Golf Books #70 (Golf on the Rocks)

This is a book about golf, families, and the beauty and sometimes inhospitable landscape of the Scottish islands. When Gary’s father, James, died suddenly at the age of 58, his family was knocked sideways. After the initial grief passed, they started to think about what they could do to keep his memory alive. James was an excellent golfer and a demon with the putter, so Gary, along with his mom, brother, and sister decided to meet every year to have a round of golf in his memory.

The prize for the craziest putt of the day would be James’s “Magic Putter,” kept by the winner for a year until the next round. Gary won the right to keep the putter for the first year, and then decided to take the memory of his father a little further—through 18 rounds on 18 different Scottish islands. Part-travelogue, part-memoir, this is a personal and humorous journey of remembrance and discovery across the beautiful isles. (to be released August 1, 2012)

Review

‘A warm and insightful guide…Sutherland’s sense of enjoyment shines through, all the way to the most perfect of conclusions’ — Herald ‘A marvellous romp…giving a pretty good idea of what golf on the islands is all about’ — Telegraph ‘A great concept…vividly brings to life the courses and often idiosyncratic island life’ — Scotland on Sunday ‘The most unusual round of golf in the world!’ — Sunday Post ‘If you’re a golf fan you’ll find plenty of gold in Sutherlands descriptions of his exploits…the tales of the people he meets, the animals he avoids and the apparently endless appetite for CalMac breakfasts’ — Buteman ‘Sutherland is very amiable company…a long distance from the stuffiness and snobbery of some golf writing, it’s a refreshing and heartfelt journey’ — Big Issue ‘You don’t have to be an enthusiast to enjoy Gary’s rounds of golf…an exceptionally well-written book’ — Undiscovered Scotland ‘How refreshing it is to read a book about Golf which takes the reader miles away from the manicured greens of championship courses such as St. Andrews and Carnousitie’ — Scots Magazine (source)

About the Author

Gary Sutherland grew up in Hopeman, on the Moray Firth, spending long summer evenings on the golf course. He is the author of Hunting Grounds: A Scottish Football Safari and Great Balls of Fire: A Year of Scottish Festivals.