The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Fate Book Review
It is easy to have a Dan Jenkins section in your personal library since he has been a prolific sports/golf writer for over a half a century. He has put out countless entertaining books-both fiction and non-fiction-written in his Texas wise-guy cynical and satirical fashion. The writing is always observant, to the point, and about merciless in a kind of arms length critical view.
This detail collection of sixteen curt pieces was published in 1970 and it covers the full range of golf matters of the time. Unlike today where the writers have to beg for interviews, Dan Jenkins lived with the protagonists calendar week-to-week-traveling, playing cards, drinking beers, and sharing stories. Equally a consequence, there was a level of trust and confidence adult betwixt them that offered a articulate window into the hearts and minds of the players of the day. In reading this yous feel you lot are getting an insider's perspective on the development of the game in a golden era.
The name of the volume comes from a Bobby Jones quote on the topic of competitive pressures in golf game-whether for a title or a Sunday Nassau. Jones one time wrote,
"On the golf game course, a human may be the dogged victim of inexorable fate, be struck downward by an bloodcurdling stroke of tragedy, get the hero of unbelievable melodrama, or the clown in a sidesplitting comedy-any of these within a few hours, and all without having to bury a corpse or repair a tangled personality". Jenkin's writings bears out how man drama defines the game equally guys endeavor to excel at an private sport that will betrayal every weakness in technique or resolve in a remorseless competition.
I accept recently re-read this volume and I found that the bailiwick affair he writes almost seems timeless-municipal golf, slow play, head cases, television, majors, the greatest to ever play the game. The issues today are the same as they were in the 1960's, the names accept just inverse to protect the innocent.
In that location is a wonderful chapter about a regular on the bout who you barely know about-George Low. He was a journeyman pro in the 30's and 40'south who realized with the proper balance of schmoozing and familiarity he could make a life for himself without lifting a guild. Equally Jenkins says, "He was America's guest, underground comedian, consultant…….a human who conquered the ii hardest things in life-how to putt better than anyone ever and how to live lavishly without an income". He was a fixture on the veranda at every tour stop, bout watering hole, and putting green. His prowess with the flatstick and a quick joke made him welcome fixture on the bout for thirty years.
In the chapter called "Wide Open" he describes a tournament with venues of aloof reverence, offering a championship which guarantees wealth and fame for life, but that could exist won past only near anybody or a nobody. For instance, Lee Trevino, "a laughing tub of echiladas in bright blood-red socks with a caddy-hustler's game" or Orville Moody, "who had a name like … a drag strip mechanic and who didn't even take a hometown to be poor from. Just fourteen years of Fort Hoods and Koreas".
My personal favorite is his piece on Dave Marr "The Pro of 52nd Street". Dave Marr was Texas born and staff of life-pure Banlon in Argyle socks. In an otherwise undistinguished journeyman'south career he won a major, the PGA at Laurel Valley, and parlayed it into a life- long corporate outing full of networking with the stars and the champions of manufacture. You see this charming, likeable, self-deprecating guy realized what Frank Sinatra knew, if you can play NYC you tin play anywhere. Then he moved to New York, traded the argyle socks for double breasted blazers and Gucci belts, and adopted the New York lifestyle as his own. Doing his affair in the bistros and bars he developed life long friendships with celebrities that made him someone to hang with. In spite of regularly finishing twenty-third or worse, the income flowed from countless corporate outings and a broadcast gig based on his popularity amongst his peers and an insider cognition of the game.
The book ends with "The Doggedest Victim" about his proficient buddy Arnold Palmer. Jenkin's personal account of Palmer's celebrated and folkloric come from backside victory at Cherrry Hills in the 1960 U.Southward. Open characterizes the entire book. In Palmer'due south ascent to "the nearly immeasurable of all golf champions" Jenkin'south characterizes him as the "doggedest victim of us all".
Dan Jenkins will be inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in May of 2012, only the fifth golf game author to be and then honored and the outset to be inducted while he was living.
(Click here to read a typical Jenkin's reaction to his consecration)
As one of the nearly prolific golf game writers in history, his body of work clearly qualifies him for this long overdue honorarium.
Exercise yourself a favor, the next time you are on the Barnes and Noble spider web site and need another $x particular to get you lot over the $25 minimum for Complimentary Shipping buy yourself a copy of "The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Fate". It will be a welcome addition on your nightstand or next to your thrown and provide you enough of laughs and expand your knowledge of the history of the game.
The Indomitable Victims of Inexorable Fate
Dan Jenkins (1970)
Source: https://moegolf.net/2012/01/24/the-dogged-victims-of-inexorable-fate/
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