Get to know Hogan, Stewart, Jones and Snead through books from Cumberland House Publishing

Would you like to get to know Ben Hogan, Payne Stewart, Bobby Jones and Sam Snead?

What golfer wouldn’t? Unfortunately, these legends have all passed on to the greener pastures in the sky.

But a recent series of books – the “I Remember” collection by the Cumberland House Publishing – can help you better understand the men themselves, not just their impact on the game of golf.

Author Mike Towle, a long-time golf writer, shed some light on the lives of Jones, Hogan and Snead with his interviews of people who knew them personally. Hogan, who some believe had the purest swing in golf, is particularly fascinating, considering how few people knew him intimately. His public persona was one of a surly, reclusive man. Towle recounts more than 100 original stories and observations about “The Hawk.”

One of Hogan’s great rivals was Sam Snead, also born in 1912. Snead won three Master’s and three PGA Championships and helped foster the growth of today’s Champions Tour.

Jones, best known as the only man to win a calendar “Grand Slam,” is no doubt the greatest amateur who ever lived. He also co-founded Augusta National. He quit competitive golf at a young age, adding to his legend. How many more trophies could Jones have collected if he stuck with it? No one knows.

Towle also edited “I Remember Payne Stewart” by Michael Arkush. It’s hard to believe the 10th anniversary of Stewart’s tragic death in a plane crash came and passed last month.
His legacy lives on through his knickers and the pros who still love him today.

If I had to pick one of the four books, I’d probably go for Hogan or Jones because they are icons in the game. But any golf library would be well-served by adding any or all of the four titles.