( 6 reviews )
-
Posted: Sep 1 2008
A very funny inside look at a time gone by when Caddies were a big part of the Masters Tournament..........What a bunch of characters!
-
Posted: Aug 13 2008
This is a useful book that takes us inside Augusta National's caddie shack and shows us how much things have changed since the glory days. We do learn about the men. Pappy Stokes - who was on the bag of five Master champs, including twice with Ben Hogan - and mentor to many caddies. Pappy was said to have known how to read Augusta's greens better than anyone. Arnie and Iron Man Avery, who, when seeing the King fritter away strokes in the final round in 1960, asked him "Are we chokin'?" That fired Palmer up sufficiently to come back and win the tournament. Gary Player and his caddies Ernest Nipper and Eddie McCoy, whose knowledge of the greens contributed to victories win in 1961, `74 and '78. Jack and Willie Peterson, who jumped as high as Jack when he drained the famous 45-footer on #16 in 1975. Ben Crenshaw and Carl Jackson in the Harvey Penick inspired '95 victory. We also learn other tidbits, such as the history of the famous Masters caddie jumpsuit, and the great change that took place in 1983, when the tournament allowed Tour caddies for the first time. All in all, a very good book that brings new facts to light, even to those who already know a bit about the subject. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Masters.
-
( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 16 2006
Good story (stories) that need to be remembered, chronicled to preserve the history of golf and golf's geatest tournament...but something seems to be lacking, missing. The stories are well-told and interesting, even fascinating at times, but they lack character and indepth personality, a "flesh and blood-ness" that carries the reader into the heart and soul of the men being written about. The book is about characters and personalities, but we never seem to get to know them, just read about them.. We know about the caddies and we know their stories, but we never feel like we know them. There are no bad pars, as stated in the review title. This book, while good, is a near-miss birdie. Read it anyway!!! It's about a group of men who contributed greatly to the legend, lore and tradition of The Masters. That alone makes it worth reading if you are a golf fan.
