The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever - The Match

Wonderfully-written book about a 1956 match play event, in the waning days of amateur golf as talent-equivalent to professional golf. If you love golf, and want to get to know Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan behind the scenes, you need to read this!

This book was recommended by a friend and I was not sure if I wanted to read it or not. Nothing could capture the time and the characters who were involved better. Those famous names are now humans bought to life by this book. It's a 10

Simply the best sporting book I have ever read.
Draws one into the period in which it took place.
Pity not all of today's champions don't have the same degree of humility that these fellows displayed.

This is a great TRUE story and so well written it holds your interest and you do not want to put it down. The author gives a great deal of interesting background on the
various players . Very well written

Although I am not finished reading the book. I have found it captivating and as a avid golfer the history I have learned from reading the book has been very interesting. I am anxious to finish to see who actually won the Match.

Insightful piece about four great golfers with four unique personalities. Like many parables, the man who dedicates his live to Christ finds success and happiness, whilst the men who live sinfully wither away like bermuda grass in the winter. Highly recommended!!

If you are golfer, you will love this story. It details the lives of Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi, and the greatest amateur golfer in history, Harvey Ward (yes, greater than Bobby Jones). I would have loved to been there that day the Match was played.

Great reading, since I been a duffer and observer within the great game of golf it was pleasure to read some of the history behind the game. Although I was around for a great part of the timeline for the book, my interest was in other areas.

A great read from inside the ropes on what was the most spectacular round of golf ever played! There is great insight to the day the match was played as well as a great story about each of the players.

Great book not only about the match itself, which is fantastic, but also gives a historical backgroud of all the players in and around the match.Funny, historical and tragegic. The game really does change after this match!

If I had read "The Match..." before I read Mark Frost's other golf-related books ("The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf") I would have missed out on a couple of really good reads - because I would never have picked up another of his books.

The main substance of this book - the story of a unique, one-time golf match between two aging masters of the professional game (Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson) and two up-and-coming young amateurs (Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward) at one of the most beautiful, and exclusive, golf courses in the country, Cypress Point, on California's Monterey Peninsula - would have made a good magazine article. In order to tease it out to book length, however, Frost mixes in biographical chapters on the lives of the four participants, as well as the two instigators of the match, Eddie Lowery, a successful Bay Area businessman and supporter of amateur golf (who, as a pint-sized 10-year-old, caddied for Francis Ouimet in his improbable 1913 US Open victory over Englishmen Harry Vardon and Ted Ray) and George Coleman, a wealthy California business figure. It's mostly blatant, and superfluous, padding - the material on Hogan has been chronicled better elsewhere, with a lighter touch, by more skilled writers (Curt Sampson comes to mind...) and the dirt-digging on Eddie Lowery's business dealings and troubles with the amateur golf establishment borders on the sordid.

Frost's florid writing style in this book is off-putting and sensationalistic; he leaves no superlative unturned, and must have worn out his thesaurus in the search for more and better adjectives the further he got along in the story. His chapters on Hogan are fawning and overly-sentimental, reminiscent of James Dodson's saccharine 2004 biography of the man (no surprise that Frost singles out Dodson for mention in his Oscar show-length thank you's).

One thing that Frost never pays off on is the title's tagline: "The Day The Game of Golf Changed Forever". How can an event which was witnessed by a relative handful of people, a private golf match with no title or championship significance, be said to have changed the game of golf forever? The match did occur at a cusp in the sport, as golf was changing from a pastime of the wealthy, in which amateur sportsmen were held in higher esteem than the professional practitioners of the sport, to the Arnold Palmer-inspired pastime of suburban professionals and blue-collar workers, when TV and its attendant influx of money made it a national sensation that provided a viable, even lucrative, living for the touring professionals in the game - but none of those changes hinged on, or were precipitated by "The Match".

Razor out the biographical padding, leaving only the chapters on the match itself and the afterword on the history of the course and you'll have an enjoyable lunchtime read (my enjoyment of the historical afterword may be attributable to local interest, as I was born and raised just inland of the Monterey Peninsula, in the Salinas Valley); and if you're ready to immerse yourself in more of the early history of the game, pick up "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf" - they are much better books.

Great true story of the time when the world of golf moved from one dominated by amatures to today's world of professionals. Unfortunately the author tends to uses trite sports writer words and phrases toward the end in order to fill the pages after the real story is over. This brought to life one of my most admired golfers - Ken Venturi and gave real insight into the men Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson really were.

This is a gift for someone else who loves golf. I have not read it and probably won't. But the gift is for someone who always takes a book on vacation to read. Hope this one will be a good one for that purpose.

There are some wonderful parts of this book, as it unpacks a seminal moment in golf history. Remarkably, that moment didn't involve TV, a championship or even a tournament. It was a casual four-man, best-ball competition put together on a whim and a bet. And two of the game's all-time greats (Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson) played a down-to-the-wire match against the two best amateurs of their era (Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward). I'd never heard about it.

The setup was impeccable: one of the loveliest golf courses in the world, Cypress Point near Monterey, California. Perfect weather on a cool, sunny January day in 1956. All four played at the top of their games, blasting away at a tour course with treacherous hazardous all over the place. The worst of them finished 5 under par, and between them they had something like 2 bogeys on the day.

The book sets up the situation with a history of golf at the time, with special attention to how the high status of amateurs that ran through World War II was starting to give way to the rising popularity (and money) of pro golf during the post-war economic boom. Hogan and Nelson had prospered as much as anyone could during pro golf's impoverished days, earning $10,000 or maybe $25,000 in a great year. Meanwhile, amateurs could pocket money from sham jobs or real jobs in which their main role was to charm people by playing golf (stockbroker, car salesman). But they would pretend to be too classy to play golf for money (or, in some cases, they didn't need the money). Tradition kept the two parties apart in some tournaments, and in competition in others, the "Opens" that had the game's highest prestige.

The way the men's lives were intertwined was remarkable, and a reminder that the world of golf was very small in those days. Nelson and Hogan were caddies at the same Fort Worth, Texas, golf course at the same time, and Nelson (a few years older) beat Hogan in the caddie championship in a playoff. Then they shared cars and motel rooms as they tested the pro tour. They became good friends as each tried to make it, and even their wives became great friends. Only a falling out as Nelson reached the pinnacle first, and Hogan took a much more painful and arduous route, led their friendship astray.

Meanwhile, both Nelson and Hogan each knew Ward and Venturi. Nelson in particular tutored the younger men in the nuances of the game, enabling them to rise to the top of the amateur ranks.

So, what brought them together? That's the subject of the 1st half of the book. Basically, what made it happen was the third big trend in golf at that time: Bing Crosby. Crosby created the pro-am almost singlehandedly with his bacchanal known as the Clambake. It was a drinkfest, skirt-chasing, celebrity golf tournament that he hosted at Pebble Beach and Cypress Creek each January, and it helped to bring pro golf into the limelight by attracting Hollywood stars and putting them together with pro golfers and big-time businessmen.

Hogan and Nelson had played at the Clambake many times, but in 1956, they were on the downside. Nelson had retired about 8 years earlier (when he was the best golfer in the world) to become a rancher in Texas, and he came to the Clambake as one of his few golf events of the year. Hogan was in his last year of competitive play, as hip and leg problems stemming from a car accident were taking their toll. Arguably, he or Sam Snead were the best player in the world at the time. Along come top amateurs Venturi and Ward -- and their employer, an aggressive car dealer on the West Coast, bets his buddy that they can "beat any two men alive." After all, they hadn't lost a best-ball competition in four years, beating hundreds of opponents in match play. So the car dealer's buddy calls up Hogan, who says, "I'll play if Byron plays," and he calls up Nelson who says, "I'll play if Ben plays," and that was it. Match on, see you tomorrow morning at Cypress Creek.

The 2nd half of the book is a shot-by-shot recitation of the magical round. It probably would be remembered anyway, given the caliber of the players. But the fact that all of them played out of their minds is what brings it to legendary status. And the author brings that to light, along with evoking the beauty of the course -- makes you want to play it, as a bucket-list activity.

Overall, this book is a joy to read if you like golf. It's about how to play golf and how to watch golf, and it's about the evolution of golf and of the character that it takes to play it at the highest level. My only criticism -- and it gets more severe as the book continues -- is that the author seems gives too much praise to the four men. Yes, he acknowledges their flaws (Harvie became a drunk, Hogan wasn't nice to people, Venturi almost threw away his career by drinking), but basically he says the four of them are great men. Byron Nelson in particular is repeatedly called the nicest, gentlest, calmest man that there ever was. Hogan is called the toughest competitor there ever was, except maybe for Venturi. Harvie is applauded for being the friendliest guy there ever was and being so grateful when the folks at Augusta National bailed him out by giving him a greeter-type job when he finally sobered up. Harvie's cheating on his wife was "boys will be boys" stuff. And on it goes.

Even minor characters in the book's appendix get the hagiographic treatment. The course designer is the unheralded genius who finally got his due in the 1980s. The woman whose vision it was for Cypress Creek is a visionary. Etc. The heaps of praise get old.

Still, this is a charming book, and it gives permanence to a great golf match that exhibited some of the highest ideals of sportsmanship and shot-making that golf ever saw.

Mark Frost has become one of the best writers on golf history in the business. His books on the 1913 U.S. Open (later made into a movie) and Bobby Jones' Grand Slam were major successes.

Frost came back from those works with "The Match," and this might be his best bit of research work yet. After all, the other two books were based on events that received a great deal of publicity at the time but eventually were somewhat forgotten.

The match in question here is different. Indeed, it's practically part of golf folklore at this point.

Before Bing Crosby's golf tournament in California, millionaires Eddie Lowery and George Coleman were debating the skills of a top amateur team of Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. Lowery said they could beat any pair of golfers in the world, and he was willing to put his money where his mouth was.

Coleman made a couple of phone calls and lined up two professional opponents for the next morning. Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan would be happy to play a match at Cypress Point against Venturi and Ward. Both Nelson and Hogan were a little past their primes at that point, but they were young enough to have almost all of their skills on call. They had the added benefit of being legends in the game, which added to the intimidation factor.

They had quite a match, as Frost recounts in shot-by-shot fashion. He talked to Venturi and Nelson about it, and also chased down some of the spectators and those who heard about the legendary match second-hand. The author had a good match to work with, as birdies were plentiful and the amateurs faced the daunting challenge well.

Frost also adds short biographies of the four players. Hogan's story is particularly poignant, as it took a severe auto accident and a long recovery period that still left after-effects to turn this reserved man into something of a fan favorite. But Nelson's story might be of more interest now because it's less known -- he dominated the sport and then essentially walked away once he had enough money to buy his dream ranch.

The subtitle of the book was "The day the game of golf changed forever." That's probably an overstatement, but the match did come around an interesting time in golf history. It was still possible to play golf as an adult amateur and be an important part of the golf scene back then. Venturi and Ward used business contacts made on and off the course to their financial advantage. Plus, the professional tour was something of a low-paying grind even through the Fifties.

But change was coming. It was mostly in the form of Arnold Palmer, who helped bring professional golf to the masses and elevated the status (and prize money) of pro golf with virtually every swing. The Cypress Point match was a sign of the changing landscape to come.

The biggest flaw that "The Greatest Game Ever Played" was that Frost manufactured some of the dialogue in order to make the story flow better. He avoids that here, as he mentions that the words are reprinted more or less verbatim. "The Match" does its job smoothly and smartly.

I was really impressed with this book, an outstanding addition to golf literature. Through the recollections of the various participants in "The Match" Mark Frost recreates what happened on that magic day with vivid descriptions and atmospheric detail. It's all done so well that you feel like you're part of the gallery, eavesdropping on what is happening. It also helps to have a very informative and engaging back story about these golfers, and on that count Frost also does a stellar job. The book focuses on the golf world nearly a half-century ago, what many would could its golden age. But as Frost points out in this book, the late 1950s also marked a turning point in the game. For better or worse, it's certainly not the same sport any longer, which I find a bit sad. This book is one that golf fans of all ages should enjoy.

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.

We also looked forward to this read because I had heard in which "The Match" comes about at Cypress Position and We have always wanted playing in which course, so it was a address to wander and play it with many of the greatest golfers out of them all. In case you haven't heard, the guts piece in this story can be a casual best ball match up play around between Benjamin Hogan and Bryron Nelson (representing the pros) and Ken Venturi and Harvie Keep (representing the amateurs). Any time is 1956 and Venturi and Ward are classified as the last of the gentleman beginners playing for the highest numbers of the online game. The occasion is precipitated by the bet instigated by the one and only Eddie Lowery, the pint-sized ten-year older caddie by "Greatest Game" who may have (believe it or not) become a millionaire Ca car dealership. This link with the before book is higher than a coincidence and Lowery gets more imperative that you the history than just one might anticipate.
History of Golf- How it all Started

I'm likely to go as long as to say this book is required reading for virtually every serious golfer. On just one level mastering more about the life history and personality of these great players as well as that of Cypress Point and also the Crosby Clambake tend to be quintessential aspects of the beauty of golf in america. As previous to, Mark Frost does a fantastic job lighting this history (including the best recounting of the famous Hogan return after the accident in which I've at any time read. ) Yet there's considerably more beyond more or less everything.

Golf is by nature a slow game, so much so that many people are turned off by it.

What Mark Frost has penned here is anything but slow. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to keep up with a match that was played nearly two decades before I was born.

Frost brings golf to life in spectacular fashion. You feel like you're part of the inner circle and are walking the course with some of the greatest players in history. I caught myself wanting to get in on the action and place a side bet. And in the end, it wouldn't have mattered that my pairing lost...

Mark Frost is to golf writing what Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward were to golf....

Some golf books you read and pass along to your friends. Some you keep. This is a Keeper of the first order. Your friends can buy their own...

As with his earlier golf books, "The Grand Slam" and "The Greatest Game Ever Played," Frost can tell a story, a story of people, personalities, a story of drama on and off the golf course, and he brings it all to together in such a warm, affectionate--sometimes critical, but always honest and objective--way that you, the reader, feel you know these people. You care about them. You feel their joy, their pain, their hopes, their dreams and their heartache. You pull for them.

Like the old CBS Televison series, "You Are There," Frost takes you "there", in this case to one of the greatest and most unusual matches ever played, and you, if not in body, then certainly in mind and spirit, are "there"

Great writer, great golfers and a great story makes for a great read which this book is.

One question, however. Given the antipathy Hogan felt for Nelson as their careers diverged--Nelson, once his best friend was not even invited to Hogan's by-invitation funeral--why did Hogan so readily agree to play the match with Nelson as his partner against Venturi and Ward?

If you know the answer or have an opinion, post it as a comment to this review...As Dan Jenkins would say, "Fairways and Greens...Fairways and Greens..." Keep hitting the fairways and the greens...and life will be good....

As a reader of countless golf books throughout my life, it is easy to say that this is easily One Of The Best Ever. Mark Frost delves expertly into a small piece of "unofficial" history and weaves a beautiful tale of golf at it's absolute finest. While "golf experts" will be familiar with the histories carved out by Hogan, Nelson and Venturi, Frost nevertheless weaves the story of the match with priceless information about the competitors that even well-read fans will appreciate. Perhaps best of all is the bringing to life the remarkable Harvie Ward, a golfer of uncommon talent, personality and love for both people and the game who -- until now -- had been largely forgotten by all but a handful of knowledgeable insiders. Very much like "Seabuscuit," this book reads as a near-thriller, keeping the reader turning pages ever more quickly... even though most ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING. Superbly researched and written beautifully, "The Match" is yet another Must Read for anyone with even a passing interest in the game. True golf lovers will absolutely eat this up. I loved it.

Possibly the best book on golf I have read. The two best professional golfers of their day play the two best amateurs of their day. Harvey Ward was the best amateur golfer since Robert Jones and the Venturi/ Ward team may well be the best two man amateur team ever. Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson need no introduction.

Eddie Lowery and George Coleman set up the most famous match you may never have heard of a few days before the 1956 Bing Crosby Clambake. There will never be another match like that again. Besides the blow by blow of the match, author Frost details the story of the golfers, the two millionaires who set up the match and of one of the most beautiful courses in the world.

An easy read, it isn't that long a book and it is hard to put down. Personally, I knew very little about Harvie Ward other than what some of my golfing friends told me about, having met him or having taken lessons from him. What a remarkable man.

Read the book. You won't be disappointed.

Full disclosure: I had never heard of "The Match" before seeing this title and picked it up to learn a bit more about Ben Hogan as much as anything else.

The author provides a lot of background and detail around the match and the participants . . . and a ton of characters loosely connected to the main folks. Unfortunately, the book reads as though it was cobbled together from several articles. It jumps along tangents from paragraph to paragraph, often even sentence to sentence. Entire chapters seem ill connected to the central story. Also, the apocryphal conversations that took place during the match are cheesy at best. It was distracting whenever the the story included someone smirking or rolling his eyes or descriptions of how a ball lied just so or how the breeze felt. No one could know these details.

The writing is good enough to have kept me reading until the end of the match. A much better read would have been just the story of the match along with the bet. But, that story would only be enough for a long essay, not a book.

This isn't merely a great golf book, or even a great sports book - it's just a great book.

Packed into a fairly short book (it took me two nights to read) are the story of the "the match" in question, a brief history of golf in America during the first two-thirds of 20th century, and brief biographies of Hogan, Nelson, Venturi, and Ward. While those stories are intermingled, the book is never confusing to read, and the various stories are compelling enough that it's a hard book to put down.

Highly recommended to anyone who plays golf and has some interest in the game's history.

Frost has done it again! A superb retelling of American golf history, this time a sudden come together dream match brought on by two titan entrepeneurs pitting pro golfers versus amateurs. The last surviving of this foursome, Venturi, called it a dream match so good even fiction could not touch.

He was right. It is a magnificent event, with Eddie Lowery of Ouimet fame (Frost's other excellent golf book) and George Coleman arranging a bet pitting Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson against Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. He sets up the match at renown Cypress Point by setting the stage with all the characters and their development, weaving a fascinating stream of characters such as Bing Crosby into the showdown.

He gives the replay hole-by-hole interspersed with the background development of each player, such as would haunt most of us walking to play the next shot. This makes for rather dramatic reading as one can't wait to hear what unfolds on the next swing and hole.

For the avid reader of golf as this reviewer, I knew most of the background on all the players except for Harvie Ward, whom I could not recall ever hearing about, but he certainly was a remarkable player. All three thought this of him. Venturi said one time at Augusta when asked about Ward, "Take Nicklaus at his best, and Ward at his best. I'll take Ward." Quite the compliment.

This is treasured golf lore, which will serve our sport well. Certainly hope that Frost will follow this one as well with a movie version. Please?

This book and one other are the best two books ever written about golf. Sadly, modern golf has been corrupted by television and commercials but golfers have always, with few exceptions, exhibited the best Integrity, sense of fair play, basic human decency and character not seen in any other sport.
Mark Frost has captured this essence and there is much to be learned from such decent men as Harry Vardon, Ted Ray and Old Tom Morris, Names unfamiliar with most but golfers have always been a "cut above".
George Brown from Downingtown 4/3/2013.

As the author notes, this match could never take place today. Two of the greatest golfers of all time in a "practice round" with the two top amateurs of the day. Beyond giving solid histories on each player, and even the two business men who concocted this event, Frost really excells at painting descriptions of the match -- hole by hole, shot by shot. Not only does he place the reader at the match with his portrayal of how it unfolded, but one can feel some level of the tension that must have engulfed the players and the building gallery at Cyprus that day. If you are a golf or sports fan of any type, you'll enjoy this one immensely.

You can almost see the course contours, smell the salt air and feel the lush grass underfoot in this epic depiction of the towering talents of four larger-than-life golf heroes. If this were fiction, the reader would beguiled by the sheer momentum in this solitary golf match . . . but it is absolutely true!

I caddied once in my youth for one of the golfing giants portrayed in this book and later in life interviewed one of the players in THE MATCH so I have a more-than-passing interest in this memorable tale. Memories of the bygone days of renowned amateur golfers, the honor of the game and competition that goes far beyond money burst forth from every page of this book that is destined to be a classic.

A lifetime of golfing recollections washed over me in a book that I could not put down. This book would be a marvelous gift for every golfer in your world.

This is a beautifully conceived and written book. The saga of these four gifted golfers is absolutely first rate. Harvie was a great friend to many of us in the golf world and Frost beautifully captures his wonderful joie de vivre like none other. As a photographer, I would have liked to have seen photos of the players, regardless that none has surfaced of the match itself. Also, there are many great photos of Cypress Point, especially the seaside holes, that would have added visual interest to the astute course descriptions conveyed by Mr. Frost. Perhaps Hyperion should consider an illustrated edition to which I would be happy to contribute. I do quibble about his description on page 121 of Nelson's one-iron at the 1939 Open "-still considered the greatest single shot in U.S. Open history-" Considered by whom (Darwin or Wind)? A shot certainly not greater than Watson's chip-in at Pebble Beach at the 1982 Open that not only won the tournament but defeated Nicklaus in the bargain. Watson's feat is coequal only to Sarazen's double eagle at the 1935 Masters. But I do commend this book to all fans of golf. Understanding competitive golf at the highest level has rarely found a better author. Well done, Mark Frost.

Anyone interested in golf, history, scenic backdrops or competition in general will consume this pager turner quickly. Pros versus amateurs; arguably world's best at the time versus relatively anonymous amateurs, including one who barely made the tee time. Private match becomes public. Exclusive club setting on pacific coastline...and of course a match that's closer than anyone would have thought, including all four players. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

This is a great book. It tells the story of a golf match i'd never heard about -- and i've read a number of golf books -- and was thrilled to read about. It also gives you insight into some of the greatest names in golf: Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson (who won 11 events in a row in 1945), Ken Venturi, and Harvie Ward.

the only reason i gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is that the writing at times can be a bit tedious and indulgent. But, if you power through those excessive adjectives, it's a great story.

Reading this book is like watching the golfers play in front of you. The descriptions of the courses and players and the character of the players is real and authentic. I found myself jotting down notes about the player (I didn't even write in textbooks in college) because the information was fantastic. I couldn't put this book down. It's by far the best nonfiction I've ever read.

The Match by Mark Frost is a masterful account of a day in 1956 when the two of the best amateur golfers in the world, Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, are pitted against two of the best professionals of any era, Ben Hogan and Bryon Nelson. What follows is a hole by hole, stroke by stroke account of what could have been the best competitive round of golf of it's kind every played. The book reveals the lives of these men and looks at the early days of professional golf, the Great Depression, and the years of prosperity after World War II. The back drop is the Cypress Point Golf Club on the California Monterey Peninsula along the Pacific Ocean that was designed by noted architect Alister Mackenzie (also designed Augusta National) .

Two recent golf books stand out above all others: The Match and Fairway to Hell: Around the World in 18 Holes, which is far and way the most hilarious and insightful. I looked forward to The Match because I had heard it takes place at Cypress Point and I've always dreamed of playing that course, so it was a treat to walk and play it with some of the greatest golfers of all time. In case you haven't heard, the centerpiece of this story is a casual best ball match play round between Ben Hogan and Bryron Nelson (representing the pros) and Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward (representing the amateurs). The time is 1956 and Venturi and Ward are the last of the gentleman amateurs playing at the highest levels of the game. The event is precipitated by a bet instigated by none other than Eddie Lowery, the pint-sized ten-year old caddie from "Greatest Game" who has (believe it or not) become a millionaire California car dealer. This connection to the earlier book is more than a coincidence and Lowery becomes more important to the story than one might expect. The Match is required reading for any serious golfer. On one level learning more about the life story and personality of these great players as well as that of Cypress Point and the Crosby Clambake are quintessential elements of the glory of golf in America. As before, Mark Frost does an amazing job illuminating this background (including a great recounting of the famous Hogan comeback after his accident.)

When I initially heard about this book I was skeptical in spite of all the accolades. How could a book about a golf match played years ago be engaging, much less fun to read? Who cares about pros versus amateurs? Boy was I wrong.

This is one of my favorite sports books of all time. It's not just about "The Match" as much as it's about the game of golf, the pro vs. amateur culture, and maybe most interesting, the lives of the players involved.

It's one of those books you're sad when it's done. If you have the slightest interest in golf and its history it's a must-read.

Amazing recap of a real Match between 4 golf legends. Frost works the story like a great golf course and weaves in a wonderful history of the 4 legends and the how the game of golf changed from an amateur world to the professional world that we all know today.

This book is for someone that loves golf....if they are not an avid golfer, I am not sure this book will hold the interest of a general sport fan or just novel reader.

I recommend the good, great read.

Enjoy

Why re-tell a story when the author has done such a great job. However what I can tell you is if you want a little insight into some golf notables and their lives, some solid history of the game, and a verbal tour of Cyprus Point Golf Course you should read it. The book is a quick read and the characters' are all names you probably will recognize except for one or two. As the world has changed over the past 50 or so years so has most all of the sports world and golf is no different. You will get a little better view of what it was like and how pure love of the game drove those who participated in it. The verbal depictions of Cyprus Point may motivate further research and as far as the ability of the golfers, you will make your own decisions!

Excellent book, especially for those who like golf! It brings you right into the match, so you feel like you're right at the course, watching all the amazing action right before your very eyes! Well written, captivating!

I think we are in the golden age of golf writing. It seems like every year a new golf book comes out that after you finish you say WOW! This is another one of those books. The story is a best ball match between Nelson/Hogan vs Venturi/Ward played at maybe the most beautiful course in the world -- Cypress Point. One gets an indepth look at the players, the course, and the status of the game in 1956. I found the part on Harvie Ward the most touching. I knew who Ward was, but did not realize the depths his life took after the playing of the match. If you love golf, or maybe you are just a sports fan that enjoys well written and researched sports books, then you are doing yourself a disfavor by not reading this wonderfull book.

For this 87-year-old former six handicaper, Mark Frost's replay of the Nelson Hogan-Venturi Ward match at Cypress Point was a special treat. I endorse RODBOOMBOOM's review 100% but, like him, the name, Harvey Ward, seemed out of context with the likes of Nelson, Hogan and Venturi. For me the only thing missing was the opportunity to discuss The Match with old golfing buddies over a cold beer....ahhhh! Those were the days!!!
Al Kayworth, author
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It's hard to write about one golf match if you don't fill in some of the background. Mark frost gives one of the best stories about the history of amateur and professional golf ever written. This book was a delight to read and gave me a deeper meaning to the joy of golf. I will think about this book every time I tee up!

I found this incredible interview regarding how the game of Golf has changed over the years. You wouldn't believe the evolution! If you have any interest in the history of Golf, this is a must read. If you want to become even more knowledgeable on the subject, scroll to the bottom of the interview and get in touch with the author. After reading, I guarantee you will be able to lead the most interesting discussions and impress your friends!

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The book was an extremely easy read, provides insight on some of Golf's greats, and a few events that might not be well known.

I read it with a map of Cypress in front of me so I could follow the action as described in the book.

This book is a must read for anyone that loves the game of golf. It brings to life the players, giving brief historical information about their lives. The hole by hole account of the better ball match is superb giving the reader a view of course from the golfer's perspective. Once you start it... you won't put it down!

Frost does a good job of capturing the personalities of Hogan, Nelson, Venturi and Ward, and provides a dramatic re-enactment of their great match at Cypress Point. The author also gives a lot of background on the players, which was useful as to Harvey Ward, but was repetitive as to the other three, about whom much has been written.

Mark Frost leaves you breathless as he paints an unmatched literary canvas with words--you can hear it, see it, smell it, feel the tension. Throughout he intersperses snippets and bios of the players so you can't wait to get back to the action. Each time I put it down I looked forward to picking it up and reading it again. I have read also The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Grand Slam. Both excellent, but "The Match" to me was one of the richest literary creations on golf I have ever read.

Ok, so here I am all alone in my house at 11:30 at night reading The Match. When I came to the part at the end with Kenny Venturi on the 18 green with Raymond floyd in the 1963 US Open, I must confess I had tears streaming down my cheeks. This was one of the most vivid compelling scenes that I have ever read. The rest of the book was just outstanding, but this last scene was off the charts. Mark Frost is such a skilled writer, he can make a game seem more important than life itself. Get this book and devour it. Charles Clemans

Though I am wary of contributing to the incessant, effusive praise for just about everything in contemporary life, I must admit that The Match is the finest sports book I have read in many years. Mark Frost's prose is enjoyable and balanced - not too simple; not overreaching. The structure of the book leaves the reader in a state of wonderful anticipation throughout. Finally, the true sports fan gains newfound appreciation and respect for the evolution of the game of golf and the men who contributed so greatly to bringing it into the mainstream. These were not great golfers; they were great Americans. Frost has written a masterpiece. Do not hesitate to pick it up.

If you ejoyed The Greatest Game Ever Played, this is a must. If you play and enjoy golf, this is a must. Was Byron Nelson really that good in '45? Tiger-ya got aways ta go.
The surrounding stories of the players of that incredible day are wonderfully told. Imagine watching Ken Venturi at his amatuer peak, learning about Harvey Ward, was he really considered the second coming of Bobby Jones? The amateurs vs the pros, and not just any pros but Nelson and Hogan. Stroke by stroke, I could actually envision the day, the course, the event...what I wouldn't have given to be there.

I finished The Match last night. Where can I begin? I've probably read 40 novels on golf, and this was clearly tops. Mark Frost may be the best writer I've ever read. I'm a big history buff, and Frost ties together this true story that occurred in 1956 with historical info that intertwines throughout. This book had me smiling and it had me crying. But most of all it taught me a huge amount about the sport I love so much, and the people who have graced its history. I'm just in awe over what I finished reading at midnight last night. I'm leaving for a week's vacation tomorrow, and I'm wishing I hadn't read it yet so I could read it on the beach, it was that good. I've already ordered 8 copies via the store to give to several of my best golfing buddies. A++ !!!!!

Mark Frost leaves you breathless as he paints an unmatched literary canvas with words--you can hear it, see it, smell it, feel the tension. Throughout he intersperses snippets and bios of the players so you can't wait to get back to the action. Each time I put it down I looked forward to picking it up and reading it again. I have read also The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Grand Slam. Both excellent, but "The Match" to me was one of the richest literary creations on golf I have ever read.

Ok, so here I am all alone in my house at 11:30 at night reading The Match. When I came to the part at the end with Kenny Venturi on the 18 green with Raymond floyd in the 1963 US Open, I must confess I had tears streaming down my cheeks. This was one of the most vivid compelling scenes that I have ever read. The rest of the book was just outstanding, but this last scene was off the charts. Mark Frost is such a skilled writer, he can make a game seem more important than life itself. Get this book and devour it. Charles Clemans

Though I am wary of contributing to the incessant, effusive praise for just about everything in contemporary life, I must admit that The Match is the finest sports book I have read in many years. Mark Frost's prose is enjoyable and balanced - not too simple; not overreaching. The structure of the book leaves the reader in a state of wonderful anticipation throughout. Finally, the true sports fan gains newfound appreciation and respect for the evolution of the game of golf and the men who contributed so greatly to bringing it into the mainstream. These were not great golfers; they were great Americans. Frost has written a masterpiece. Do not hesitate to pick it up.

If you ejoyed The Greatest Game Ever Played, this is a must. If you play and enjoy golf, this is a must. Was Byron Nelson really that good in '45? Tiger-ya got aways ta go.
The surrounding stories of the players of that incredible day are wonderfully told. Imagine watching Ken Venturi at his amatuer peak, learning about Harvey Ward, was he really considered the second coming of Bobby Jones? The amateurs vs the pros, and not just any pros but Nelson and Hogan. Stroke by stroke, I could actually envision the day, the course, the event...what I wouldn't have given to be there.

Good story compromised by author's awkward writing style. He uses far too many semicolons and hyphens, causing sentences to ramble, lose focus, and confuse this reader. Too bad, because if any book should be easy and enjoyable to read it should be one about golf.

A must read for any golf lover. Gives you insight on the lives of the players, also about professional golfers and amateur golfers of that era. Marks detail of the match makes you feel like you're watching it right in front of you. Also the description of the course and holes makes you feel like you know the course even if you've never seen the course in person or on tv. Simply one of the top golf books ever

Bought for my son, a PGM student at PSU - per his request. Read it over the Christmas Holidays after he did; one of the best books I've read recently. Learned a tremendous amount about the history of golf, the personalities of Nelson, Hogan, Venturi and Ward. Loved the hole by hole play at Cypress Point. Descriptive language was captivating and I could envision the landscapes and the match as it unfolded. Really enjoyed the commentary about the architectural features of the course; i.e. what the architect planned for "the game". I'm new to the game (5 years) and would recommend this book to every golfer!

Frost does a wonderful job setting the stage for this match and then comes thru with an inciteful hole by hole analysis. The story builds to the 18th hole. Every golfer should read this to get a feel for these personalities as they go thru the round.

Having the opportunity to play Cypress Point twice and getting to know Harvie Ward a number of years after "The Match', this book had special meaning to me. First I was able to appreciate the great feat that these four golfers accomplished on that special day and second what a great golfer and special friend Harvie Ward was, something that I didn't appreciate back then. Thanks Mark Frost for bringing this back to life.

Larry Wagner

Talks about and brings back the birth of the excitement of Professional Golf. The facts about the personal histories of the early major players are interesting.Their personal stories bring back memories of these men who were major factors in making the game what it is today.One of the players in this "Match" is a personal friend and the story of his life makes you understand why he became such a great individual.The story of "The Match" itself is exciting to read and very hard to put down. For anyone with even a remote interest in the game it will make you a fan.

This is a well written, although sometimes ponderous book for the lover of the game of golf. I cannot see that it would appeal to anyone else. For a golfer who is interested in the history of the game, however, this book is one of several which should grace his or her library.

Mark Frost has done it again. His wonderful ability to mix the current subject with past history adds immeasurably to the readers interest. All readers of golf books have certainly had their fill of Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Ken Venturi, but little has been written about Harvey Ward and what occured in his life after The Match. Frost does a good job of giving us some unique flashbacks and solid history leading up to The Match, as well as after. I felt like I was in the gallery at Cypress Point that incredible day in 1956.

If you are a person with some knowledge of golf history "The Match" is a must read. Before I read the book a did not know about the 1956 match at Cypress Point. Reading the hole by hole account, I followed along using an aerial view of the golf course from Goggle Map on my computer, it was great. The short to the point facts about Ken Venturi, Ben Hogan, Harvie Ward, Byron Nelson, and of course Eddie Lowery were stories within itself. Golf and sports before the big money, what a great period of time.

"The Match" is my favorite book EVER on golf. If you are a golfer over the age of 55, I think you will feel the same way. If you are a younger golfer, you still will love it. If you don't play or have an appreciation for the game, I don't know.

Mark Frost is a great writer. He made this non-fiction recount of a historical event in golf an exciting adventure for me and ALL those with whom I have shared it. Thank you Dick for sharing it with me.

Thank you Mark!

This is one of my favorite golf books. It doesn't just talk about the match, but also sets the stage with the players and also sets the scene by describing what it was like during that era of golf. I HIGHLY recommend this book. If you like golf and are even slightly interested in the older golf stories, you will not be disappointed!

I'm an occasional golfer and once in a while I watch a tournament on TV. This story sounded intriguing, so I purchased a copy to read while traveling. I started to read, but just couldn't finish. While it is an interesting story and this match probably had some impact on the game of golf, I believe the book is only truly accessible to someone who is already very familiar with the game, the players and the golf course. There is nothing in the book to aid someone like me. Not a single photograph, diagra -- anything -- that would put the match in perspective. I got about as much out of the summary on the back of the book as I did from what I read.

It's difficult for a golf book to grab you, and the reason this one grabbed me is that it is somehow beyond golf. I bought this as a throwaway for a flight home from Las Vegas, and by the time we were in our descent I was getting all choked up. The human aspect of each competitor, the adrenaline of a special competition, and the sense of character now lost combine to make this a special read. Viva Harvie.

I found this book to be very interesting in that it enlightened me to the merits of Ken Venturi, for one, but also acquainted me with the personalities of Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Mr. Harvie Ward, of whom I was not really acquainted. I only wish that I could have been witness to that great match. It would truly have been a spectacle to see.
I highly recommend this reading for the avid golfer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A Great dramatic match sandwiched between stories of great golfers who are now only mentioned in passing at the televised Majors.

The author's description of Cypress Point cannot compete with actually seeing this amazing course. I ended up googling Cypress Point to see 15 through 18.... I know its lame, but pictures of the course would have been a plus.

I loved Frost's "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "Grand Slam," so I picked up "The Match" with anticipation. It was, though, quite disappointing. When I got to the end, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why this match marked the "day the game of golf changed forever." I thought the hole-by-hole reporting of the match was less than captivating. The histories of the four golfers were quite interesting, but the book makes almost no case for why this match really did change the game of golf.

Extremely good read but one has to question the accuracy of the shot by shot details since unfortunately only one of the participants is still alive. The most amazing thing to me is the quality of golf played on a quality golf course with irons the size of butter knives and drivers the size of today's hybrids. Not to mention balls that were like marshmallows. What could these players have done with 460cc drivers and Pro V1's?

This book is an excellent history of the birth of PGA golf in America. It goes into detail the lives of many of the great players who elevated the game to today's level. Such greats as: Ken Venturi, Ben Hogan, and Byron Nelson; along with several amateur players. This is a must read for any golf nut!

The Match is a fantastic read for any golfer, or those who love a great story on sports involving major participants that helped make the game what it is today. This is a telling of a one-of-kind incident that will never happen again!

This book takes the reader back to a much more simple time in America, but a time when golf was not as prominent as it is today. Regardless, the author has a great story telling method that puts you right on the course with the greats. I loved the history behind each golfer and how they all achieved their respective roles in this moment of golf history.

Truly one of the best, most informative , most enjoyable books of golf ever written. I absolutely could not put it down. I learned more about Hogan, Nelson, Venturi and Ward from this book than i knew in 55 years. Everyone that loves golf should read this book.

Frost's tale of the most famous four ball match unknown to most golf fans. The story is riveting as Frost intertwines the intricate details of the match with the biographies of four legendary golf champions. He eloquently describes one of the most breath taking and challenging golf courses in the world. Perhaps the finest sports book I've ever read.