Book Description

Each year, more than 1.5 million American families see their children off to their first year of college.It's a momentous day in the lives of high school graduates and their parents, and during this transitional time, parents' emotions include everything from anxiety to hope, guilt to pride, fear to relief.In She's Leaving Home, author Connie Jones chronicles two year in her own life, from the days when her daughter, Cary, fielded bids from more than a hundred colleges to her first year as a student at Smith College in Massachusetts.A story of spiritual journey and growth, the intimate, journal-like essays perfectly capture one mother's love and letting go of a daughter as she transforms into an adult.She's Leaving Home is a personal memoir that parents will relate to in the same way readers responded to Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions:A Journal Of My Son's First Year. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Loved it
This book should be considered required reading for any parents sending kids off to college. Funny and poignant, it articulately deals with the difficulty of reconciling the pain of loss with the pride of sending your child off into the world. The love that Ms. Jones has for her children shines through like a beacon, reassuring us that even though giving your kids up to the growing pains of burgeoning adulthood feels almost impossible, wiht patience and communication relationships can become even stronger. I highly recommend it for parents--or kids--who want to understand each other a little better.

This book helped me feel normal
After leaving my 18 year old daughter at a college 9 hours away from home this fall, I didn't anticipate how hard it would be. I was excited for her to have this experience in a great college town. I was unprepared for how I would feel like I had lost a body part, how I had to keep reminding myself that she didn't die, she's just away at college. This book verbalized many of my exact feelings about this experience. It was very helpful to me and made me feel better. The daughter in the book reminded me of my own vegetarian, jewelry wearing, intelligent, independent daughter. I recommend this book to other parents going through this life passage. ... Read more

Book Description

Follows the careers of black golfing pioneer whose tenacity won them the ultimate prize; the right to play as equals in the game they so fiercely love. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Good Read
This is a good introduction to the history of African Americans and their quest to enter the professional ranks / PGA. It needs to be read with Charlie Sifford's book which tells you the real deal. Kennedy really can't express the pain of black golfers, he gets close but the book is more of an overview. Key and critical details are left out of the book. I can't over emphasize how important it is for you to read Charlie Sifford's, Just Let Me Play as well as Calvin Sinnette's, Forbidden Fairways.

Dear author, thank you . . .
This is truly a long-overdue book. This was received as a birthday gift to my husband and I could not resist. Very well written and is a wonderful and tragic chronicle of America's history in human relations. Yes, we are better today. We are reminded of the wonders of all people and how much we have to learn from eachother. When will we have the ability to evaluate skill and talent beyond skin color or accent? This book reminds us to appreciate eachother. This should be required reading in our junior high schools as part of American history/social studies.

An inspiring story
After you read this book you may be angry or you may be happy, but you will definitely be inspired. The author has written a long overdue book about the lives and struggles of the many African American professional golfers who toiled and struggled--largely in obscurity--under the thumb of racism before cracking golf's color barrier. Just about every sports fan in America knows about Jackie Robinson and his heroic deeds, but few know names such as Bill Spiller and Teddy Rhodes. Pity. This book may finally engender the respect and compassion long denied the black golfers who paved the way for Tiger Woods, who today is the world's most popular athlete. A hearty thumbs up for this one! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

So so...
It is readable. The story of Sifford is a very inspiring one. The book was just written in a horrible way. Every other sentance starts with the word "hell". It gets boring afterwards. The first half of the book moves very slowly, but the second half picks up a little more speed. This book will let people know that before Tiger Woods, there was Charlie, Lee Elder, and a lot of other guys too. It is a very good book. What Sifford went through was just horrid, but that's the reality of the world we live in. I could never blame him for being so bitter after all these years of obstacles and not being praised for what he has done. Never mind praise - just for not being allowed to play the game of golf. My limited grasp on golf parlance probably made it a little boring to read this book. But it's a good book, although it may make you a little sleepy.

A great book!!!
I read this book a few years back before it was offered through normal distribution channels. Mr. Sifford was actually distributing this book from his home. Being from Greensboro and a golfer, I was extremely impressed by Mr. Sifford's commitment to the game and his determination to play as a PGA professional. You truly wonder what the golfing world has already missed by not allowing Mr. Sifford and other African American golfers to pursue their dreams. When Mr. Sifford was attempting to break the "color barrier" there were more black professional golfers than there is today! His story is heartbreaking and encouraing, what he and other black golfers experienced (to include in my hometown of Greensboro NC) is almost beyond belief! I would strongly recommend reading this book.

Any hacker worth his putter should read this one !
This book took me to a time when all african -americans could look to their heritage with pride. Jackie Robinson was a great man and I place the accomplishments of Charlie Sifford right along side of his. He showed us what real intestinal fortitude is all about. This should be required reading for all youngsters interested in participating in sports. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great story of courage under enormous pressure. This book teaches us about the strength and character we all posess inside. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Appearing within months of golfing sensation Tiger Woods's record-shattering win at the Masters, this appreciative portrait benefits from the author's friendship with the Woods family. (California-based sports journalist John Strege has been covering the 21-year-old golfer since he was 14.) Tiger comes across as genuinely nice and capable of being just one of the guys, despite the astonishing abilities already evident when he first swung a cut-down golf club as a 9-month-old toddler. Strege's snappy prose captures the excitement Woods has brought to a sport most Americans used to consider dull. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I
This book really had very little informative stuff. This guy obviously does not know how to write a good biography. It was sooo boring and there really wasen't that much stuff. It almost seems like John Strege collected a lot of newspapers and got some info. from the internet and went straight on to write what he calls a "biography". It's nothing but a summary a lot of games played by Tiger...nothing more! It doesn't go much into his personal life, if that's what you want.

Tiger Woods a Superstar
I read this book a couple of weeks ago for a book report in my english and i would rate it about a four out of a five. I like most of it but some of it didn't need to be in the book. There is a part about his swing and it was not very nessecry to add. That is one thing they could have kept out. Another thing that inpressed me alot was that they had alot about the first tournment he played in on the Tour. They also had alot of first like his first hole in one, his first best round, and the first time he played in a tournment. The best part of the book from my opionen is the part where they talked about how he was going to go the Stanford to play golf. The coach at Stanford was watching him play when he was 13 years old. Also, he played with Jack Nickulus, a great golfer when he was a child, at a camp in Florida. He was getting into the pros when he was about 20 years old. That is one of the youngest players ever to play on tour up intill today. The coach of Stanford was a very good golfer a long time ago named Mr. Goodwin. He made the program at Stanford very well and and developed. What made him such a good golfer was when he was young he went to the range and hit balls more then he played on the course.

Good biography
A good biography of Tiger. Goes into details of his growing up period, his life during college and as an amateur. Well written.
Old now and hence some facts have changed. Covers till his professional debut, still very interesting reading

I think that this book and i would recomend it
I thought that this book about tiger woods is a good book because it has alot of information on him from when he was a baby to when he turned into a pro golfer. In the biography tiger starded golfing at three years old ,tiger was even on a tv show to show the would how good he was at four years old. as he was growing up tiger entered into alot of tornaments and because he was so good he became pro after coming out of stanford college. i would recomend this book to people who are wanting to know alot about tiger woods.

Excellant Book
This book is very well written. And besides the facts may be a little off. It is a must read for any golf fan!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Golf is sometimes referred to as "the wicked game" because it is fiendishly difficult to play well. Yet in the parlance of the Tiger Woods generation, it's also a wickedly good game -- rich, glamorous, and more popular than ever.

When we think about golf -- as it is played at its highest level -- we think of three names: Tiger Woods, the most famous sports figure in the world today, Arnold Palmer, the father of modern golf, and Jack Nicklaus, the game's greatest champion. In this penetrating, forty-year history of men's professional golf, acclaimed author Howard Sounes tells the story of the modern game through the lives of its greatest icons. With unprecedented access to players and their closest associates, Sounes reveals the personal lives, rivalries, wealth, and business dealings of these remarkable men, as well as the murky history of a game that has been marred by racism and sex discrimination. Among the many revelations, the complete and true story of Tiger Woods and his family background is untangled, uncovering surprising new details that inspire the golfer's father to exclaim, "Hell, you taught me some things about my life I never knew about!" Earl Woods and other members of Tiger Woods's family, his friends, girlfriends, caddies, coaches, and business associates were among the 150 people interviewed over two years of research. Others included Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, fellow champions such as Ernie Els, Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, and Tom Watson, and golf moguls such as Mark H. McCormack, billionaire founder of the sports agency IMG.

The Wicked Game is a compelling story of talent, fame, wealth, and power. Entertaining for dedicated golfers, and accessible to those who only follow the game on television, this may be the most original and exciting sports book of the year.

Reviews (3)

A page-turning history of golf that stays with you
The story of men's professional golf since the 1950s is laid out in an easy-to-read, highly enjoyable style. The chapters are well-crafted, and lively and fun. The stories of the classic major tournaments are re-told in a fresh way, based on new interviews. But the heart of the book is what we don't usually learn about the likes of Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods (also Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Byron Nelson et al): the business deals, the politics, the personal lives. And some of these golfing heroes have feet of clay. Criticism is well-balanced and fair-minded, however, unless you happen to think pro' golf already has an open-handed attitude to women and ethnic minorities. Sounes obviously has a low opinion of the golf establishment, bodies like the PGA and PGA of America. But at the same time there is real affection here for the great tournaments and genuine appreciation of big characters like Arnie Palmer who are, whatever their faults, interesting men who have lived rich lives. Now I know exactly how rich.

Interesting but tries too hard
Some interesting stories on the business dealings of the Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods but I don't buy the agrguments regarding discrimination in the PGA. It is too easy to carve out one piece in the overall history of race relations and make Palmer and Nicklaus (and other major golfers) look bad for not leading the charge for change. Many American failed in this area.

And why doesn't the author focus on Woods lack of involvement in making change? Woods is like Palmer and Nicklaus in their day - great golfers focused on their game.

A great read!
I bought this book after reading a rave review and it is a tremendously engrossing read: the whole story of modern golf in its glory, and the skeletons in its closet. Many surprises. Finely written. Often funny, and a new take on Tiger Woods for sure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Donald Ross, one of Scotland's great exports to America, has designed or remodeled some of the most magnificent and challenging courses on the planet. His commentaries on the rationale behind his architecture, penned before World War I but only recently rediscovered, present a continuous fairway of graceful and thoughtful insights into the game. Is there a golfer alive who can't make use of such gems as "Holes should be trapped so that par golf depends upon skill rather than upon strength," or "Hazards are placed so as to force a (golfer) to use judgment and to exercise mental control in making the correct shot"? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An Architect's Eye-View of Golf Course Design Strategy
In the introduction to this book, Donald Ross's daughter says, ". . .he approached every new course with the idea that the golf player, champion or duffer, should complete his round challenged by the layout and enriched by the beauty of nature."

In his career, Donald Ross designed more than 400 courses in the United States. His most famous is Pinehurst No. 2, considered one of the ultimate tests of tournament golf.

This book was created from an old manuscript Mr. Ross wrote in 1914 that was never published, intended as a guide to future golf architects, supplemented with other published commentaries by and about Ross.

Mr. Ross had an unusual background for a golf course architect. In a time when engineers usually designed and built the courses, he had served as the pro and greenskeeper at Dornoch in Scotland, after training at St. Andrews with Old Tom Morris and at Carnoustie. The lure of much higher income and the opportunity to build lots of golf courses drew him to the United States with his first job of rebuilding Oakley in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Here are some of the ideas he shares in the book:

"These are my standards to laying out a golf course.

Make each hole a different problem.

So arrange it that each stroke must be made with full concentration and attention necessary to good golf. Build each hole in such a manner that it wastes none of the ground at my disposal, and takes advantage of every possibility I see."

A sandy loamy soal is best, with very little humus. This gives you better playing conditions and a longer season. Long Island and Cape Cod are best.

Avoid clay soils because they are hard to drain. Unfortunately, most land around major cities is clay soiled. Favor fan-shaped and oblong tracts of land so that the clubhouse can be returned to with little wasted land after 9 holes.

Start out with two or more easy holes.

Favor par 4s unless people insist on par 5s. Par 4s make a better test, especially 425-450 yard ones.

On par 5s, provide two paths to the green -- one for reaching in 2 and one for reaching in 3.

"Select your putting green locations, if possible, to give desirable undulating surfaces."

"Make all the short holes difficult."

"The holes should be trapped so that par golf depends on skill rather than physical strength."

"Bunkers should so be placed as to be clearly in view, and in such locations as to make all classes of golfers think."

He recommends designing from the land, rather than on paper. He also suggests building the best few holes the land will allow, because golfers are attracted and retained by memories of great and challenging holes. He ends humbly with "I am not much of a writer. I find my thoughts run far ahead of my hand and figures when I sit down to write."

There are about 60 pages in the book that will be valuable to architects and greenskeepers, but will not do much for golfers. You may choose to skip those.

The book lists the known Donald Ross courses, and has many beautiful black and white photographs and illustrations.

One of the pleasures of reading this book for me relates to having played on many Donald Ross courses, and belonging to a country club (Brae Burn in West Newton, Massachusetts) that has a Donald Ross course. The book features 3 photographs from our course (the 1st, 2nd, and 17th holes). I will certainly have many new thoughts whenever I play this course after reading this interesting book. To golf's pleasures, I can now add thinking about what the architect was trying to accomplish.

I also came away with a greater appreciation for Donald Ross, because he was trying to make golf more challenging and less frustrating for the average club golfer like me. This made me want to play many more Donald Ross courses in the future. I hope you have that reaction, too.

Use this book to help you pick courses that will improve your enjoyment of golf!

What else do you enjoy doing where the designer or architect makes a difference to you?

If you like this book, there is a new book out with color photographs of 18 of Mr. Ross's finest holes that you should see entitled: Golf as It Was Meant to Be Played which I also reviewed.

An essential read for those interested in golf course design
Donald Ross was the pivotal figure in the establishment of golf as a recreational sport in the U.S. His courses remain as challenging today as they were during his times.

This book gives the reader insights into how to view a course with a critical eye. And after reading it, one can quickly identify the trademark features of a Ross design and perhaps score a little better on it.

The book also provides a comprehensive listing of courses.

--The man who is going to play every Donald Ross course.

great insight about golf's greatest architect
This book is timeless. Written over fifty years ago the text and accompanying photos and sketches are well done. If you want to understand a Donald Ross Golf Course then you need to read this book.The photographs are from a time gone by - you can picture yourself there. ... Read more

Book Description

"He was a man of great faith, a devoted husband and compassionate father, a man of tremendous generosity.Payne Stewart represented the best of golf." -Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner

When his life came to a sudden and tragic end on October 25, 1999, Payne Stewart was at the top of his game on every level.In June of 1999, he enjoyed the signature triumph of his career and solidified himself as one of the exemplary personalities in his profession with a victory at the U.S. Open and a place on the coveted winning U.S. Ryder's Cup team.However satisfying his professional accomplishments were, it was his personal triumphs that made him stand out.The last several years of his life were marked by a distinct personality change that Stewart attributed to his renewed faith in God.

Those closest to Stewart said his family and faith were what mattered most to him.At his funeral, his wife Tracey described him as a devoted husband and father and a devout Christian.She said, "After 18 years of marriage, he was still the most beautiful man I had ever seen, because of what he was on the inside." ... Read more

Reviews (33)

One of the best biographies of the year!
The Payne Stewart biography authored by the late golfer's widow is one of the most moving, inspiring biographies I've read. More than just a sports book, or a book about a celebrity--the life and legacy of Payne Stewart, on and off the course, comes shining through. Each page reinforces the reasons why this story deserved to be told. Tracey Stewart describes her husband with candor and realism, tempering the emotion of her loss with the rock-solid assurance her faith provides that Payne is at peace.

Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography
An inspiring, nourishing book! Tracey Stewart is quite frank about life on the PGA Tour -- the struggles, victories and Payne's battles through both. The recounting of the tragedy that took his life is moving, heartbreaking but lovingly shared -- i couldn't put it down.

Well, I have ADHD and it kept my attention.
Hat's off to Tracey for her work in getting this together. Though lacking in specific details of his past behaivors enough is said to allow the reader to understand the change in his character once he accepted Christ. This book is not another Christian testimony. It contains the elements of a what makes a good man. We are all sinners and a perfect picture is not painted here. Payne was a great golfer and a great man that many could learn from. Then again, just act like you think Jesus would have and you will be close to the mark of Payne. Thank you for a great book Tracey.

Payne Stewart, the best
I have recently finished the biography of payne stewart. It was one of the best books I have ever read. From start to finish of the book I was always interested.The best parts of the book is when it talks about all the tournaments he has been in and winning the U.S. open in 1999.

Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography---A HOLE IN ONE!!
What an inspirational book based on the life of Payne Stewart. You could literally feel the love that Tracey had for Payne. No, I am sure that Payne wasn't a saint. Who of us is? But, he was a great man, a great father, and a great golfer who is sadly missed by thousands of his fans and followers.

Payne was a devout Christian who was coming into his own. The scope of what his personal witnessing ministry could have become will now be tested in his death rather than his life. I know that it has served to strengthen my testimony and for that I will forever be indebted to Payne Stewart.

Thanks Tracey and kids for sharing Payne with us! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The title sets the tone for David Owen's delightful romp through golf's mysteries, marvels, and malevolences: "Just once," goes the traditional Scottish lament, "I wish I would play my usual game." Owen, who turned away from golf as a kid because Richard Nixon played it and Jerry Garcia didn't, sets out anew to find his game in all the usual--and not so usual--places: he searches for a swing at golf school; pursues golf's enigmas in Scotland; explores the secrets of club design at the Ping factory; follows Freddie Couples at the Ryder Cup; and, once he gets his handicap down to a respectable single digit, sets out to tear up some of the best courses in the land.This is a wonderful odyssey into a maddening game, and Owen covers his course with sharp insight, prose as smooth as Augusta's greens, and wit as inviting as the bottom of the cup. But don't let his sense of humor lull you; Owen is serious about his quest to come to terms with this game. His ability to accept "the difference between a slice and a draw is a certain number of beers" is--no kidding--sober testament to that. No hacker on the planet would disagree. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book
I laughed (Myrtle chapter).. I cried (Top Ten chapter).. A roller coaster of action and suspense (Disney Pro-Am Chapter).. a Thriller (Ireland Chapter- or more specifically, Irish cuisine)...Humorously captures the emotions of anyone who suddenly (and dramatically) becomes smitten with this game. Only true golf lovers need apply.

He is every avid golfer
If you think of golf while at the office, in the car, on the can; if you perform practice swings whenever you are sure you will not hit a wall, furniture or another person; if you dream of playing every course that has been mentioned just barely favorably in print, you will love this book. I saw myself and every golfer I have ever met in this book. And I couldn't help but laugh at most of those golfers that Owen met including himself sometimes. I also felt much envy for the courses he was able to play especially in the UK. He moves from subject to subject as smoothly as a putt on the number 1 green on the first day of the Masters. This book brings an understanding to the game for hackers that you don't get from watching pros. Loved it.

This book is laugh out loud funny.
This book is laugh out loud funny for any hacker who enjoys the frustration of this game. David Owen is obviously in love with the game and gives us many a humorous note as well as useful tips. He takes the edge off those momentary urges to throw our clubs into the nearest lake. L.J. Skeie

Outstanding
Wonderful book...easily the best book I read all last year. I've read it twice thru now and its still great. I laughed out loud many times--mainly because I saw myself or others I know in Owen's stories. A must-have for anyone who enjoys golf.

Brilliant
This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read all year! Very funny and full of interesting information. The guy is a hoot! I especially loved the chapter about his trip to Myrtle Beach ... Read more

Book Description

George Bahto's "The Evangelist of Golf" is the definitive work detailing the course layouts and historical contributions of two of the great masters of the craft.Charles Blair Macdonald and his protege, Seth Raynor, are widely recognized as two of the 20th century's greatest golf course architects, and "The Evangelist of Golf" is a compelling study of their work and their lasting influence on the game.With an impressive array of stunning original images, this pictorial is as comprehensive as it is attractive. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great National Golf Links Coverage
This is an awesome review of C.B. MacDonald but is mainly a book about the road to creating the National Golf Links.

Of course, there's a healthy dose of Raynor as well, but this makes complete sense.Whereas MacDonald would create the course designs and plans, Raynor would most often turn around and handle the course development.

I think the research and the writing behind this from Bahto is most excellent + no sugar coating.Simple honest unbiased delivery of what happened and how, but even more importantly you will "know" the National.

Picture wise, I thought the historical pics were very interesting.However, I thought it was rather difficult to match up any "pre" and "post" pics for any of the changes that took place to any of the holes being described.Furthermore, there were several recent color pics that were repeated in various sections.Unfortunately, I didn't think several of the pictures conveyed what the text was trying to explain at times.Few angles were used to show by pictures what was making each and every hole so special.

Other than that, I highly recommend this book for its content.Very well done overall.Above all, the description of each hole and how they work together to create a seamless golfing experience is the best I've read thus far.The supporting hole drawings help as well to complete the course visualizing.I just think I could visit the National tomorrow and would be as ready as possible to play it from a course management perspective.You just sense you'd know what to look out for and appreciate.

There's also a strong review of the Yale course and I think the Lido review, although brief, was most interesting.What a course the Lido must have been to play.

Excellent.

Evangelist of Golf
A wonderful work by Mr. Bahto.A must read for any serious golf architecture student.The photos and drawings are amazing.The chapter on National is worth the price of the book alone. Great read.

what term describes "beyond must read"
The "Evangalist" should be sufficient to re-direct the path of contemporary golf course design from its current preoccupation with window dressing and waterfalls to the structural soundness and strategic integrity inherent in Macdonald/Raynor's work. Devotees of this book will require hospitalization the next time they hear the hot architect of the day say that he doesn't want to adapt old principles when there are "so many new strategies yet to be developed".

what term describes "beyond must read"
The "Evangalist" should be sufficient to re-direct the path of contemporary golf course design from its current preoccupation with window dressing and waterfalls to the structural soundness and strategic integrity inherent in Macdonald/Raynor's work. Devotees of this book will require hospitalization the next time they hear the hot architect of the day say that he doesn't want to adapt old principles when there are "so many new strategies yet to be developed".

the evangelist
great read and terrific reference! a must for any serious student of architecture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Slight, wordy, but interesting, tale of golf's Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones is one of the most revered names in the rich history of golf. However, beyond the fact that all golf fans, and many casual observers, know that Jones won what was golf's Grand Slam in 1930 (U.S. Open, British Open, U.S. Amateur, British Amateur) and created Augusta National Golf Club and the Master's tournament, little is known about the man beyond a few blurbs. What better way to really learn about the man than to read the authorized biography penned by Jones' personal confidante, journalist O.B. Keeler. Unfortunately, a great opportunity seems to have been missed here. While "The Bobby Jones Story" does capture the amazing feats of golf career, it gives very little insight into the man himself. Keeler writes this biography less as a study of Bobby Jones and more as just an excited observer who was present for much of Jones' accomplishments.

Let it not be said that there isn't anything of worth in this book, though. The three-star rating obviously means that there are enough redeeming qualities to recommend it. The reader is able to get some insight into the pressures golf placed upon Jones. Pressure so great that he had decided to retire from competitive play following the 1930 season, Grand Slam or not. It also shows that earlier in his career, before he started winning majors, Jones could be considered by the Phil Mickelson of his era. He was gambler with his game who often went for too much with tournaments on the line and was frequently the victim of just horrible luck in tournaments, not unlike Mickelson today.

This book also benefits from detailing the amazing golf accomplishments of Jones. The seven-year run of success Jones had between 1923-1930 is unmatched in the annals of golf, even with Tiger Wood's modern mastery (13 major wins, including 7 straight U.S. titles). That success is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the only competitve golf Jones played during that period was at the majors. "The Bobby Jones Story" covers these matches and their key moments in great detail.

Alas, that three-star rating also indicates that this book suffers in many areas. Most of the problems center around Keeler's literary style and choices. One such problem may just be symptomatic of time period in which the book was written. Keeler has a tendency to use certain antiquated words when describing the action on the golf course. He uses words like 'niblick', 'mashie', and 'mashie-niblick' to describe types of clubs being used without ever explaining what exactly those clubs are. While that could just be indicative of the language of the time, it is distracting to the contemporary reader who has no idea what those are.

Another area where Keeler makes a mistake is with his tendency to use hyperbole to describe Jones' accomplishments. Far too many times Keeler refers to a shot made by Jones, or a round or tournament played by Jones as the 'best he's ever seen' or 'best Jones ever played'. This happens too much and leads the reader to believe that there are far too many occasions of Jones' best ever accomplishments.

Keeler seems to also be writing in a 'stream of consciousness' style. He skips around too much with stories he's telling. One moment, the 1925 U.S. Open is being discussed and the next line or paragraph, Keeler is talking about events in 1926 Open without using any sort of segue or transition statements to indicate to the reader that such a change has occurred. The readers will often find themselves having to backtrack just to make sure they have sequence of events understood correctly. Keeler also focuses on too short a period of Jones' life, from the start of his golfing career as a young teen until his retirement at age 28 in 1930. Keeler, himself, died in 1953 and this book was released just prior to his death. There was plenty opportunity to go into detail about Jones' creation of Augusta National and The Masters. There also should have been mention of Jones' remarkable war record in World War II. Not of that makes its way into this book and that's a shame.

This is not a bad read, though. Though incomplete and wordy, "The Bobby Jones Story" is still an interesting look at a portion of the life of Bobby Jones from a close, first-person observer. ... Read more

Book Description

The late 1920s and early 30s were the Golden Age of American golf, when many of the greatest amateurs and professionals to play the game were at the peak of their careers. Most notably among these was Bobby Jones, the legendary amateur from Atlanta, Georgia. In 1930, Bobby Jones captured golf's greatest achievement, the Grand Slam, by winning the U.S. Amateur, British Amateur, U.S. Open and British Open Championships in a single season, an unprecedented and unmatched feat in the history of the game. Golf's Golden Age celebrates Bobby Jones and 61 of the premier players he competed against, including Chick Evans, Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Walter Travis and Gene Sarazen, in his quest to win the Grand Slam through a series of never before seen vintage photographs from Jones' private collection. A biographic sketch of each golfer will accompany the photographs, taken by legendary golf photographer George Pietzcker. The profiles will provide an overview of each player's career, their contribution to the game's history, and a contemporary quote (preferably from Jones) drawn from the rich archives of the USGA library. Introductory essays will set the tone for the book discussing the Golden Era of American Golf and the significance of the Grand Slam, and provide an overview on the life, career and contributions of George Pietzcker. A concluding essay will detail Jones' rich history and contribution to the game of golf. Golf's Golden Age will be produced with the full cooperation and endorsement of the USGA including images and artifacts from their vast archives.

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Terrific Read!
Just finished reading Payne at Pinehurst--couldn't put it down.

I'm a big golf fan and that U.S. Open ranks as the best I've seen. The detail Chastain goes into was fascinating in describing Payne Stewart's path toward claiming golf's ultimate prize Chastain obviously knows his subject well and has a way with words. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, and not just golfers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's hard enough to carry the name of a famous father. Davis Love III took on even more pressure when he stepped into his famous father's spikes and went out, like his father before him, to earn his living on the Professional Golf Association tour. Fortunately for the son, the father was not only a fine player, he was also one of the country's most respected golf teachers, and he taught his son well. Love III's homage to Love Jr., who was killed in a plane crash, is a literal love-fest, a gracefully emotional hybrid of personal memoir and golfing wisdom. Like Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, the instructional portion of Every Shot I Take, collected from the father's compulsive note-takings, is filled with the kinds of nuggets--practical and inspirational--that golfers cling to when the sweet spot on their clubs begins to turn sour. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Wonderfully powerful and insightful reading.
Even if you are not a true golf fan, this is one book you should read. The instructional tips are inevitably useful and the inspiration that you receive will stay with you. For all of us who idolized our fathers, this book expresses those feelings wonderfully and compassionately. Thank you for writing this book Davis.

Excellent book for golfers and non-golfers.
I recently read this book and I was thoroughly pleased. I think the book offers many helpful tips and drills for golfers of all skill levels. It also tells a great story about Davis' family and the relationship he had with his father. A couple of chapters are heart wrenching when he discusses his father's plane crash and how the family had to deal with his death. I think that all golfers will like this book.

Every Shot I Take...
Every shot I take is a classic peace written by my favorite golfer, Davis Love III. This book portays his relationship with his father and how this father, Davis Love Jr., helped him on his way to success and on his way to becoming a great golfer and American. This book tells about this Davis Jr., Masters debut in 1988. The U.S.G.A. Book of the year was truly amazing and I would read it again and again.

A wonderful book about the game of golf and family legacy
As a former PGA Apprentice, I tried to read every golf book I could. Not only is this one of the best, filled with many outstanding tips and suggestions, but a wealth of insights into the best game in the world. I highly reccommend this book to beginners and advanced players alike. In a game where "perfection is un-attainable," every mental edge is worthwhile - this book provides many. Oh, and it also happens to be a lot of fun to read!

You the Man, Davis!
Davis is so classy a person and a talented golfer. What about that shot on 17th at Augusta? This book tugs at your heart relating the death of his father. Then the episode with his first major and the rainbow. His brother caddying. The eleven cent putting drill (I keep the putter and eleven cents in the den for practice since then.) This endures many who never pulled for this humble man cheer for another big win for DL3 and the rest of his legion fans pull for another title for our hero! Keep on being you, DL3. You and Freddie are our guys. Thanks for this read. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Inside The Champion's Mind
Great read, one all golfers will want to make, as Nicklaus suggests in the modern edition foreward.

Why return to an outdated time of wood shafts and limitef flight balls? One finds it in this read, the character and strength of this great amateur.

What impressed this reviewer was Jones' humbleness, and love for the game. He wasn't really into all the winning, which in fact caused him anxiety. Moreover he was into the challenge against Ole Man Par and himself. He relished the comradre with his fellow competitors and is most quick to give them praise rather than discuss what he didn't have in his game that round.

Neat to realize that his prized trophy was the first, which he thought was improperly awarded to him, while Alexa Sterling should have won it, no question. This is what golf is about, not slugging it 300+ yds. to screaming fans playing for millions.

Takes us back to what the game is and should remain. It's become far too commercialized.

Will take a honored position in my growing golf book collection to be fondly recalled and reread.

Tradition
Bobby Jones shares his perspective on winning, losing, and his life-long battle against "Old Man Par". This is a must read for any serious student of golf history and tradition.

A Great Champion and Charming Companion
If you not only enjoy playing golf but also cherish the game's traditions and values, and if you could purchase only one book about golf, this is it. Whether or not Jones is the greatest golfer ever is a judgment I eagerly entrust to those foolish enough to debate it. Suffice to say that he was among the greatest players and among the finest gentlemen ever associated with golf. Published in 1927 when Jones was just 25, three years before he won what has since been designated "The Grand Slam", this is a book in which Jones (in collaboration with Keeler) invites his reader to accompany him "down the fairway" of a life as well as a game. The first eleven chapters review the competitive process until what he characterizes as his "Biggest Year." In the final chapter of Part One, Jones observes that, "I started the year 1926 with one glorious licking and closed it with another. And it was the biggest golf-year I'll ever have." Or so he then thought. In that year, we're told, "Walter Hagen gave me the first drubbing, and of all the workmanlike washings-up I have experienced, this was far and away the most complete" and later, "George [von Elm] was too much for me....He simply outplayed me. It was coming to him....It was George's turn. So the biggest Year ended, as it began, with a beating. Still, I'll always feel kindly toward 1926."

In Part Two, Jones shares just about everything he has learned (to that point) about the mental as well as physical skills needed to play golf well. What struck me, throughout the book, is Jones's candor. For example, "There are times when I feel I know less about what I am doing than anybody else in the world." He discusses putting ("a game within a game"), the pitch shot ("a mystery"), iron play ("I like it"), "the heavy artillery" (woods), miscellaneous shots ("and trouble"), and in the final chapter "Tournament Golf." The reader is provided with a generous selection of photographs, many of which I (at least) had not seen previously. "Early in this little book I made the statement that there were two kinds of golf -- golf, and tournament golf; and that they were not at all the same." When concluding this book, Jones acknowledges that he's been "awfully lucky. Maybe I'll win another championship, some day. I love championship competition, after all -- win or lose." What will it feel like when he days of tournament competition have ended? "It's going to be queer." Then he confides, as his "little book" ends: "But there's always one thing to look forward to -- the round with Dad and [other kindred spirits]; the Sunday morning round at old East Lake, with nothing to worry about, when championships are done." Three years after sharing these thoughts and feelings, Jones won the Grand Slam and then retired from tournament competition. Some people have expressed their preferences for those with whom they would like to share a "fantasy dinner." Were it possible, I would like to share a "fantasy round of golf" with Bob Jones, Walter Hagen, and Harvey Penick. Given the impossibility of that, I must seek their companionship in books such as this.

A must read in golf, golf history
Down the Fairway is a must read in the subject of golf and golf history written by a very wise but young Bobby Jones. As one of the greatest golfers of all time Jones ' words carry a lot of weight. But it is not just his instruction included in the book; his love of the game and his genuine feelings for it are a welcome respite from today's money golf. Included in the work are stirring chapters recounting some of Jones' greatest victories and the benefits he discovered in golf. There are many photgraphs in the book including some this reader had not seen before that are quite advanced for the time period. This book should be sought by all who are interested in golf. It is a good read and a gives a great feeling about the game of golf. ... Read more

Book Description

Biography of professional golfer Moe Norman. Considered to be the game's best ball striker. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

At Home on the Range
As recently as 10 years ago, Moe's Norman's very existence was considered apocryphal. A few American golf pros, Paul Azinger and Lee Trevino come to mind, told stories about an eccentric Canadian with a strange swing so accurate he could stand on a driving range and hit the 250 yard sign repeatedly with his driver. Or they told of the time he hit three balls off the tee that were later found huddled together like mushrooms in the middle of the fairway. Then there's the time that, upon hearing someone in the gallery say he was a poor putter, he proceeded to hit a hole-in-one, boasting "I guess I won't be putting today." They said he was so good that if a hole called for a 3-wood and an 8- iron, he'd play it 8-iron/3-wood just to keep it interesting. The stories always held the not-so- subtle claim that if Norman had played the US tour, no one would have ever heard of Jack Nicklaus.

But nobody had seen him recently. He was a ghost. Finally, in 1995, Golf Digest ran a cover story that brought Moe and his strange swing back to life. By that time he had become the poster boy for a new golf movement called Natural Golf, and the leaders of that company were splashing Moe's image around as much as they could. This biography soon followed.

Fortunately, readers of "The Feeling of Greatness" will discover not an advertising piece, but a balanced look at a complicated man. Because of a childhood head injury, or perhaps just because genetics occasionally breeds the strange and unusual, Moe Norman represents obsessive-compulsion applied to golf. He is described as golf's "Rain Man", a savant-like creature of habit who found solace in striking golf balls -- hundreds a day for thousands of days -- but who was so shy, he wouldn't appear at awards ceremonies. He muttered a continuous stream-of-consciousness monologue and played so quickly that he often struck his shot before his partner had pulled his tee out of the ground. He never paused over putts, but rather hit them in full stride. He was not your typical golf pro.

However, while he was very successful on the Canadian tours of the 50s and 60s, he was a flop on the US PGA tour and, in fact, was reprimanded by fellow pros for boorish behavior. The book is honest enough to make it clear that any notion of his tearing up the US tour if only given a fair chance is just false. While he is generally regarded as one of the finest ball strikers of all time, he never came to terms with the real scoring clubs in his bag - his wedge and putter. In the end, Moe Norman was most at home on the driving range, where he gives impressive demonstrations to this day.

You should see Moe in action
Having lived in the North Florida town where Moe and Craig Shankland give golf clinics every Wednesday of the winter, I have watched Moe in action many times, continually to my amazement. One day, during my 1000 balls a day stint, Moe gave me a lesson I will never forget. He's wonderful. I only wish the jerks on the tour could have accepted his idiosyncracies and made him feel comfortable out there. But who wants to make someone who can beat the pants off you feel comfortable?

The best ball striker ever didn't made it to the top.
This is a great story of a relatively unknown personality who could not be a part of the "system". His whole life is unconventional; however, his golf is exceptional. An upolished man, Moe Norman never achieved PGA greatness in the US, but is a legend in the amateur ranks in Canada, owning 33 course records and several rounds shot in the 50's. I was fascinated by the many examples of his ball striking capabilities, like hitting over 1500 drives in one afternoon. Each one traveled over 220 yards and each was in a 30 yard wide fairway. The average golfer loves this story. A guy like you and me CAN hit the ball well! That is what we all want.

A superb read for both natural and conventional golfers
Moe Norman's incredible, tumultous life is thoroughly chronicled in this book, complete with photographs. If you use the natural golf system and are as passionate about it as I am (and most natural golfers are) you will thorougly enjoy this book. Conventianal golfers will also enjoy learning about Moe, the greatest ball striker ever. His life was full of ups and downs, and certainly was never dull!

the golf world's "rainman"
i have read this book three times, moe is the average person with above average desire. if he can become the great golfer that he is with the adversity he had, it should make anyone with the ability to swing a club try harder. most of this book is about moes selfimposed barrers of selfconsciousness moe did it his way and was successful. a must read for any serious golfer ... Read more