Golf a Good Walk & Then Some - 9780977003969

John Jenchura's inclusive history of golf, GolfûA Good Walk And Them Some, takes the reader back to the origins of the game and the games from which it was derived. From there, the reader travels to Scotland, the "birthplace" of golf, and then across the Atlantic to the United States.

The reader learns about how the game became popular in the United States in the first part of the 20th century, fueled in large part by twenty-year old Francis Ouimet's startling win in the 1913 U.S. Open, when he beat the formidable English duo of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a play-off. From there, came the rise of stars like Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen, and then to the magnificent reign of Bobby Jones, culminating in his Grand Slam achievement in 1930. After Jones, there evolved the first modern Great Triumvirate in American golf: the trio of Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.

Following these exceptional players came the intense rivalry of another Great Triumvirate: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. This rivalry, coupled with the advent of television coverage, brought the game to a new level of popularity. Jenchura then turns his attention to the new stars that came along: Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Sevriano Ballesteros and Nick Faldo, to name just a few. After the success of these golfers, another generation is still making its mark. This generation includes golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijah Singh, and Padraig Harrington.

They all stand aside, however, in witness to the phenomenal presence of one, Tiger Woods. Woods's rise from a child prodigy, to his successful amateur career, and on to his dominating career as a professional, highlighted by his 14 Major victories, is spelled out in deserving detail.

What would a history of golf be without accounts of the outstanding women who have played the game? The reader learns about the exploits of the early women who came to the fore, including Glenna Collet Vare, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Patty Berg and Mickey Wright. Jenchura covers the women who starred during the second half of the 20th century, and the new breed that is making its mark on the Ladies Professional Golf Association today. The author weaves their stories from Nancy Lopez, Kathy Whitworth and Julie Inkster to the modern women's Great Triumvirate of Annika S=renstam, Karrie Webb, and Se Ri Pak, and then to the present talented crop that includes Lorena Ochoa, Christie Kerr, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, and Michelle Wie.

In addition to covering the exploits of individual play, Jenchura also provides an interesting summary of the history and playing of the professional and amateur team competitions, headed by the Ryder Cup, and also including the Presidents, Walker, Solheim, and Curtis Cups.

The last part of the book is the appendices that contain detailed information on all the major championships and team competitions from their inception to the present. This section will be an invaluable source for the reader who is looking for information on a particular tournament down through the years.

From the casual to the passionate golfer and golf fan, this book will take the reader on a well-spent journey through the annals of golf, its players and its championshipsùand then some.