5 comments about Good Bounces and Bad Lies.

1. Wright's tales are stupendous, but to the point of being absurd. This is one of the few books in years that I finally just put down. He defects from the army to watch Hogan, his house is reduced to rubble but he and his sister miraculously survive; his overzealous buddy grabs a waiter and pulls him outside to beat him senseless...sheesh. I liked Wright as a commentator but leave this book on the shelf.



2. Wright's book basically, after he gets through some obligatory stories about golf in England when he was young, is a tell all about most of the peole he has worked with at CBS Sports. If it is not a tell all, it will do 'til one comes around. Most of the problem is with alcohol...we hear of interventions, wild partys, stupid episodes of behavior...yet through it all...even after an intervention which sent him to Betty Ford...one of the staff told him before he left that he was not an alcoholic but an abuser of alcohol. What that distinction is remains lost to me but was understood by Ben. No matter. You wonder how CBS managed to produce a cohesive telecast of the Masters or any other tournament they were assigned to based on Ben's recollections. He also ran into some world travelers that he thought behaved badly. It is a "tell all" from one who is still in the dog house for telling all about his opinion of women's golf and the difference betwen the men's game and theirs. No matter that he had that just right,,,he was PC'd out and the world of golf broadcasting is the worse for it. I miss him behind the microphone, but the book goes a bit long.



3. Ben Wright does a superb job in taking mere golfing mortals behind the scenes of some famous, and some not so famous, tournaments to give an insight into LIFE in the golfing world. It is a page turner that had me howling with laughter as he strips bare the mystique behind both golf broadcasting and some of the peripheral characters that add to the colour of the sport. Of course in the true style that has endeared him to so many he also takes a few swipes at some brighter lights in the business of golf. Wright has an obvious deep love for the game but he does not let sentimentality get in the way of a good story. I am sure that he must have a stock of untold tales waiting to be let out of the closet and I look forward to the next installment from this very funny, very English and very lovable raconteur.



4. CBS, BRING THIS GUY BACK! If you want a good read that will absolutely make you CRY with laughter. This is the book for you...And you don't have to be a Golf fan to enjoy it. I always figured that stranged things happened behind the camera, but his stories will absolutely crack you up. It is definitely a MUST buy.



5. Wright is as witty and colorful as his broadcasts were. Gives an image of broadcasting which most of us aren't aware of. We sense the morals and ethics of these public individuals are different. Appreciated even more his love for the game and extreme pain the LPGA comments have brought upon him. Image is everything!

4 comments about On the Course with Tiger Woods (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies).

1. Boy or girl, young or old, readers will love reading about Tiger Woods' inspiring rise to the top of the golf world. Overcoming racism, economic hardship, and personal limitations, Tiger leads the pack at an incredibly young age. My 9-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter and I read this together, and we were all equally enthralled and inspired by Tiger's story. It was accessible without being overly simple. We're looking forward to reading more entries in Matt Christopher's biography series.



2. I thought the the book was great! Tiger is a great athlete and has a great attitude!The way dat matt writes da book makes it cool. I think u should read it!



3. I thought that the book was great!I think that Tiger is a great athlet and has a great attidude. I think the way Matt Christopher puts the book makes it easy for kids to read. I think you should read the book because it it phat!



4. Tiger is a very fast learner. He even learned when he was 8 months old. He went to many tournaments. His father was even in the Vietnam war. I liked this book because it tells about his cool life.

No comments about Arnold Palmer: Personal Journey, A.

2 comments about Tiger Woods.

1. I truly enjoyed the biography of Tiger Woods by Bill Gutman. I thought it gave good insight into what makes him the champion that he is. It is the story of one family's search for the American dream and the glory of finding it. It details how the dreams of Tiger's faher became his own. All the sacfrifice that he and his family made are detailed and makes his accomplishments all the more spectacular. I think this is a great read for all those who are fans of drive and determination and not just for those who love golf.



2. This is an exciting, and compelling biography about the hottest player on the PGA Tour. This biography begins from when Tiger was two years old, and already hitting plastic golf balls in his front-yard. From not being allowed to play on certain golf courses, to being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to play in tournaments, Tiger Woods is the jump-start that the PGA Tour needed. The bond between Tiger and his father grows from when Tiger won his first tournament as a youngster to his record setting performance at The Masters Tournament. This bond is seen throughout the entire biography. This biography is thilling, and threaded with compassion. Definetly for the avid golfer.

5 comments about Maybe It Should Have Been a Three Iron: My Year as Caddie for the World's 438th Best Golfer.

1. I thought I was going to read about golf..Wrong..I am not interested to hear Mr Donegan's opinion's on world leaders.. Unfortunately I purchased it at an airport so can't return it and get my money back..



2. This is a very intelligent and witty book that all of us who understand golf's struggles must surely appreciate. But beyond a golfer's perspective, this should also be enjoyed as a story about any passion in life that proves to be extremely challenging or unattainable, and the humor of brushing aside all obstacles and pressing forward no matter how ridiculous the circumstances become.
   
   True, this isn't a book about Tiger Woods or Madonna or Bill Clinton, so if you are looking for pop culture, you'll need to look elsewhere. But if you are someone who cheers for the underdog and if you also like golf stories from an insider's point of view, I don't think you will be disappointed!



3. but this one is readable if only because it is a take on the Euro tour. It takes you to golfing venues and places that others dont. If you want a book about a player you know or courses and tournaments you are familiar with, then this is not your book. That, however, is the redeeming factor of this book. It does get dry because of that though, as it does the usual, painful breakdown of all of Ross Drummond's (Ross who?...exactly)shots and putts. This of course it what drops its rating down. A book like this on Tiger might rate 5 stars as we would all like to hear the inside scoop from his caddy. Where it does excel is with Donegan's wit, humor and exploits. When their relationship starts to sour Donegan takes more of an interest in his social life, and in places like Morocco you know it will get interesting. Chapter seven on his experience in Rabat is pretty dang funny.



4. Period. And I have read them all.



5. I read this book because I loved Donegan's other book 'No News At Throat Lake', which was both moving and hilarious.

   I don't play golf but know enough about it to enjoy the humor in this book, which kept me amused while I traveled around Ireland for three weeks. Donegan has a great ability to capture well the itinerant lifestyle of the B-grade pro-golfer, the emotional ups and downs of losing more than winning, the little triumphs and pleasures of golf, and the mental stamina needed to be a pro-golfer.

   I recommend this book to golfers as well as anyone who just wants a very funny read.

1 comments about The New Encyclopedia of Golf: The Definitive Guide to the World of Golf--Courses, Champions, Characters, Traditions.

1. This is not a guide to technique, it is more of a reference book. This newly updated and expanded version also includes the latest international tournaments and elebrated names as well as new championship courses.
   
   I'll let you guess who's picture is on the first page.
   
   The Contents Include:
   
   The Early Game
   The Modern Game
   Championship Courses of the World
   The Hall of Fame
   Records and Reference
   
   If you want to know about the history of golf, where championships are held and who is famous in the game of golf, there is absolutely nothing like this book!
   
   Some of the great features include:
   
   Modern Club Design
   Women in Golf
   The evolution of the Golf Ball (Featheries and Gutties)
   How Clubs are manufactured
   Championship Records
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

4 comments about Clearview: America's Course, the Autobiography of William J. Powell.

1. An excellent work to understand the cultural and historical issues facing blacks in pre civil rights history and beyond. It is a penetrating and inspirational look at overcoming obstacles in pursuit of a dream. It is not contexted solely in racial struggles of minorites but goes beyond this to the courage and deliberation required for any of us that have dreams and aspirations to accomplish something to make this a better world.



2. This is a story of triumph over discrimination based upon the color of one's skin.

   Imagine serving your country to win a war, and then returning to your homeland, and not having available to you the resources available to others who worked by your side.

   Be amazed that there is only one golf coure in the United States in the year 2001 that is designed, built, and maintained by an African-American family.

   Consider that the Professional Golf Association of America eliminated its white-only policy in the early 1960s.

   Become inspired by imagining or playing this golf course that is available to any person, regardless of level of skill; for the love of the game.

   Ellen Nossner's writing of this man's story is focused, fluid, and revealing.

   America has come a long way, in part, due to triumphs of spirit like that of Mr. Powell. We must not lose sight that we still have a ways to go.




3. Once I began reading "Clearview:America's Course" I simply could not put it down. It is a personal historical account of the transition of our country from a place where only some enjoy freedom to a country where finally we can boast that all people are free. We see the past 7 decades through one man's vision, uncluttered by resentment and bitterness at the unjust treatment he endured simply because he was black. Dr. Powell is an inspiration to all. Ms. Nosner writes in a manner that is easy and enjoyable to read.



4. this book is one of the most inspirational and motivational books I have read in a long time. It teaches many lessons for people of all ages, especially to never give up.

1 comments about Tommy's Honour: The Extraordinary Story of Golf's Founding Father and Son.

1. Absolute great book. It may be a bit one sided on the founding of golf as we know it, but it tells a great story of a father and son, and the game they loved. A must read for anyone who is interested in the history of golf or for anyone getting ready for a golf trip to Scotland.

No comments about Seve Ballesteros: A Biography of Severiano Ballesteros.

5 comments about Sir Walter And Mr. Jones: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, And The Rise Of American Golf.

1. Beautifully written and factual.
   The author introduces us to the two most accomplished golfer of their era.
   This book is for anyone who not only enjoys the game of golf but also its historical context.
   Very good and enjoyable read.



2. This is a serious work by a professor of history. It ISN'T filled with anecdotes ("And then Walter said to Bobby ..."), descriptions of shots ("Bobby then drilled a quail-high mashie between the towering pines ..."), gossip, swing analyses, etc. If this is what you're looking for, you'll be sorely disappointed. It's fairly dry -- make that extremely dry -- but is well-researched (hundreds of endnotes) and will be fascinating for anyone with an interest in the history of American golf. The format is a dual biography of Jones and Hagen in which their respective careers are compared and contrasted to give the reader an understanding of the rise of American golf in the era 1900-1930. The two men were so different in virtually every respect that this approach is very effective. Those who think golf began with Palmer, Nicklaus or Woods will gain an appreciation of what "gods" Jones and Hagen really were during the era in which they played. Hagen especially tends to be overlooked, but this book is an important reminder that he was one of the true greats of the game in addition to being one of its two or three all-time "characters." I didn't have the feeling that the author was particularly knowledgeable or avid about the game -- instead, this is a work of historical research, just as you or I might produce a history of badminton if we were willing to spend the time to do the research. When you're done, you won't "know" Bobby Jones as well as you'd know him if you read his and O. B. Keeler's own voluminous writings, and you won't be a fount of anecdotes, but you will have a solid grasp of Jones' and Hagen's place in history, how golf became an American obsession and how American golf eclipsed British golf. All of this for the price of a couple of dozen Top-Flite x-outs.



3. After reading this book, I found that Dr. Stephen Lowe really brings to life the lives of Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. This book is written in a descriptive oriented reading. Before reading this book, I found that golf was not much of a sport. I found that there is truly a rich history in golf that I have come to respect and want to learn more about. I applaud Dr. Lowe and hope to read future writings.



4. A meticulously researched book, an asset to any avid golfers bookshelf.



5. I was very disapointed in this book. It seemed more like a collection of facts than a insightful biography. I felt I learn little about the two man that I could not have found in a enclopedia.