Rating: 
Summary: Nuts And Bolts On Bethpage's Open Debut
Review: John Feinstein finds a lot more interesting things about the preparations for the 2002 U.S. Open than I would. He writes about parking pressures and vendor pilfering the way Cornelius Ryan wrote about D-Day.Those expecting a play-by-play on the golf played during those four days in June, which saw Tiger Woods break away the first day and never look back, may be disappointed. Even when the book's narrative finally reaches the event itself, after some 260 pages, the focus remains on the behind-the-scenes organizers, the USGA, NBC, and state officials. It's a unique situation, Feinstein reminds us, to have used a municipal course to host the U.S. Open, but maybe it's not worth writing a book about. That said, Feinstein's book is an interesting read, especially for those who care about things like event management, sports broadcasting, or professional golf. As an author, Feinstein is much more engaged than he was when he wrote "The Majors," his style coming up to that of his classic "A Good Walk Spoiled." Some of his wit is back in evidence. When a volunteer realizes Tiger used the Porta-John he helped set up, he calls a friend to share the good news. "Yes, Woods thrilled people in many different ways," Feinstein concludes. I also liked the fact he doesn't hold back with the players, something I noticed and minded with "The Majors" after his no-holds-barred approach in "Good Walk Spoiled." Woods still won't shake a TV reporter's hand 18 months after that reporter said Woods was in a "slump." Sergio Garcia has his star moments, while Jeff Maggert comes across as totally unpleasant. At least Feinstein whipping boy John Daly's on his best behavior this time around. The portraits of the organizers and staff that center this book are smoother, and maybe Feinstein finds more of interest about them than you will. It's an interesting tack to take, though, writing not about the game's stars but those who help to make such marquee events happen. Feinstein is in uncharted territory here, and maybe reclaiming some lost ground as golf's most original working writer. That said, "The Open" is still a bore in parts, and lacks a strategic or historical overview of what makes Bethpage's Black Course so special. What did course designer A.W. Tillinghast do with the track that was so unique, and how did it preserve that notoriety over the decades as an overused Long Island muni? There's a splendid tale about golf course architecture waiting to get out here that never quite does. All the same, "The Open" is good for what it is, an appreciation of a very underappreciated aspect of sport. Too bad it isn't a little more interesting, but for those who care (and there are many, given golf's popularity), it will probably be worth your while to check it out.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite a Good Walk Spoiled
Review: John Feinstein may very well be the best golf writer around, but that doesn't mean that all of his books are instant classics like A Good Walk Spoiled. "Open" details the tournament at Bethpage in painstaking detail, from the history of the course, to the political machinations to get the tournament at the course, to the renovation of the course, to the volunteers, to the tournament itself. Although the devil is in the details, I would have appreciated more of the tournament and less of the development. Still a great read, but I wanted more golf and less golf course.
Rating: 
Summary: Feinstein cold-tops one
Review: Mostly rubbish - as a book and especially as a Feinstein book. John Feinstein broke new ground with "A Season On The Brink" and successfully used the same formula with "The Majors" and "A Good Walk Spoiled" (although the former was a better book). "The Open" is confirmation that Feinstein has completely adopted a paint-by-numbers approach. A typical paragraph/chapter follows: ...John Doe was a skilled high school/college golfer, eventually lowering his handicap to 3. He thought about joining the minitours or becoming a club/range pro but was offered a job with <insert corporation> out of the blue. Through mutual contacts, he met <insert USGA staffer> and acted as a <insert golf tournament job> at a local qualifier. He eventually worked his way up the USGA ladder and is now responsible for <insert title or duties> at the US Open and other national USGA events... There are two big problems with this approach: 1) Feinstein tries his hardest to portray each person as unique, but this Mad Libs style of writing gets repetitive when applied to dozens of individuals. 2) It's a transparent attempt to humanize some of the stuffed shirts at the USGA. Unfortunately, some of them are beyond rehabilitation. Tom Meeks, in particular, comes off as even more arrogant and pigheaded (which is quite an accomplishment, in a way). I don't know if it's an East Coast/Long Island/political thing, but there are far too many groups who demand some form of tribute before they will cooperate. Feinstein attempts to portray the local governments, police, and transportation officials as helpful but watchful; instead, they come off looking like the tinhorns they are. The Masters, the Memorial, any number of tournaments are carried off year after year with similar crowds and logistical problems, but those events are not treated like a moon shot. Our own wonderful Department of Energy (of the people, by the people, for the people...or something) causes problems by refusing to allow vans transporting the players to the 10th tee to drive on their precious service road. In short, the tournament was carried off in spite of all the 'help' the USGA received, not because of it. I'm sure Feinstein stayed up late trying to think of a way to inject his buddies on tour, particularly Paul Goydos, into the storyline. As luck would have it, Goydos had the very first tee time of the Open, so we are treated to more incredibly boring coverage of this journeyman. This 'everyman' approach worked well in Feinstein's first golf book, but three volumes later it has been worn threadbare. As others have stated, if you're looking for coverage/insight into the top names in golf, read the newspaper or GolfWorld. If you are dying to find out how Suzy Smith sets up her armada of cash registers in the merchandise tent, pick up a copy of "The Open."
Rating:
Summary: Inside the Open
Review: Mr. Feinstein is a gifted writer and storyteller. This is the story of a golf course, the championship it hosted and the people that made it happen. Mr. Feinstein follows the story of the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black Public Golf Course from idea to fruitition. He takes us behind the scenes and inside the ropes. It is a fascinating read.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Feinstein golf book
Review: Probably my favorite sports writer, Feinstein takes a different tack in The Open versus his previous golf books, A Good Walk Spoiled and The Majors. Instead of stories about the players on the tour, this story focuses on the people behind the transformation of the worn-out municipal golf course Bethpage Black into the great course that hosted the 2002 U.S. Open championship. I found I couldn't stop reading, as Feinstein's prose is once again funny, heartwarming, and flowing. My only critique is that I wished for more detail on Rees Jones' changes to A.G. Tillinghast's design, with illustrations. For a book about the transformation of the golf course, there isn't enough about the physical changes that were done. The book does a great job portraying the enormity of the project that was undertaken, so the satisfaction that is felt with the success of the championship seems to be well deserved.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Feinstein golf book
Review: Probably my favorite sports writer, Feinstein takes a different tack in The Open versus his previous golf books, A Good Walk Spoiled and The Majors. Instead of stories about the players on the tour, this story focuses on the people behind the transformation of the worn-out municipal golf course Bethpage Black into the great course that hosted the 2002 U.S. Open championship. I found I couldn't stop reading, as Feinstein's prose is once again funny, heartwarming, and flowing. My only critique is that I wished for more detail on Rees Jones' changes to A.G. Tillinghast's design, with illustrations. For a book about the transformation of the golf course, there isn't enough about the physical changes that were done. The book does a great job portraying the enormity of the project that was undertaken, so the satisfaction that is felt with the success of the championship seems to be well deserved.
Rating:
Summary: Good Inside look at the U.S. Open
Review: The author does a great job of taking the reader inside the historic 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, and includes all the main players involved. Be advised that the book does not focus much on the action at the Open, only the last 75-100 pages deal with the actual championship, the rest involves the story behind bringing the championship to the club. The book is a good read and will be enjoyed by any golf fan, not the best Feinstein has ever written, but one of his best.
Rating:
Summary: A bland, boring look at inconsequential aspects of the Open
Review: The idea had promise, but Feinstein couldn't identify and develop the more interesting aspects of what goes on behind the scenes to stage a US Open. He reveals that Bethpage Black was always a great course, without giving any supporting reasons why. He goes into minute detail of meaningless stuff like the family histories of junior USGA staffers, yet totally fails to address the efforts or process of renovating the condition of a run-down muni course to US Open standards. He teases us with one anecdote describing USGA exec David Fay's practice of putting together US Open pairings with humorous threesomes such as "Jerk Groups", without naming who the "jerks" were. About the only interesting thing I can say about this book is that, with Feinstein's history of treating almost every single human being in every one of his books as a saint, it is truly an indictment when he portrays someone in a negative light. In the past it was Bobby Knight (A Season On The Brink), in this book it is Tiger Woods, who he refers to as "soulless", callous, unforgiving, and like most of the other characters in this book, uninteresting.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Open Spoiled
Review: The subtitle should be, "Inside the Port-o-Johns at Bethpage Black," because Feinstein devotes many pages to the man who set up all those portable toilets that lined the golf course, every last one, even one that Tiger briefly did some business in! The guy who unloaded the Port-o-Johns off the truck is interesting for about a clause, but we get page after page of this guy. You'd think he was the Pope of Bethpage Black. If you want to know fascinating stuff like the PRECISE NUMBER of Port-O-Johns that actually lined the golf course, then attempt to burrow your way through Open. The playing of golf -- I'm talking about the first actual golf shot of the tournament -- doesn't make its first appearance until page 256. At that point, the book is more than two-thirds over!!! Feinstein phoned this one in. Did someone edit this? He should have called it, "A Good Open Spoiled." Don't waste your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Feinstein does it again
Review: This is a facinating book. Everything you would want in a golf "inside the ropes" story. So readable, I couldn't put it down. Read in 2 nights. Really has me pumped up for this year's open.
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