Rating: 
Summary: ....another typically strong Feinstein effort
Review: I have to admit to not being the world's biggest golf fan but in the hands of an expert storyteller like Feinstein, the sport takes on a life of its own. Initial reviews highlighted the lengthy build-up/preparation for the tournament as a negative, but the scene setting really allows the reader to delve into the psyche (not only of the players, but of the Open itself). Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Below Par
Review: I like Feinstein's work but this book is a bore. The first 100 pages are mini-biographies of USGA staff. Someone out there must find interesting which college basketball team is the favorite of the USGA publicity director, but I am at loss to understand whom.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as Good as "A Good Walk Spoiled"
Review: I loved "A Good Walk Spoiled," Feinstein's previous book. If you haven't read that one, read it--it's fantastic. But this book was disappointing, mainly because Feinstein introduces too many characters involved with the US Open at Bethpage. And I don't mean the golfers--instead I mean the architects, administrators, maintenance people, producers, etc. Feinstein doesn't really focus on golfers very much in the book--probably the book's fatal flaw. What the PGA crew did at Bethpage was great but Feinstein tells us too much about them--after a while, I just started flipping past the pages and pages about their upbringing, their career paths, etc. I just didn't find them that interesting as people--although what they did to set-up Bethpage was interesting. But I kept on reading, thinking Feinstein's description of the actual US Open competition would be fascinating. But instead, it's truncated and not really fleshed out--not much of a payoff for reading the rest of the book. I guess "A Good Walk Spoiled" spoiled me for his second book.
Rating:
Summary: A MAJOR ( PUN INTENDED) DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: I was so disappointed in this book. Having read most of Feinsteins other works. It was certainly not, " Inside the Ropes", as the sub title implies.I was totally bored by the business end of the open. Aside from the introduction, the golfers don t enter the book for about three hundred pages. I found myself skimming to get to the good stuff, which took a long time to materialize.
Rating:
Summary: Boring Look at the Cast and Characters Staging the 2002 Open
Review: If someone told you that you could read a book about what it was like to escort the President of the United States through catering tunnels in hotels, would you want to read it? I wouldn't. Open is seriously flawed by providing me with much more information than I ever wanted to know about the USGA, biographies of its staff members, and little incidents of limited relevance to the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, the brilliantly rehabilitated course on Long Island. Two-thirds of this book could have been eliminated without taking away anything I wanted to learn about the staging of the Open. On the other hand, the book is detailed and will probably be very popular among those who know those who are described in the book or have played Bethpage Black. If you fall into either category, this is definitely a five-star book. Emblematic of the book's fundamental problem is that it fails to have a single illustration of an entire hole on the course. It would have been interesting to see what the hole layouts' and conditions were before and after the USGA paid for the fix-up. Of the many little anecdotes in the book, I liked the ones about the qualifying rounds the best. My interest is mostly in playing golf and developing great golf courses, and this book could have used more of a focus on both subjects. After you finish enjoying the book, I suggest that you visit Bethpage Black and take a look for yourself. If you don't mind getting up early in the morning, perhaps you can even play a round there. Despite not liking the book very much, I would like to compliment the USGA for its new focus on bringing the Open to courses where ordinary golfers with average incomes can pay. That's a fine contribution to the game and to us all.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book - But Know What You're Getting
Review: If you are looking for a stroke by stroke description of the Open Championship, look elsewhere. As others have pointed out, this is a story about running an Open, not playing in an Open (perhaps the subtitle is a bit misleading). If you have any interest in the topic, it's a pretty good book. Feinstein's style is pleasant and interesting and he does a nice job describing the myriad of tasks and personnel required to set up an Open. This is not as good a book as The Majors, but I enjoyed it as much as A Good Walk.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book - But Know What You're Getting
Review: If you are looking for a stroke by stroke description of the Open Championship, look elsewhere. As others have pointed out, this is a story about running an Open, not playing in an Open (perhaps the subtitle is a bit misleading). If you have any interest in the topic, it's a pretty good book. Feinstein's style is pleasant and interesting and he does a nice job describing the myriad of tasks and personnel required to set up an Open. This is not as good a book as The Majors, but I enjoyed it as much as A Good Walk.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Feinstein
Review: If you like excrutiating detail on all of the people who have anything to do with a US Open you will be happy. Fienstien, who did a great job with "A good walk spoiled" where the profiles were of the golfers, thinks he has to follow the same formula no matter what he writes. I couldn't finish his book on college basketball because he was profiling a hundred people or so. There was hardly any room left for a story. In "Open" there are only a handful of people for us to "get to know" so there is a good bit of detail on what it takes to produce a US Open. the problem is who cares. One big event is not much different from another. What is missing is the drama of the competition and profiles of the players, who are a lot more interesting than groundskeepers and ball cap vendors.
Rating:
Summary: Inside Bethpage 2002 - Feinstein gets it right!
Review: If you're looking for a fascinating book whose main purpose is not simply to provide a narration and analysis of the competition at Bethpage this book is for you. Mr. Feinstein describes the transformation of the Black course for the 2002 US Open Championship with the entusiasm of a devoted fan and the broad perspective and clarity of a truly talented golf writer and reporter. For those of us fortunate enough to participate directly at Bethpage as fans, volunteers or interested onlookers this book completes the first chapter on the use of a truly public (State owned) facility as a worthy venue for our national golf championship. Seldom, if ever, have we been allowed to glimpse the preparation for and staging of a major sporting event from start to finish. This work is as much about golf as golf is about life.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Inside the Ropes
Review: In his book "Open...Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black" John Feinstein truly takes you inside the ropes at one of the most talked about golf championships in history. Beyond Golf, the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black was unusual for so many reasons. From the inner workings at the USGA, The New York State Parks Department, NBC Sports, to the Long Island Railroad, you get a real sense this was more than a typical 72 holes of Golf. Be prepared to miss a few rounds as this is a difficult book to put down.
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