One part travelogue, one part golf diary, the result is a book that is all fun. If you enjoy reading humorous accounts of both travel disasters and golfing nightmares, this is a definite must read. The author is a well known standup comedian and has the rare gift of being able to be truly funny in print. This is an amazingly quick read that will have you wishing Wood would take a second trip.
The author decided that he was going to sell everything he owned and head out on a golfing journey of mega proportions. He found the southern most golf course in the world, and the northernmost and resolved to visit 78 courses in between. His journey took him to every continent except Antarctica, but golf really isn't that big there anyway. The trip begins in South America as the author struggles to adapt to the high altitude in Chile.
From there he visits a few more courses before heading off to places like Nepal (they actually have two courses) Australia and even the Ukraine, where he was unfortunately escorted out of the country by armed guards. Each chapter is a funny diversion that immerses you in the scene - you'll literally feel like you're taking this incredible journey along with the author.
He does a great job of mixing in anecdotes about dealing with the local culture and struggling with languages to the actual playing of each course. It's completed by amazing pictures that really set the tone for the entire book. If you have always wanted to travel to golf courses around the world, but don't have that kind of cash, this is a mini vacation that will leave you feeling refreshed.
We found the humor to be honest and refreshing, but it was a little bit forced at times. That may be due to the fact that there really isn't all that funny material to come by when you're crammed into a coffin sized hotel room without the proper currency for the city you're in.
It's little things like these mishaps that endear the author to the reader and bring out the human side of the journey. There are many books dedicated to the courses of the world, but few provide this kind of humorous yet real look at what it takes to stay there and play there.
We appreciated the fact that the author didn't take the easy way out by visiting the most well known courses in the world. He looked for the out of the way courses that are inevitably more fun to play and in many cases, more stunning than their famous competitors.
This is a great book that belongs on any golfer's coffee table. Undoubtedly you'll want to read it again and again, especially during the off season when you're itching to get back on the links. A great read by a great author. Let's hope he does it again real soon.
Originally posted 2008-08-15 05:13:10. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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