Book Description

In Final Rounds, James Dodson offers a touching, heartfelt, often humorous tribute to his father and the game they both loved as he tells the poignant story of his father's last days and how they set out to celebrate them with the golf tour of a lifetime.

To James Dodson, an editor of Golf magazine and a premier authority on the sport, his closest moments with his father were on the links. With his father approaching eighty, Dodson planned a dream golf trip through England and France, where the elder Dodson had first discovered his love for the game as an airman during World War II. But when he learned his father was suffering from an advanced form of cancer, the trip took on an added urgency. For Braxton Dodson had been given only a month or two to live.

Final Rounds takes us to Royal Lutham, where Bobby Jones captured his first Open championship in 1926; to the Royal Birkdale, where the same rains that swirled around Arnold Palmer in '61 fall upon the Dodsons; to Carnoustie, where Hogan played peerlessly in '53; and finally to the legendary St. Andrews, where the younger Dodson discovers something of the secret of the game's mysterious allure over pros and hackers alike.

But like golf itself, Final Rounds is about much more than just a game: it is about a journey of discovery between a father and a son, about long-held secrets shared, and about the valuable lessons a middle-aged man could still learn from his father on the importance of life, love, and family.

James Dodson is a contributing editor and regular columnist for Golf magazine and golf editor for Departures magazine. His work has appeared in Gentleman's Quarterly, Travel & Leisure, Outside, and numerous other national magazines. He won the Golf Writers of America Award for his columns in 1995. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I could not put the book down. James was me.
As James and his Dad take a final trip to Scotland, he and his wonderful Dad get to know each other and the love for each other, which had always been there becomes very personal. Golf is the game each loves and becomes the expression of their love for each other. They communicate and connect for long or short drives, it doesn't matter. The game of golf is there spoken and unspoken language. Opti, Jame's dad, has a few months to live, and his pain is numbed by playing and being near his son. They truely connect and James reads his dads words and remembers every detail of his life. The man is certainly teeing of with Bobby Jones, Julius Boros and Old Tom Morris. Waiting and watching are Love, Strange, Watson and a host of others who have shown the same respect for the game. Every golfer who was taught the game as a child by a parent (my Mother was my Opti) will relate and cry thru the last chapter, just as I did.

One of the most touching stories I've ever heard.
Truly an outstanding story wonderfully told. A love story about Dad's and son's that anyone with a heart will enjoy.

I listened to the tapes on a long trip. Upon returning home, the last tape was not complete so I sat in the car for 30 minuites to hear the end

Poignant and relevant to father-son relationships and golf
Even though I'd read the book, I recently bought the audio for a new long commute. James Dobson's reading of his own words is a poignant description of the journey he and his father make towards the end of their relationship. As with many aspects of life, golf and this journey reflect upon each other. The goals on the course mirror those in life; balance, harmony, relaxation while trying to achieve important goals. James Dobson narrates this journey, on and off the golf course, with compassion and humor. It has helped me in my thoughts about both golf and my father.. ... Read more

Book Description

A legend in his time! Tiger Woods has been a fixture in the world of golf since playing in his first professional tournament in 1992 at the age of 16. Since then he was won 37 tournaments, including all four majors. On April 8, 2001, at the age of 25, Tiger won the Masters and in doing so became the only golfer in history to hold all four major professional golf championship titles simultaneously. ... Read more

Book Description

In the few years that he has played golf on the pro circuit, TigerWoods has done more to popularize the game of golf than Arnold Palmer has in alifetime. Today, school-aged children around the country, from exclusive suburbsto inner city communities, are taking up golf. The game now has its own cabletelevision station with 24 hour-a-day programming. Golf is big.

It's appropriate then that Tiger Woods graces the cover of "Golf." Here are thegreat players who have repeatedly proven themselves on the course. These are themen and women with the nerve and skill to win. They are the champions who haveworn the cloak of victory with grace. "Golf" is an essential reference for allgolf fans and the perfect tribute to the game's top 300 men and women:

* Bobby Jones, the great American, true-blue amateur* Arnold Palmer, voted best known and loved* Gene Sarazen, first to win all four grand slam events* Mildred Zaharias, the beloved, all-around 'Babe' * Walter Hagen, ever flamboyant* Severiano Ballesteros, swashbuckling Spaniard* Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the most celebrated golfer* Tiger Woods, the breathtaking young player

Relive some of the greatest moments in golf, such as:

* Francis Ouimet, an unknown, shocks the golf world with his 1913 win of the USOpen* Gene Sarazen hits his most famous shot in the 1935 Masters* Doug Sanders makes his 1970 Open famous miss * Nicklaus' 1975 win - his sixth Masters* Seve Ballesteros becomes a legend in the 1976 Open* Bob Tway blasts Norman in the 1986 USPGA

The book includes the history of the four Major Championships. The playerprofiles and fact boxes give name, date of birth, career highlights, majorchampionship titles plus Ryder/Curtis Cup appearances for 280 of the world'sgreatest golfers. Photos and stories relive the most celebrated andunforgettable moments of all the major championships.

Alistair Tait has been writing about golf since 1987. For eight years he waseditor of "Golf Monthly" magazine, and before that editor of "Today's Golfer"magazine. He is a member of the Association of Golf Writers and is also aqualified Rules of Golf Referee, having passed the Royal & Ancient's Refereeingand Rules of Golf examination at St. Andrews in 1995. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tiger Woods: A Pictorial Biography could also be called Tigermania, since it celebrates the golfer's meteoric rise from a teenage phenomenon to the hysterics-inducing hero he is today. Some 20 photographers contribute roughly 90 photos--all splendidly reproduced in color to capture the golfing star in all his intensity, grace, determination, and fist-pumping jubilation. One can't help noticing how intensely his eyes focus on the tiny white ball in shot after shot or what a winning smile he has when things are going his way on the course and he's "in the zone."

As you begin delving into the now legendary story of this young marvel--who at 21 became the youngest man and the first minority player ever to win the Masters, by a record 12 strokes in 1997--you realize he possessed genius from his first swing. His father, Earl (who named him "Tiger" in honor of a friend who saved his life during two tours of duty in Vietnam), had been grooming him almost from birth. Rudy Duran, his first golf coach, exclaimed early on that "young Tiger is the 20th-century equivalent of Mozart." This book is a testimony to his gift, an early tribute to a young champion who is already considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. After Tiger won the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship, Earl Woods proclaimed, "Before he's through, my son will win 14 major championships." If you aren't a believer already, this book may well convert you. --Walt Opie ... Read more

Reviews (1)

And what not
Man. This book was like a dream come true. As I saw Tiger winning all of those tournaments and what not, I had to say damn. Then, I read this book. It was like another dream come true. He was hitting the birdies and eagles and what not. That day made me proud. Everyone should buy this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since storming onto the PGA Tour in 1996 and winning the Masters in1997, Tiger Woods has topped golf's leader boards in most of the importantcategories, including ink. No golfer--indeed, no athlete, except maybe MichaelJordan and Muhammad Ali--has been the subject of so many words in such a shorttime. In Raising the Bar, Tim Rosaforte adds to the flow, focusing on howWoods rebuilt himself and his game after the 1997 Masters and the slump of 1998.What's happened since, of course, is history.

And Rosaforte is there for every part of it. The conquests. The struggles. Theendorsements, the contracts, the commercials. Tigermania. The horribleperformance in the 1997 Ryder Cup matches. The doubts. The questions. Thereassessment and reformulation of his game under the guidance of Butch Harmon.The weightlifting and fitness routine. The streak. The majors. The Grand Slam.It's a riveting triumph of will and focus, hard work and raw talent.

If Woods's game raises the bar--and there's no doubt that it has--Rosaforte'schronicle can't quite match the standards set by his subject. Yes, the book iswell reported and certainly readable, but it seems rushed, a recapitulationchurned out to be timely, rather than an analysis of a phenomenon that might betimeless in itself. Perhaps it's just too soon to expect that in a book, but ifTiger can raise the bar on the course, there's no reason the scribes who havehim in their sights can't raise it some, as well. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Tiger Woods
Rising The Bar is a book about a famous golfer named Tiger Woods by Tom Rosaforte. This book follows Tiger as he makes his professional golf career. Tiger was 2 when he started picking up the game of golf. He would watch his father when he would go golfing. When Tiger was 12 he won his first state golf tournament and by the time he was 19 he was in the Junior PGA (professional golf association). By the time Tiger reached the age of 23 he won his first professional golf title.

This book is a very easy book to read, even though it's a big book. Tim uses very easy words to understand. This book follows Tiger through every championship starting from his first one.

I would recommend this book to people who like sports and seeing people do well even though they weren't expected too. I'm the kind of person that likes books that shows how good people do coming from a not so good background. I give this book *** because if follows every detail of Tiger starting when he was a kid.

Even Tiger Junkies Will Be Disappointed
I have seen Tim Rosaforte on the Golf Channel and read an excerpt in Golf Digest so I was looking forward to this book. There were so many errors and typos--misspellings, wrong words, one whole section out of place--that it was hard to concentrate on the text. Many of the quotes were simply taken from Golf Channel interviews and shows. There was little evidence of research. It was clear that this book was designed to make money by capitalizing on Tiger's celebrity and was rushed to print while we were still talking about the 2000 season. Do publishers have editors and proofreaders any more? Save your money.

SHALLOW STUFF HERE
I enjoyed the book simply because I enjoy reading just about anything about Tiger. That said, I must say I was rather disapointed in this particular read. Not much original thought or insight to be found here. I was rather amused at the author's efforts to use every arcane and obscure golf term he could think of. He was a bit like a "name dropper" but in this case, he used "golf jargon" rather than celebrities. I also found I extremely difficult to follow the sequence of events. The chronology did not always work out. (I do wonder why publishers do not use editors anymore???? If I had one I certainly would not be misspelling so many words). Often times I found one event or one bit of information referred to differently, even in the same paragraph. All in all, I have read better.

Raising The Bar
Boring. Boring. Boring.

I almost gave up on the book after about 30 pages, but it was given to me as a gift and I like to finish that which I start.

If this book had to be written (?) then it should have been written by someone who could at least hold your attention, if not excite.

Tim Rosaforte shows little writing talent and one wonders what he is doing to raise his own bar. His readers and Tiger deserve better.

Having read John Feinstein and having grown up with the writings of Jim Murray perhaps my bar is set too high.

To anyone who wants to take a chance on this book I recommend the public library.

Wait till they lower the price or hire a proofreader.....
I was genuinely distracted from the content as I found myself reading every page "looking for more typos, inaccurate facts, etc". Many are noted in previous reviews....Butch Harmon is referred to as Bruce....David Duval is later called Davis....etc. I do not know the publishing process but I would think an author should have a vested interested in proofing his product....as well as many others. It is obviously an effort to cash in (the book itself had interesting facts, if you can trust themmmmm)......but also seemed disjointed and like it was slapped together without connection between chapters....bottom line - an inferior quality product given it is a 24 dollar hardcopy new book......wait for the next revision...... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Players overview
A good book where you can learn about some of the best players of the moment. Nicely illustrated the book depicts the temper of the players and their background. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very entertaining book. Loved the stories!
This book was fun and easy to read. Jim Chenoweth has a great sense of humor, and I really enjoyed reading about his relationships with the stars. The golfing tips are great!!

Good book, funny stories
This was an enjoyable read. Some funny, interesting stories. I recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

When the United States Golf Association held the first national championships in October of 1895, at Newport Golf Club, the main event was the US Amateur, won by Charles B. Macdonald, a founder of the USGA. The Open was held the next day. It consisted of thirty-six holes--four times around Newports nine-hole course. Eleven players entered, and the winner, Horace Rawlins, won $150 and a gold medal. From these modest beginnings the Open has become one of the great sporting events in the world, and the ultimate challenge in golf.

In this new edition of The U.S. Open: Golf's Ultimate Challenge, veteran golf writer Robert Sommers provides the definitive history of this glorious event. Sommers follows the Open year by year--and often recounts historic rounds hole by hole--as he captures the drama of golf's greatest championship. Sommers provides memorable portraits of all the greats who have competed. We meet Willie Anderson, who dominated the Open at the turn of the century, winning four times in five years, and Francis Ouimet, the young American amateur who shocked the sports world by defeating the greatest player of the time, Harry Vardon, in a playoff for the 1913 Open. Sommers recounts how Walter Hagen, who had faded in the final round in 1913, almost quit golf for baseball, until a friend paid his way to the 1914 Open, which Hagen won. He describes Bobby Jones's close victory in the 1930 Open (helped by a controversial decision by referee Prescott Bush), the third leg of the famous Grand Slam, and he shows how Ben Hogan--still in pain from a terrible car accident almost 18 months earlier--survived a grueling Open at Merion, with both legs wrapped in bandages, to win in a playoff. Readers will also find vivid accounts of Arnold Palmer's stirring charge from behind at Cherry Hills (as well as his stunning debacle on the final nine at Olympic), Ken Venturi's moving victory at Congressional while near collapse from heat and dehydration, and Jack Nicklaus's face-to-face duel with Isao Aoki at Baltusrol. The new edition brings the book completely up to date, now covering the years from 1987 to 1995, including Curtis Strange's triumphs in 1988 and 1989; Tom Kite's blunders at Oak Hill, where he lost a three-shot lead on one hole, and his scrambling victory at Pebble Beach; and Corey Pavin's gritty performance at Shinnecock Hills. The book also features up-to-date statistics on the Open and a year-by-year summary of the event.

Here then is a vivid look at the ultimate golfing event, as Robert Sommers takes us inside the ropes and lets us watch, shot by shot, some of the greatest rounds in Open history. Equally important, he paints insightful portraits of the players themselves--whether Bobby Jones, or Gene Sarazen, or Ben Hogan, or Tom Watson--showing us what they had to overcome to win, both on and off the course, giving us a better sense of what makes a true champion. ... Read more

Book Description

To many players on the European Tour, he is simply "Reilly." To Seve Ballesteros, however, he is "The Legend." His real name is John O’Reilly, and for over 25 years he was one of European golf’s most famous caddies. Some might say "infamous." The Life of O’Reilly is a chronicle of John’s career as a caddie, and it’s full of funny stories as only this Irishman can tell them. Like the one about him being in San Francisco and having to get to New Zealand for the World Cup by going first to Atlanta, then London, then Atlanta, then Los Angeles, and then, finally, on to Auckland - for a total of 44 hours of flying! Or the one about the Tour pro who put his foot through his bag after a bad shot and could not get it out again! The Life of O’Reilly is a rollicking ride around the world of professional golf with one of the game’s most interesting characters. I hope that you’ll find this book as entertaining as I found Johnny to be throughout our three successful years on tour. There was never a dull moment!

Padraig Harrington ... Read more

Download Description

With two Masters Championships, nineteen career PGA victories, three NCAA Championships, and millions in earnings, Ben Crenshaw is without question one of the most successful golfers of the century. But Crenshaw's claim to fame goes beyond his individual performances. As captain of the 1999 Ryder Cup team, Crenshaw confronted the largest deficit in tournament history¿and the skepticism of commentators who suggested that he was the wrong man to manage the team in today's dog-eat-dog, mindgame world of match-play golf. Twenty-four hours later, Crenshaw proved all the critics wrong. In a hard-fought competition that kept viewers glued to their televisions, he brilliantly motivated a team of diverse personalities and, in the most thrilling match in Ryder Cup history, brought the Cup back to American soil. And he did it his way¿with grace, honor, dedication, and an encyclopedic knowledge of how the game should be played.A Feel for the Game is Crenshaw's warm tribute to golf and its traditions. He describes his early years learning the game from famed golf guru Harvey Penick, and takes readers through his career as an outstanding amateur to his glorious years on the PGA Tour, culminating in the climactic Ryder Cup victory. He introduces the players and teachers who have inspired him, from Penick and Bobby Jones to Jackie Burke, Tom Kite, and Payne Stewart. His reminiscences, his fascinating glimpses into golf history, and his unparalleled understanding of the nuances of play make this an engaging personal portrait of a man and a game that were made for each other. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Real Grand Slam of Golf
This is the story of the Grand Slam in Golf (US Amateur, US Open, British Amateur, and British Open) and the only golfer to ever win it. The Modern Slam ( Masters, US Open, British Open, and US PGA ) was conceived by the press when becomeing a pro golfer became an honerable profession and amateur golf went by the wayside. The story of Bobby Jones' 1930 Grand Slam is more exiting than any modern day golf story. Jones, who quit the competive game at 28 with 13 major championships is the greatest golfer who ever lived. Tiger is really chasing Jones not Nicklaus. ... Read more

Book Description

Until the "Arnold Palmer Era of Golf," the Game of Golf was played by the affluent and often called "a rich man's game." So it was in the decades of the 1930's through the 1950's that golf's popularity rose to the point where scores of golf courses were being built annually. Almost anyone could afford to play golf on some type of golf course.

From a depression era background Gene Burress rose to one of the top Golf Administrators and voices in the golf industry. Outspoken and controversial, his insight to public golf vs. the private sector and other aspects in the industry was to be heard. Golf became his god, affecting marriages and many relationships until he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord. There are many valley circumstances along with mountaintops. It is a unique worldwide golf journey playing golf in over 22 countries, 38 States and almost 600 golf courses documented in the last chapter.