{"product_id":"the-king-of-swings-johnny-goodman-last-amateur-to-beat-the-pros-mariner","title":"The King of Swings: Johnny Goodman, Last Amateur to Beat the Pros | Mariner","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMeet the underdog who reshaped golf history\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn an orphan and raised near the Omaha stockyards, Johnny Goodman faced skepticism about his size, background, and means. He nonetheless pursued the game with a self-taught resolve, turning a gleam of talent into a legend that endures in golf lore. This vivid biography from Mariner revisits a story that feels both epic and intimate: a kid who believed in his own path and dared to challenge the sport’s elite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1929, Goodman stunned the golfing world by defeating the era’s towering figure, Bobby Jones, at Pebble Beach during the U.S. Amateur. The moment didn’t just rewrite a bracket; it reframed what was possible for an amateur pursuing greatness. The narrative moves beyond scores to illuminate the grit and daily discipline that fueled his rise, offering a window into the social and cultural currents of the Roaring Twenties and the challenges of the Depression era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat you’ll discover in this engaging biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eKey milestones of Goodman’s career, including the Pebble Beach upset, the 1933 U.S. Open, and the 1937 U.S. Amateur.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eContextual snapshots of golf’s landscape at the time, from club culture to the economics that tested amateur ideals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAn accessible, richly told account that places a storied athlete alongside a compelling personal journey.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVivid sensory scenes—greens, crowds, and the hush before every decisive stroke—that bring history to life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eA narrative that emphasizes perseverance, skill, and vision without promising guaranteed outcomes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eUsed Book in Good Condition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re building a sports history shelf or searching for a human story of courage against the odds, this Mariner edition offers a compelling invitation to revisit one of golf’s most surprising chapters. The book weaves biography with sport history to celebrate a memorable era and a remarkable underdog who left a lasting mark on the game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"product-faq-snippet\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: What is The King Of Swings about?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: A true-life account of Johnny Goodman, from caddie to golfing icon, and how an underdog changed the sport.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: Who is this book for?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: Fans of sports history, resilience stories, and biographies of lesser-known golf champions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Mariner","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53080984944751,"sku":"0618871896","price":25.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/7354\/2767\/files\/mariner-king-swings-johnny-goodman-cover.jpg?v=1778578153","url":"https:\/\/golfavero.com\/products\/the-king-of-swings-johnny-goodman-last-amateur-to-beat-the-pros-mariner","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}