The Back Nine

by Billy Mott

it’s that simple, and that bedeviling, and that’s what it comes down to when Charlie McLeod—having fled unspecified disaster back East—turns up at a golf club near San Francisco and is entranced again by a game that had defined him until, years ago, he had to give it up. Now he begins caddying, a job that respects every privacy and motivation, while wrestling with those things that had exiled him not only from the sport but from life itself.

In the profane, reassuring yet competitive world of the caddy shack, lost souls jostle for position, sometimes among well-heeled members, men whose passion for golf is often perverted by their own frustrations. What they revere in common, though, is the player whose mastery defies all understanding—and in this role Charlie will either find a new start or shatter everything once more.

A story of love, challenge, and redemption, a thrilling debut and an immediate classic of golf writing.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will certainly not win a Pulitzer Prize but my name is Kevin and I am a GOLF-A-HOLIC so the golf scenes and golf stories and one liners were great. The writing was mediocre and the sub stories were Meh! But I kinda loved it. Not worth reading unless your really really into golf 😬

[Road · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's set on a golf course but has a universal theme-- dealing with the past.

[Joseph MacMullin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like a Danielle Steele novel for golf.
So bad, it was kind of good.

[Jef Sneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen gave me this book as a birthday present. Billy Mott tries here toi create a mythic character. A golfer so good that he could beat the prois, but totally unknown. Start with the down and out golfer, depressed over the loss of his beloved, walking aimlessly along a country road. He wanders into a secluded and prestigious golf course, by accident, and takes a job as a caddy. Somewhere in LA, is another legendary golfer, Larryt Siegel, aka "the Jew," can beat the best scratch golfer without breaking a sweat. He enjoys humiliating them with his sloppy clothes and casual attitude until he turns on the juice and wipes them off the course. He, too, could be the pros if he tried. And sometimes he does, for money. Could there be a confrontation coming between the new kid and the Jew?

The best part about this book is experiencing the back room life of the caddies and the competitive nature of the players who want to see the confrontation between two legends. The descriptions of holes played and technique, shots and strategy were fun for the golfer in me., and it may have elevated the mental part of my game.

Recommended as a good read for a golfer on summer vacation, on the golf course or at the beach.

[Corny · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is a real clinker, badly written, full of cliches and an unbelievable plot. As a golfer, I enjoy golf novels but this one has ridiculous characters and absurd shotmaking. I am surprised this book was ever published.

[Tim Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a sponsored golf match between and underdog caddie, Charlie, who has lost the desire to play and a well known hustler. During the round all of Charlie's demons,father son relationship, pop up to undermine his ability to win. Good read if you like golf.

[Ryan Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of sports books but thought this one was pretty good. Predictable but enjoyable golf story.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of a former golfer who finds his game again.