Rating: 
Summary: Provocative Insights into The Club and Tournamet
Review: If Sampson's probe is anywhere near the truth, it surely smudges the high place we give to Augusta and The Masters.Certainly, it still revolves around Jones, and it always has. The legend of this amateur and supposed gentleman is tarnished by his association with Roberts and his seizure of power and control of what has become golfing legend. Without the champion's name and backing and tournament, The Masters and Augusta would be just another club and tour stop. But from the outset it was Bobby who kept it together. Then the illness and pulling away, and the inroads of Cliff and the rest is history, here well documented by one of the great golf writers. Sampson again weaves his literary magic with different piercing vignettes of the personalities and events which have led to Augusta lore and legend. Story upon story from various facets permeate this fluid read--from club caddie to townfolk to neglected member and player -- one is given much to contemplate. The tales are superb, sampling but a few: the caddie deliberately overclubbing Robert's opponent on a Par 3 course contest; Dave Marr's respone to Arnie that even his divot cleared Rae's Creek on 15; the asst. pro's wife being offered big money for the rope marker that only quandred off souvenir sales. Augusta appears to be the premier "ole boys" club. If you want scoop about it's past and insights possibly into its present, this read will begin that path.
Rating:
Summary: Provocative Insights into The Club and Tournamet
Review: If Sampson's probe is anywhere near the truth, it surely smudges the high place we give to Augusta and The Masters. Certainly, it still revolves around Jones, and it always has. The legend of this amateur and supposed gentleman is tarnished by his association with Roberts and his seizure of power and control of what has become golfing legend. Without the champion's name and backing and tournament, The Masters and Augusta would be just another club and tour stop. But from the outset it was Bobby who kept it together. Then the illness and pulling away, and the inroads of Cliff and the rest is history, here well documented by one of the great golf writers. Sampson again weaves his literary magic with different piercing vignettes of the personalities and events which have led to Augusta lore and legend. Story upon story from various facets permeate this fluid read--from club caddie to townfolk to neglected member and player -- one is given much to contemplate. The tales are superb, sampling but a few: the caddie deliberately overclubbing Robert's opponent on a Par 3 course contest; Dave Marr's respone to Arnie that even his divot cleared Rae's Creek on 15; the asst. pro's wife being offered big money for the rope marker that only quandred off souvenir sales. Augusta appears to be the premier "ole boys" club. If you want scoop about it's past and insights possibly into its present, this read will begin that path.
Rating: 
Summary: Liked it, but not as much insight as the title suggests.
Review: It was an easy read but the author rambles from topic to topic. Plus, the research, as one might expect, was skimpy as far how the Augusta National CC operates. I would still recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: Mr. Sampson's book on Ben Hogan was well done. I expected more from this book. This book has a number of factual inaccuracies (looks like it was rushed to press without careful fact checking; not surprising given the large number of recent books regarding the Masters). If you read this book, be sure to read David Owens' book for a different view. To me, the book was disappointing because Mr. Sampson's other work is very good.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for any golf fan or a wannabe
Review: Read it for the history-but put your name in for the lottery if you want to get into "the hallowed grounds". Proud to say I won last year's lottery and although the hotel accomodations were horrible, I entered again this year and won another set of tickets for another day of practice rounds--for a native Georgian to get onto the grounds is a victory indeed!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A must read for the serious golfer.
Review: Sampson tells the story of the Masters the way it was, not the way Cliff Roberts would tell it. After you have been or before you go to Augusta, The Masters is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Backswing, but no Follow Through
Review: The author starts well but doesn't finish as he jumps from the course, to the town to the townspeople, but with no real insights into the main subject: the golf course and the tournament itself. His one-sided portrayal of Cliff Roberts doesn't help the reader truly understand why Roberts spent much of his life devoted to Augusta National. The last chapter was out of joint with the rest of the text as he struggles to end what he started. Hard to recommend to others.
Rating:
Summary: The dark side just got lighter.
Review: This book would make an excellent movie. I wish I had read it prior to my attendance at the 1996 Thursday round. My visit would have been even more inspiring. Curt really did his homework. He should be commended for his patience in digging out the detailed information. He did a great job in writing about key individuals, but steered clear of portraying anyone in a negative manner. His book just strengthens the admiration I have for Augusta National.
Rating:
Summary: FORE !!!
Review: Wait for April and watch it on TV. They history of the club was fine, for the first 50 pages. But it went on for 50 more. the discirption of every guy whoever rode the train from N.Y. was little much. I wanted to see more on the club in teh modern era. No secerts have been revieled. Save your twenty bucks. Joe
Rating:
Summary: If you want to know what's behind the azaleas
Review: We all know that a conservative corporate culture tightly controls the Masters. This book delves into the origins of the Masters and the Augusta National. It's best in explaining the development of the Masters mystique in the Eisenhower era. No real surpises but an illuminating examination of the vision of the Augusta club and the Masters tournament. It doesn't hide the many warts of Augusta but remains sympathetic to a vision achieved. Highly readable.
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