Really Great Golf Books

I'm not much of a reader - I'm good for 15 minutes of reading at a clip, and them I'm fast asleep, but I can attest to three books that have held my rapt attention, each about golf, and each by Mark Frost.

The Greatest Game Ever Played was my introduction, and if you were to read these recommended selections, I recommend that you start here. This is the story of Harry Vardon... Well, it's the story of Francis Ouimet.... no.. really it's the story of the birth of the sport of golf as we know it... actually, it's all of the above. Frost is a real life golf enthusiast - he gets what we get about the game like few other writers do. The big disappointment is that the movie that was inspired by the book was so poor, even though the screenplay was written by Frost himself. The book succeeds where the movie fails in that it captures key moments, crucial turning points that carry profound ramifications for the future of the story line, and in this case, the future of our sport. If you saw the movie, take it from me - forget about it, purge your mind of all impure thoughts, and read the book.

Grand Slam is the story of Bobby Jones and his historic Grand Slam.... well, actually it's the story of the birth of the sport of golf as we know it... actually, it's both! Don't confuse this book with that "Stroke of Genius" movie - this is the real deal, and that was anything but a golf movie. I'm not sure what it was... The book, however, delivers the goods, and again, Frost shows that amazing ability to capture crucial moments - a putt, a look, a conversation, even a lightning strike - that seem incidental, inconsequential at the time, but prove to have far-reaching implications.

The Match is the one I'm currently reading, and it's about a round of golf... well, it's about a round of golf played by Harvie Ward, Ken Venturi, Byron Nelson, and Ben Hogan.... well, really, it's the story of the birth of the sport of golf as .... well, you get the idea. I'm about halfway through this one, and it's a fitting continuation of the story of our sport as begun and continued by the first two.

I eagerly await Frost's books (and I hope he's got these on his schedule) about golf in the 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. Even better, a book about Tiger Woods up to his first Master's victory in '97 - only he could do it justice! How great would it be to see another Frost book about Jack Nicklaus... or maybe about Arnold Palmer... or about Jack, Arnie and Gary... or about the birth of our favorite sport as we know it!

Take this golf tip from the Flogger - read and enjoy!

GF