The King Of Golf, Vol. 1

"I have never taken a practice shot in my life," says the late Count Yogi (1906-1990)--repeatedly. a strange, somewhat tragic character, this golfer extraordinaire was never really accepted by the PGA. Part of the reason may have been his often stated "opposition to the world of golf and health" (he was never sick, and saw no good reason for rules either from doctors or golf organizations). This odd documentary features former Yogi aficionado Timothy Nicholls who is interviewed by host Bernadette Kennedy--the pair talk in a rather low-budget looking set-up--and contains numerous clips of what Count Yogi was most famous for: an incredible array of trick shots with some of the wackiest golf clubs ever seen (an umbrella, a cane, many crooked clubs, and a shovel, among others). Awkwardly attached to the end of the program is contemporary footage of the Count returning to his game at the age of 80. Count Yogi (who resembled Jerry Stiller) is a fascinating personality whose larger story will hopefully someday be told. Here, the filmmakers are more interested in showing the Count's admittedly incredible strokes over and over and over. Golf enthusiasts might enjoy this curio, but the patched-together look and feel of the film (and the excessive "home video" footage) make this of limited interest for general audiences. Not a necessary purchase. (R. Pitman)