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Review
Gripping and exceptionally well researched and written (Times )
A fantastic insight into the course and four of the world's greatest golfers (GQ )
A fantastic insight into the course and four of the world's greatest golfers (GQ )
Book Description
The definitive account of a little-known but extraordinary match between two golfing legends and two young amateurs on the eve of Bing Crosby's pro-am tournament in 1956.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In The Greatest Game Ever Played, Mark Frost provides a brilliant account of 20-year-old Francis Ouimet's 18-hole playoff victory over Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where Ouimet once caddied. That said, I think his account of an 18-hole match at Cypress Point Golf Club on the Monterey Peninsula (just before the annual "Crosby Clambake" in 1956) between professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson against amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi describes a match at least as significant. His is certainly the best book on golf competition that I have ever read.
With the curiosity of a cultural anthropologist and the skills of a master storyteller, Frost establishes and then explores a context within which four of the greatest golfers in the 1950s agreed to a "friendly match." They knew each other, respected each other, and enjoyed each other's company. However, in his own unique way, each was a ferocious competitor, especially when engaged in match play competition. Frost provides a hole-by-hole account (the primary story line) but he also brings to life each of the four competitors, explaining their respective backgrounds, personalities, and motivations while stressing their passion for the game of golf. The supporting cast includes Eddie Lowery who, when years old, caddied for Ouimet during his Open victory and is now a wealthy car dealer and among the leaders of the USGA. Also George Coleman, also a multi-millionaire as well as a member of Cypress Point who accepts Lowery's challenge to select any two professionals to compete against Ward and Venturi.
Credit Frost with accomplishing two separate but related objectives: to provide a riveting account of the match itself over an especially challenging as well as beautiful course designed by Alister MacKenzie, and, to place the match within a much larger frame-of-reference that includes the emergence of professional golf following the retirement of Bob Jones, real estate development of the Monterey Peninsula area, and the evolving controversy about the meaning of the term "amateur," given the fact that both Venturi and Ward were two of Lowery's salaried employees who devoted almost all of their time and energy to competitive golf.
Even those who have little (if any) interest in golf will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. It has everything: a full cast of colorful characters, several compelling story lines, multi-dimensional social commentary, and following the conclusion of the match, an "Afterward" that provides what Paul Harvey calls "the rest of the story" concerning the four competitors and their two supporters. Then in an Appendix, Frost provides historical information about the Peninsula before focusing his attention on Marion Hollins and her involvement in both competitive golf and efforts to realize her "oversized dreams" for the area.
This is one of very few works of non-fiction that I have read in recent years that created in me a growing sense of sadness as I approached the last few pages. I really enjoyed it that much? Yes. In fact, I began to re-read it the next day and although I knew the outcome of the match, enjoyed the second reading at least as much as the first. Thank you, Mark Frost.
With the curiosity of a cultural anthropologist and the skills of a master storyteller, Frost establishes and then explores a context within which four of the greatest golfers in the 1950s agreed to a "friendly match." They knew each other, respected each other, and enjoyed each other's company. However, in his own unique way, each was a ferocious competitor, especially when engaged in match play competition. Frost provides a hole-by-hole account (the primary story line) but he also brings to life each of the four competitors, explaining their respective backgrounds, personalities, and motivations while stressing their passion for the game of golf. The supporting cast includes Eddie Lowery who, when years old, caddied for Ouimet during his Open victory and is now a wealthy car dealer and among the leaders of the USGA. Also George Coleman, also a multi-millionaire as well as a member of Cypress Point who accepts Lowery's challenge to select any two professionals to compete against Ward and Venturi.
Credit Frost with accomplishing two separate but related objectives: to provide a riveting account of the match itself over an especially challenging as well as beautiful course designed by Alister MacKenzie, and, to place the match within a much larger frame-of-reference that includes the emergence of professional golf following the retirement of Bob Jones, real estate development of the Monterey Peninsula area, and the evolving controversy about the meaning of the term "amateur," given the fact that both Venturi and Ward were two of Lowery's salaried employees who devoted almost all of their time and energy to competitive golf.
Even those who have little (if any) interest in golf will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. It has everything: a full cast of colorful characters, several compelling story lines, multi-dimensional social commentary, and following the conclusion of the match, an "Afterward" that provides what Paul Harvey calls "the rest of the story" concerning the four competitors and their two supporters. Then in an Appendix, Frost provides historical information about the Peninsula before focusing his attention on Marion Hollins and her involvement in both competitive golf and efforts to realize her "oversized dreams" for the area.
This is one of very few works of non-fiction that I have read in recent years that created in me a growing sense of sadness as I approached the last few pages. I really enjoyed it that much? Yes. In fact, I began to re-read it the next day and although I knew the outcome of the match, enjoyed the second reading at least as much as the first. Thank you, Mark Frost.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Golf is a game whose attraction is built in part from legendary events like Ouimet's historic win in Brookline. You need to add this story from Cypress Point to your after-round repertoire.
Two wily veteran pros, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, help accept a challenge on behalf of George Coleman made by Eddie Lowery, Francis Ouimet's caddy at The Country Club in the U.S. win, that no one can beat Eddie's two amateur employees, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. Bets are placed and the game is on.
To make the story even more interesting, Mark Frost gives us the histories of the people involved against the backdrop of the switch from an amateur focus for the game to a professional one. You'll also learn about how Cypress Point was developed.
Working primarily from the memories of Byron Nelson and Ken Venturi, Mark Frost captures the scene almost as though he were an eye witness. Needless to say, the match contained some remarkable golf. I won't go into it, but I found my heart pounding many times as the competitive situations unfolded in the high stakes Nassau.
I've never seen Cypress Point in person, and the story also interested me for its fine explanation of the course's layout in 1956.
Two wily veteran pros, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, help accept a challenge on behalf of George Coleman made by Eddie Lowery, Francis Ouimet's caddy at The Country Club in the U.S. win, that no one can beat Eddie's two amateur employees, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. Bets are placed and the game is on.
To make the story even more interesting, Mark Frost gives us the histories of the people involved against the backdrop of the switch from an amateur focus for the game to a professional one. You'll also learn about how Cypress Point was developed.
Working primarily from the memories of Byron Nelson and Ken Venturi, Mark Frost captures the scene almost as though he were an eye witness. Needless to say, the match contained some remarkable golf. I won't go into it, but I found my heart pounding many times as the competitive situations unfolded in the high stakes Nassau.
I've never seen Cypress Point in person, and the story also interested me for its fine explanation of the course's layout in 1956.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mark Frost is THE MAN to read if you love golf: his writing just brings the characters and places alive in a way that few sports writers can do.
The Match tells of a little known event, played by 4 great players over a great course, for a bet between 2 wealthy men. Promising enough material for a great story, but you come away feeling like you've known the people involved your whole life, such is the thoughtful insight given to their lives.
The description of the match and the course is such that you feel the exitement as if you there..it's nail biting, page turning stuff, and I would certainly recommend this as a present to anyone who likes golf or wants to learn more about the great players of the past.
This is right up their with another great golfing book, Tommy's Honour, and I'd struggle to seperate these 2 books.
The Match tells of a little known event, played by 4 great players over a great course, for a bet between 2 wealthy men. Promising enough material for a great story, but you come away feeling like you've known the people involved your whole life, such is the thoughtful insight given to their lives.
The description of the match and the course is such that you feel the exitement as if you there..it's nail biting, page turning stuff, and I would certainly recommend this as a present to anyone who likes golf or wants to learn more about the great players of the past.
This is right up their with another great golfing book, Tommy's Honour, and I'd struggle to seperate these 2 books.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Match by Mark Frost
This book was also for my husband, again he said he enjoyed it, but it was not as good as other Mark Frost books
Published 7 months ago by F. Whitham
Excellent read
This is an outstanding read especially if you play golf. A great gift for the golfer in your life !
Published 7 months ago by haidee
awesome read
Please read, any avid golf fan with any knowledge of the history of the game must read this book. Its a great read about a match played many years ago. Read more
Published 10 months ago by GAZ
Top class read
Another great read from Mark Frost. A must read for any golf fan with an interest in the former greats of the game.
Published 13 months ago by Denis
The Match - great read
A great read for anyone interested in golf and social history of the time. Every bit as good as the other Mark Frost golf books.
Published 18 months ago by Stevo
Hogan and Nelson play ?????
Two rich americans have a bet. One says that that his friend could not find two golfers who could beat two of the best amateur players of that time in Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi. Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. R. Croft
The Match by Mark Frost
If you are a golfer and have an interest in the development of the game, you will really enjoy this book. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by R. L. Braban
The Match
This is a wonderful book. For those that want to know how professional golf has evolved to the situation it is now in should read this book. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by Graham Jefferies
The Match
Buy it and tresure reading it, you won't regret it! Forget about the new golfing multi-millionairs! These guys are legends!
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Simon
The Match
Most golfers knowledge of the history of the game stretches back to the Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Watson era. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by N. Bragg
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