5 comments about First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters from Taft to Bush.

1. I bought this book for my father-in-law but I enjoyed reading it when I visited him. Good for any golfer that likes to read, or for someone who enjoys presidential history. Most of the anecdotes have no quoted source, so who knows if they've been embellished, but that doesn't spoil the book.



2. I don't golf. Never did. Never will. I think golf is borrrring.... but, I bought this book for a guy who loves golfing. Absolutely loves it. He claims to be good at it. Well, he loved the book. He was laughing when he told me about how much he enjoyed it. I think he really appreciated getting the book, especially getting it from someone who doesn't know a thing about golf! I recommend this as a gift for anyone who golfs. Especially someone who would enjoy the history of the presidential golfers.



3. Author Van Natta, a New York Times correspondent and 100+ golfer, believes (like most golf-lovers everywhere) that you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about someone by watching him/her play golf. He takes it one step further, however, finding golf particularly revealing of a President's personality and values. "Nearly every person in a president's privileged life says yes...Only the golf course says no."

   Accumulating fascinating anecdotes from his research into the golf games of the Presidents, and combining these with his own experience as a reporter, which includes more than two years spent covering President Clinton, he shows how a President's golf game reflects the inner man. Fourteen of the last seventeen Presidents were golfers to one degree or another, and no reader, whether a golfer or not, will be disappointed in the unique insights and revealing anecdotes the author gives us of Presidents at leisure. What makes this book different from so many others, is that Van Natta is a real writer, carefully choosing his quotations (including on-course remarks), narrating anecdotes so that they have real climaxes, and emphasizing details that are so telling that no reader will fail to see parallels between the man's golf and his Presidential administration.

   Though JFK is adjudged the best player of the fourteen, with an "effortless swing," few citizens knew how addicted he was to the game, something he kept secret because, after Eisenhower's administration, golf was considered a political liability. (Ike left cleat marks in the floor leading from the Oval Office to the practice green outside his window.) Ike, JFK, FDR (who was a passionate golfer until he was stricken with polio at age 39), and Gerald Ford are considered the purists of the game, and none of them were ever caught lying about a score, using mulligans (extra shots off the tee), or tossing the ball out of the woods. Not surprisingly, Bill Clinton is considered among the White House's "most polished and prolific golf cheats." As one observer noted, "You don't have to subpoena Whitewater documents. Just watch him on the golf course." He elevated the mulligan to such a new level that it was referred to as a "billigan." Nixon, LBJ, and Warren G. Harding, were also considered cheats.

   With a final section devoted to the Bushes, father and son, Van Natta closes his analysis of Presidential golf games with particular panache, since the Bushes so often play together. The book is pure delight, providing a unique take on Presidents, who, on the golf course, face the same challenges as the rest of us, with some of them responding more gracefully to the challenges than others. Mary Whipple




4. I'm a classic golf widow who happened to pick this book up in the bookstore for my husband. He loved it. But, to my surprise, I loved it, too. I wound up learning a lot more about presidents, and what makes them tick, than I ever expected. It's a breezy, fun read, full of quirky surprises and amusing anecdotes. Rather than bore you with too much golf lingo, the book actually brings the game and the presidents to life without tumbling into cliches. I highly recommend it.



5. Interesting angle. Using the sport and game
   of golf as the foundation to add insights and discuss the Presidents who played it. Author Van Natta Jr. brought forth an original avenue to bring a topic that is commonly written about (presidents) to light. Golf, the ever-increasing mainstream sport to the American public, is no longer stereotyped (falsely) that it's an elitist sport to play. In "First Off The Tee," there are many interesting facts about the habits of some of the commanders-in-chiefs that hit the greens.

   Bill Clinton took so many mulligan's the author called
   them "Billigans." He scored himself in the low 80s, similar to his idol JFK, but he literally took over 200 swings. Clinton played loosely with the rules, at times bending them to conform to his ends. Can the phenomena of how a person plays golf be taken and applied to political and administrative behaviour? Psycho-social analysis? Perhaps a dissertation has started somewhere regarding this.

   One President drank booze while golfing during prohibition. He also gambled on a every game.

   John F. Kennedy was an avid golpher, and fairly decent one at that,
   getting scores in the low 80s. But he did keep the fact that he
   played the game secret from the public.

   Gerald Ford played amateur tourneys and pinged the
   bystanders in the crowd from time to time.

   The author played with the likes of Clinton and George W.
   Bush. G. W. Bush could play through 18 holes in an hour

   and a half, while Clinton took six hours. (He liked
   to talk a lot more.)

   In the past, Presidents didnt' want to be
   photographed on the greens. Today it's acceptable, and
   perhaps even expected.

   14 mini-biographies highlighting the lighter side of the Execs as men and the sport of golf. Very interesting.

5 comments about Raising the Bar: The Championship Years of Tiger Woods.

1. 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.




2. 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.



3. 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.




4. 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.



5. 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......

No comments about The Golf Course.

No comments about Woosie: My Autobiography.

No comments about Thanks Ely!: How Ely Callaway And The Big Bertha Revolutionized Golf.

5 comments about Out of the Rough : An Intimate Portrait of Laura Baugh and Her Sobering Journey.

1. Only someone who does not suffer from alcoholism would question the ability of a small woman to drink insane amounts of alcohol. I have no doubt that Laura Baugh drank every drink she says she did - I have been there. I, too, abstained during my pregnancies, it was the one time when I didn't struggle with myself over drinking or not drinking. This is a great story and I admire Laura for pulling herself out of the despair she felt - I know, I have felt it also.



2. I find it very, very hard to believe that anyone, especially a small woman, could drink to the degree that Laura Baugh did and not sustain liver damage. She also says she abstained during her pregnancies...did she know the instant she was pregnant? I think not. I guess writing is an easier way to make a buck than playing golf.



3. THIS IS THE STORY OF LAURA BAUGH, RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC, PRO GOLFER, AND MOTHER. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HER LIFE AND CAREER. HER STRUGGLE WITH INNER DEMONS, BROKEN MARRIAGES, AND PRESSURES IS VERY INTERESTING. HER STORY IS A MIRACLE. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE 12 STEP PROGRAM OF AA AT WORK. LAURA HAS BEEN BLESSED BY GOD AND THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR ALL RECOVERING AND PRACTICING ADDICTED PEOPLE. I REMEMBER WHEN LAURA FIRST CAME ON THE PRO TOUR IN THE EARLY 70'S, SHE WAS THE HOTTEST HOTTIE IN SPORTS. GLAD TO SEE SHE HAS CONFRONTED HER ADDICTION AND DEALS WITH IT ONE DAY A TIME. SHE IS STILL HOT AND CERTAINLY PROVEN TO BE A BABY MACHINE. MUST READ.



4. Isn't that the question since we were chldren? Who's in control here? Some figure it out quicker than others and learn the lesson better. For others, like Laura, it takes time and pain. But in the end, gain.

   Her pain and gain, here exposed for all the world to see, is for the comfort and strength she gives through this book to those who find themselves or loved ones in -- out of control.

   Frightening and shocking is the realization that such substances take over and dominate such intelligent, talented people. The fight will always be there. Close by though, more powerful than those unrelenting enemies are Laura's strengths she's learned to rely upon and live for, God and children. May both bless her.

   She's a winner in more important events than just LPGA championships.




5. Laura Baugh's openness and candor makes her story a must-read for anyone in recovery, or anyone who knows someone in recovery.

1 comments about John Daly Wild Thing: Life on the Edge With Pro Golf's Bad Boy.

1. The book gives very entertaining descriptions about events that occur in John's life, such as him getting drunk, and it also keeps your interest when it is explaining the tournaments he was in. But the book goes into much detail about boring details about John's coaches and friends.

5 comments about Tournament Week: Inside The Ropes And Behind The Scenes On The PGA Tour.

1. This is a very quick read. The author incorporates anecdote after anecdote, none lasting more than a couple of paragraphs. As others have noted there are better golf books out there, but this one is a very quick read, and you may come across a few stories that you haven't heard before. Recommended more for the golf novice (like myself) than the hardcore fan.



2. Just like the drive that starts right down the middle, then slices way off to the right, this book is a letdown.

   It promises such great things, inside the ropes of the best golfers. It doesn't deliver, but rather just provides collected anecdotes, rather than real first hand observation, interview, etc.

   Suggest turn to some great golf writing on the topic, e.g. Lorne Rubenstein's "Links:An Exploration" of which Greg Norman says this is one of rare journalists who understands the tour, and John Feinstein's "The Majors."




3. Please don't waste your money on this book, while the premise is good, the writer appears to have no real access to the players and/or is very afraid of pissing them off. He doesn't tell anything pithy about any player or tournament and if you know anything about golf you will come away very disappointed. Additionally, the author's writing is lackluster and he appears to rely on second hand information and the anecdotes of others. The best lines of this book are on the back of the jacket cover and after that well... there are just a lot of better golf books!

   By the way the 5-Star review (in this section) "Strenge Aces the PGA Tour" is either written by his publisher or his friend. There is not a sign of "meticulous research" in this book and it is not even remotely in the same league as The Majors.




4. Well...I got it...I wish I could return it. Good bathroom book. That's about it. save your cash.



5. This is not John Feinstein. This could have been a great read BUT there is NO substance! I am not sure that I learned a single thing about the tour from reading this book. Golf magazines provide more information than this guy - who seems to have relied on very weak interviews and a lot of soft second hand stories.

   Note: the jacket cover has all the substance you are going to find in this book and even then you have heard most of them!

   PLEASE NOTE: This guy reviewed his own book as

   "exceptionally informative... and insightful", something it is clearly not!

   Don't waste your money!

1 comments about Tiger Woods (All Aboard Reading).

1. Written for children in grades 2-3, this is an excellent book about success and how hard it is to be successful. Despite all his talent, Tiger practices hard, often hitting as many as 1000 balls in a day. He also changed his diet, eating more healthy foods rather than those filled with fat. This is one of the most important lessons that children can earn. When they see a baseball player hit a home run, a basketball player make a shot or a golfer hit that great shot, children need to know that the player has done that thousands of times in practice.
   Tiger Woods is one of the best role models for children today and I strongly recommend that children read this book.

5 comments about Tiger Woods: The Makings of a Champion (Tiger Woods).

1. This lively little book, chronicles Aldrick (Tiger) Woods phenomenal rise, to the pinnacles of the professional golfing world. It is a love story between father and son, as tiger's father saw greatness in him from the moment he picked up a golf club at the tender age of 18 months. He then pushed, cajoled and showered him with love, mental-toughness and camradarie, until he emerged as a tough-minded pro, equipped with "all the essential goods" ready to become "America's Golfer of the 21st Century." This father-son duo is unique in the annals of American history.
   
   Even as early as four, learnt golf pros saw something unique in the way Tiger was maturing -- in both body, soul and technique -- into the "ways of a professional golfer." By the time he was ready to graduate from high school, he had signed a contract with IMG, one of the world's largest public relations firms. He elected to go to Stanford U, and spent three years there before cashing all his chips in to turn pro.
   
   Even though there had been many "child golf prodigies" before him, all of whom had fallen flat on their faces never to rise again, everyone knew that Tiger was "that special one" who would succeed. And succeed he did. Before turning 20, he had already won a string of amateur tournaments, and two pro majors. And, as the saying goes: the rest is history.
   
   Just this pass Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament, Tiger won it in an electrifying way reserved only for "that Tiger thing;" a "save" on the 18th hole: by sinking a "must" 25-foot birdie. With it, Tiger passed yet another milestone of having won 64 "majors" in his brief career.
   
   The book is one of those overnight "made on the computer books" and is not very good. But those interested in "just the facts," will enjoy this easy read.
   
   Two stars.



2. When I first started reading this book I had a tough time putting it down. It takes us back to Tigers early golf days right up to the winning of his first Masters Tournament in record numbers. Tim Rosaforte really makes this book come alive. You will not be disappointed in this one.



3. At age twenty-one, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods became the youngest individual to win the Masters Tournament. This young phenomena ushered in a new age for golf and sports fans all over wanted to know, who is this rising champion? Sports writer Tim Rosaforte provides that answer by penning one of the first biographies of Tiger.

   Does a young man of twenty years of age deserve a 70,000 word biography is the question Rosaforte raises. His answer is a resounding yes as he presents before the phenomenal rise of golf's greatest champion of all time. He tracks the early career of Woods from his Junior Golf years all the way up to his 1997 victory at the Masters. Through his journalism you get a comprehensive overview of his career.

   Rosaforte divides his book into three sections which entail a biographical sketch of Woods' parents and their impact on him. His second section is devoted to his wins in junior golf, high school and college. Finally we deal with Tiger coming out on his own by turning professional. As one of the first biographical books on Woods, the author does a decent job in giving us insight on this remarkable golfer.

   I would caution readers to not look at this book as the "definitive" work about Woods. Rosaforte admits that he didn't have the help of the Woods family in compiling his work. In many instances the author's voice takes on a self-serving attitude as if his writing is responsible for taking Woods to greater heights. Although he shares with us little known facts about Woods such as his mugging at Stanford and problems with the NCAA regarding his eligibility, we are left without a clue about the young man himself. His golf achievements and statistical records are reported but what is absent is the inner life of Woods and little interpretation as to his importance for golf's future years. Perhaps Tiger and his family were wise not to work with the reporter.

   Regardless of those faults Rosaforte's book is worth having in terms of getting some insight about Woods as a champion golfer. In this area the author does a great service but as a biographer he falls short of the task. Obtain this book as a collector's item on one of Golf's finest players.




4. Although the story dragged in the beginning, I found the book Tiger Woods The Makings Of A Champion very interesting and entertaining. It was also a very well written book. It struck me with awe when I read that Tiger started swinging a golf club at 10 months. The book also shows people how hard Tiger's childhood was. That he couldn't even play at some golf courses because he was black. It showed how great a golfer Tiger Woods is, and how he could possibly be the player of the future.



5. Rosaforte is one of the very astute watchers and commentators on the PGA Tour. He admits here that much is rehash of publicity we've all heard over and over. Yet, he places it into the context of what has and was going on inside Tiger's family and circle during his transition from college player to pro.

   I found this valuable towards how one views this amazing talent, especially his views of parents and how his fellow competitors accepted him from the start. The personal insights here are well worth the read. We all now know what Tiger did about fulfilling some of the potential spoken of here prophetically.

   His continued climb into golf's greatness will be more easily framed and understood with this foundational look.