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The Greatest Game Ever Played

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The Greatest Game Ever Played by Mark Frost is a meticulously researched and vividly narrated account of the 1913 US Open, focusing on the legendary golfers Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet. Frost skillfully intertwines sports history, biographical details, and personal anecdotes to bring to life the early days of golf and the captivating story of these two players leading up to their iconic match. The book is praised for its detailed descriptions, character development, and the seamless blend of sports details with personal stories, providing readers with a deep insight into the world of golf during that time.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is detail-oriented and engaging, combining analytical commentary with compelling storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around the pivotal 1913 US Open, showcasing the journeys of Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, while intertwining golf history with personal narratives.

Setting:

The setting encompasses the 1913 US Open and reflects the early 20th century golfing landscape in America and England.

Pacing:

The pacing is a mix of in-depth detail and suspenseful buildup, which may be challenging for some readers but engaging for others.

Notes:

Mark Frost is a skilled storyteller who keeps readers in suspense.
The book covers the development of golfing terminology like par, bogey, and standard scratch.
The first press tent at an Open was erected in 1913.
Until 1960, plugged golf balls had to be played as they lay.
Pitchmarks on greens couldn't be repaired until 1960.
The story revolves around Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet during the 1913 U.S. Open.
Frost's portrayal of the main characters is detailed and well-researched.
The book captures the excitement and intensity of the 1913 Open.
Readers learn about the personal lives of early golfers and the sport's history.
Frost beautifully blends sports detail with personal stories, making the book engaging.

From The Publisher:

THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED is the story of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, who in pursuit of their passion for a game that captivated them as children, broke down rigid social barriers that made their sport accessible to everyone on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, positioning golf as one of the most widely played games in the world. Ouimet and Vardon were two men from different generations and vastly different corners of the world whose lives, unbeknownst to them at the time, bore remarkable similarities, setting them on parallel paths that led with a kind of fated inevitability to their epic battle at Brookline years in the future. This collision resulted in the Ã"big bang' that gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today.

For Mark Frost, Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon represent everything that's right about sports in general and sportsmen in particular; gentlemen, champions, teachers, leaders, and each in their own quiet way, heroes. In THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED, Frost attempts to create penetrating studies of both of these men, along with over dozens of the game's seminal figures, within the dramatic framework offered by the tournament when they finally met, one of the most thrilling sports events in history, the 1913 U.S. Open.

 
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