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Thanks Ely!: How Ely Callaway And The Big Bertha Revolutionized Golf

by Richard Overturf

274 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-2385; ISBN 1-4251-0627-7; US$23.95, C$27.54, EUR19.67, £13.77

Callaway's father told him, "Don't go into the family business!" He didn't, making huge successes in three different industries. Golf equipment was just one. Read it all here.

About the Book

First of all, Ely Callaway was a formidable leader, somewhat like a military general who provided a high profile, daring example for his lieutenants to emulate. He avoided micro managing his staff to afford them the opportunity to excel, but he was in charge, assuredly, he was in charge. The book illustrates his leadership skills from the days of his youth and onward through three totally different but successful careers in the textile industry, the art of wine making, and his greatest triumph in forging the largest golf equipment company in the world.

It is inevitable that the story concentrates on the Callaway Golf Company, since the firm exemplified the vision of a man dedicated to marshalling human and material assets to bring superior products to the market that consumers would clamor for. The reader will learn how Callaway creatively used marketing tools to satisfy consumers and retain brand name loyalty.

But the book is also the tale of a man with human flaws. Anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book illustrate Callaway's laudable personal activities and occasions when human shortcomings led to missteps in his life.

Finally, the book has an international flavor. The reach of Callaway Golf Company spans the oceans, and reportage from overseas media sources has been extensive. Information from those sources has been included to disclose how Callaway Golf leadership has been viewed outside the USA.

"A tribute to Ely Callaway's business ethics and charisma." - San Diego Union Tribune's Today's Local News, March 10, 2007

'A labor of love and respect." - Tammy Rogers, LaGrange College, Director Donor Relations, February 15, 2007

"Gets so well on the pages the incredible zest that Ely had for many people, projects and life itself." - John Marin, Founding Member, Sports Illustrated Magazine, February 12, 2007.

"Thanks Ely! is a great read, first of all, because Ely was such a wonderful, bright, classy man, and second, because your writing style is so pleasant and amusing to read." - Letitia Baldrige, Fashion Doyenne and White House Protocol Aide to Jackie Kennedy, January 11, 2007

"A marvelous, fun book!" - George Chamberlin, KOGO 600AM, Money in the Morning talk show host, March 18, 2007

About the Author

Richard Overturf, a retired U.S. diplomat, has closely followed Callaway Golf Company's history, amassing a 16-year archive on the company. Overturf speaks and reads Japanese, accounting for frequent reference to Japan media. He was recently English language editor for a project publishing the memoirs victims of the Hiroshima atom bomb. He is currently USA agent for Koei Co. Ltd. of Osaka, Japan.

Excerpts