Gentleman's Game, A

It is the summer of 1985, and Timmy Price is a golf caddy at his father's exclusive country club. Timmy has quite a swing himself, his mastery of the game inspires awe among the membership and envy among his peers, including fellow caddy and friend Jamie Byrne. But under pressure from his well-meaning, self-made father, as well as the privileged club members, Timmy soon realizes that it isn't easy being both a rising star and just another looper in the caddy hole. Under the tutelage of enigmatic guru Foster Pearse, Timmy hopes to develop a game that will make him the state junior Champion. But his time with Pearse, and Jamie's mysterious disappearance, help Timmy realize that life's real importance lies not in wealth, status symbols, or the ability to fire low golf scores. He comes to play the game for purity, not prizes, and in doing so discovers the integrity and humility that bespeak a real gentleman.

A Gentleman's Game is an unforgettable story of fathers and sons, class and the pressure to succeed, sportsmanship, friendship, and the beguiling and bedeviling game of golf.

This is the first book I can recall reading that deals with any kind of young performer where the parents were not the driving (pardon the pun) force. Instead, the author explores the impact a non-pushy parent, one who leaves the decision to excel up to the child, has on their kid. What may be surprising is that this style can have its drawbacks and inflict its not-always-subtle damage, as well as the more familiar type of coaching.

The book charts several years in a youth's life as he learns about golf, not only from the "gentlemen" he plays with, but from the caddies he works with. As the reviewers mention, he also uncovers the ugly underside of the game, and what happens when dirty little secrets are revealed very publically.

If you're a non-golfer, some of the terminology can be a bit confusing, but the book is worth a read.


chili dipper   August 30, 2002
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I read the book in one sitting but can't figure out why. There are too many unanswered questions. Great charactors that don't go anywhere. Nice writing style that doesn't really say anything.

Golf lends itself well to fiction but this book doesn't finish what it starts.


A powerful and promising debut novel   July 18, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Coyne's story is an exploration of human nature and its relationship to golf. We duffers and teeshirt golfers can find inspiration here, for it is not the aloof country-club types who own the soul of the game, but those who show up in the parking lots of public courses before dawn in hopes of getting a tee time. Coyne's writing at times lacks polish, but that seems to only add to its charm - like most of the courses I play, there are bare spots and hardpan, but you play it as it lies.


Don't waste your time   June 11, 2002
 1 out of 8 found this review helpful

Two factors combine to make this a really bad book - a pointless story and an annoying writing style. Save yourself the time and skip it.