The United States Amateur

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The first comprehensive history of the pinnacle event in American amateur sports, in three illustrated volumes. The cover of every official program from 1949 to 2005 is given a full page in full color.

“Seen through the eyes of all 46 living Amateur champions, [this] is the only comprehensive account of the tournament ever written. Its stories place the reader inside the minds of some of the game’s most celebrated competitors and describe what it takes to become a national champion.”

--Fred S. Ridley, President, USGA, 2004-2005

"Seldom has a sports book been so ambitious: Detailed, first-person accounts by all 45 living U.S. Amateur champions of their victories in one of the most challenging and underappreciated events in all of sports--two rounds of medal qualifying, followed by six rounds of match play, including 36 holes on the final day. While each story is unique, each one underscores the extraordinary talent and commitment needed to win such a tournament. All the champions, even ones like Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods who went on to become outstanding professionals, view winning the Amateur as a defining moment in their careers. After reading these remarkable accounts, it's easy to see why."

-- Bill Colson, former managing editor of Sports Illustrated and editor of
“The United States Amateur: The History and Personal Recollections of Its Champions”

The LIMITED EDITION LEATHER SET 3-volume set is bound in beautiful deep blue leather with gold stampings. Includes a tailored slipcase with American flag motif and gold stamping.

The DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION 3-volume set is bound in beautiful blue Irish Linen Permalin with gold and silver stampings. Volume I has a red cloth spine, Volume II a white cloth spine and Volume III a navy cloth spine.

Some excerpts from the books include...

Billy Maxwell (1951) on playing in the 1952 U.S. Open at Northwood Country Club in Dallas:

"On the second hole of the first round…I hit a drive to the edge of the fairway, and the ball was never found. I walked back to the tee to play another, and I never quite recovered from that mishap. For the rest of the round, I kept wondering what had happened to my ball, and I continued to wonder for years afterward. About 40 years later, a woman introduced herself to me and said, “I know you don’t remember me, Billy, but I attended the U.S. Open in Dallas. I was the one who picked up your ball. Will you forgive me?” She was just five years old when she came to the event with her father. After our group hit our drives, she was walking through the crosswalk, and unbeknownst to her father, she picked up my ball from the rough. Of course I forgave her."

Deane Beman (1960, 1963) on coping with frequent injury:

"I don’t know any other player who won as many tournaments as I did with as many zippers as I had. I had both hands, both elbows and my hernia operated on. I was never accused of having the most attractive game, but I almost never wasted a shot. I wasn’t blessed with great ability, and I didn’t have a reserve of physical authority, but that made me a stronger competitor and a tough match-play opponent. I am very proud that I won lots of times that I shouldn’t have won and learned never to give up."

Lanny Wadkins (1970) on the place of the Amateur in his career:

"The Amateur is probably one of my top two wins, the other being the 1977 PGA Championship. Because my professional career stretched more than 30 years, people tend to forget I am an Amateur champion. But I certainly haven’t. I keep a replica of the Havemeyer Trophy in my office. I’m still interested in who’s winning the same amateur tournaments that I won. The Havemeyer spent my year as reigning champion at my parents’ house in Richmond [Virginia]; I don’t think it would have been a good idea to have it in my dorm room at Wake Forest."

Phil Mickelson (1990) on the importance of winning the Amateur:

"Arnold Palmer felt the Amateur was his catapult to professional golf. He’s said that had he not won the Amateur in 1954, he wouldn’t have played the game professionally. I felt much the same way. If I couldn’t be the best in amateur golf, then I wasn’t going to consider moving on to the pros."

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 28 April, 2009.

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