Herbert Warren Wind discusses Cypress Point, Merion and Seminole

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Merion will appear next month.From 1984 in Golf Digest:


Cypress Point, Merion and Seminole prove that a course can be fun for the average player and still challenge the pros and the scratch amateurs

www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2008/10/herbertwind1980?printable=true

[Matt_Ward]

Steve:

Good inclusion.

I read the series when Wind first had them appear in Digest.

You should check out a few of the other course profiles that were done in Digest from years gone back -- the one by the late Cal Brown on Pine Valley is a classic.

Unfortunately, too much of what Digest does now is far from that level of writing and attention to courses -- save for the most recent issue which tries to highlight some of the course dynamics that were a regular mention in past issues years ago.

[PThomas]

i still have that article somewhere

they also did a 2part article by HWW on Pete Dye back then, and an article or 2 by Herb on the Masters....

[Chuck Brown]

Classic writing on some classic courses.

One thing I always wondered about Herb Wind was what kind of player he was.  Comparisons between him and Bernard Darwin are frequent and understandable; the two great golf writers of the 20th Century, much as Jones and Nicklaus were the two great players of the century.  But Darwin was a fine, elite-class player in his youth.  Did Wind play much?

Also, I wonder if ANGC ever did anything special for Wind, after all that his writing had done for the club.  To the best of my knowledge, he was never given a membership, but I got the impression that he was very much of a favored guest there over the years.

[KBanks]

Chuck,

Wind was a creditable player, good enough to qualify for the 1950 British Amateur. I believe he may have played for Cambridge while doing graduate work there.

To my knowledge, he was not accorded membership at ANGC. The press tent at Augusta was dedicated in his memory, in acknowledgement of his special relationship with the club. I'm not certain, but this may have happened this past spring, on the fiftieth anniversary of Wind's coining the name of Amen Corner.

Ken

[Adam Clayman]

Dr. Klein reports a classic experience caddying for HWW at the old course. I think it's in "Rough Meditations" but could've been a stand alone article.

[PThomas]

Dr. Klein reports a classic experience caddying for HWW at the old course. I think it's in "Rough Meditations" but could've been a stand alone article.

Adam, i could be wrong but i don't think that was in Rough Meditations....

i 've never seen that article but would love to!

[Jay Flemma]

I saw this on the Golf Observer editor's picks list today.  Nice catch Steve, thanks for posting.

I like this line:

"Today when the golf ball can be hit huge distances - perhaps too far..."

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I am curious about HWW's mention of the financial details of CP and Seminole. I wonder if he mentions the same next month about Merion.

[Dave Maberry]

Is this article only available online or reprinted in recent Golf Digest?

[Ronald Montesano]

You're mistaken...it wasn't Herbert Warren Wind for whom Rabbi/Reverebnd/Doctor Brad Klein caddied; it was Pat Ward-Thomas.  It is freaking funny, but not Herb.

[BCrosby]

Speaking of great golf writers, Pat Ward-Thomas ranks near the top. He is largely - and unjustifiably - forgotten today. He was a much more lively writer than either Darwin or HWW.  On the other hand, he didn't have their knack for ruminating on the page.

PW-T's pieces on his first visit to the famous Irish courses in the 1950's (?) are really remarkable.

Bob

[JNC Lyon]

Herbert Warren Wind is THE golf writer, bar none.  I certainly enjoy and appreciate Darwin a lot, but I feel like I learned most of what I know about golf and golf history from Herbert Warren Wind in "Following Through" and "The Story of American Golf."

[ChipOat]

KBanks,

Yes, Herb got his "blue" while reading at Cambridge and he was a member of the O&CGS.

[Dan Boerger]

Am I losing my mind or is that NOT the 10th hole at Seminole as the caption in the article states.

[KBanks]

Good catch Dan. It's a picture of the sixth at Seminole.

Ken

[Dan Boerger]

Ken - I've only played Seminole once, but I recall that hole. Helluva par 4 and those bunkers fronting the green are a great visual hazard on your approach.  - Dan