Dan Jenkins

[Chrismydawg]

Truly going to miss this fella. Being a younger golfer I loved following this guy on twitter. His knowledge of the history of the game was unparalleled. He was funny, snarky and never prone to hyperbole. He never exaggerated the feats of the modern golfer because he would always compare generations. I mean seriously imagine hogan and nicklaus using the modern equipment he believed they would dominate just the same. I just want to post a few things that DJ tweeted;

 

Top 10 Master's Finishes:

1. Nicklaus '86

2. Arnold '60

3. Hogan '53

4. Tiger '97

5. Arnold '62

6. Nicklaus '75

7. Snead '54

8. Mickelson '04

9. Crenshaw '95

10. Spieth '15

 

Favorite US Open Tracks:

1. Oakmont

2. Merion

3. Oakland Hills

4. Pebble Beach

 

Favorite Open Venues

1. Old Course

2. Carnoustie

3. Lytham

4. Hoylake

5. Muirfield

6. Troon

7. Birkdale

8. Turnberry

9. Sandwich

 

My favorite tweet came last year after Tommy Fleetwood finished 2nd at the US Open-He said Tommy finished as the low guitar player.

 

Anybody have any fond memories of this guy?

[dlygrisse]

I read several of his books, Dogged Victims of Inexorable Fate, and Dead Solid Perfect. Both Classics, as well as a couple of others.

 

Back when subscribing to Golf Digest was the way I got my golf fix, I always enjoyed his writing.

 

One of the best quotes ever about sports journalism, not sure who it is attributed to...said. "the smaller the ball, the better the writing." This still holds true, but now maybe it's "the smaller the ball the better the websites" -dlygrisse 2019/

[imakaveli]

Spieth 2015 in the top ten? Really?

[dlygrisse]

Spieth 2015 in the top ten? Really?

 

Dan was always partial to Texans.

[Rangeballz]

His "Dead Solid Perfect" is a hilarious book, a great light read. He'll be missed.

[Chrismydawg]

Spieth 2015 in the top ten? Really?

 

2nd youngest winner, wire to wire and tied the scoring record at -18. You don't think thats any good?

[bladehunter]

Spieth 2015 in the top ten? Really?

 

It was pretty spectacular that day. Only 1 other guy went as low there. How quickly we forget

[farmer]

Dogged Victims will make you wet your pants. Loved Dan Jenkins, sorry it's impossible for a writer to know modern players the way Jenkins knew them back in the day.

[Darth Putter]

Golf Digest's tribute.

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/his-ownself-dan-jenkins-1929-2019-tribute-dies-at-age-89

 

 

In 2012, Jenkins became the first living sportswriter of three (Bernard Darwin of The Times of London and Herbert Warren Wind of The New Yorker the others) to be stuffed and mounted at the World Golf Hall of Fame. “I’d follow [fellow Fort Worthers] Hogan and Nelson anywhere,” he said. “I went back and looked up everybody who’s in it and did some statistics. It turns out that I have known 95 of these people when they were living. I’ve written stories about 73 of them. I’ve had cocktails and drinks with 47 of them. And I played golf with 24 of them.”

[HillbillyInBC]

Golf Digest's tribute.

 

https://www.golfdige...-dies-at-age-89

 

 

Truly an epic tribute to a life well-lived. RIP.

[Darth Putter]

Sports Illustrated has a collection of his articles they posted today. (including Goat Hills and Tom and Jack)

 

https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2019/03/08/dan-jenkins-stories-sports-illustrated

 

and their tribute

 

https://www.si.com/golf/2019/03/08/dan-jenkins-obituary-sports-illustrated-golf-college-football-writer

[Anchor44]

He also wrote one time, at the height of Arnie worship, that he'd bet Arnie hadn't been involved in a conversation in twenty years that wasn't about Arnie.

He wrote what he thought.

[Dpavs]

I really liked this clip from Ben's Morning 9 article -

 

At Woods’ peak, Jenkins wrote, “Only two things can stop him: injury or a bad marriage.” Birdie, and birdie.”

 

Could he have been any more prophetic?

 

Fairways and Greens forever Dan.

[ClintDagger]

I remember as a junior getting a GD sub and reading Dan’s stuff. Didn’t realize that he must have been 70 back then. 89 is a long life and he’ll be missed.

[Dave230]

He was at 232 majors, which is incredible. That's all four every year for 58 years... great writer, great insight. As someone else said, it was back in the days when writers would be able to hang out with the players for days on end and often become friends with them, but still not be afraid to write about them.

 

It's sad somewhere along the line the trust between journalists and golfers has eroded so that doesn't happen anymore. Can understand that there is more sensationalising with the advent of tabloid, gutter journalism, but from my experience players today are way too guarded, defer everything to their agents and managers.

 

I guess it's also an era where you can send out your own message on social media or what Tiger and a few others are doing, even your own TV channel essentially. Reminds me what Steinberg said when Jenkins wanted to meet Tiger "Don't see how we'd benefit out of it." Zero sum game.

 

Players have tremendous power now, in Jenkins' time, the balance wasn't so skewed, the players wanted to be written about.

[GeorgeHWB]

Did he retire?

[TheLarch]

He had an article in Golf Digest decades ago where all the legends of golf through the years somehow got together at the same time at The Masters. In one part of the article he wrote how the crowd marveled at Sarazen’s driver/four wood double eagle at 15, especially since everyone else was hitting driver/seven iron. I still think about that and smile when I see the 15th at Augusta. What a great writer.

[The Mad Bomber]

Did he retire?

He passed away.

[Couples1]

wow I thought that was 15 years ago

[cardoustie]

I have to say I loved some of his writing and didn't care for other parts

 

His knowledge and length as part of golf and the majors is truly incredible

 

Dead Solid Perfect was a fantastic book and the movie was very VERY entertaining as well (Randy Quaid). Rumored to be about Doug Sanders FWIW

 

Last note, Steiny is a clown. Out of sheer respect Tiger should've sat down with Jenkins for a cocktail on a few occassions

[Dr. Block]

He was at 232 majors, which is incredible. That's all four every year for 58 years... great writer, great insight. As someone else said, it was back in the days when writers would be able to hang out with the players for days on end and often become friends with them, but still not be afraid to write about them.

 

It's sad somewhere along the line the trust between journalists and golfers has eroded so that doesn't happen anymore. Can understand that there is more sensationalising with the advent of tabloid, gutter journalism, but from my experience players today are way too guarded, defer everything to their agents and managers.

 

I guess it's also an era where you can send out your own message on social media or what Tiger and a few others are doing, even your own TV channel essentially. Reminds me what Steinberg said when Jenkins wanted to meet Tiger "Don't see how we'd benefit out of it." Zero sum game.

 

Players have tremendous power now, in Jenkins' time, the balance wasn't so skewed, the players wanted to be written about.

 

Dan Jenkins brand of thoughtful, real journalism proliferated during a much more civil time in our society. Sportswriters protected their meal ticket's (the athletes and sports they covered). They formed relationships, gained access on a deep and meaningful level, and great pieces of writing were born from it. Writers have only themselves to blame for the inaccessibility and lack of trust that exists today. All they care about is generating traffic with hearsay, conjecture, and sensationalism. Apparently when you have to compete with (or reside in) the dim-witted, narcissistic world of social media - there is no virtue in journalistic integrity.

[Night train]

He witnessed a lot.........and shared it with us. He was a unique talent that golf will miss!

[deadsolid...shank]

I have to say I loved some of his writing and didn't care for other parts

 

His knowledge and length as part of golf and the majors is truly incredible

 

Dead Solid Perfect was a fantastic book and the movie was very VERY entertaining as well (Randy Quaid). Rumored to be about Doug Sanders FWIW

 

Last note, Steiny is a clown. Out of sheer respect Tiger should've sat down with Jenkins for a cocktail on a few occassions

 

Bad Hair Wimberly!

[Ashley Schaeffer]

I have to say I loved some of his writing and didn't care for other parts

 

His knowledge and length as part of golf and the majors is truly incredible

 

Dead Solid Perfect was a fantastic book and the movie was very VERY entertaining as well (Randy Quaid). Rumored to be about Doug Sanders FWIW

 

Last note, Steiny is a clown. Out of sheer respect Tiger should've sat down with Jenkins for a cocktail on a few occassions

 

Bad Hair Wimberly!

 

Um...Janie Rimmer...

[deadsolid...shank]

I have to say I loved some of his writing and didn't care for other parts

 

His knowledge and length as part of golf and the majors is truly incredible

 

Dead Solid Perfect was a fantastic book and the movie was very VERY entertaining as well (Randy Quaid). Rumored to be about Doug Sanders FWIW

 

Last note, Steiny is a clown. Out of sheer respect Tiger should've sat down with Jenkins for a cocktail on a few occassions

 

Bad Hair Wimberly!

 

Um...Janie Rimmer...

 

“Janie Ruth lost her scholarship”. I know where she can transfer to!

[Sixcat]

His assertion that his good friend, George H. W. Bush “thinks he used to be president” is still funny however many years later.

 

Rest easy Mr. Jenkins. My “ownself” is gonna miss your wit and charm.

 

I think I will watch “Dead Solid Perfect” tonight.

[deadsolid...shank]

His assertion that his good friend, George H. W. Bush “thinks he used to be president†is still funny however many years later.

 

Rest easy Mr. Jenkins. My “ownself†is gonna miss your wit and charm.

 

I think I’ll watch “Dead Solid Perfect†tonight.

 

Lucky you.

 

I found my copy a while back, but don’t have a VCR.

 

I saw the movie long before iever read the book. Still one of my favorite all time movies.

 

My user name is a takeoff from the title, with a little editing to more accurately reflect my game.

[Sixcat]

His assertion that his good friend, George H. W. Bush “thinks he used to be president†is still funny however many years later.

 

Rest easy Mr. Jenkins. My “ownself†is gonna miss your wit and charm.

 

I think I’ll watch “Dead Solid Perfect†tonight.

 

Lucky you.

 

I found my copy a while back, but don’t have a VCR.

 

I saw the movie long before iever read the book. Still one of my favorite all time movies.

 

My user name is a takeoff from the title, with a little editing to more accurately reflect my game.

 

I transferred it to DVD years ago. Watch it at least once a year.

[deadsolid...shank]

His assertion that his good friend, George H. W. Bush “thinks he used to be president†is still funny however many years later.

 

Rest easy Mr. Jenkins. My “ownself†is gonna miss your wit and charm.

 

I think I’ll watch “Dead Solid Perfect†tonight.

 

Lucky you.

 

I found my copy a while back, but don’t have a VCR.

 

I saw the movie long before iever read the book. Still one of my favorite all time movies.

 

My user name is a takeoff from the title, with a little editing to more accurately reflect my game.

 

I transferred it to DVD years ago. Watch it at least once a year.

 

Smart. I never managed to do that.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

His assertion that his good friend, George H. W. Bush “thinks he used to be president†is still funny however many years later.

 

Rest easy Mr. Jenkins. My “ownself†is gonna miss your wit and charm.

 

I think I’ll watch “Dead Solid Perfect†tonight.

 

Lucky you.

 

Piss on luck. :)