NWO Golf Links November 2016

29 / 40

First, Hueber’s description
of the comedy of errors
and tragic misjudgment,
from which none of the
participants came away
unscathed, of the “Square
Grooves Controversy”
between Karsten Solheim,
the PGA Tour and the USGA.
The offshoot of which almost
30 years later in his view,
has led to an ineffectual
USGA reaction to changes in
technology and their struggle
to control Hi-Tech golf balls
and clubs. An unforeseen
result of which are the 7,000-
yard real estate development
dominated golf courses,
essentially unplayable by the
average golfer.
Secondly is the many
enlightening anecdotes
and stories of the author’s
relationship with Ben
Hogan. Hogan was the most
enigmatic and dominant
player of his time and still
came into the office everyday
even after selling out to AMF
in 1960.
Heuber even tackles an
explanation of Hogan’s so-
called swing “secret” which
allowed “The Wee Ice
Mon,” control like no other
player over the distance and
trajectory of his shots. This at
a time of persimmon headed
drivers and of rubber band-
wound liquid center golf
balls, so lacking in quality
control a player was fortunate
to find three or four in a
dozen that were round and
would fly properly.
Hueber’s personal history is
interesting but what makes
“In the Rough: The Business
Game of Golf” worth reading
is the insight he provides to
the events and the biggest
names in the game.
Find it in your local bookstore
o
T
NWO Golf Links