This is Walter Hagen's own story of the two decades when he ruled the golfing world as king. Hagen not only won a major tournament every year for twenty years-a record never even approached by any other golfer-but his personality dominated the game during that period. Before he came along, professional golfers held the status of hired hands. The Haig was the man who crashed the front door of the clubhouses, and he brought along with him the entire fraternity of golf professionals. This book is a volume in Sports Media Group's Rare Book Collection. Collecting this series of reprint editions of golf's most important and rare books will enhance your understanding of the game while building a library of golf's most treasured volumes.

“I never wanted to be a millionaire—I just wanted to live like one...”—Walter Hagen THIS IS Walter Hagen’s own story of the two decades when he ruled the golfing world as King. Hagen not only won a major tournament every year for twenty years—a record never even approached by any other golfer—but his personality dominated the game over that period. Before he came along, professional golfers had the status of hired hands. The Haig was the man who crashed the front door of the clubhouses, and he brought along with him the entire fraternity of golf professionals. He was a magnificent showman and, in addition to changing the social standing of the golf pro, his competitive skill and flamboyant character built up public in interest in golf throughout the world. The result was perhaps best expressed in Gene Sarazen’s own memoirs when he said, “All the professionals who have a chance to go after the big money today should say silent thanks to Walter Hagen each time they stretch a check between their fingers. It was Walter Hagen who made professional golf what it is.” The picture of sartorial elegance, he became the fashion plate that others copied for years. He was the honoured guest of emperors and the tutor and personal friend of the young Edward, then Prince of Wales. An idol both at home and abroad (he won the U.S. Open twice, made the P.G.A. Championship almost his exclusive personal property through the twenties, and won the British Open four times), he toured the world with Joe Kirkwood as the most outstanding ambassador of good will that golf ever produced. All this and much more is set down in this book in a style which has the same swashbuckling flavour as characterized his long playing career.

This is Walter Hagen's own story of the two decades when he ruled the golfing world as king. Hagen not only won a major tournament every year for twenty years-a record never even approached by any other golfer-but his personality dominated the game during that period. Before he came along, professional golfers held the status of hired hands. The Haig was the man who crashed the front door of the club-houses, and he brought along with him the entire fraternity of golf professionals. He was a magnificent showman, and, in addition to changing the social standing of the golf pro, his competitive skill and flamboyant character built up public interest in golf throughout the world. He became the fashion plate that others copied for years. He was the honored guest of emperors and the tutor and personal friend of the young Edward, then Prince of Wales. All this and much more are set down in this book in a style that has the same swashbuckling flavor as characterized his long-playing career. Who but Hagen, needing to hole-out on a 150-yard approach to the last hole of the British Open, would have the nerve and flair to request an official to go forward and hold the flag? And having done so, with thousands of eyes upon him, who else would have had the skill and control to almost pull off the miracle? Hagen, more than any other golfer, helped spread golf worldwide. This is his story, in his words. Book jacket.

During the Golden Age of Sports in the 1920s, Walter Hagen was to golf what Babe Ruth was to baseball. The first professional golfer to make his living playing the game rather than teaching it, Hagen won eleven major professional tournaments over his long career -- two U.S. Opens, four British Opens, and five PGA Championships (including an amazing streak of four consecutive PGA wins) -- a record surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus. Hagen was also influential in helping to found the Ryder Cup and was the first American golfer to top $1 million in career earnings -- a figure equivalent to over $40 million today. Award-winning sportswriter Tom Clavin has penned a thrilling biography that vividly recalls Hagen's dazzling achievements and the qualities that made him a star. Energetic, witty, and one of the best putters ever to walk the green, Hagen was a man who loved to party, was extraordinarily generous to his friends, and golfed the world over, giving exhibitions. He preferred to travel by limousine, and if he intended to stay awhile he'd bring a second limo just to transport his clothes, which were nothing but the finest. On his many trips across the Atlantic to compete in the Ryder Cup or British Open, Hagen was known to throw parties that lasted days, ending only when the ship reached the shore. He was also the first professional golfer to admit to playing not only for the love of the game, but also for the love of the winner's purse. Walter Hagen, forerunner of today's sports superstars, is as dynamic a character as can be found in American sports history. Bringing Hagen to life with incredible detail and countless anecdotes, Sir Walter is the authoritative biography of the man who helped create professional golf as it's known today.

Beginnings, 1888-1912 -- Going public, 1913-1916 -- War, metamorphosis, and megaphones, 1917-1919 -- Big debuts, bigger disappointments, 1920-1921 -- "Sweet revenge" and Calamity Jane, 1922-1923 -- "The greatest ever" and a return to Merion, 1924-1925 -- Passing the crowns, 1926-1927 -- The "Atlanta golf machine" and the "lion-tamer," 1928-1929 -- Completing the cycle," 1930 -- A has-been and a gentleman, 1931-1959.

Harvey Penick's life in golf began when he started caddying at the Austin, (Texas), Country Club at age eight. Eighty-one years later he is still there, still dispensing wisdom to pros and beginners alike. His stature in the golf world is reflected in the remarkable array of champions he's worked with, both men and women, including U.S. Open champion and golf's leading money winner Tom Kite, Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, and LPGA Hall of Famers Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls, and Kathy Whitworth. It is not for nothing that the Teacher of the Year Award given by the Golf Teachers Association is called the Harvey Penick Award. Now, after sixty years of keeping notes on the things he's seen and learned and on the golfing greats he's taught, Penick is finally letting his Little Red Book (named for the red notebook he's always kept) be seen by the golf world. His simple, direct, practical wisdom pares away all the hypertechnical jargon that's grown up around the golf swing, and lets all golfers, whatever their level, play their best. He avoids negative words; when Tom Kite asked him if he should "choke down" on the club for a particular shot, Harvey told him to "grip down" instead, to keep the word "choke" from entering his mind. He advises golfers to have dinner with people who are good putters; their confidence may rub off, and it's certainly better than listening to bad putters complain. And he shows why, if you've got a bad grip, the last thing you want is a good swing. Throughout, Penick's love of golf and, more importantly, his love of teaching shine through. He gets as much pleasure from watching a beginner get the ball in the air for the first time as he does when one of his students wins the U.S. Open. Harvey Penick's Little Red Book is an instant classic, a book to rank with Ben Hogan's Modern Fundamentals of Golf and Tommy Armour's How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time.

Francis Ouimet (1893-1967) was an awkward, relatively unknown 20 year-old amateur and former caddy when he stunned the sports world by upsetting famed British golfers Harry Vardon and Ted Ray to win the 1913 US Open. This is his legendary story.

When you're in the mood for top-notch humor writing, only the very best will do. Dive into "The Clicking of Cuthbert" for an array of golf-themed belly laughs. A must-read for Wodehouse buffs, golf fanatics, or anyone who appreciates Wodehouse's gift for the guffaw-provoking turn of phrase.