A great golf read for golfers and the non-golfer

By Bob Marlatt, Inside Golf Publisher
Golf is a subject that has eluded most writers, partly because it lacks appeal for the non-golfer, but every once in a while a book comes along that stands out from the rest and appeals to everyone. Night Lessons is one of those books. Even though it has golf as the underlying core, the story centers around a young boy from the poor side of town and his unexpected introduction to the game of golf and the events that propel him into manhood.

The character lineup is outstanding, ranging from an aging hustler (‘Wedgy’ Byrne) trying to make a living beating up on club pigeons around the Midwest and Texas, to a compulsive gambler (Hank Schwain) who is haunted by memories of crash-landing a troop-glider during WWII, killing all of the troops onboard except himself. Hank, who had never played golf, loses his son’s college money betting on a golf match. Hank tries to put his life and family back on track as the book unfolds.

The main character is Hank Swain’s son, Rama Schwain, a teenager who, trying to make some money to help out his sick mom, stumbles into a caddie job at a nearby private club where he soon learns that he is mysteriously gifted with the ability to lift golfer’s games to extraordinary levels. He encounters a rich benefactor that is taken-in with the boy’s ability to lift his game to new heights, setting the stage for future events.

Anslow is able to describe the emotions and situational stress that accompanies a game where everything hangs on the outcome of a few shots. This is not just a book about golf but delves into the transformation and challenges of several people’s lives and how they all come together to make up a captivating story line. The book will pull you in, all 552 pages.

Don Anslow is a Northwest author living in Beavercreek, just south of Oregon City and is busy already working on his next book.

We don’t usually give star rating to books but if we did, this would be a 5-star book, a must read. The book is available on Amazon and www.donanslow.com.