Its difficult to beat a good golf book, be it a good yarn or a picture book. Indeed, one can search its pages in great detail and never find an answer to how the game of golf changed as a result of the 18hole practiceround match pitting professionals ben hogan and byron nelson against amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. I really enjoyed this book, especially with byron nelson and ben hogan being involved. Overall, he finished fifth or better in 25 of the 36. Much of this book is a history lesson about the game of golf and how it changed as a result of a few individuals. Two years before their match, snead wrote in a book, all i know is that its true that hogan and byron nelson won plenty of tournaments which i didnt, but any time hogan and i met in a head. Ben hogan this day in hogan history on february 10. While nelson was nearly unbeatable for two full years, hogan played longer and better and accomplished more. But of course i knew who ben hogan, byron nelson and ken venturi were. Nelson played great to beat hogan in a playoff at the 1942 masters and sure, he trounced him a handful of times.
Frost does a good job of giving us some unique flashbacks and solid history leading up to the match, as well as after. Sep 26, 2006 byron nelson, who achieved one of the most remarkable records in sports history when he won 11 consecutive pro golf tournaments in 1945, died today at his home in roanoke, tex. Decades have passed since eddie lowery came to fame as the tenyearold caddie to u. Jan 01, 2007 the strength of this book is the biographies of the four participants in the match byron nelson, ben hogan, ken venturi and harvey ward and the history of professional golf in the mid20th century. Byron nelson was the winner of a record 11 consecutive professional golf tournaments in 1945 and one of golfs most renowned figures.
In 1946 ben hogan won his 1st major title during 1946 pga. Amf ben hogan golf clubs were sold continuously from 1960 to 1985 when amf was bought by minstar who sold the ben hogan company in 1988 to cosmo world, who owned the club manufacturer until 1992, when it was sold to another independent investor, bill goodwin. Hogan agreed to be photographed only if it could be arranged for. The untold story of golfs greatest money match, featuring hogan and nelson at cypress point, comes to life in mark frosts gripping new book, the match. The 20 golf hall of fame inductee was also part of a famous golf match detailed in the book the match by mark frost. Jan 29, 2008 author mark frost discusses his book the match. Now a wealthy car dealer and avid supporter of amateur golf, lowery has just made a bet with fellow millionaire george coleman.
The match pitted two legendary professionals against the two best amateurs in the world. Golf magazine its difficult to beat a good golf book, be it a good yarn or a picture book. The day the game of golf changed forever paperback mar 1 2009. The scorecard is background music when it comes to retelling the story of the epic 1956 battle ben hogan and byron nelson waged against. Although he won many tournaments in the course of his. Ben crenshaw i read it at night, and saw hogan, snead and nelson in my dreams. Fifty years ago, ben hogan and sam snead thrilled the millions watching shells wonderful world of golf. The latest from novelist and golf writer frost the grand slam. Arnold palmer is still miffed at how ben hogan talked down to him. Nelson won the masters that year with ben hogan second. Nov 06, 2007 its difficult to beat a good golf book, be it a good yarn or a picture book.
Coleman shows up, all rightwith ben hogan and byron nelson, the. Mar 17, 2009 in 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era byron nelson and ben hogan against top amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. It was a duel for honor, a prize bigger than any bet. Jims depiction of them magnifies the brilliance of the three, who strangely enough we all born in the year 1912.
Often, our heroes are so much larger than life that we expect them to be nothing less than giants. Frost recounts this dramatic tale from start to finish, detailing the match that vaulted golf out of the shadows and into the national spotlight. Ben hogan golf digest, september 1970, ben hogan today. Two years before their match, snead wrote in a book, all i know is that its true that hogan and byron nelson won plenty of tournaments which i didnt. Arnold palmer is still miffed at how ben hogan talked down. Ben hogan and byron nelson in the match ken venturi, who passed away last week at the age of 82, was a famous golfer and excellent longtime golf announcer for cbs. Mar 30, 2016 when nelson was at his peak, hogan had a hard time beating him. Eddie lowery sets up a match between ben hogan and byron nelson vs ken venturi and harvie ward.
A conversation with mark frost mark frost knows golf history. Bobby jones, america, and the story of golf, 2004, etc. The strength of this book is the biographies of the four participants in the match byron nelson, ben hogan, ken venturi and harvey ward and the history of professional golf in the mid20th century. Ben hogan, byron nelson put on show at race brook cc 1 1. American triumvirate is an outstanding book about the carreers and lives of golf s greatest players, ben hogan, byron nelson and sam snead.
In 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the erabyron nelson and ben hoganagainst top amateurs. I found it a really good read and would recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy an extraordinary story of an unbelievable match played by some of. And two of the games alltime greats ben hogan and byron nelson played a. In 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era byron nelson and ben hogan against. At the time, byron was 80 and ben was 79 years old. This is the first high school named in honor of byron nelson, and opened in the fall of 2009. Oct 06, 2006 often, our heroes are so much larger than life that we expect them to be nothing less than giants. Byron nelson, golf champion, is dead at 94 the new york. The day the game of golf changed forever by mark frost.
Hogan agreed to be photographed only if it could be arranged for it to be held at colonial country club. Ben hogan sitting at the left hand of bobby jones along with claude harmon, gene sarazen, clifford roberts, cary middlecoff, sam snead, doug ford, byron nelson, jimmy demaret, jack burke, jr. Tied at eight under par 280 after four rounds, they squared off in an 18 hole playoff on monday. Ben hogan hosts the 1st ever champions dinner at augusta. Aug 06, 2015 it was the final time they would go head to head. Mark is also the author, screenwriter and producer of the greatest game ever played, a bestseller that became a disney movie. To celebrate the centennial, looks at their legacies, beginning with an insight into their relationships with each other. It is a fitting tribute by james dodson to three great men. The match in 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era byron nelson and ben hogan against top amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. I found it a really good read and would recommend it to anyone looking to. The commentary on the play in the match itself is engaging, but i found the attempts to describe the topography of cypress point lacking. As a spectator sport it was on the verge of extinction. Frost the greatest game ever played diligently covers the two pros slightly past their prime, ben hogan and byron nelson, who squared off. Born in 1912, texans byron nelson, ben hogan intertwined in golf lore.
By any measure, byron nelson and ben hogan were giants of the game. On april 23, 2007 the northwest independent school district named their second high school byron nelson high school. The scorecard is background music when it comes to retelling the story of the epic 1956 battle ben hogan and byron nelson waged against ken venturi and harvie ward. This book is an amazingly true story of a single round match in monterey ca in 1956 pitting ben hogan and byron nelson against amateurs. Harvie ward was the comic, ben hogan the silent and reserved, byron nelson the friendly coach and ken venturi was the youngster. Ben hogan, byron nelson and sam snead were born 100 years ago. Ben hogan and byron nelson, the games greatest living professionals. They shoot a best ball score of 58 to 59 with individual scores of 63, 67, 65 and 67 respectively. To celebrate the centennial, looks at their legacies, beginning with an. Nelson and two other legendary champions of the time, ben hogan and sam snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912.
Learning about these men was actually quite interesting. Got a little historical content with the bing crosby proam clambake this. This day in hogan history on february 10, 1992, ben and his lifelong friend byron nelson travelled to colonial country club for a photo shoot. Venturi and two professionals ben hogan and byron nelson which took. Four decades have passed since eddie lowery came to fame as the tenyearold caddie to u. The movie the greatest game ever played, based on the book of the same.
In 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era byron nelson and ben hogan against top amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. Byron nelson, a standout for his remarkable golf swing and. He is the author of the match, a book about the fabled challenge match between legendary professionals ben hogan and byron nelson and amateur golden boys ken venturi and harvie ward. Byron nelson and ben hogan against top amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. On june 27, 2007, peggy nelson, byron nelson s surviving wife, was presented with the medal. Sam snead, byron nelson, ben hogan, and the modern age of golf. Byron nelson, who achieved one of the most remarkable records in sports history when he won 11 consecutive pro golf tournaments in. Listen to venturi talk about the match when he and fellow amateur harvie ward took on the great ben hogan and byron nelson. Ben hogan and byron nelson, who squared off against two top amateurs, harvie ward and. Byron nelson, golf champion, is dead at 94 the new york times. Ben hogan, sam snead and byron nelson will always be long remembered as giants of the game. The golf is spectacular, the course more so, the descriptions luminous. Usa todaythe untold story of golfs greatest money match, featuring hogan and nelson at cypress point, comes to life in. James dodson a celebration of three legendary golfers describes how the sport deteriorated into virtual nonexistence before the trio revitalized its popularity by setting records while transforming how the game.
Ben hogan, byron nelson, and the little texas golf course that propelled them to stardom by jeff miller book. The winner of the 1942 masters tournament was determined in a playof. The book is uniquely written, detailing each golfer and their lives throughout different phases of golf from their beginning until their deaths. Hogan, nelson venturi, ward, and a day that changed the game of golf forever. The scorecard is background music when it comes to retelling the story of the epic 1956. The accolades for ken venturi keep on coming and michael breed did a nice job acknowledging venturi on last nights golf fix.
Nov 06, 2007 in 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era byron nelson and ben hogan against top amateurs harvie ward and ken venturi. The match mark frost novelist, televisionfilm writer, director. The official biographer of hogan, dodson authored ben hogan. Harvie ward was the comic, ben hogan the silent and reserved, byron nelson. William ben hogan august, 1912 july 25, 1997 was an american professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. The day the game of golf changed forever mark frost. All readers of golf books have certainly had their fill of ben hogan, byron nelson and ken venturi, but little has been written about harvey ward and what occured in his life after the match. February 4, 1912 september 26, 2006 was an american professional golfer between 1935 and 1946, widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. Photo courtsey of corbisbettman images byron nelson, left, and ben hogan during an exhibition match at race brook cc in 1942. Ben hogan and byron nelson, who squared off against two top amateurs, harvie ward and ken venturi.
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