Type of bind: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: April 12, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 930029
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In June 2002, the US Open was played, for the very first time in history, on a true public golf course. Bethpage State Park is owned by the state of New York, and no membership is required to play there. This is golf at its most populist, most pure - and most challenging. In what Tiger Woods himself would declare 'the most difficult national championship', Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo and the rest would, through days of rain and roughs, learn the hard way that while Bethpage may be open to the public, even for the pros the chance of winning can be closed off to mere mortals. The Bethpage course was so challenging that only one player finished under par; this was golf at its most intense. With unprecedented backstage access, John Feinstein finally removes the mystery shrouding golf's most famous event, unravelling how pairings are made; qualifiers; setting up the golf course; and all the complexities of bringing golf's most exclusive competition to a truly public setting. In fascinating detail, Feinstein takes readers through every step, every thorny hole, every bitter rivalry of one of golf's greatest tournaments.
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Rated by buyers 
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Open is an exceptional book that takes the reader literally behind the ropes at Bethpage. Starting as a wild idea to host the Open on a public course, Feinstein is able to capture the years, months and days leading up to the 2002 Open. The book takes into account the extra security, parking, and such that comes with a major sporting event just months removed from 9/11. I enjoyed the in-depth profiles of the individuals responsible for putting on the show. The stores about close calls and how pairings are made. The book is definetly not your typical recount of a shot by shot golf tournament but rather a masterpiece for those of us that are as intrigued about how the USGA puts on championship versus who wins it. I recommend it to anyone who would is interested in the business side of sports especially golf.
Rated by buyers -
"Tiger Woods called it the greatest championship he has played. The 2002 open was unlike any other because it fell only 8 months after 9/11."
Imagine trying to put on an open only 8 months after 9/11. This is what happened to David Fay. David Fay is the main character in this book and he is the person in charge of all the opens. In this book OPEN By: John Feinstein it tells how David Fay's Dream came true. He's dream was to make Bethpage Black an open. This dream came to him in 1995 and in 2002 it came true, with the help of many others like Craig Currier (superintendent) Mary Lopuszynski (sales) and many other important characters. David Fay is about to figure out all these problems because there is nothing that will get in his way of making Bethpage an open. So don't you think he will follow through? Well find out.
This book is non-fiction and reads very smooth. John Feinstein did a good job of using very specific details so pay close attention. This book does not only teach you about golf it teaches you good life lessons that are unforgettable. I think this book is best suited for sports readers who want a good book to read and they will not put it down. The good thing about this book is that it makes you pay attention the bad thing is that it jumps around a little bit. The life skills this book will teach you really helped my out look on life being under thirteen and this book really deserves a try. So read it and post your own review and I think that review will be a positive one.
Rated by buyers 
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One of the more disappointing books by John Feinstein. He acts like the people putting on the 2002 U.S. Open were working on a cure for cancer. But seriously if the people described have all the abilities that Feinstein accredits them with, why aren't they doing something more meaningful than putting on a Golf Tournament. ALSO since I am a Huge Tiger Woods fan the usual Feinstein bashing of Tiger is not appreciated. One thing that surprised me is that NBC dictates pairings and starting times. If David Fay has all the integrity that Feinstein gives him credit for, he should not allow NBC to be so selective.
Also, I remeber watching this event on the tube. And Feinstein does not capture the enthusiasm that New Yorkers displayed for Phil Mickelson. The Book does not mention that he was called "The Mick."
The only question was how low to rate this book. Though unscientific 3 stars "feels" right.
Rated by buyers 
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Typical Feinstein ("A Season on the Brink" excepted). Quick, gossipy, superficial, fawning, etc., etc. This book is about the 2002 U.S. Open Golf Championship at the Bethpage Black Golf Course, a New York State Park course on Long Island. The subtitle, "Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black," is used here as a figure of speech, meaning "behind the scenes." ("Inside the ropes" is normally used in the context of a professional golf tournament to refer to the actual playing area itself -- spectators are separated from the golfers, caddies, officials, and other chosen few by thin ropes that tell the spectators how close they can get to the action.) Feinstein's purpose is to give the reader a look at the unfolding of a golf tournament from its conception to its completion. We see U.S Golf Association (the organization that conducts the tournament) leaders in action and learn something about the logistics of putting on a golf tournament (e.g., 4,850 people willing to volunteer their time so that the professional golfers and U.S.G.A. can have a huge payday), about random qualifiers and random competitors, and about the resurrection of the Black golf course. Yet the book does not fulfill its promise. My guess is that Feinstein's indebted to too many golf people for both his past and anticipated future lifestyle to offer the kind of critical insights and analysis I had hoped for.
Rated by buyers -
Being from Long Island, I understand the story behind the US Open. I was also able to go to the Open on the Saturday and get a feel for the event. As such I really appreciated this book because it is hard to build such an event in the public course like Bethpage. It is a testament to the USGA on how organized they are and all of the event preplanning they do. I thought it was a different and insightful look at the Open
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