A Golf Story: Bobby Jones, Augusta National, and the Masters Tournament

by Charles Price, Arnold Palmer (Foreword)

Soon after its original publication in 1986, A Golf Story was heralded as one of the classics of golf literature. It is a book that intertwines three immortal subjects—Bobby Jones, Augusta National, and the Masters Tournament—into one compelling narrative. These three stories are inextricably linked; together, they form a fascinating backdrop to an April drama that is unique in the annals of golf and that, like Jones himself, transcends sports. Using firsthand experiences with Augusta National and the Masters Tournament that date back to 1948, Charles Price spent three years weaving together this historic story and, in an unprecedented move, Augusta National opened its guarded archives for his research, thereby making this book the first authorized history of both the club and the tournament.

Genres: Sports

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

1925-

Charles Price was considered a literary historian of the game of golf, and one of the founding editors of Golf magazine. He is the author or coauthor 17 books, including The World of Golf, a definitive encyclopedia of the game that is universally regarded as one of golf's all-time classics. The winner of numerous writing awards, he was named to Golf World's "Top Ten Golf Writers of the 20th Century" in 1999.

Reviews

[Bill Rudin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobby Jones makes today's golfers look like a bunch of spoiled kids. He never won a dime playing golf yet his legacy and influence will live forever.

[Billie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I practically grew up on the grounds of the National (mom worked there for 40 years). Along with what knowledge I had being from here I had NO idea of the unknown occurrence in the began in 1925. The former Fruitlands Nurseries had been sold to a Florida businessman who owned a hotel in Miami called the Fleetwood. As he prepared for what would eventually become a resort (golf, tennis, pool and high rise hotel) a hurricane (the worst in history at that time) demolished his property along with most of the others. Chapter 6 is fascinating and tells that story. Interestingly though - as I have shared this story for the past 10+ years with friends and visitors it was received with such shock. No one who grew up here apparently had ever heard about that. Commodore Stoltz lost the property and eventually Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts took over. If you like golf you'll love this. Not too long ago I read a fascinating book by Erik Larson "Devil In The White City" about the Columbian Exhibition aka Chicago World's Fair. I know people from Chicago who knew nothing about the fair much less Dr H. H. Holmes. Prolific serial killer. Anything by Erik Larson is non-fiction and a must read.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 1/2). I saw a reference to this book in a blog during this year's Masters tournament. As a golf nut, I am really glad I finally got around to it. Price is a renowned golf writer, and this book is pretty darn special. All the information on Bobby Jones, the history of the Masters, the background on how the course came about, very cool stuff for the aficionado. We don't get a full picture of Clifford Roberts, but that is fine. A really fun read for me. Good stuff.