Grown at Glen Garden

Book excerpt: In Grown at Glen Garden, the early friendship of Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson is shown, from their caddying days at Glen Garden Country Club to their chummy rivalry at the Masters decades later. With a peek at their family backgrounds, the story shows both the hardships and joys of growing up and learning to golf in Fort Worth, Texas, in the 1920s. The two golf pros were not alike in personality; Hogan was always a quiet and private person, whereas Nelson had a reputation for being very friendly and open. Hogan and Nelson grew close due to their shared passion for golf, their later professional careers, and the friendship between their wives, Valerie Hogan and Louise Nelson. Today, Hogan leaves behind a legacy as the greatest known ball striker and the second player to win all four of the major golf championships, and Byron Nelson is known for his gentlemanly conduct (leading to the nickname “Lord Byron”) and an unbeaten eleven-tournament streak with eighteen total wins in 1945. Follow these golfing stars from their early days in the sport to their successful pro careers, and meet the people behind the legends.