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Book Review
The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf
by Mark Frost
Publisher: Hyperion
Published: November 2002
| About the Book | About the Author | The Review | Where to Order |
About the Book
Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet came from different worlds and different generations, but their passion for golf set them on parallel paths that would collide in the most spectacular match their sport has ever known. Through hard work, courage, and determination, Vardon had escaped a hopeless life of poverty in Britain to achieve universal recognition as the greatest champion in the game's long and storied history. Ouimet, a virtual unknown from Massachusetts, was only three years removed from his youthful career as a lowly caddie. He worshiped Vardon, a man twice his age, innovator of the modern grip and swing, daring only to dream of following in his herds footsteps.
When these two unlikely opponents finally came together in their legendary battle at the 1913 U.S. Open, the world's reaction to its remarkable drama and heartstopping climax gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today.
Weaving together the stories of Vardon and Ouimet to create his narrative, Mark Frost has crafted a uniquely involving, intimate epic; equal parts sports biography, sweeping social history, and emotional human drama.
About the Author
Mark Frost is the author of the bestselling novels The List of 7, The 6 Messiahs, and Before I Wake. This is his first nonfiction book. He received a Writer's Guild Award and an Emmy nomination for his work as executive story editor on the acclaimed television series Hill Street Blues, and was the co-creator and executive producer of the ABC television series Twin Peaks. He lives in Los Angeles and upstate New York.
The Reviews
"Anyone who loves golf, history, or just a great story will relish this wonderful book" --Scott Turow
"Put on a pair of soft slippers and get into your favorite chair. You are about to drift back to the era of gutties and wooden shafts. Mark Frost made me sit down and stay put as golf history comes to conversational life in this very entertaining book." --Gary McCord, author and CBS golf analyst
"Francis Ouimet's showdown with Harry Vardon was a watershed moment that changed the face of golf. At least this remarkable story has been give the epic treatment it so richly deserves." --Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' coach
"This is one of the best sports books I have ever read. If I had known there was this much excitement in golf I would have started playing earlier." --Billy Crystal
"The story of the 1913 U.S. Open at Brookline needed to be told again, especially today, and Mark Frost has done a wonderful job of capturing the moment of golf's awakening in America. His work is thoroughly researched and he has brought out the characters splendidly -- as well as the excitement of young Francis Ouimet's victory." --Ben Crenshaw, 1999 U.S. Ryder Cup captain
"I am a traditionalist and if you are a traditionalist, you will enjoy this book. It will give you great insight into how golf got its start in America, and the man who really introduced golf to America: Francis Ouimet." --Ken Venturi, former CBS golf senior analyst and 1964 U.S. Open champion
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