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Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, And The Story Of Golf | 
 enlarge | Author: Mark Frost
Publisher: Hyperion
Category: EBooks
List Price: $11.95
Buy New: $9.56
You Save: $2.39 (20%)
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 13531
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 514
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352092
ASIN: B000FC2ME0
Publication Date: November 3, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
In the wake of the stock market crash of 1929, as the shadows of depression lengthened into every corner of American life, one ray of light emerged from the world of sports: Bobby Jones. THE GRAND SLAM covers the life of this amateur golfer who mounted his final campaign against the record books, and produced a legacy of excellence that has yet to be matched: In a period of four months, Bobby Jones won the British Amateur Championship, the British Open, the United States Open and the United States Amateur Championship - and created The Grand Slam. A natural, self-taught player, Jones found true inspiration in the 1913 US Open victory of Francis Ouimet. Jones made his debut at the U.S. Amateur Championship three years later, at the age of fourteen, but it wasn't until 1923, that he would he harness his immense talent and eclipse Francis - and every other player in the world, pro or amateur - winning thirteen major championships in the next seven years, and the now-famous 1930 Grand Slam. What the world didn't know was that throughout his playing career the intensely private Jones constantly battled exhaustion, nearly lost his life twice and came perilously close to a total collapse. By the time he completed his unprecedented feat, Jones was the most famous man not only in golf, but in the history of American sports. In 1931, after his most successful season ever, at the age of 28, Jones retired from professional play. His abrupt disappearance from the public eye into a closely guarded private life helped create the mythological image of this hero from the Golden Age of sports which endures to this day. Supported by host of historical icons including Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth, and presidents- Wilson, Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, THE GRAND SLAM is the next installment of the fascinating story that began with THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Character Revealed April 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In The Grand Slam, Mark Frost tells the story of Bobby Jones and the way in which his inconceivable 1930 championship run changed the sport of golf forever, in such a lively and engaging way that readers will be on the edge of their seats even though the outcome has been assured for 75+ years. Each of Jones' Grand Slam wins is recounted in painstaking detail, giving Frost the opportunity to paint an illuminating portrait of the golf world of the 20's and to set Bob's accomplishments against the backdrop of the times in which he lived. He reached his athletic peak at a time when people were beginning to tire of the frenetic pace of the Jazz Age and longed for a simpler time. Bob Jones possessed all the qualities Americans appeared to be searching for, and so, like the other sports heroes of the Golden Age he was quickly elevated to demi-god status. Frost does a wonderful job of peeling back the layers of the legend to reveal the human being underneath. He has proven yet again why he is one of the best writers working today. This book is a must for all true students of the game, but should appeal to non-golf fans as well.
 2.5 stars at best April 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had high hopes for this book. I read it in preparation to attend the Masters, which I got to do this year and it was amazing.
That said, this book was just average. I felt like the author added things to the book without a true need. I appreciate the fact that Frost was trying to explain the times that Mr. Jones was rooted in, but he seemed to stray from the main topic on numerous occassions.
There were points when he was talking about golf, Mr. Jones and the courses they played... then he would stray into international politics and not for a brief explanation but rather 2 to 3 pages on the industrial revolution or WWI or the Depression. I get that those are important subjects to mention but the explanations got in the way of the biography I thought.
In addition, the explanation of the golf read like a front page story or first-hand recap in the USA Today not a backstory of the event. I understand the need to recap key matches but Frost appeared to recap nearly every match and it got to be too much. I did appreciate the brief bios of other golfers of the period. That was interesting and necessary.
The bio was roughly 450 pages. The same story could have been told in 300 pages and included the same key points. I would have liked more anecdotes and interesting stories that described Jones the man not Jones the golfer and/or ball-striker etc.
I might recommend another book on Jones that doesn't detail things that really don't educate you that much about who he was and what he stood for.
A Grand Slam of a Bio March 14, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Purchasing this book I had expected nothing more than the chronicle of Bobby Jones' assualt on the 4 golf majors of 1930. I got so much more. This book is certainly one of the better biographies I've ever read. Though Frost never goes too in depth into the private life of Jones, the writing style is exceptional, the sports action is compelling, but the most amazing thing is how the entire thing is brought together and every new section begins with an exceptional framing of where the event stands within the confines of history. Truly an amazing first rate bio.
 Not as good as "Greatest Game," but still a worthwhile read July 22, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Frost's follow-up effort to the outstanding "The Greatest Game Ever Played" - the movie adaptation of which will be released by Disney this fall - this meandering tale tracks the career of Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur golfer of all time, climaxing with his assault on the Grand Slam (back then, it was the US and British Open and Amateur titles) in 1930. After winning the Slam, Jones retired from tournament competition, at the age of 29. After reading Frost's harrowing account of his physical and mental anguish during the ordeal, you'll certain understand why.
Aesthetically, this book doesn't hold together nearly as well as "Greatest Game". Frost includes far too much "background" information (most of which is, quite honestly, common knowledge) about everything from the origins of World War I to the Scopes "Monkey Trial". The bits of early 20th-century lore than festooned the pages of "Greatest Game" were a welcome addition to the storyline, helping us to understand the time and place. Here, they are an annoying intrusion. Despite this unfortunate slip, Frost's prose is still enjoyable to read, and the story will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in the history of golf.
A good story of the life of Bobby Jones May 14, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Any golfer has heard about Bobby Jones, this book brings his life into focus for all of us. Bobby Jones played this game as an amateur and never was a professional golfer. He won many tournaments both here and in England as was able to afford this by the help of his father.
He was married and they lived with his parents as the many travels Bobby had to make playing golf, it made it handy for his family to be cared for. I was surprised that Bobby Jones had quite a temper and his language was not the best either. He tried to control this but he was such a prefectionist that whenever he made an error he let out his frustration this way.
This book covers all his winnings from a very young age until he won the Grand Slam with were all the big tournament in one year. A terrific feat that has not been done to this day. Until Tiger Woods did it but his was done covering from one year to the next.
If you love history and love golf, this book is worth the read.
Letta Meinen
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