The subject of the book The Greatest Game Ever Played is golf. The book was written by Mark Frost and published by Hyperion, NY, 2002 and if you consider the many tournaments played the narrowing of the field must at first glance be very hard. The book is about the September 1913 US Golf Open – this was at a time the British and Scottish golfers dominated the leadership board at any tournament. Part of the reason was two British golfers were simply the best in the world – Harry Vardon and Ted Ray and in terms of golf courses in the US in a relative sense there were not that many so there were not that many championship quality golfers. The US Open was the changing of the guard when US Golfers would become more dominate. Within the mix of the top professionals (and the money won meant there was a new tournament next week and being the golf pro at the golf course) and a few amateurs. One of those amateurs was a 20 year old Francis Ouiment. If you check Google – Francis won the tournament and golf became very popular to where you will find many golf courses.

Watching golf without knowing much about it is generally a less exciting event – watching it on TV with commentary brings in the decision making process and the understanding why those who play, play the game. An example in the book is: to stand in the still, perfect sweetness of this place outside of time, a club in his hand, looking down at a small white ball, knowing exactly what he was about to do.  To bring the focus to reality by executing the shot desired using all the mechanics of physics.  The book has wonderful descriptions as seen above and makes it an exciting reading.

Another aspect of the game of golf or at least championship golf is the poker part of the game – bluffs, perfect shots, and psychological warfare, the stresses. In non competitive golf, the above are much more friendly including walking in nature and sharing an outing.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, after the 1913 US Open, more people took up the game and business changed to what it has grown today. After the US Open because Francis Ouiment was an amateur, lived across the street and was a former caddie – golf was seen to be open to more than the idle rich. Each industry has a turning point where it becomes the standard, at some point (it is easier to see looking backwards), after that date it seems easier and then consolidation is the next stage. At the consolidation stage, it is easier to invest in dividend paying stocks.

There are more questions than answers, till next time – to raising questions.