Customer Reviews

I Remember Ben Hogan: Personal Recollections and Revelations of Golf's Most Fascinating Legend from the People Who Knew Him Best

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This work is an outstanding collection of insights into the pysche of Ben Hogan told from the perspective of his friends and rivals. These stories helped me to understand who Ben Hogan really was and the substantial impact that Hogan had on the development of professional golf. The variety, and depth of the recollections combined to produce a very readable book that is a must for any Hogan enthusiast. I have read other works about Ben Hogan but this collection allowed me to see him in a new way and gave a depth to him that I had previously missed. Pick this one up and I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

While I understand that any author that wants to write about The Hawk will have his work cut out for him, it seems that Towle took the path of least resistance. A couple of phone calls here, 5 minutes of editing there, and you're left with a book that tells you two things:

1.) Hogan was a gruff but soft-on-the-inside guy.

2.) Hogan got the yips later in life.

Those who want to learn more than those two points would be better off avoiding this book.

The last two reviewers before me couldn't have read the same book I did. The whole point is that while Hogan is such a legendary figure inspiring tremendous curiosity, information about him has come out in bits and pieces over the years. There were dozens of tidbits in this book that were revelatory to me, and I'm someone who lived in Fort Worth many years while the reclusive Mr. Hogan was still alive. I found this book really good and informative, and full of new material. Based on its oral-history format, and the author's own admission in the introduction, this wasn't supposed to be an earthshaking biography full of dirt. Instead, it offers a lot of nifty snapshots about Hogan from people, a number of whom were his close freinds that, while not celebrities, had insights into Hogan's real life that "celebrities" who thought they knew him didn't. This book is definitely worth at least one read.

It's fascinating to me that a guy as reclusive as Hogan could command so much public adoration and curiosity. This is a book that offers a lot of neat stories about Hogan that I had never read. A bunch of people who knew Hogan, both well-known and not so well known, tell their stories about Hogan in their own words---in oral history form. I've read a couple of other books on the Hawk and those were nice reads in their own way as well. I read the other reviews on this page and don't understand why "clucas" called this a "duck hook." It isn't--it's not John Feinstein-caliber, but it's still worth the price. Sounds like some bitterness being expressed by clucas, probably someone who doesn't know anything what it takes to win at golf or can recognize good book writing.

Ben Hogan was one of the greatest golfers who ever played the game, if only for his win following his car accident. He was one of the most hard working golfers who spent hours perfecting his game.

He was also a very private person who during his life disclosed very little of himself to any body other than his closest friends.

That was his wish in life and I believe should be respected now.

This book is nothing more than some comments and anecdotes about Mr Hogan that do little to improve our view of the man or what he thought primarily because he did not want us to know.

The stories are from relatively insignificant people with the exception of Ken Venturi and Byron Nelson and are in the main little less than gossip.

Mr Hogan's real friends and close family would have given little away.

There are very few biographies of Ben Hogan for the very reason in that he was not an open figure. If you want some insight into Hogan read Curt Sampson's book not this one.

I believe Mike Towle was well intentiioned but the product is disappointing and really adds very little to our real understanding of Ben Hogan.

This book really gave some great insights into Hogan as not only a golfer but a man. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about him.

If ever there was a prime example of a lazy way to write, "I Remember Ben Hogan" is it. It's a fine specimen of lousy research, poor editing and using the name of an enigmatic, legendary figure to sell a book.

It reads like the author contacted some of Hogan's acquaintances and asked them to phone in or drop a note with one or two memories of The Hawk. Then he copies them down and publishes them, verbatim.

Most of these recollections are about as dry as a sand trap in the Sahara. For instance, one of the recollections is from the waiter who served Mr. Hogan at Shady Oaks. His memory: "I waited on him almost every day. He would order a cup of bean soup, toast, bacon, stuff like that, He would eat scrambled eggs and bacon."

The book is full of these dry-as-toast tidbits. It's a wonder it doesn't cover how Mr. Hogan went to the bathroom. But, wait a minute, it does! We learn that the great Ice Man wore button-up trousers because he was worried about leaving his fly down after a pit stop during a tournament.

Unfortunately, that's the most revealing thing you'll learn about Ben Hogan in this book.

The book is in great condition and I enjoy this type of golf literature. Everything about its purchase went very well, which I appreciate.

This is one of several volumes in the Cumberland House "I Remember" series. Each is an anthology of reminiscences of those who personally knew the subject, in this instance Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 - July 25, 1997), one of the greatest shotmakers and competitors in the history of professional golf. Mike Towle edited the material and contributed brief introductions to each chapter. When competing in a tournament ("at the office"), Hogan was unapproachable by anyone (including his beloved wife, Valerie) and by all accounts a shy and (with few exceptions) an inaccessible person in his private life, except to immediate family members, others whom he also respected and trusted, and...small children and dogs. One detail of his childhood perhaps helps to explain his personality in subsequent years: according to some accounts, his father committed suicide in young Ben's presence. Of course, it is impossible to know impact that tragic event had on Hogan's development. In his youth and early in his golf career, he had encounter severe financial problems and frustrations with his effort to win tournaments. However, when Hogan was comfortable with someone, he could relax and enjoy himself. Towle also notes that, when irritated or impatient, or when he felt his trust had been betrayed, Hogan was a formidable antagonist with a sharp tongue and a piercing glare.

He won 63 professional golf tournaments between the years of 1938 through 1959, interrupted in its prime by military service during World War II and a near-fatal car accident in 1949 when his car collided head-on with a Greyhound bus in dense fog. Although his doctors said he might not walk again much less resume playing competitive golf, Hogan left the hospital only two months after the accident and soon returned to the tour. His best season was in 1953 when he won five of the six tournaments he entered, three of them "majors." In fact, his nine career professional major championships tie him (with Gary Player) for fourth all-time, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Hogan's achievements are even more remarkable, given the fact that he never fully recovered from the near-fatal car accident. He founded the Ben Hogan Golf Company in 1953 that produced it first set of irons (the "Precision") the next year. Hogan sold his company to American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1960 and continued as chairman. From 1980-85, he served as a director. He died in 1997 and the Hogan brand became part of Calloway Golf in 2004.

Towle obtained reminiscences and observations from members of Hogan's family, those who competed against him on the PGA tour, sports journalists, fellow members of his club (Shady Oaks in Fort Worth) and others who encountered him along the way. I would have rated this book higher if it had more cohesive organization and tighter editing. Here is a representative selection of comments from the narrative:

"There were two sides to Ben Hogan: Hogan Heavy and Hogan Lite. The former could reduce confident people to shrinking violets; the latter possessed a feathery touch as delicate as a flop wedge out of the second cut of the rough behind a green sloping away. Hogan Lite had a dry sense of humor, and it was at work more than listeners realized. At times, Hogan was the epitome of someone best understood if you listened to what he said, not how he said it. Even his humor was couched in gruff tones." (Mike Towle, Page 5)

"He was this wonderfully sensitive man with a treat sense of humor. I met him at a time when I'm sure he had softened quite a bit, so my perception of him is very different. No matter what, though, I'm sure that side was always there and he just didn't expose it to a lot of people." (Chris Tschetter, member of LPGA Tour, Page 23)

On an especially cold day in Fort Worth, tourists from Florida appeared at Shady Oaks Country Club and their only reason was to see Hogan. "They were stunned, and, of course, they asked a couple of questions, very stock-type stuff. He answered and, trying not to be rude, he elaborated a little bit but not very much. I could tell that he was uncomfortable ...They stayed maybe ten minutes and then left, although he would usually be the one to leave first. Then he turned around and said, `That's the hard part, Mike, `cause these gentlemen will repeat what I said and that story will be changed several times, and that makes me uncomfortable." (Mike Wright, head pro at Shady Oaks, Page 31)

When Hogan died, his personal physician called Byron Nelson to tell him. (He was also Nelson's personal physician.) "They were friends, but not bosom buddies." Later, during a conversation with someone from New York, Nelson mentioned Hogan's death and the New York Times had an unexpected scoop. Nelson's name was mentioned in the article. Hogan's widow, Valerie, "just never forgave him. She thought he was seeking publicity by getting the news out to the newspapers that Ben had died. It never bothered Valerie's and my relationship, but it sure as hell b0thered Byron and Valerie. This was just how paranoid she really was. And she got worse and worse as time went on." (Dr. Jim Murphy, Page 60) Note: Nelson and his wife were not invited to Hogan's funeral service but attended it anyway, standing outside of the church.

"Although Hogan will always be remembered as arguably the finest ballstriker ever, in my opinion his quick, analytical mind was probably his strongest personality trait as a champion golfer. He was a bit of a loner and was actually somewhat shy, but he found a great passion and love for the solitude of golf and its unique challenge." (Ben Crenshaw, professional golfer and student of golf history, Page 72)

"Hogan didn't just lend his name and reputation to business - he jumped right into the middle of whatever he invested in, and took great pains to learn as much as he could about any of his endeavors. He often asked penetrating questions and he never forgot the business side of running a pro shop, something he had done years earlier during his days as a touring pro. When all was said and done, Hogan was a much a moneyman when it came to business as he had been coming down the back nine at the masters or U.S.Open."(Mike Towle, Pages 178-179)

I presume to conclude with a reminiscence of my own. Many years ago, I was invited to play golf by a friend who was a member of Shady Oaks. As we holed out on the 9th green, he suggested we stop to obtain a beverage before proceeding to the 10th tee nearby. As we approached the clubhouse, he said that "Hogan might be there" and if so, he would introduce me if he sensed if that would be OK. We walked into the grill room. Hogan was seated alone at a corner table and returned my friend's hand wave. "Here we go but you never know with him. He may greet you warmly or make you feel invisible." We were introduced, shook hands, exchanged a few pleasant comments, and then parted. Later, as my friend and I were about to tee off, we looked back and saw Hogan standing at the window watching us intently. (We had played very well during the first nine, only a few shots over par.) My friend proceeded to top his drive into a bush a few feet nearby. I then hooked my tee shot onto the practice range. We both looked back. Hogan was no longer at the window. Then my friend made an excellent suggestion: "Let's get the hell out of here!" That was my one brief encounter with Ben Hogan.

Those interested in a more comprehensive discussion of Hogan's life and career are encouraged to check out James Dodson's Ben Hogan: An American Life, Curt Sampson's Hogan, and Afternoons with Mr. Hogan by Jody Vasquez as well as Mark Frost's The Match that provides a riveting account of a match between Hogan and Nelson (who by then had won 14 "majors" between them) against two highly regarded amateurs, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward, just prior to the annual Bing Crosby "clambake" in 1956 that later became the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

there seems no in between. I have 800+ golf books and have read everything just about everything on Hogan. (What club did he REALLY hit at Merion in the famous photo?). Due to the negative reviews I didn't get to this one for a while. When I did, I truly enjoyed it. Is some info repeated? Sure. But this is mostly new, original and genuine investigation, not reguritation. If you are a golf and golf history BUFF I think you will enjoy. If not, pass and read the more current books. (a 2 iron.)