How I Played the Game [Hardcover]

Byron Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1993

Laced throughout with priceless stories, opinions and even golf tips, with an in-depth recreation of his golden year, 1945, How I Played the Game is a sample of golf writing and remembrance of the highest order.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nelson, now 80, is one of golf's immortals for a number of reasons, chief among them the astounding records he set in 1945 when he won 18 major PGA tournaments, 11 of them consecutively, and had an average score of 68.3. During the previous year, he captured eight events, had an average of 69.7 and earned $37,000, more than twice what any professional had ever made. Such triumphs brought him special admiration, for Nelson had grown up in a poor Texas family, had not finished high school, was deeply religious, did not smoke or drink and married the first young woman he ever dated. His modesty shines through in this autobiography, a winning volume in every sense. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A careful chronology that will serve as one of the most detailed and anecdotal accounts of a seminal era in American golf. (The New York Times )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878338195
• ISBN-13: 978-0878338191
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #810,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Player, boring writer, May 4, 2009

By 

Brent Fulberry, Australian PGA "supergolfdude" (North Royalton, OH United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Played the Game: An Autobiography (Paperback)

I respect the heck out of Nelson's golf and his example as a gentleman until his final days, but his story is quite boring.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasant Read From A Wonderful Human Being, December 10, 2008

By 

Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Played the Game: An Autobiography (Paperback)

In the history of professional golf, few people were more beloved than Byron Nelson.....maybe nobody. Arnold Palmer, Bobby Jones and Harry Vardon might be close but nobody was quite the consistent clean-living, soft-spoken gentleman for so long a period as Mr. Nelson.

Is this a dramatic, suspenseful story like the one about Francis Ouimet's win at 1913 U.S. Open, or the wild tales of "Seabiscuit?" No, but it's kind of like curling up on the couch on a winter night with the fireplace going. Byron is such a down-home-type guy that reading about him gently telling about his life and loves makes for a very pleasant read.

When people wonder about "role models" in professional sports, they should check into Byron Nelson's and this book gives us a chance to do just that!

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfortable Conversation with Golfing Great, September 11, 2006

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Played the Game (Hardcover)

Nelson truly is a golfing gem, one that gets somewhat lost in all the current player hype. But this is likely due to media hype, not the players; they are humble around the like of Lord Byron, and most if not all big names play the King's, the Bear's and the Nelson's tournaments.

Here is record of his life and it truly sounds like the man we have learned to like and hear on TV. Downhome, country boy, who really wanted to earn enough money to buy a ranch, which he did. In doing so, he had some amazing golf, the statistics and some of the records are still there. Might be so for quite some time.

Fascinating how he is part of game most don't know, i.e. invent of good golf shoes and Footjoy connection and also the golf umbrella. Around the Hogan's since caddying youth, this guy is legend worth becoming familiar with. His humility, grace and fervor for the game are truly a treat to read about. The tournament that bears his name is what he refers to as biggest golfing thing that ever happened to him, for the joy of helping the kids. Truly an athleter to be emulated.