For example, legend has always said that Tommy died of a broken heart; well Cook even gets to the bottom of that one and provides evidence showing Tommy actually died from a pulmonary aneurism. Like I said, he gets the facts straight and you'll want to read this one so you'll get yours straight as well.
C. Hofmann
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Little Balls, Big Dreams - James Wolf
I recently met the boys from Waggle for lunch and somewhere between trying to talk me into skipping work to play golf and the second round of beverages, they slipped this little novel across the table and asked if I wanted to give it a read. Well, the book looked interesting, so I agreed and that turned out to be a good decision. This was a fun book and at 167 pages, perfect for the weekend trip I just made out to Kansas City for Uncle Frank's 80th birthday. Thanks guys!
Little Balls, Big Dreams centers around Matt True, a 43 year old eleven handicapper who took up golf in High School after bombing out of every other sport. In spite of his love for the game, he'd never been able to get past the level of average until a miracle happens one day on the sixth hole of his home track. He makes an ace and that event turns out to be the first step in a series of events that take him to the highest levels of the game. Yes, the golf gods give him the Gift. And, then they sit back and watch as it impacts every aspect of his life, allows him to face the ghosts of his past, and takes him full circle to where he started with a brand new lease on life.
In addition to being a good story, the book is loaded with material aimed at the mental side of the game. The author does manage to use most every golf cliché you've ever heard and borrows quotes from every great player in delivering his message, but still manages to put forward a lot of good ideas. My favorite was to not confuse worrying for concentrating... what a concept. There are a lot more, many you've heard before, but if you pay attention, you'll certainly find a keeper or two.
Like most middle aged golfers, I tend to think that I can still play and improve. For that reason, I was able to relate to Matt True and it made me happy to see this average fellow get a shot at that dream we've all had. You know; the one about just having the time to practice, just working a little harder, and just getting a nod from the golf gods. And, how that's all it would take to get you/me to the next level. Matt gets all of that and it's a fun story.
C. Hofmann
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When War Played Through: Golf During World War II - John Strege
On December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack against the American forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and plunged the USA headlong into World War II. At the same time, golfers like Paul Runyan, Craig Wood, Ralph Guldahl, Henry Picard, and Horton Smith were at the prime of their careers while Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jimmy Demaret, and Byron Nelson were emerging as the dominate players on the PGA. For the next four years, however, all priorities of the nation changed as everyone paused to help the country achieve victory through what ever means available… even through golf.
The role to which golf was relegated during World War II is well described by John Strege in his latest book When War Played Through. He details the impact of rationing, how golf was used by the military as a tool of relaxation and rehabilitation, how the great players served their country, and the sacrifices made throughout the game in the name of victory. Did you know that Bobby Jones actually enlisted in the Army, reached the rank of Lt. Colonel, and saw combat in Normandy? (Yes, that Bobby Jones.) That Lloyd Mangrum received two Purple Hearts and almost never played again? Or, that golf was played in the same POW camp where the Great Escape took place? Well, it's all true and well documented within this book.
If you're really into history and a golfer, as I am, then this is your book. But, if you're looking for a funny or action packed book to discuss on the 19th hole, then you'll probably want to pass. At 312 pages this is not by any means a difficult read, but it's quite wordy and written in a scholarly manner. It's a great piece of research and does a wonderful job of covering the game during the war years, but be advised, it reads like a term paper.
I was pleased to find the book to be well indexed making it great to use as a reference. I was, however, disappointed that it does not contain footnotes to augment the fine research done by the author. Although Strege does typically reference his sources at a high level in the text, he does not provide the specifics of where he found the information. This is too bad in that a book of this caliber is normally worth its cover price just for the bibliography.
C. Hofmann
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The Pro: Lessons About Golf and Life from My Father, Claude Harmon, Sr. - Claude "Butch" Harmon, Jr. with Steve Eubanks
Like so many others, I learned golf tagging along behind my father during rounds at the local golf course. I watched as he and his friends played, asked questions, and in turn started playing and practicing on my own. Now, try to imagine a kid doing that at Winged Foot with his father being the head pro and his father's friends being the likes of Tommy Armour, Jackie Burke, Sam Snead, Johnny Revolta, Dave Marr, or even Ben Hogan. If you can even begin to do so, then I know you'll appreciate this story of the "hard-love" upbringing that allowed Butch Harmon and his brothers to become the most sought after and respected instructors in today's game.
With brutal, yet refreshing honesty, Claude "Butch" Harmon, Jr. has used this opportunity to detail the little known story of his father, Claude Harmon, Sr., the last club pro to win a major championship; the 1948 Masters. And, in telling the story, Butch brings to the forefront his father's greatest teachings about golf, family, and life that ring true even today. These lessons were always simple, to the point, and most of all, honest regardless of whether you were a 36 handicapper, tour player, or royalty. Claude Harmon, Sr. believed that golf treated everyone the same, so he did too.
This book is very well organized, well written, and a pleasure to read. Through its subject matter, it provides a unique view into the evolution of golf in the post World War II era as big money and big media entered the game. It shows the human side of many of the games legends such as Hogan, Nicklaus, Norman, Couples, and Woods that I've never read about in other sources. And, it's easy to go back into for short re-reads because it's very well indexed.
But for me, the best part of the book is "Claude's Pearls" found at the end of each chapter. They represent short and to the point recapping of the teaching points Butch wants you to remember. From "Grip, Alignment, and Balance" to "Don't mix you ego and your ignorance" they cover the essentials of golf, life and family just as The Pro taught them.
C. Hofmann
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The Old Man and His Game: The Gift - Bob Thomas
I recently had a birthday (don't ask) and my youngest son decided that he wanted to buy me a golf book. My wife took him to shop and he picked this book because he thought the words "Old Man" in the title would make it funny as a gift for Dad. Well, his idea of a joke turned out to be my good fortune because what I unwrapped turned out to be a great read and a wonderful addition to my library.
Set in my native North Carolina, this book tells the story of Dick Stearns, a man who has not just played golf his entire life, but has loved and respected the game in the purest sense. He has studied the game, collected antique clubs, played at the highest level, and taught the game to children on many occasions. But now, his beloved wife has died, his children have moved away, and he has gotten old. He stills plays golf, but he has huge hole in his life… until he meets a boy named Jason.
Dick's wife had always told him that with all he had given to the game; someday the game would pay him back. And, when he fosters a friendship with Jason, the gift slowly begins to take shape. As part of the process, Dick re-acquaints with old friends, confronts ghosts from his past, and regains much of his old form as a player. This is a touching story about golf and friendship that is easy to read and well worth your time.
The printing of the book that I received is an Author's Edition that is numbered and signed by the author. It also contains an additional chapter containing a note from the author describing his experience as the author of multiple golf books and the road that lead him to be a writer. That chapter alone is well worth reading if you have any desire to ever write a golf book or to enter the publishing business.
C. Hofmann
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My Life in and Out of the Rough (The truth behind all that bull**** you think you know about me) - John Daly with Glen Waggoner
Once or twice a week as I drive to work I pass a traffic accident. Regardless of whether it's minor fender bender or a twelve car pile up, for some reason I always slow down just enough to look... I don't know why. And, with that same unexplainable urge to look, I power read this autobiography of John Daly's life cover to cover. John Daly's life, talk about a twelve car pile up… Just imagine: he won two majors before he was 30, lead the PGA tour in driving distance a record 11 times, got married four times, and lost over 55 million dollars gambling. I couldn't stop reading.
Most of us got to know John Patrick Daly when he arrived on the golfing scene in 1991 as the long shot winner of the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick. But, stories of the hard living, fun loving kid from Arkansas who could hit a driver a county mile preceded that event by a full ten years. By 16 he had won the Missouri State Amateur and was playing junior events at the national level. By 17, he'd been DQ'ed from the AJGA's national championship tournament for having a bottle of Jack Daniels in his bag. The stage was set long before Crooked Stick and you've got to read this one to believe all of it.
But, as is so often the case with John Daly, you come away from this book wanting to be his friend; especially when you learn of all the good things he's done. He makes no excuses for how he's lived and blames no one. He thinks his fans have the right to know the truth about him, so he wrote this book to do just that. He leaves no skeletons in any of his closets and tells it like it is with an honesty that is both refreshing and admirable. As he puts it, "My life, it is what it is." and he leaves it for you the reader to make any judgments. Put this one on your list, you won't be disappointed.
C. Hofmann
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Open: Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black - John Feinstein
The USGA holds the U.S. Open annually as a competition dedicated to identifying the year's best golfer. It is open to any player from any course capable of qualifying; however, the courses used for the competition have always been restricted to plush, and often exclusive, private golf courses. In 2002 the USGA uncharacteristically deviated from this trend and gambled with the integrity of the U.S. Open by hosting it on a true municipal golf course - the A.W. Tillinghast designed Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.
In the book Open: Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black, sports writer John Feinstein chronicles the actual magnitude of the gamble, the enormous resources needed to make it happen, and how it paid off. Set in the aftermath of 9/11 and just minutes from ground zero, the 2002 U.S. Open was years in the making and required extensive political maneuvering just to get access to the course. Feinstein explains all of this and introduces you to the people of the USGA who worked behind the scenes to make it all happen.
Like Feinstein's other golf books, this one is not light reading. And, be advised, it is not your traditional golf book… it is a book about the business involved in running a major golf tournament. The sections of the book covering the actual play of the tournament read as if they were written more from the press tent than from inside the ropes and were somewhat disappointing. Feinstein used stock biographical material to describe many of the players and at times took unnecessary potshots at certain individuals… in particular, Tiger Woods and John Daly. Of all his books, I found this one the most difficult to read. Nevertheless, it was worth my time in that I came away from it with a wealth of knowledge regarding the USGA and the U.S. Open.
The section of the book I found the most interesting and amusing was the section describing how the pairings for the first two rounds are determined. (This topic was also covered in The Majors.) You may be aware that the reigning U.S. Open, British Open, and U.S. Amateur champions always play together on Thursday and Friday, but did you know there is also a pairing of the best players never to have won a major? Or, that graduates of certain schools might get paired. The categories are numerous; although not always flattering, and fun to look for when the Open rolls around. Hmmm… Why did Hale Irwin and Corry Pavin get paired together? You'll have to read the book to find out.
C. Hofmann
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The Majors: In Pursuit of Golf's Holy Grail - John Feinstein
Throughout the PGA season, players toil week in and week out only hoping to win. Most good players do eventually win tournaments, but what separates the good players from the great players is the ability to win one of golf's four major championships - The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship. Collectively, these tournaments are known simply as The Majors and more often than not, performance in these tournaments determines how a career is measured and remembered.
In 1998 golf writer John Feinstein got up close and personal with each of these tournaments and wrote an insider's account entitled The Majors: In Pursuit of Golf's Holy Grail. His book provides insightful histories of each championship that include the politics, personalities, and business decisions that conceived and developed the tournaments we know today. His enthusiastic accounts of the actual tournament play are interlaced with in depth biographies of the players that are highly revealing. Together these elements make for an enjoyable and exciting read.
Like his previous effort, A Good Walk Spoiled, this book is not light reading. In paperback, the book weighs in at 480 pages and was a good book for me to take on a vacation where power reading was an option. The book does contains recycled material from his previously mentioned book and he tends to repeat himself on occasion, but nevertheless, if you have the time it is well worth reading.
An added benefit to this book is that it is well indexed making it easy to use as a reference if you ever want to just pick it up and read about someone. And, in that same vein, it's interesting to go back and read about the up and coming players of 1998 and then look at where they are today. Players like Scott McCarron, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, David Duval, Dudley Hart, Mark O'Meara, and Vijay Singh all went into 1998 looking for their first major title. Tiger had only one major to his credit and Casey Martin was fighting his own battle. A lot has happened since then. And sadly, I was reminded of just how much when I read the account of Lee Janzen beating out Payne Stewart to win the U.S. Open at Olympic.
C. Hofmann
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Caddy For Life: The Bruce Edwards Story - John Feinstein
Starting in the early 1970's, Tom Watson walked the fairways of the PGA Tour shadowed by the tall, lanky, and unassuming figure of Bruce Edwards. He was a fixture on Watson's bag for almost 30 years and was present for some of golf's most memorable and exciting moments. From Watson's chip in at Pebble Beach to his 65 in round one at Olympic Fields, Bruce was there. But, in April of 2004, the game lost Bruce Edwards, one of the best known and well liked individuals on the tour, to ALS and it was a sad day for all of us. Everybody liked Bruce because as Tom Watson often said, "He didn't have a mean bone in his body."
Edwards was diagnosed with ALS in early 2003 and once he came to terms with his fate, he approached sports writer and long time friend John Feinstein and persuaded him to write his story. Feinstein received full access to Edwards and his family as well as the cooperation of Tom Watson and produced what I consider to be some of his best work. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend for anyone - golfer and non-golfer alike. It's easy to read, both funny and sad, and provides a unique look into the human side of the PGA Tour.
Edwards joined Watson in 1973 and caddied for him until 1989. He then spent three years working for the number one player in the world, Greg Norman, but never really felt at home in that relationship. He parted ways with Norman and returned to Watson for good in 1994 and the two picked up right where they had left off. As Feinstein points out, they were more than just player and caddie, more than friends, and even close than bothers. And, in 1999, when Watson was reborn on the Seniors/Champions Tour, it was like the late 1970s all over again.
Because of his close association with both Watson and Norman, this book provides great biographical information that is not available from other sources. If you have the option, read the second printing, paperback edition of the book. The paperback was published about a year after the hardback and contains additional material covering the months between the book's first printing and Edwards' passing. The original hardback edition leaves you with questions and concerns that are addressed in the paperback edition and is worth finding. But regardless of which version you read, you won't go wrong with this book.
C. Hofmann
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The Gift by Richard Monette
Author Richard Monette is a performance coach and sports psychologist with a great message for everyone. And, fortunately for us players, he's used golf as the setting folded his message into a clever novel entitled The Gift. The golfer in me was captivated by the story and the possibilities of what it could bring to my game while my professional side came away with good stuff to think about back at the office. I highly recommend this one for your winter reading list.
The story centers on the late life quest of Tom Morrison to make sense of his Grandpa's stories of spirits and forces in the game that protected and assisted the great players. His search brings him to one Irving Pirsig Jr., an older gentleman that Morrison had once known briefly. He had witnessed Pirsig win a tournament during which Morrison was convinced Pirsig had received supernatural help. Now Morrison wants answers and answers he gets as Pirsig proceeds to chronicle his own storied life and the forces that lead him to his own grail. He tells of Howie and Rocket, Sammy, The Manager, Poidmort, and Faith and how each took him a step closer to finding purpose through golf.
Beyond this great story, however, is Monette's message of coming to terms with our own little inner voice. You know, the one that yells "Choke!" whenever you get into a pressure situation. Wouldn't it be nice to take a one iron to that little voice and actually enjoy the thrill of pressure golf? Well, that's exactly what Monette wants you to do so you can then simply let go, make your own rules, and then trust your game. But remember, this book is not just about golf, it is a great self help book filled with wisdom for all walks of life.
C. Hofmann
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The Muldooney Revisions by Montgomery Williams
Did you have fun the last time you played golf? I mean, did you truly have fun or was it five and a half hours of structured agony? Most of us are really not that good, yet the keepers of the Rules insist on torturing us as if we all play to scratch? Well, now there is a movement afoot determined to correct this and it's called SORTAGOLF. Symbolized by a raised fist clutching a golf club, it represents the reclaiming of the game of golf by those who seek to play it purely for pleasure… the way the ancient Scotts truly intended for it to be played… didn't they?
The notion of this movement and the implication that the ancients wanted us to have fun makes for an interesting story, especially when you consider that its number one advocate has gone missing. Yes, just days before he was about to announce the discovery he made on the eighth hole of Royal Dornoch, Professor Pettis Muldooney simply vanished. In his wake he left copious notes and clues that the author, Montgomery Williams goes to great lengths to decipher and protect. His efforts take him from his home in Austin to the garage of the Watergate Hotel and then on to a sauna at Golf House where clad only in a towel, he confronts the purists of the game over the Muldooney Revisions to the Rules of Golf.
This hilarious mystery makes for a great read. At 140 pages of large print, it's perfect for a business trip or an afternoon on the couch. But, don't be fooled by the author's economy of words. His well crafted tangents and use of misdirection provide the readers with ample opportunities to use their imagination and provides for wonderful visualization. Put this one on your list for one of those days when you can't get out to the course… you'll get a good laugh and perhaps enjoy the game more the next time you do play.
C. Hofmann
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First Off the Tee by Don Van Natta Jr.
The subtitle of this book tells all, "Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters from Taft to Bush". This book is a compilation of the golfing presidents from the purists (John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower and FDR) to the worst (Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan). A "Hail to the Cheats" section featuring none other than Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, and LBJ, and finally a section on "41 and 43". No those weren't the scores but rather the 41st and 43 presidents also known as George Bush.
A couple of highlights from the book for me included the JFK section. Kennedy was an avid golfer but did not want the public to know of his golf passion. Why? Because he did not want to be like Ike! Read about it for yourself but Kennedy was a single digit handicap golfer but few really knew. The book chronicles his time in the White house and recants many good stories about him.
Van Natta also provides a good look at the golfing antics of Gerald Ford - whom he describes as the best athlete of all presidents! More good stuff on Franklin Delano Roosevelt whom was dubbed, "The Natural" and some funny stories on the worst of the presidential golfers - William Taft and Ulysses S. Grant - complete with photos of them in action!
Bill Clinton leads the "Hail to the Cheats" section. You'll learn about the term "Billigans" which was Bill's word for mulligan. Believe me, he took several. He claims to have broken 80 several times - and had a great swing - but apparently he did only with the help of the previously mentioned "billigans". Of course, it's not hard to break 80 when you score like this:
Fifth hole, same pattern. Clinton hits a long drive into the trees, takes a second practice tee shot. He hits this one short. He hits another tee shot, this one goes long and far. He drives the cart over to the trees, takes a drop, but hits the ball short. He then plays three more practice shots from the fringe and ends up playing the second of his practice shots. He is on the green in four but picks up without putting. On his scorecard at the end of the day, he takes a 4 on the hole. It's a no-putt 4.
Break 80 - most of us could probably break 70 that way! Alas, he loved the game and provided some great stories. Perhaps you've even tried a few of Bill's antics?
Other golf stuff on the father-son team of George Bush, as well as Richard Nixon "oh, that didn't count" and Warren G. Harding who literally "bet on every swing". I'd call this book a semi-history-lesson-on-presidents wrapped up as a golf book. Pick up a copy for yourself and see what I mean!
Lefty
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52 Amazingly Simple Secrets for Better Golf by Rick Graves, William Mangum
"52 Amazingly Simple Secrets for Better Golf" by Rick Graves consist of a series of weekly tips meandering through attractive golf paintings. It would be a stretch to call this golf instruction rather than a series of tips that are accompanied by quotations from golfing greats. This less than fifty page quick read has the look of a children's book, but offers some non threatening advice on approaches to the game. It ends appropriately with reminder to, "count your blessings as well as your shots and remember it's just a game".
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The Ultimate Round by Terry Glaspey, Larry Dyke
The Ultimate Round by Terry Glaspey, is subtitled "18 Life lessons from the World's Greatest Golfers." The subtitle is at least half correct with the 18 greatest golfer boasts, but falls short on the promise of life lessons. A brief story associated with each of the golfers' attempts to tie a topic with an incident in the players' life for example, Snead and balance or Kite in honor. The book has the look of an oversized children's golden book. The fifty plus pages contain some beautiful paintings by artist Larry Dyke. Unfortunately, the rendition of famous golf holes in the paintings are not identified. In short, the book is a "Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul" attempt at a somewhat spiritual view of golf.
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Secrets of a Tee Time Girl by Nicole Kallis
First of all you are probably asking "What is a Tee Time Girl?". This is West Coast lingo for what is known as beverage cart girl here in the Mid Atlantic - so now you have some sense of the depth and seriousness of this book. Secrets of a Tee Time Girl is no War and Peace (not that we particularly enjoyed W&P), but instead a fun read of observations and anecdotes from one woman's up-close perspective of the time men spend on the course. The author seems to be the kind of cart girl (cute, flirty, and willing to tolerate your dumb jokes/comments for a tip) you (you meaning most men) enjoy who can also banter wittily while making correct change. The book is an enjoyable and quick read of the authors' encounters with golfers on her home course in California as they partake of her services (i.e. Lots of alcohol related tales). We appreciated her spunky lack of PC and general candidness. Parts of the paperback are generic sections on golf history, etiquette, jokes, and terminology that don't particularly add a whole lot, but the other dozen sections deliver what the book's title promises. The author, cart girl Nicole Kallis, regrettably used another girl on the cover and throughout for the pictures in the book. I felt the honesty of the book demanded her on the cover and throughout the pages. She has the looks to pull it off! Check out her web site to get the book www.teetimegirl.com and see her photo. Enjoy!
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Nearly Perfect, An American Success Story by Farmer & Betty Meadows
OK here's a book which has just a little to do with golf. Many of you may be familiar with Meadows Farms Golf Course not too far from the Fredericksburg area which features the longest hole in the United States, an 841 yard, par 6! I can tell you because I've played it. While playing the hole, you see signs on the order of "250 yards to next pond" on your 2nd or 3rd shot! FYI - I double bogeyed it. Anyway, this book is not about Farmer Bill Meadows building a truly unique golf course but it is about Farmer Bill Meadows' nearly perfect life.
The book is truly an inspiring story of how thinking, planning, hard work, patience and self discipline turned a poor West Virginia kid into a multi millionaire. They book contains passages about Bill's life with his one and only love, Betty, whom he recently celebrated his 50th anniversary. The book starts off describing this event at a resort that wouldn't even allow his father and family onto the property when Bill was a kid riding in the back of the family pickup truck. So much for keeping out the riff raff!
As you're reading this book, you feel like Bill is just a "good 'ole boy" from the hills of West Virginia who is eccentric, smart and dedicated enough to make a living the old fashion way - hard work and perseverance. You may have seen his many "Meadows Farms" nurseries which are located - it seems every at every turn - in various places in Northern Virginia and Maryland. So successful was he that his net worth at the time of the book was $72 Million! Not bad for a guy that was in the army and started selling tomatoes door to door to make some money.
The book also chronicles Bill's life in many other ways which will warm one's heart as you're reading it. This book, to me, was truly one of; "good guy done good" and you'll almost feel you know Farmer Bill Meadows when you've finished the book. You don't have to like golf (but it can help if you've played his course) as this one is a good read for anyone who likes human nature and success stories.
Lefty
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The Six-Spoke Approach to Golf by Tom Patri
The Six-Spoke Approach to Golf by Tom Patri appears to be another Dave Pelz or Jim McLean type golf instruction book. The numerous preambles to the book which include a forward, an introduction, and two "how to" intros give the reader the impression that good things are to follow. Unfortunately, the book never lives up to these early impressions. It frequently bogs down into rambling dialogues between the author and other not so famous instructors or players. Patri's Six-Spoke Approach includes the body, the mind, analysis, time management, equipment, and technique. While his coverage of each of these six sections is at best average, the technique area is particularly lacking. At a bookstore price of about $20, this is a publication that I would skip in favor of one of the real things by a Pelz or McLean. Ken U.
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Unplayable Lie by Peter Jamesson
Since, I picked up this book as a golf tournament "goodie"; I figured it would be about golf, especially with the title of "Unplayable Lie". I gotta tell you it's does have something to do with golf but not what I expected.
This novel is more of an English "who done it" mystery solved by Jamesson's new Scotland Yard golfing detective Byram St. George - who reminded me of a big British Columbo. St. George and his faithful assistant Laurence Poole are sent from Scotland Yard to Livingston which is described as a Scottish Silicon Valley with a science park to solve a mysterious fire and death of one of the owners of the VES plant.
What follows is a lot of text about the investigation and how things happened and St. George methodically outwits everybody - similar to the way Columbo used to. I always get lost in the English-British ways of doing things, however the reference to golf is made during the crime-solving part of the book. You'll have to wait until the last few chapters to see how the game of golf fits in, however for those of you golfers our there that truly love the game and cherish keeping that low scorecard (perhaps even mounting it on the wall), you'll understand in the end!
This is the first in a series of Byram St. George (remember "the golfing Scotland Yard Detective) novels, so perhaps the next one will be more about golf and less about how the mystery was solved. Keep checking back as I'll let you know.
Lefty.
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Barranca by Troon McAllister
OK so every once in a while an author will venture off of his bread and butter and write about a subject that is, how can I say this, not what I expected. With that being said (actually written), Barranca, the 4th Eddie Caminetti Novel by Troon McAlister, in my opinion, really isn't an Eddie Caminette Novel at all but more of a showcase of playing the media, Presidential politics, and third world countries.
The book is written in a different style - broken up into 3 parts. The beginning of the story, which is at the beginning of the book, the end of the story, which is in the middle of the book and the middle of the story, which is at the end of the book. Kind of like Pulp Fiction on paper!
McAllister spins a tale of a third world country's leader (who played golf with Fidel…yes that Fidel - for some high stakes - you won't believe what until you read it) who has the United States coffee-drinking-public by the gonads by raising coffee prices to over $8/cup…and that is ONLY if you can get a cup. Eventually because he is a supposed golf fanatic, he eventually plays Eddie, for as you could imagine extremely high stakes, with the fate of the coffee-drinking world in the balance.
You'll have to read the book to find out what happens, but I'll tell you that there are many twists and turns to this one. As usual, there is the unusual from Caminetti but the majority of this book is about playing the media, especially the media giant GNN. At times this book was hard to follow and I didn't enjoy it as much as McAllister's other books as this one did not focus on Caminetti like previous ones.
I would call this a book about politics first, media second, and golf (Caminetti) third which kind of left me with the feeling that McAllister should stick to golf. But then again, that's only my opinion - you can pick it up and decide for yourself.
Lefty.
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Take Dead Aim by Don Wade
Peter Brookes is the #1 ranked player in the world and hero to his native England. During the final round of the LA Open, his caddie is shot and killed by a sniper in front of a national TV audience. Who did it? Was the Caddie the target? Or was Brookes intended to die?
Follow this tale of cat and mouse as the CIA teams up with the British Foreign Intelligence Service (also known as M.I.6) to track down the shooter and save the ongoing peace talks between the British and the Irish. There is a lot of Irish-British secret agent stuff and a story line about the soon-to-retire CIA operative who was good enough to actually play on the tour but didn't for his own reasons. He's teamed up with, and eventually falls for the beautiful and intelligent MI6 agent, Kathryn Devlin to hunt down and catch the suspected shooter. Together they try to prevent another shooting from occurring at the Masters, which adds to the realism of the story.
This novel features some good golf dialogue but is mostly a "catch the bad guy before he shoots the PGA pro" tale. Along the way, there are some good passages about what this ruthless killer is thinking as well as how he plans for the next shooting. Throw in a prior relationship with the MI6 agent and you have a page-turner.
This was an enjoyable read although sometimes all of the British/English peace effort talks got confusing, but a cat and mouse catch-the-killer novel centered around the PGA tour with enough realism to make one feel it actually could happen is worth a look. Lefty.
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Who's Your Caddy by Rick Reilly
OK, so I finally got around to around to reading Reilly's really funny book Who's Your Caddie and can report that is IS funny. Reilly takes the role of a caddy - although he has absolutely no idea of how to caddy - for some of the most famous people, both golfers and non-golfers in the world.
Among the golfers are Jack Nicklaus, David Duval, Tom Lehman, John Daly, Jill McGill, and Casey Martin. Among the famous are Donald Trump and Bob Newhart. In the "other" category are Dewey Tomko (reminds me of Eddie Caminetti ), Deepak Chopra (the New Delhi Spiritual Advisor), and Bob Andrews (the blind golfer).
Each chapter is funny in it's own right from Reilly's totally idiotic antics while trying to do something he is obviously not trained to do to the end of the chapter “caddy speak” in which both the caddy talk and the translation in “normal mundane and non-offensive” language brought a smile to my face. Like anyone short of Eddie Haskell could be that nice on the translation. Get the book and you'll see what I mean.
The book provided some good insight on these individuals that perhaps you wouldn't know. Like the maniac underneath the David Duval sunglasses, the family man Tom Lehman, the incredible odds and pain that Casey Martin endures, the nice guy (that's right) Jack Nicklaus, and the crazy wild John Daly. This was an enjoyable read and both golfers and non-golfers will like it!
Lefty.
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The Pro by Mike Shropshire
This novel tells the tale of Del Bonnett, a teaching Pro at Caloosahatchee Pines near the outskirts of Punta Gorda, Florida. He's relatively happy to be at this out of the way venue making enough to pay the bills. You see in his younger years, he was on the PGA Tour and early on was only "one level down" from becoming a superstar on the Tour. Unfortunately for him, he had a little accident driving-while-distracted and he was hauled off, and I mean literally hauled off in handcuffs during a PGA event.
The book goes on to tell his renewed interest of the game after getting "Big Luther" the driver that gave him the edge over the other players. This driver ultimately lead him to make a decision at 50, to give the Senior tour a shot.
The list of characters includes his caddie Doublewide McBride, the Indian Billy Crossdresser, his driver Big Luther who sometimes appears to be human (and was actually kidnapped) and several Team Del acquaintances, one of which actually "sponsored" him on the tour.
This is a golf story and contained several good sections. Unfortunately the attempt at humor reminded me of somebody trying to be too funny. Not to say that there weren't parts of the book that drew a smile to my face but it just seemed a little forced to me.
In the end, as most golf novels seem to contain, it comes down to Del battling his arch nemesis (Bruno Pratt) in a golf match. The end is a little bizarre and perhaps everybody in the story gets what they deserve, including our man Del. This book wasn't all bad but I wouldn't call it all good either. If you really want to read a golf novel and can pick this one up cheap used, it won't hurt you too much!
Lefty.
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Missing Links by Rick Reilly
OK, everybody told me about Rick Reilly's really funny book Who's Your Caddie and I'm sure that is good, in fact, I'll report on it later, however, I'm here to tell you that Missing Links is also a good read.
Reilly spins a tale about Ponkaquogue Municipal Golf Course (or Ponky) and the characters (Chops) that share a camaraderie that few snooty Country Clubs could ever have. The bets and wagers, as well as, the ways they go to win them are something that any betting person will appreciate. I particularly enjoyed the antics that one Chop conducted to win a bet, which was to make a fat girl actually gain more weight and feel better about herself in doing so. You'll have to read it yourself to see what I mean.
The book centers around "The Bet" which is to see which of the Chops can play the exclusive Mayflower Country Club and complete all 18 holes first. Raymond Lee Hart (a.k.a. Stick) is the central character and thinks he can win this bet against some worthy opponents. Woven into this are his relationships with his father, a few girlfriends, and the rest of the Chops.
There are several funny spots in this book and it kept my attention throughout. Although not as enjoyable (for me) as the Eddie Camenitti novels, this one is worth reading. Pick it up and give it a try.
Lefty.
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The Day I Turned Uncool by Dan Zevin
Another short novel about coming of age however this one is for us 30-40 year olds. Dan Zevin runs through a series of realizations that are conveniently labeled as "confessions". These confessions are each a short story of self awareness which describes - rather sarcastically - the way Zevin (who is now an uncool adult) changes his thinking from all the "fun" things he used to do (i.e. drink beer) to the now totally boring "uncool" things he does now (attend wine tastings).
If you're like me, you'll find yourself laughing to yourself and saying, "yea, that's what I used to think but now things are different" as Zevin puts things into perspective in a humorous way. Some of "confessions" are: "I played golf", "I am a figure of authority", I hired a cleaning lady", "I take pride in my lawn" and "I became attached to a major home appliance" many of which I can - unfortunately - relate to.
OK so it's not a total golf book but there is a golf club and two sneaker feet on the cover so it does have SOMETHING to do with golf but really has more to do with how thinking and priorities change as we hit our 30's and 40's. It's light and humorous reading - enjoy!
Lefty.
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A Tall Tale from the Short Grass by Robert Martin
A Tall Tale from the short grass is a short story about those mythical "golf gods". You know the kind - you'll be in jail in the woods and decide, "oh what the heck, trees are 90% air, I'll just blast through the tree to the green like they do on TV". Well this book explains what really happens on those few occasions when you do manage to pull off the great shot…at least in the "golf god" world.
It's a short read (less than an hour) and also provides a story about competition between the smooth swinging son of the boss and the "middle manager" who seldom gets to play golf as often as he'd like and therefore is reduced to the status of a "bogey golfer looking to shoot my career round" guy. A big vacation trip is on the line for this match and the odds are certainly stacked against the middle manager, however the golf gods show up just in time. You'll have to read the book to find out if they stay until the end of the match?
A Tall Tale is not going to make the Best Seller list but I did enjoy it through one workout and it did draw a few chuckles as it reminded me somewhat of my occasional thoughts while on the links. It may remind you of yourself playing against that really good golfer who you can never seem to get the upper hand and inspire you to beat him, if only just once. Pick it up for a quick read.
Lefty.
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Scratch by Troon McAllister
Scratch is McAllister's 3rd offering on his incomparable hustler Eddie Caminetti. This book is about golf and more. Scratch is a "super golf ball" that will change everyone's game. When it begins to take some market share from the Medalist Corporation (substitute the word "Titelist" if you're comparing to the real world) golf ball sales, it gets ugly. When big corporations get ugly, lawsuits happen.
Unbelievable as it may seem, Eddie represents himself and does a pretty fine job. I can almost see a Joe Pesci-like character standing in court arguing for his side much like that movie Pesci was in with Herman Munster as the judge…what was the name of that movie? Never mind, back to the book.
Some of the previous characters are in this book. You'll remember some of them from McAllister's previous versions of The Green and The Foursome, which I recommend you should read in proper order to know all the inside scoop. As usual, there is gambling on golf involved and remember Eddie's famous words, "if you ever feel I've put one over on you, you can cancel the bet at any time even after you've lost". Not a bad way to take a bet, wouldn't you say?
Just when you think Eddie's got it all figured out and has solved this lawsuit, things go against him. But then again, that doesn't stop Eddie from taking matters into his own hands. You'll enjoy another the little side bet and the ending will leave you wondering, "Does this kind of stuff really happen in the real world of golf that I play in?" McAllister has spun another enjoyable tale featuring golf, courtroom antics, big business, and of course, ethics in an easy to read format. I'll be on the lookout for McAllister's next golf tale!
Lefty.
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A Mulligan for Bobby Jobe by Bob Cullen
This thoroughly enjoyable novel is about Bobby Jobe who is a gifted tour player with a bad attitude. After blowing a lead in a tournament, he stubbornly practices on his game at the driving range during a thunderstorm, and in a flash, his lift is changed forever.
Jobe goes from a gifted golfer to someone who suddenly needs help from others to survive. In spite of the odds against him, he comes back to be a force in the golf world along with his faithful caddie, Greyhound Mote whom he dismissed just a short time ago. Intertwined in this golf lore, are separate issues dealing with Greyhound. There's his attempt to "get the girl" who is Jobe's rehabilitation partner, his missing then found relationship with his mentally impaired dad (Hogan knows the secret) who left when he was a child, and his attempt to keep Eadon Branch Golf course afloat.
Cullen does a great job of telling this story and mixing in the better part a bad attitude turned good. It's one of those books that I couldn't wait to pick up the next day to see what happens next. The ending was slightly different than I expected but this is a good read for golfers and non-golfers alike as the storyline features more than just golf but in many ways the way life should be. Give A Mulligan for Bobby Jobe a read, you won't be disappointed!
Lefty.
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Good Bounces & Bad Lies - The Autobiography of Ben Wright
"Good Lies and Bad Bounces" the autobiography of Ben Wright offers plenty for the golf reader (this was a very good book, I liked it very much). I have always wanted to repeat that line since my elementary school teacher Ms. Lydia Gard told me not to start a review that way. She was an excellent teacher and the kind you never forget.
I wrote those last four sentences to give you a feel for the sort of ramblings that you will experience in reading Ben Wright's autobiography. If you can suffer a few of his pretentious such babbles, you will be rewarded with lots of golf nuggets. After all not only do you do an "oh yes, I know him" at the name of Ben Wright, but you'll carry that throughout your read as he drops stories about most of the names familiar to watchers of TV golf.
Admittedly, some of his tales are a bit much to believe such as Dave Marr's acquaintance with the mafia or Ben's role in helping Tony Lema win the British Open. Since the subject of both tales are deceased suspicion heightens, but no doubt most of his yarns are based on fact.
Ben Wright's colorful past entertain and amaze even if they are taken with a grain of salt. Certainly his count of his departure from TV broadcasting in America will hold your attention. Enough if the account of his TV demise in 1996 was splattered around for golfers to endure that to hear his version is worth the read.
Apart from his own interesting life story, there are numerous great anecdotes of characters we know well if only from TV. His story about a well known Mormon pro golfer's knowledge about backspin is a classic. Lots of revelations about the fast pace of the company he kept (which included Gary McCord) make for twinkie type golf reading-tasty but not that nourishing.
Ken U..
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The Green by Troon McAllister
This novel introduces McAllister's main character, Eddie Caminetti to the golfing world in a big way. Eddie is the classic hustler-con-man who also happens to be a very very good golfer. Throughout this very enjoyable novel, Caminetti always is "in the know" about things although at times, no body can really believe him. Then the explanation that follows makes the reader think, "Gee how simple. Why didn't I figure that out?"
McAllister spins a tale from the eyes of Al Bellamy, the US Ryder Cup captain who has the unenviable task of keeping the Cup from a European team that is vastly superior to the US team. He also is faced with the pressure of who to put on the team, who to play against whom, as well as, talking these individual players into playing as a team or risk losing the Cup on US own soil - something which could never be lived down! Well, along comes Eddie Caminetti to the rescue but at what price?
Along the way, Eddie's comments concerning golf, how to hit the golf ball, putting, and his philosophy on life are interesting and really seem to make sense. Some of the things in this book can actually be used on the course to improve your game…but remember, Eddie is not a real character…or is he? You'll also notice many of the players described in this book could be actual PGA tour players of today although the disclaimer at the beginning of the book indicates this is not the intention, I got the distinct image of a few notables from the book. Finally, just when you think Eddie has pulled off his last scam, you may expect another. Or was it just your imagination?
This book was a pretty easy and enjoyable read. It kept my interest and I looked forward to picking it up the next day to pick up where I left off - isn't that the sign of a good book? If you like golf and fiction that really seems like the real thing, give The Green a read.
Lefty.
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The Foursome by Troon McAllister
My Hewlett Packard reading adviser, Jim Weynand suggested that this would be a good book to review for all loyal Waggle-ites. He didn't steer me wrong and in fact, it got me back on the stairmaster exercising (which is what I do when I'm reading), but that's another story. This is another book featuring Troon McAllister's main hustler, Eddie Caminetti (remember him from The Green?) who now presides over an exquisite island hideaway where rich and famous people go to golf and relax. The foursome in this novel is lured by an irresistible offer of "the most memorable golf vacation you ever had or you don't pay". If only we could be so lucky!
Joe Aronica, Peter Perrault, Jerrold Chelovek and Deke Savitch are a regular bunch of guys - albeit it they all are more well off than 98% of the population - who play golf every Sunday and have a standard bet of $1000 (too rich for my blood). When Aronica gets the "too good to be true offer" he bites and The Foursome head to the mysterious island (which nobody can tell you how to get there and the plane has no windows) for the vacation. On the flight they are treated to the best food, drink and service they could imagine and get the inside info on Swithen Bairn (the island resort) from Carlos the flight attendant who seems to know just a little too much. He lets the foursome know that the real reason all these famous people go to Swithen Bairn is to play golf for money against the owners.
The Foursome is intrigued and the game's afoot. They initially figure they'll be handed the first match in order to set up for the big loss rematch by the owners. After all how could they make such an incredible offer if they weren't recouping a lot of money from their guests? I'm not gonna ruin it for you here by telling you what happens but McAllister describes a pretty good golf match with some pretty good golfers. Of course there's Eddie's classic betting line, "if you ever feel I've put one over on you, you can cancel the bet at any time". You'll have to read it to see what happens but there is a lot more to this book than golf and the phrase "you can learn more about somebody during one round of golf than by living next door to them for six months" is brought to the forefront.
This book is a good read by itself and I enjoyed it, but I would recommend reading McAllister's "The Green" (see review) first to get a better flavor of the main character, Eddie Camenitti. In any event, if you like golf, you will enjoy this book and, as with a good book, I didn't want to put it down and looked forward to the next workout to continue reading. But alas, I'm done with it now and need to move on to the next one! Enjoy "The Foursome"!
Lefty.
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Bud, Sweat and Tees: A walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour
by Alan Shipnuck
An entertaining story of local favorite Rich Beem and his caddy Steve Duplantis. A thoroughly enjoyable read that is tamer than it's title. Bogeyman.
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Golf Rules Plain & Simple
by Mark Russell
At Waggle.com we generally try to follow the rules of golf when we play (I call it "Man's Golf").
Occasionally we might break one either intentionally (may roll in fairway if in a divot, hey I hit the fairway I deserve a decent shot)
or (more likely) accidentally primarily due to a lack of understanding the somewhat complex rule system.
Well we are confused no more. In his book, Mark Russell (a PGA tour official), explains in easy to
understand language the basic rules of the game. His 37 "Rule Situations" break down the most common
situations you will encounter during a round and provide an explanation of each rule and associated penalty.
This is a great book to keep in your bag as a reference. And if you are in a tight match you should be able to get a stroke or two
from most players. For example: by asking a player what club they have just hit you have broken Rule 8-1 of The Rules of Golf.
This will cost you either the hole in match play or 2 strokes in stroke play.
When you read this book (which I highly recommend) you'll find yourself saying "I didn't know that?" as you realize all the rules you are breaking. Bogeyman.
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And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend : Further Reflections of a Grown Caddie
by Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake (Photographer)
Hey I'm not a book reader but this was a pretty good read. It contained many little snippets about how Harvey Penick related to people. Anyone who puts some thought into their game will be able to relate to his simple stories. I know they made a lot of sense to me.
I especially enjoyed the story entitled "Take Pleasure in It" on page 31. This story more than any other embodies my feelings for the game of golf. In it Harvey is talking to a friend and pupil of his prior to her playing in a Tournament. Harvey can tell she is nervous about playing and doesn't speak much to her. Finally, she says, "well I have to go play, now". Harvey says back, "You don't have to play, you get to play." The last sentence that story says, "Playing golf is a privilege, not a sentence", which is kind of what Waggle.com is all about. We actually enjoy this stuff!
The stories were interesting and short, which lends this book to being a good bathroom read. At 173 pages, it only took me about 3 hours of total reading time. This is a good one to have around for reference. Lefty.
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A Good Walk Spoiled: Days & Nights on the PGA Tour - John Feinstein
This book is by no means a quick read but it is very entertaining and provides an inside look at the PGA tour by touting some big names and some names that aren't quite as familiar.
Among the big names, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, John Daly, Nick Price and Nick Faldo. Feinstein goes into detail (and does not hold back his thoughts) on John Daly and Greg Norman. I was surprised to find out, and lets not sugar coat it, nasty things about these guys. On the other hand, I was a little surprised to read about Davis Love III, Nick Price and Nick Faldo, who were presented by Feinstein as some of golf's "nice guys". I found the Davis Love III Ryder Cup story at the beginning of the book to be a refreshing look at how these guys are really human after all.
Among the "others" there is Mike Donald, Paul Goydos, Bruce Fleisher, Jeff Sluman, Brain Henninger, and Jeff Cook. Feinstein talks about how these are the guys that really struggle to first, get to the PGA tour through Q-school, and then to remain there. It brought a new prospective to my views on these "high dollar" golf pros. A particularly interesting story included the battle that Brian Henninger had and how he scored a great personal victory while playing with crowd favorite John Daly during the final two rounds of the 1994 BellSouth Classic in Atlanta.
At 487 pages, this one will take a while to complete but Feinstein's "behind the scenes" look at golf and the PGA tour make it an interesting read. Lefty.
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Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf - Bill Murray w/George Peper
My brother-in-law and Caribbean Waggle Consultant gave me this book as a present so I thought I'd give him a credit. Bill Murray fans will truly love this book as it contains 7 chapters one for each day of the week.
Just as in real life, Monday and Tuesday start the book off a little slow (in my opinion) as Bill rambles on, sometimes incoherently, about various stuff; including family, childhood, and his mother in a way that only Bill Murray can. If you remember seeing his Lounge singer act on the old Saturday Night Live shows and thought it was disorganized, but none-the-less entertaining, then you will enjoy his ramblings of Monday and Tuesday.
I thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of the "week" as Bill discussed golf (imagine that!) and his crazy antics with other celebrities, golf pros, and the crowds at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He also spins funny (but true?) stories about his early life, although he often goes off on a tangent before completing the original thought. It is all Bill Murray though, and the frequent pictures in the book along with the witty captions often drew a LOL (laugh out loud) from me. To leave out Caddyshack, "the greatest golf movie ever made and arguably the greatest film ever made" just wouldn't be right. Bill doesn't fail us as he brings up some stories on it as well.
At 211 pages, double-spaced with lots-o-pictures (maybe that's why my brother-in-law gave it to me), this book can be read in a matter of hours. If you want a dose of Bill Murray, give this one a try. Lefty.
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