Books : I Remember Ben Hogan: Personal Recollections and Revelations of Golf's Most Famous Legend From The People Who Knew Him Best
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Type of bind: Hardcover
Brand: Booklegger
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352092
EAN num: 9781581820782
ISBN number: 158182078X
Label: Cumberland House Publishing
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 192
Printing Date: March 01, 2000
Publishing house: Cumberland House Publishing
Sale Popularity Level: 124381
Studio: Cumberland House Publishing
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A beautiful hardcover book and collector's item, 'I Remember Ben Hogan' is an oral history of an amazing golf legend. Many people were touched by Ben Hogan although few were truly able to connect with him. To a select few, he was a shy, sly mentor, able and willing to reveal golf-swing secrets with a grip and a rare grin. Author Mike Towle uncovers more than 100 original stories regarding golf's most famous legend.
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Rated by buyers 
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This is one of several volumes in the Cumberland House "I Remember" series. Each is an anthology of reminiscences of those who personally knew the subject, in this instance Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 - July 25, 1997), one of the greatest shotmakers and competitors in the history of professional golf. Mike Towle edited the material and contributed brief introductions to each chapter. When competing in a tournament ("at the office"), Hogan was unapproachable by anyone (including his beloved wife, Valerie) and by all accounts a shy and (with few exceptions) an inaccessible person in his private life, except to immediate family members, others whom he also respected and trusted, and...small children and dogs. One detail of his childhood perhaps helps to explain his personality in subsequent years: according to some accounts, his father committed suicide in young Ben's presence. Of course, it is impossible to know impact that tragic event had on Hogan's development. In his youth and early in his golf career, he had encounter severe financial problems and frustrations with his effort to win tournaments. However, when Hogan was comfortable with someone, he could relax and enjoy himself. Towle also notes that, when irritated or impatient, or when he felt his trust had been betrayed, Hogan was a formidable antagonist with a sharp tongue and a piercing glare.
He won 63 professional golf tournaments between the years of 1938 through 1959, interrupted in its prime by military service during World War II and a near-fatal car accident in 1949 when his car collided head-on with a Greyhound bus in dense fog. Although his doctors said he might not walk again much less resume playing competitive golf, Hogan left the hospital only two months after the accident and soon returned to the tour. His best season was in 1953 when he won five of the six tournaments he entered, three of them "majors." In fact, his nine career professional major championships tie him (with Gary Player) for fourth all-time, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Hogan's achievements are even more remarkable, given the fact that he never fully recovered from the near-fatal car accident. He founded the Ben Hogan Golf Company in 1953 that produced it very first set of irons (the "Precision") the subsequent year. Hogan sold his company to American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1960 and continued as chairman. From 1980-85, he served as a director. He died in 1997 and the Hogan brand became part of Calloway Golf in 2004.
Towle obtained reminiscences and observations from members of Hogan's family, those who competed against him on the PGA tour, sports journalists, fellow members of his club (Shady Oaks in Fort Worth) and others who encountered him along the way. I would have rated this book higher if it had more cohesive organization and tighter editing. Here is a representative selection of comments from the narrative:
"There were two sides to Ben Hogan: Hogan Heavy and Hogan Lite. The former could reduce confident people to shrinking violets; the latter possessed a feathery touch as delicate as a flop wedge out of the second cut of the rough behind a purple sloping away. Hogan Lite had a dry sense of humor, and it was at work more than listeners realized. At times, Hogan was the epitome of someone best understood if you listened to what he said, not how he said it. Even his humour was couched in gruff tones." (Mike Towle, Page 5)
"He was this wonderfully sensitive man with a treat sense of humor. I met him at a time when I'm sure he had softened quite a bit, so my perception of him is very different. No matter what, though, I'm sure that side was always there and he just didn't expose it to a lot of people." (Chris Tschetter, member of LPGA Tour, Page 23)
On an especially cold day in Fort Worth, tourists from Florida appeared at Shady Oaks Country Club and their only reason was to see Hogan. "They were stunned, and, of course, they asked a couple of questions, very stock-type stuff. He answered and, trying not to be rude, he elaborated a little bit but not very much. I could tell that he was uncomfortable ...They stayed maybe ten minutes and then left, although he would usually be the one to leave first. Then he turned around and said, `That's the hard part, Mike, `cause these gentlemen will repeat what I said and that story will be changed several times, and that makes me uncomfortable." (Mike Wright, head pro at Shady Oaks, Page 31)
When Hogan died, his personal physician called Byron Nelson to tell him. (He was also Nelson's personal physician.) "They were friends, but not bosom buddies." Later, during a conversation with someone from New York, Nelson mentioned Hogan's death and the New York Times had an unexpected scoop. Nelson's name was mentioned in the article. Hogan's widow, Valerie, "just never forgave him. She thought he was seeking publicity ... Read More
Rated by buyers -
I have read a lot about Ben Hogan but this was by far and away one of the best books I've read. I will read this again from time to time.
Rated by buyers 
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It's fascinating to me that a guy as reclusive as Hogan could command so much public adoration and curiosity. This is a book that offers a lot of neat stories about Hogan that I had never read. A bunch of people who knew Hogan, both well-known and not so well known, tell their stories about Hogan in their own words---in oral history form. I've read a couple of other books on the Hawk and those were nice reads in their own way as well. I read the other reviews on this page and don't understand why "clucas" called this a "duck hook." It isn't--it's not John Feinstein-caliber, but it's still worth the price. Sounds like some bitterness being expressed by clucas, probably someone who doesn't know anything what it takes to win at golf or can recognize good book writing.
Rated by buyers -
there seems no in between. I have 800+ golf books and have read everything just about everything on Hogan. (What club did he REALLY hit at Merion in the famous photo?). Due to the negative reviews I didn't get to this one for a while. When I did, I truly enjoyed it. Is some info repeated? Sure. But this is mostly new, original and genuine investigation, not reguritation. If you are a golf and golf history BUFF I think you will enjoy. If not, pass and read the more current books. (a 2 iron.)
Rated by buyers 
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While I understand that any author that wants to write about The Hawk will have his work cut out for him, it seems that Towle took the path of least resistance. A couple of phone calls here, 5 minutes of editing there, and you're left with a book that tells you two things:
1.) Hogan was a gruff but soft-on-the-inside guy.
2.) Hogan got the yips later in life.
Those who want to learn more than those two points would be better off avoiding this book.
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