The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year [Hardcover]

Curt Sampson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

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 sport collided. Here was Arnold Palmer, the workingman's hero, "sweating, chain-smoking, shirt-tail flying"; Ben Hogan, the greatest player of the fifties, a perfectionist battling twin demons of age and nerves; and, making his big-time debut, a crew-cut college kid who seemed to have the makings of a champion: twenty-year-old Jack Nicklaus.
        And of course, the rest: Ken Venturi, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Doug Sanders, Gary Player, and the many other colorful characters who chased around a little white ball--and a dream.
        Would Palmer win the mythical Grand Slam of golf? Could Hogan win one more major tournament? Was Nicklaus the real thing? Even more than an intimate portrait of these men and their exciting times, The Eternal Summer is also an entertaining, perceptive, and hypnotically readable exploration of professional golf in America.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sampson ( Texas Golf Legends ) makes a convincing case that 1960 was a watershed for the pro links game. It was the year when the aging Ben Hogan, almost literally on his last legs (he had been badly mangled in an auto crash), was barely hanging on to his past glory; rising star Arnold Palmer was starting to draw the crowds of fans who eventually turned into Arnie's Army; and 20-year-old Jackie Nicklaus was just making his presence known. Even more significant, however, was the increasing interest of major corporations in associating themselves with events on the pro tour and in promising larger and larger purses, a trend that did indeed change the game forever. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Although certainly not a groundbreaking book, this is a well-told reminiscence of professional golf during the 1960 season. Sampson, a former professional, writes from a love for the sport and deftly weaves in the careers of stellar performers Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Jack Nicklaus. While each golfer was at a different career stage, during this one season their paths crossed at several events, most notably the U.S. Open. Chapters outlining each golfer and detailing their beginnings in the sport are included. This volume succeeds in bringing the three together, just as they were in 1960. A good selection for strong golf collections.
- Jeffrey Gay, Bridgewater P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Pub; 1st edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878337881
• ISBN-13: 978-0878337880
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,249,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Curt Sampson, golf professional turned golf writer, came from a large, athletic family. Golf was something his father did. Sampson caddied for his dad for years before trying to fit the game into his crowded sports schedule. Two things piqued his interest, both occurring when he turned 12. He began to caddie full-time at Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson, Ohio; and he discovered that he could not hit a Little League curve ball.

Sampson spent the money earned caddying on plaid pants, entry fees, and travel to tournaments. His most notable win before college was in the Mid-American Junior in 1970. He accepted a scholarship to Kent State University, where he won one tournament, finished second in another, and made the All-MAC team twice. And twice during his four years at KSU, the team missed qualifying for the NCAA by one shot. Current Kent Men's Head Coach Herb Page and Women's Head Coach Mike Morrow were teammates.

Sampson toiled as a club pro for several years following graduation. He toured internationally for a short time, and played in mini-tours in Florida. In his only try to get on the PGA Tour--at Pinehurst in 1977--he missed the cut badly, and applied for and received a return to amateur status.

Following a ten year career in sales (wiring conduit, hydraulic hose, labeling machines, lumber) Sampson began writing full-time in November 1988.

Texas Golf Legends, his first book, was collaboration with Santa Fe-based artist Paul Milosevich. Researching TGL gained Sampson introductions with people he has written about many times since: Hogan, Nelson, Crenshaw, Trevino, and a few dozen others. His next book--The Eternal Summer, a recreation of golf's summer of 1960, when Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus battled--is still selling 15 years after its debut, a rarity in the publishing world.

Sampson's biography of the enigmatic William Ben Hogan struck a chord. Both Hogan and his next book, The Masters, appeared on the New York Times bestseller lists. Subsequent books and scores of magazine articles cemented Sampson's reputation as readable and sometimes controversial, a writer with an eye for humor and the telling detail.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest golf books ever, back in print., October 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year (Paperback)

I've read a lot of golf books. This is one of my favorites, and I'm glad to see it's finally back in print--there are a lot of golfers I need to recommend this to. It's more just plain fun to read than almost any one I can name. One of golf's great years, and one of the sport's all-time great cast of characters: Hogan, past his prime at 48 but trying to win one more major; Arnie, the greatest golfer of the 50s, trying to win the Grand Slam; 20-year-old Nicklaus, the chunky college kid; and plenty of other characters, like the irascible Charlie Sifford, the first black player on the tour; the legendary Sam Snead; Chi Chi Rodriguez, who weighed 118 pounds; party animal Doug Sanders; Gary Player, the Man in Black from South Africa; and several others. Reading about these guys is just fascinating, they come alive in this book, and the story of how several of them could have and should have won the Open is one of the best in golf. Sampson has a breezy, highly readable style and has a good sense of humor. I highly recommend this book to any fan of golf.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just A Great History of one of Golf's Turning Points, May 24, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year (Paperback)

Only on the fringe of my teenage years in 1960, Sampson marvelously chronicles this year in golf and society. Society we all know because of the revolution that was gaining momentum.

TV is growing and would play a major role in golf's history as well. Along with three individuals, Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus.

The "y" in the road is the televised Open at Cherry Creek, when Palmer made the celebrated charge. Hogan tries but comes short, and Nicklaus, not knowing for sure his position, didn't really grind, or he likely would have tied. Palmer wins, the sport grows, and as fate seemed to dictate, the game is on the way to the marvelous heights we now see it occupy.

Reading this wonderful book, it gives one more insight and compassion into those early pioneers who made it what it is. Today's pros seemed so pampered, however, the stress is large and looming larger.

Sampson is articulate writer and delivers great insights: Hagen's saying to Sarazen before the shot heard round the world at Augusta: "Come on, hurry up, I've got a date tonight."; and Gary Player calls up Hogan for some advice on his swing, so Hogan asks, whose clubs do you play? When Player answers Dunlop, Hogan responds, "Ask Mr. Dunlop."

Empathy for those like Sampson who wrote passionately about the game and didn't really make a living, let alone get rich. Loved the story about Bob Drum being snubbed by his paper until they hear Palmer is leading The Open, then cable him to send a story. Upon receipt of telegram, Drum crumbles it into ball, and said: "Hope to hell you get it."

This is a must for any serious golf collection of books on the game.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sampson's Best Book, November 10, 2009

By 

DaveHwriter "DaveHwriter" (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year (Hardcover)

THE ETERNAL SUMMER, the story of the hard-fought 1960 season. I was lucky to read MASTERS and SUMMER in that order. MASTERS is a slanted but colorful and enjoyable piece of work. I was pumped for more Sampson and got my wish. SUMMER is one of the best golf history books ever written, and I have read most of them; period. Leap at any opportunity to read SUMMER. It is a top-drawer treatment of 1960's events.