The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf

by Mark Frost

rancis Ouimet and Harry Vardon came from different worlds and different generations, but their passion for golf set them on parallel paths that would collide in the greatest match their sport had ever known. A young Massachusetts native, Francis was only three years removed from his youthful career as a lowly caddie. Harry was twice his age, the greatest British champion in history, and innovator of the modern grip and swing. Through exacting hard work, perseverance, and determination, Vardon had escaped a hopeless life of poverty; the unknown Ouimet dared to dream of following in his hero's footsteps. When the two men finally came together in their legendary battle at the 1913 U.S. Open, its heartstopping climax gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today. Weaving the stories of Ouimet and Vardon as his narrative, Mark Frost creates a uniquely involving, intimate epic; equal parts sports biography, sweeping social history, and emotional human drama. Including historical photographs, The Greatest Game Ever Played is sure to be a must-read for millions of sports and history fans, and all who have ever dared to reach for their dreams.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Biography Memoir, Historical, American History

496 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Perri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was suggested to me since I loved Seabiscuit. Well, it just showed me the immense talent that is Hillenbrand in her Seabiscuit masterpiece and her ability to transport the reader to time and place. Not that The Greatest Game was bad at all-I certainly was riveted by Part Two which described the sensational 1913 U.S. Open. I suspect the movie focuses on that part as well. I also enjoyed Part One which introduces us to the characters and the history of golf. Not an Eagle rating but 4 Birdie stars

[Dan Maclean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this! Good amount of competition, and PLENTY of golf. Some interesting facts in there about the start of modern golf and what not.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stink at golf.

I remember a particularly fine sunny morning when a super-patient, super-good amateur tried to teach me -- for free and for his own kicks. I think he was bored. Stuck in the middle of ranch land with a set of additional clubs and nothing to do. Thus, he sought to educate me in the fine, non-ancient but doubly important game of golf. Whatever I did learn, which was not much, my thoughts no doubt being elsewhere and full of NOPE, went in one ear and out the other. My strokes were pathetic. After proceeding to hit the ground, and not the ball, a dozen times in a row, I handed him the club and said, "I'm going back to my books."

Golf has never interested me much. People interest me. Thus, I saw the film based off this book, loved it, and thought, "I should read that book someday."

I'm not sure how many words are in this book. 100k? More? Less? No idea, but let's guess 100k.

100k words later, I still know almost nothing about golf. The golf jargon was lost on me. But I do know a great deal about Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and Ted Ray, among other golfing legends from the game. It lags in a few spots but for the most part, reads half-novel, half-biography, bouncing along with as much force and pace as one of Ted's long-drives. Sand traps. Fist-cuffs. Harry's "Vardonic" smile. Little Eddie's one liners: "Let 'em look!" "You keep your head down, Francis... I'lll watch the ball." Heck, I even felt bad for Reid when Ted punched him in the face. How could I not, the poor guy sitting with tears in his eyes afterward?

What I loved most was the emotional resonances. They come through in the film, but more so in the book. You can't read this without having tremendous empathy and respect for these people, even when they prove themselves devastatingly human and flawed. Francis' difficult home life with his non-supportive father plays out in vivid contrast with Harry's significantly greater hardships -- a marriage he didn't want, with a wife who never cared, leading into a near-fatal collision course with tuberculosis, which left him with a permanent tremor in his hand that impacted his game for the rest of his life. He was the stoic strong breeze, fraught with heartache and determination in the face of Ted's tremendous temperamental gusts.

Yet, I'll remember one thing more than anything else in this fascinating narrative. It is an almost offhanded remark, near the middle of the book. Life is so precious. It can be gone in an instant.

What was it?

Harry pushed himself too far. He played himself nearly to death in one tournament. After spending months in a sanitarium, forbidden to play by his physicians who told him violent back-swings would aggravate his condition, Harry decided to make a comeback. Sponsors decided to send him on a tour through America. He booked passage. A couple of days before the sailing, he suffered a relapse. The ship sailed without him -- right into an iceberg in the North Atlantic.

Ruefully, as several days later he read TITANIC SINKS headlines, he realized tuberculosis had saved his life.

[Vincent Scavullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like golf, golf’s great players and golf stories, you will enjoy this book.

[Nick Washle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatest Game Ever Played
After reading this book, it seems to me as if a lot of things in life are done within the six inches between your head. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who is better than whom but who worked the hardest and who reached their potential. One issue that will catch your eye is the stereotype on young kids. They said that little Eddie Lowery could not caddy for an U.S. Open contestant like Francis Oeimet. But what if, at the end, a duo like that ended up winning the Open and opened up a new era of golf. That proved that you don’t need a professional caddy to play well. All you need is a guy who keeps you in focus and does not let you get off track. That is exactly what Eddie did. Once, Francis was distracted by the President watching from a distance and then hit such a crooked shot that it was in the woods before it even got off the tee box. So the next time the President showed up, Eddie knew to turn Francis away from his sight. And surely, he bombed one right down the pipe. These little things play a big impact in life. People need to teach themselves how to keep focused when things don’t go as planned. Lastly, they need to simplyblock out the bad and just look at the good. Not to say that you should not recognize the bad things that happen in life, but try to minimize how big of a deal you make it.
Overall, this book’s tone was emotional and inspiring. It was probably written to convince people to go out and try to beat the odds and if you can believe it, you can do it.
The Greatest Game Ever played is a must read and is perfect for athletes who are preparing for not just a game but a season or tournament.

[Kendall Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only one of the best stories from the world of golf, but Mark Frost's rendering of the events and main actors shows them as remarkably complex and human. If I had to pick my favorite fifty books of all time, this would surely be one of them. You root for Ouimet naturally, as the underdog and amateur, but the account of Vardon and his cohort Ted Ray gave me a new appreciation for the difference in life for a golf pro of that era and those of our time. For them, as for Snead and Sarazen a generation later, it was a way out of poverty as well as a passion.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Twas a very good book even though it was spoiled for me months ago. Sometimes we are a Francis and sometimes we are a Harry…. Truer words have never been said🙂‍↕️

[mitch h · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Frost must have read A LOT of old newspaper clippings to research this book! His style bought me into the moment and I was able to easily visualize the shots he was describing and the particular holes at The Country Club.

Enjoyed learning about some interesting history of the game, including how professional golfers in the early 1900’s weren’t allowed to set foot inside the clubhouse and were regarded with the same lowly status as horse jockeys. (Oh how far we’ve come in that regard, with current professionals taking on god-like cultural status and appeal.)

My favourite part of the book though was learning about the back story of Francis and Harry. I was blown away to learn about how Harry Vardon was sold into servitude my his parents as a teenager, and how he overcame tuberculosis in the middle of his career. I can imagine how keeping your cool during a pressure-filled tournament would be quite a bit easier after you spent 3 of your teenage years living in a broom closet like Harry fuckin’ Potter!

This book gave me a greater appreciation for a game I’ve been playing (on and off) for over 25 years, and Harry’s self-assured motto of “Never despair”, and Francis’ humility towards his competitors will serve me well in rounds to come.

A rate 5-star book on golf according to my opinion.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This was a great intro book into the golf world. There was a few parts that were very historically dense and made it hard to read. However all the parts on the game and Francis were fantastic. Can’t wait to watch the movie.

[Sy De Witt]

A very enjoyable read.....I was especially impressed with the behavior of Harry Vardon, Ted Ray and Francis Ouimet....They represented a different era....

[Matt Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever. So we’ll written and such an intriguing story.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t play golf. I’ve never watched more than 30 seconds of a game, and that was likely unwilling. This book made a single game of golf played over 100 years ago thrilling to me - an extraordinary feat. While the first parts of the book focusing on Ouimet and Vardon’s childhood and the progression of the game of golf to 1913 didn’t initially grab me, this background set up the scene of the Open so well that I can’t fault the author for it. By the time we hit the game itself, picking apart the various threads in the progression of golf through the U.K. and U.S. and how they culminated was a part of the thrill. I laughed at and wanted to hug Eddie, teared up at Francis’ perfect drives, and rooted for Harry’s comebacks. Truly an unexpectedly wonderful book. Still not voluntarily watching golf though.

[Neil Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're at all interested in golf you should read this book. A pretty thorough history of golf culminating in the 1913 US Open where American amateur Francis Ouimet and his tiny caddy Eddy Lowery outdueled British pros Harry Vardon and Ted Ray over 3 days at Brookline Country Club. Well researched. An interesting, exciting and implausible, but true, story.

[Phil Criswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hole-in-one! The book describes an incredible underdog story and features both contemporary conflicts like nationalism and the growth of a sport in a new country, as well as more personal battles with family and maintaining composure playing such an impossible game against the best. My only question would be how accurate the dialogue was, as the author noted that despite immense resources from reporters and eyewitnesses, many conversations from 1913 (when most of the book takes place) were improvised. This didn’t impact the story, however, and it’s an easy read I would recommend to any sports fan.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this book; part of that was due to my busy schedule, and part of that was due to the book taking a while to really get going. The game referred to in the title takes up maybe a half of this 475-page read, but that second half is, by far, the best part of the book. The book is more of a social history of the late 1800's/early 1900's with golf and the biographies of the main players of the 1913 U.S. Open as its focal points. It is an interesting read, but because there really isn't a plotline in that first half and it wasn't really what I was expecting at all, it was hard to keep momentum going on reading it. Once I hit the 1913 Open, I sped through that last half, caught up in the excitement that the game inspired then and now. Because so many players and their individual stories are featured in the book, and because the author jumped around from player to player so frequently, I found it hard to keep track of who had done what and how those actions affected the world in which they were living, actions that were very much tied to the 1913 Open. I think if I read it again, I will have an easier time keeping track of who is who, but the first time through, it's a bit muddled. Overall, I'm glad I read it and I will probably read it again.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book I would have ever picked up on my own, but it was a selection for a book club I belong to. I am not a golf fan, but somehow this very readable 475 page nonfiction book about the 1913 U.S. Open kept me very interested. Part of that was the excellent writing, and part was the truly interesting characters, characters I came to care about over the course of the story. Basically it boils down to four characters: Francis Ouimet, a poor, self-taught amateur golfer who grew up next to the course where the 1913 U.S. Open was played; Eddie Lowery, Ouimet's self-appointed ten-year-old caddy; Ted Ray, a British player and strong contender for the championship; and Harry Vardon, the legendary English player who had won the Open in 1900 and won the British equivalent six times. I don't think I'm ready for another book about golf, but I'm glad I read this one. Anyone who is a golfer would love it.

[Helen Hearnden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story

A great golf story and not just about the 1913 US Open and Vardon and Ouimet but it covers what happened to their contemporaries.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most interesting book about golf I have ever read. It centers around the 1913 US Open and the players who participated in it. It details the amazing story of 20 year old amateur Francis Ouimet and his truant 10 year old caddie Eddie Lowery and how they fought the two best golfers in Britain to a standstill over 4 rounds and then engaged them in a memorable playoff for the title. A great story from the time of steel men and wooden clubs. It is packed with many interesting side stories. 5 stars.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the way the author intertwined the lives of two great golfers who came from two very different places to tell a singular story. The in-depth details of the 1913 U.S. Open made took me to that soggy Friday afternoon where Ouimet made his name and Vardon passed the torch. I'm looking forward to reading Frost's book on another of golf's greats, Bobby Jones. Hopefully, it lives up to this book.

[Raymond Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenally written story about Francis Ouimet, Harry Vardon, and the 1913 US Open.
If Mark Frost writes this well for everything, maybe I should finally get around to watching Twin Peaks :p

[Emma Shumard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greatest Game Ever Played has now marked itself in my heart as the first true golf book I have ever read. The brilliance of both player and author work in tandem to produce a story that is not only authentic to the history and tradition of the sport, but also captivates and fascinates the reader. I enjoyed every moment.

My first exposure to the life of Francis Ouimet, and to the history of golf itself, began not with this book, but with the movie adaptation. Having recently taken up the sport, I knew just enough to be stunned by what I saw. Young heroes and old champions, clawing tooth and nail for every inch to the green, facing obstacles with either the distinguished, undaunted composure of an old world gentleman, or the raging, flailing fury of a wildfire. Whether through pouring rain thick enough to swim through, or the blistering heat of a thousand eyes, these knights of another time pressed on with dogged tenacity and fierce hearts. It was an eye-opening, awesome experience that allowed me the barest glimpse into the political and mental tensions of the early years of golf.

My journey to the book came well after this first revelation. I had picked up another novel by Mark Frost by chance, and upon scanning the brief author bio I found he was also the author of the book that was eventually morphed into my beloved movie. Deciding it was fate, I promptly went and found a copy, not realizing the emotional ordeal I was about to send myself through.

The Greatest Game Ever Played begins with an in-depth look at the early lives of both Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, noting the eerie similarities between them. Both Harry and Francis began playing golf from an early age, grew up caddying at nearby golf courses, and developed an intimate, illogical love for the game. For all the hardships placed on them, for all the harsh voices the warned them away, they maintained a lifelong passion for the budding sport.

I'm embarrassed to admit that this has been my first exposure to the name Harry Vardon. I do not have words that can honor his impact or grasp his ability. His family evicted from their home for the building of Jerseys new golf course, he turned his bitter tragedy into a smoldering, soaring conviction that golf, the very thing that had broken his beginning, would take him to a better life. He left his little island, shaking the dust off his shoes, and then proceeded to awaken the slumbering masses to the unique physical, mental, and nearly spiritual experience only just beginning to be known as golf. Harry reinvented the game, creating a modern golf swing and an interlocking grip that is used today by millions worldwide, professionals and amateurs alike. Earning eternal names such as "the stylist" and "the greyhound", he earned his legend striding across courses with nerves of steel, a perpetual "Vardonic smile" gracing his lips. By the time he returned to America to take a shot at the US Open, he'd inspired a whole new generation of golfers and began the sweeping craze later completed by none other than his devoted fan, Francis Ouimet.

Francis Ouimet grew up across the street from the golf course he would later earn his legend on. He spent his early years trekking over the clipped grass on his way to school, keen eyes and quick fingers collecting lost balls to add to his collection. One in particular he prized above all others: the Vardon Flyer. Francis, despite his Father's strong disapproval, fell in love with the gentleman's sport, though was never able to describe why. In the little time he could devote, his passion turned to focused ability, and he soon rose through tournament ranks all over the state. By the time he reached his early twenties, the young amateur unexpectedly found himself in the US Open. After a series of nail-biting, heart-wrenching, gut-churning matches, the young Ouimet was now playing in the golf version of overtime, against not only the immortal giant of a man, Ted Ray, but his own hero, the newly crowned King of Clubs, the golfing Hercules, Harry Vardon.

This book was a wonderful read for me, not only providing detailed, interesting accounts of the games greats, but also giving deep insight to the complicated political atmosphere surrounding the era. It's balanced focus on both character and history created an engaging narrative that deserves notice. This book was a true achievement and a fine example of what can be done with literature when history presents a remarkable moment. The Greatest Game Ever Played was an enthralling read I'll not soon forget, especially not on the golf course.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greatest Game Ever Played is a nonfiction story explains how Francis Ouimet, a 16 year old boy from Massachusetts, finds time to play golf although his father doesn’t want him to. As an amatuer, he gets the opportunity to play in the 1913 U.S. Open against the world’s best competition. He ends up playing with his idol as a child, Harry Vardon who was the king of golf during the time.

I wanted to continue to read this book because of the way that Francis finds a way to play golf although his father is against him doing so. He had resilience about him that led him to persevere through his father’s neglect and ignorance of him. This book was very engaging and with a lot of detail which is the reason for me giving it 4 out of 5 stars.



First of all, Mark Frost describes both Harry’s life and Francis’ with great detail which shows their true character especially throughout the action packed moments. The plot of this story is very engaging and always made me want to read more. An example of this is when Francis hit his first tee shot to start off the tournament. Francis is so nervous that he is hardly able to hold on to his club. After he hit a bad tee shot to start the tournament, Francis felt as if he had been slapped in the face. This great description of what he is going through provides me with a good picture of what he was feeling at the time. The plot of the story is predictable at times, but is often very difficult to predict. It is difficult to predict what happens to Francis during his opening round since he starts very poorly, but regroups himself for the back nine and ends up with the best score of the opening round. It is fairly easy to predict what Harry Vardon would shoot in his opening round, as he was the best player in the world. With the plot being difficult to predict, I was more engaged in wanting to know what would happen next. Lastly, with the plot being very descriptive, it is often times very slow when getting to the point. This happens quite a bit during the story, with one of them being when Francis is playing in his final round. The detail of some of his shots goes on for over a page which could lse the reader a little bit.
In addition to the great action and plot of the story, I thought that Frost’s writing contained a message that was very motivational. It really showed how hard work and the love for what you do are great aspects to have in your life. Even though Francis’ father didn’t want him to be playing golf, he had a great passion for the game that wouldn’t allow him to give it up. Throughout the story, Francis is defying odds as he plays in his amateur tournaments. He never doubts himself and is able to accomplish things that no other amateur has ever done when he was only 16 years old.When Francis defeated Harry Vardon in a playoff to win the U.S. Open, he became the first amateur to ever win a major championship, which still stands today. The belief that he had in himself and the unwillingness to give up are a big reason that he is known as one of the greatest amateurs to ever play. He benefited from this attitude greatly as he used this throughout the rest of his life.
All in all, The Greatest Game Ever Played, engaged me throughout the entire story. I was always motivated by how Francis was handling his home life along with his life on the golf course. I found myself rooting for Francis, especially in his final round. Even though he was great at golf, he took his father’s advice and became a businessman and remained an amateur his entire life. So, if you like golf and a true underdog story, you will enjoy this book.

[Nicole Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written - I enjoyed the context and the way the story was paced. My knowledge of the game of golf is about on par with those referenced in Victoria, Canada who wrote an article with a headline saying the score of some match followed by "whatever that means" but that didn't keep me from enjoying the book and the character of the men and women involved.

Favorite Quotes:
• …proving the axiom that as often as necessity is the mother of invention, hunger is the father of immortality. (p12)
• The ability to compartmentalize, separate emotion from outcome, is part of what separates every champion from the pack. (p29)
• We define and admire greatness not only by the magnitude of achievement but also for the degree of difficulty that person has to overcome. On this day, judged by that standard, Harry shattered every standing record in the book. (p77)
• A brilliant student so full of generalized promise after leaving Oxford, he became jack of all trades and master of none, and it took him a decade to stumble onto the appropriate outlet for his talent. (p128)
• Although he didn’t know it yet, with a moment’s casual thoughtlessness, Johnny McDermott had sown the seeds of his own destruction. Everywhere Jonny looked now he saw enemies, but when the end came, and it would come soon, the forces that tore him apart would attack only from within. (p163)
• Harry’s smile widened slightly. “You nearly had me there, at the last.”
“Just dumb luck, I think.”
“A little more than that at work, I’d say. I’ve seen your swing.”
“You have? I mean, you have.”
Harry leaned in slightly. “Some people have a talent for luck. It’s a skill, you see, like any other. Maybe the most useful of them all.”
• For people who’ve never fallen into their grip, it’s difficult to comprehend the unholy terry the yips inspire. (p254)
• I’ve learned, as Francis did along the way, that belief in one’s self will only take you halfway home unless those closest and dearest to you share your dreams. (p478)

[R. Allain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone with a cursory grasp of golf is familiar with its traditional headwinds - a stubborn slice, "yips" on the greens, a balky chipping (short) game. Annoying? Yes. But with diligence and a bit of instruction, these glitches often recede. But other challenges, less amenable to effort, also exist. And with Francis Ouimet, the central focus of Mark Frost's compelling book, mastering the technical aspects of golf was doable. But other obstacles, daunting ones, surfaced when he was still a gangly lad. Growing up across from The Country Club in Brookline, for example, might have seemed auspicious. But such clubs are hardly accessible to families like Ouimet's, families grinding to survive. Yet ever resourceful, Francis caddied, hawked golf balls and even, with his brother's help, built a rudimentary two-hole course which they barraged with golf shots. But even aside from golf's inherent upscale traditions, Young Francis faced another obstacle - his father, a tough, French working class man, despised the game. And he was blunt with his golf-smitten son: Don't waste your time with golf! But as history, ably chronicled here by the author demonstrated, when concerning golf, Francis Ouimet's abiding dedication and prowess, refused to be stifled. At a time when golfing greatness was linked largely to the United Kingdom, this upstart American, famously (but just barely) aided by his steadfast caddy, Eddie, forged golfing history. And in driving rain with equipment we'd now chuckle at. Read all about Ouimet's unlikely odyssey to golfing immortality. Hey, naybe golf truly is "the greatest game."

[John Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling book on many levels:

The treatment of sportsmanship: Mr. Frost is able to create suspense without inventing an artificial dislike or disrespect among the golfers (except for the Ted Ray/Wilfred Reid altercation). Lord Northcliffe is portrayed as somewhat of a villain, but he seems to deserve it and the author does not overdo it.

The dialogue: It appears to be well researched and realistic, and it complements the descriptions of what is happening to insure a plot that flows smoothly.

Poignancy: Even though the reader probably knows who will win the 1913 U.S. Open and suspects that there will be some reconciliation between Francis and his father, the narrative is developed in ways that make both climactic events very moving.

Mr. Frost justifies his ambitious title by putting this event in its proper historical context by developing political, social, and sporting trends; so it is somewhat disappointing that the editing of this book is weak. There are several errors, such as the one that jumps out on pages 55 and 56. On these pages, it is stated that both the mashie and the mashie niblick are the equivalent of the modern five-iron. Of course, as a golf historian, Mr. Frost knows that the mashie niblick is the equivalent of today's seven-iron.
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[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an unassuming, humble book. Much like the person this story was about. I think there exists in every readers life a number of books that took them by surprise, and they ended up loving thoroughly. maybe it was on a subject they didn't have prior knowledge of, or a genre they never delved into, an unheard of author that they took a chance on. This book was sort of all three for me. I watched the movie this was based off, it was a staple in my house growing up, with a golf loving older brother and me loving just about any movie that was set in the past. I wasn't expecting this story to have so much heart in it, to be so thoroughly researched, or to my surprise- not entirely about golf. There was so much rich history about the world right on the cusp of World War 1, the players and their personal lives, how golf gave them the self discipline they needed in their adulthood, how no one ever truly forgot that momentous occasion when a caddy of humble beginnings beat the two greatest athletes in the world, and at the most important game in the world at the time, and shaped the way golf would be played from that moment on. Everyone loves an underdog story, this is one of the greatest in my opinion.

[Read With hrsht · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book The Greatest Game is written by Greg Rajaram. The story begins with a couple Devi and Shivaji living in the far land, just like the garden of God- a silver apple; a mistake; a message, and the unfortunate events that begin to happen with them. Blessed with two sons Datha and Vish, it seems normal but like the twist arrives with the devil- the one from the duo rules a kingdom and then the beginning of an empire; the real story begins which traverses its path through times and generations.
The book has a very unique style of narrating the story. Intersecting multiple subplots surrounding the concepts of posthumanism. The Greatest Game attempts to analyse man’s possible trajectory in the field of evolution. In short, it’s a very novel approach to understanding humanity and in turn the universe. Initially, readers will reckon it as something mythological fiction but it differs in its stance once the story of Devi and Shivaji and Surya tribe and Mathra fades away. 
Although the book has easy language to read but difficult to grab. I suggest you read this book with an unbiased mind and try to understand it deeply. The is written in a good manner and I love this book.

[Brent Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the best author on golf to have ever put pen to paper, Mark Frost’s seminal story of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon’s showdown at the 1913 US Open is perhaps his best work. Telling a story that truly feel stranger than fiction, Frost brings the central characters at the heart of the story to life, inviting readers to learn about and understand the path that each man took to that seminal moment in the history of the game, as well as a deeper recognition of the factors that contributed to the spread of golf within the United States and the dueling honor between the American golfers and the native English and Scottish players who defended the game as their own. Creating sympathy and understanding for the central characters, and narrating the events of the US Open with incredible tact and skill, this historical retelling of a classic sporting event almost reads like a novel.
This is a book that anyone who enjoys sports or a good underdog story can read and love, a truly inspiring tale of rising up and achieving great heights no matter the doubts piled upon you. Knowing where the game would go afterward makes this an even more incredible read, and I wouldn’t hesitate to name this book as a prime contender for the best golf book ever written.

[Vikas Ghuge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did an outstanding work.. He has written a historic book that is filled with so many footnotes about events that took place in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, that are a back drop to this story. In reading this wonderful book I became aware of the Nationalist feelings that existed between Europe and the USA, at the time. well written, interesting book. centers on the 1914 US Open played in Brookline, Mass and the duel between young unknown local boy Francis Quimet and England's savvy legend Harry Vardon. Compelling characters . . . both came from very humble beginnings. The author melds in a great amount of general history of the era, and how golf intertwined with society.

The middle portion of the book contained numerous pages of side-bar material that really didn't in any way pertain to the heart and soul of the story or the central characters.
But the introduction was very good and the ending and aftermath were quite the page-turner as well

Recommended to history and golf lovers

[John Damaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe that author Mark Frost is the co-creator of Twin Peaks.

This historical retelling of the great US Open win by Francis Ouimet is not surreal or quirky like the legendary TV series, but straightforward, sentimental, loving.

Half the book is preamble to the Open at Brookline, but for golf junkies, entire chapters dedicated to qualifying days are richly rewarding, and the personal stories of Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet are worth the reading.

Frost describes golf like a golfer, with grace and jargon, but he ups the literary value with sociohistorical nods and a deep appreciation for what golf teaches about family and nation.

Though he admits to constructing some dialogue, it’s hard to imagine Frost’s reporting would turn up such specific descriptions of shot shapes, for example, during each round of the Open. He mentions mud on the ball on specific holes, which somehow feels impossible to verify three generations later.

Frost seeds the story with juicy factoids about President Taft, the origins of the Pebble Beach clambake, and golf ball design.