Bud, Sweat, and Tees: Hootie, Martha, and the Masters of the Universe

Couldn't stop reading. Wish there was a part 2.What a brilliant and intimate portrait of those two characters (Benn and Duplantis)The only downer is that it doesn't cover Been's victory at the 2002 PGA National, although the victory at the Kemper (in his rookie year, coming from nowhere) is one of the most well written in the history of sports book.Two thumbs up.

There is an ancient story of a man and his journey, this is the modern equivalent. In this book you get the story of Rich Beem [before he won a major] and his caddy Steve Duplantis. This has to be the most entertaining story I?ve seen in a long time, and it?s all true. We see the Rich Beem, former cell phone salesman and well-traveled golfer, shoot for his dream. In his quest he finds a companion in the form of Steve Duplantis, a love torn caddy that has problems in his personal life.This is a great book first and foremost because it is superbly written. Alan Shipnuck has a relaxed and well-organized structure to his writing. Shipnuck, who writes for Sports Illustrated, took a gamble on writing this book, at the time Rich Beem hadn?t won a major, and stories of colorful, yet still second rate professional golfers don?t float amongst the bestseller lists all that often.At a PG-13 level we see Rich and Steve live their lives in tour, under the microscope, and learn about events that neither would be proud of. There?s an intimacy here you don?t normally get in biographies. Rich wins a PGA tour event in his rookie year on the tour, Steve Duplantis has a good job with Rich, but do they hold it together for an entire season? The book will leave you interested in finding out more about Beem and Co. Maybe a sequel Mr. Shipnuck?It?s a need to read for those interested in golf, and it?s an quick and entertaining story for those who really don?t care about golf.

Alan Shipnuck is the man! Great subjects plus a young 'with it' writer equals a great read! For years I've read John Feinstein's work and while he tells a good story, I identify with Shipnuck's style much more. I don't know if it's generational or not, but the words he uses and the quotes and stories he chose to include were perfect.If you even have a casual interest in golf read this book.

I am a junior in high school and dream of playing on the PGA Tour. Last year my parents began buying me books about the PGA TOur, so I could could learn about the lifestyle out there. The only two books I had read werer by John Feinstein. Both were pretty good but a little boring. There were too many players to keep track of, and a lot of their stories were very similar, so it was confusing. This book was way more fun to read. I laughed a lot, but I also learned about how things really are on teh PGA Tour. It seemed more real to me to read about guys who have really struggled. There was also a lot of juicey stuff about girls, and drinking, which was fun to read to. Everybody knows pro golfers like to have fun, but you never get to read about it. So, I really learned a lot from this book, and you will too if you buy it.

Entertaining, bawdy but sometimes poignant look at two very complicated lives that intersect on the golf course. The serious, introspective side of the book is balanced by the off-the-course exploits of drinking in the clubhouse and partying in strip bars. Alan Shipnuck expands on the humorous themes in golf that he writes about in his...column. His youthful, energetic style is perfect for a holiday read.