Customer Reviews

Deane Beman: Golf's Driving Force

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Who said golf was boring? I read Adam Schupak's "Deane Beman: Golf's Driving Force" and found suspense, intrigue, and power struggles in what is supposed to be "a gentleman's game." Didn't really know too much about Beman, but he was certainly a towering presence in the sports world. Schupak brings him to life here, but doesn't lionize him and doesn't sugarcoat some of his faults. As much of an historical account as it is a biography, the book runs 360 pages, but I sped through it and am recommending to my buds, and my friend's looking for a good father's day gift, as a must-read for any sports fan, history junkie, or anyone who really enjoys the intersection of business, leadership, and sports.

In Deane Beman's twenty-year career as PGA Tour Commissioner, he built the modern tour. Schupak's story of Beman's achievements is detailed and interesting, full of quotes from those who worked with him and those who fought him. It is a fascinating story, whether or not you are a golfer.

Because the book is organized around Beman's accomplishments -- getting more and richer tournaments, creating the developmental and senior tours, improving the television contracts, creating the TPC courses, etc -- we tend to see him as a deal maker, and to see him through the eyes of those he dealt with. Those stories are most interesting. My only regret is that the author didn't tell us more about Beman as a person, because those who know him appreciate his humor, his kindness, and a host of qualities that aren't apparent in this book.

But read it! You won't regret it.

Ever wonder how the PGA/PGA Tour/USGA/R&A interrelate? Ever wonder how pro golf became such a successful sports business? Ever wonder why corporate America loves pro golf and it grew to establish the enormous television reach it enjoys today? Why purses exploded even before Tiger Woods? What the "business" of pro golf is really about day-to-day? Then this is a must read for you, as it is for anyone interested in golf generally, pro golf specifically, and the business behind all the players we see every week. It also is a must for those interested in general sports business. Indeed, it should be required reading in any business school. Part biography and part history, and always personally inspiring, this is written with an insider's feel, explains how (and because of whom) pro golf has become such a successful enterprise, and what paved the way for the further explosion in pro golf "AT" (After Tiger). This "BT" (Before Tiger) story is entertaining as well as hugely informative for those who wonder how this "elite" sport grew from much more humble beginnings. Absolutely fascinating and revealing. You will never look at a golf telecast or read a golf magazine in the same way again. Great father's Day gift, and a great business school graduate gift.

Congratulations Adam Schupak and thank you for a riveting read.
You are a gifted writer to turn the business of golf into action-packed
stories about Beman's twenty-year reign. You included details and events that could
have been excruciatingly boring, but under your fine hand, they were
fascinating. I recommend this book to golfers, sports enthusiasts, business professionals of
all stripes, and anyone interested in dyanmic people who make a difference.
Deanne Beman is a true hero to me.

I'm a recent convert (addict?) to the game of golf and, as such, never had the historical perspective needed to understand that things like the omnipresent media coverage, multi-million dollar purses, slick integrated marketing deals, and the general supremacy of the TOUR that seem so effortless today were really the result of a 20 to 30 year battle waged largely on the back of a single man, Commissioner Deane Beman.

Like most stories where success is earned rather than given, there are a few common themes and groups of characters in Schupak's book that will be familiar to all readers of the genre:

1) A singular man (Beman) with an unrelenting commitment to an ambitious, and seemingly unreasonable, vision - the entirety and genius of which was unable to be grasped by others without the benefit of 20+ years of hindsight.

2) A group of existing stakeholders (PGA Club Pros, USGA, The Players - both the superstars and the rank & file, Tournament Sponsors, Equipment Companies, TV Networks, etc...), with wildly varying degrees of business acumen (or lack thereof), resistant to any move that would pose even the smallest threat to their existing kingdoms, fragile and meager as they may have been.

3) The warm glow of revisionist history, especially towards the superstars of the game like Nicklaus and Palmer, being more harshly illuminated by the revelation of the seemingly constant backroom, underhanded, and blatantly self-interested dealings that took place at every turn. Quite frankly, the reader is left with the sense that, even with the incredible efforts and sacrifices Beman made during his tenure, the game of golf is incredible lucky to be even close to where it is today.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read for a substantial 350 page book, and one that will certainly enhance your appreciation and understanding of the business behind a game where millions of people watch each week as a bunch of already-rich guys chase a small white ball around an immaculately maintained course, complaining all the way to their next million dollar check...

Being aware of the PGA Tour's tremendous success, and wanting to make an "institution" of my own business, I bought this book by Adam Schupak.

What a great choice. Read how Beman:

1. Turned the PGA Tour into a non-profit which has saved the tour hundreds of millions of dollars- which could be put towards player enrichment programs.

2. Quickly grasped how the PGA had to become a bastion for serving the charities where they played their tournaments- how long would volunteers come out to work all week in support of millionaires? It had to be about something bigger than golf.

3. Helped in starting the developmental tour, and the senior tour, which provided opportunities for golfers over a much longer career.

4. Pushed for the TPC Network of courses, which now bring in huge revenue in their own right and reduce total reliance on TV revenues. This endeavor required battling some of golfs biggest stars, who felt to tour was competing with their golf design businesses.

5. Consolidated a quilt work of TV contracts which led to rising prices to networks for carrying golf.

Plus much more!

Adam Schupak does a great job of explaining what Beman did, but also gets into the details of all the trials and tribulations that occured in making it happen. Nothing was simple.

A nice surprise (being a golfer) was how enjoyable it was to read about some of golf's most famous players and their roles in all of this.

This is a really good read that covers the PGA Tour from the 1970's to the 1990's. It goes into detail about many of the highlights (and lowlights) of Deane Beman's time as Commissioner of the Tour, including the relationship with the PGA of America, the building of the TPC courses, and the equipment dramas.

If you liked John Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled" you will enjoy this.

It is a story of how one person who has vision and it not afraid to lead can make a difference, in this case, in the professional golf world. It is personal to me because Deane Beman supported the first TPC that was a partner with a municipal entity and created the TPC of Scottsdale. This has now become the home of the Phoenix Open which is now far and away the largest attended golf tournament in the world. I live several miles from this course and enjoy the course during the year and visit every year during the Phoenix Open. It is truly a unique event and without Deane Beman would not exist.

It was a pleasure to read how he has changed the professional golf world. You don't have to be a golfer to appreciate his leadership skills.

Jim Bruner