Any Golf Novels??

[Jen]

Hi to all, I've just finished reading a novel, that was largely based in the world of professional golf, called 'Immortal Dreams', by Rob Watson. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it's the first time I've read a novel about golf and was wondering if anybody knows of any others out there, preferably good ones. I don't think I've heard of many, about sport, let alone golf. Seems a little odd that's there's so few out there as sport in general and golf in particular lend themselves so easily to great drama.

Jen xxx

 

[ScienceBoy]

fine some here

a good one I have just finished is this

 

[Farneyman]

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a good read.

 

[Bunkers]

Hi Jen

I've read a fair few over the past 12 months. Can recommend the following:

Hacked Off by Tony Lawrence

Bring Me the Head of Sergio Garcia by Tom Cox

To the Fairway Born by Sandy Lyle (autobiog.)

Four Iron in the Soul by Lawrence Donegan

Preferred Lies: A Journey to the Heart of Golf by Andrew Grieg

Dream On by John Richardson

Happy reading!

 

[Farneyman]

Dream On by John Richardson

What did you think of this one Raymond I kinda know him through my bro back home.

 

[Bunkers]

Dream On by John Richardson

What did you think of this one Raymond I kinda know him through my bro back home.

He came across as a very determined, single minded chap who like a challenge. Appears to have been a wealthy buisnessman who could afford the time / money to attempt this type of challenge. His goal from the outset was to play one round to par within a year, starting as a golf novice.

Main thrust of the book focusses on his practice routines, practice rounds and how he managed to put work and family life on hold to free up the time required to achieve this. Deals predominantly with the frustration of the game and there is a great chapter on the advice he gets on how to deal with the mental side of the game.

Worth a flick...

 

[stevelev]

Currently reading hacked Off, some good laughs in it so far. And lots of bits I think we can all relate to.

 

[Marko77]

Mark Frost's The Greatest Game Ever Played, The Grand Slam or The Match.

All quality reads.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Dream On by John Richardson

What did you think of this one Raymond I kinda know him through my bro back home.

Didn't enjoyit as much as I'd hoped. You kinda knew the outcome at least part way through even if you hadn't guessed from the outset. I don't think it was actually as much of a challenge for him with the amount of time he actually had to dedicate to it than say someone working long hours in a factory etc and having to give up more in time and money to pursue the same dream.

There were some good parts to it and it flowed quite well. I liked Bring me the Head by Tom Cox and like his other title, Nice Jumpers

 

[Jen]

Wow, thanks for all those replies. I've read a few of those books, and I have to agree they are all good.
Any of them novels though? Sport fiction does seem to be a tiny piece of the market, yet there are plenty of sport and especially golf non-fiction books, so sports fans obviously do read.

Jen xxx

 

[MashieNiblick]

Sport fiction does seem to be a tiny piece of the market, yet there are plenty of sport and especially golf non-fiction books, so sports fans obviously do read.

I suppose with sport the real thing generates so much drama you don't need imaginary stories. How often do we watch sports and think "Wow, you couldn't make it up". I feel the same way about films such as Tin Cup. Stupid ending. How much more dramatic have any number of real major finishes been.

The only fictional writer on golf who I have read is P G Wodehouse. Hugely insightful into the minds of golfers and the nature of the game. Timeless and hilariously funny.

 

[Adi2Dassler]

A Season in Dornoch by Lorne Ruebenstein is excellent, as is Playing Through, A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast by Curtis Gillespie.

Both are pretty specific though,if your not interested in links golf and the whole 'romantic' notion of Scottish life and it's deep ties with the game, they are probably not for you.

Dornoch + Gullane = Nirvana

 

[Marko77]

Wow, thanks for all those replies. I've read a few of those books, and I have to agree they are all good.
Any of them novels though? Sport fiction does seem to be a tiny piece of the market, yet there are plenty of sport and especially golf non-fiction books, so sports fans obviously do read.

Jen xxx

I would say that although based on events that took place the Mark Frost books are written in a fictional way as oppose to any biographies or other tellings of historial events I've read.

Maybe it was just me but I definately felt myself getting engrosed in the stories the books were telling and sometimes forgetting the fact they were telling events that actually took place. The Grand Slam maybe not so much but definately The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Match.