When War Played Through Golf During World War II

World War II transformed the American home front, and golf was no exception. The world-famous Masters course at Augusta National became a farm to ease food shortages. Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were drafted, and Bobby Jones enlisted. Rubber rationing forced pros and amateurs alike to play with well-worn golf ballsand created a black market for new ones. The 1942 U.S. Open was canceled, replaced by the Hale American Openwhose winner Ben Hogan was awarded $1000 in war bondswhile golfers across the country raised millions of dollars for the war effort. "When War Played Through" brings to life these little-known aspects of an endlessly fascinating period in golfs history. Bestselling golf author John Streges narrative extends overseas, to captured soldiers in Germany who constructed golf courses in a POW camp and English golfers who devised rules for playing around bomb craters and shrapnel during the Blitz. Many golfers returned home from battle with commendations for valor, finding unmatched solace on the links after a dark time. "When War Played Through" is the compelling story of how an elite sport became a selfless oneand how golf became, for a nation at war, much more than a game. BACKCOVER: Streges fascinating history of golf during World War II and the ends that duffers went to on all fronts to keep swinging makes for a chronicle worth surrendering to. "Sports Illustrated"Strege, John is the author of 'When War Played Through Golf During World War II', published 2006 under ISBN 9781592402519 and ISBN 1592402518.