Golf History

Was there ever a year in golf like 1960? It was the year that the sport and its vivid personalities exploded on the consciousness of the nation, when the past, present, and future of the game collided. Television, still a new medium, provided a fresh window to this fascinating show and enabled this "rich man's sport" to win over millions of new fans.

Surprisingly, one of sport’s most contentious, complex, and defining clashes played out not in the boxing ring or at the line of scrimmage but on the genteel green fairways of the world’s finest golf courses. Arnie and Jack. Palmer and Nicklaus. Their 50-year duel, in both the clubhouse and the boardroom, propelled each to the status of American icon and pushed modern golf to the heights and popularity it enjoys today. Yet for all the ink that has been spilled on these two essential golf figures individually, no one has ever examined their relationship in this way.

The fascinating true story of the origins of fabled Augusta National Golf Club and the creation of America’s most prestigious golf tournament, the Masters.Contested the second weekend in April each year since 1934, the Masters is the world’s most prestigious golf tournament and most-watched tournament on television.

Texas girl Babe Didrikson never tried a sport too tough and never met a hurdle too high. Despite attempts to keep women from competing, Babe achieved All-American status in basketball and won gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics. Then, Babe attempted to conquer golf. One of the founders of the LPGA, Babe won more consecutive tournaments than any golfer in history. But at the height of her fame, she was diagnosed with cancer. Babe would then take her most daring step of all....

Golf, the writer Jim Bishop once said, "is a game played by 20 million mature American men whose wives think they are out having fun." For so many golfers, this description of the great game is all too true. That innocent thrill of striking a drive cleanly for the first time, or holing that amazing putt, is all but a distant memory. Bogged down by getting up at some ridiculous hour to get a decent tee time, their average round is a frustrating four hours of miss hits, hooks, slices, and bad putts. But a whole group of modern players have left their regular course behind, and rediscovered the magic of the game in the process.

When Dave Caughren, a local banker, sought treatment for stomach ulcers, his doctor recommended walking and golf as a partial remedy. That suggestion inspired Dave to gather a team of town leaders to build a nine-hole golf course on the shores of Sauk Lake in 1921.

In Arnie and Jack: Stories of My Long Friendship with Two Remarkable Men, Charlie takes golf fans behind the scenes, detailing with energy and wit–and sometimes solemnity–why these great icons of the course excelled at both work and play.

Golfing With Dad is a heartwarming collection of golf's best players' favorite memories with their fathers and how those memories shaped them not only as players but as the men and women they are today. Many professional golfers have been greatly influenced by their fathers, and some of the very best have contributed interviews to this special book, edited by longtime Golf magazine editor David Barrett.

Soccer has been America's Sport of the Future since 1972. Propelled by the rise of the World Cup, Premier League, the glory of the United States Women's National Team, Lionel Messi's DemiGod-esque talent and repeat exposure to Cristiano Ronaldo's preening abs, that Future has finally arrived...

India’s biggest sports stars share their secrets for finding greatness From Anju Bobby George’s unexpected gold medal at the World Athletics Final in Monaco to Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic gold in Beijing, India’s sportspersons have constantly proved that they stand shoulder to shoulder with...

What makes a new putter seem so magical? Why is a four-foot putt so scary? Why do kids putt so well? Do you control the putter, or does it control you? In a humorous and anecdotal style, Liberman answers these compelling questions -- and more. This audiobook profiles the putters behind some of the greatest putts in history, explains how clubmakers convince you it's time for a new flat stick, shows that pros are even more neurotic about their putters than you are, and chronicles some of the most hilarious and unusual ways golfers have said good-bye to their putters.

These exciting and informative books will turn any young listener into a sports fanatic! Learn all about the history of the world’s most entertaining sports like football, basketball, and soccer.