A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole

by Richard MacKenzie

Steeped in history and lore, the Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the meccas of golf. And yet, of all the great stories that have been played out on what are considered the most famous eighteen holes in the game, perhaps the most fascinating of all are those told by and about the legendary St. Andrews caddie.

One of the game's most time-honored traditions, the St. Andrews caddie has become synonymous with the Old Course gruff, eccentric, rough-hewn, challenging, unpredictable, sometimes frustrating, sometimes hilarious, but never duplicated.

Written by Richard Mackenzie, the current caddie manager at St. Andrews Old Course and a former caddie himself, A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole is filled with the written and oral records of some of the game's great unknown sages. The result is a masterful celebration of golf as seen through the eyes of arguably the most colorful characters the game has ever known.

As every golfer is aware, the only thing better than playing the game is talking about it. Part history, part back-nine gossip, and pure entertainment, A Wee Nip offers golfing enthusiasts the next best thing to pulling up a stool at the nineteenth hole and sharing a pint--and a tale or two--with such unforgettable figures as Old Tom Morris, Trap Door, Poot Chisholm, and Stumpie Eye. It's an experience you'll never forget.

A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole celebrates one of the most intriguing, entertaining, and time-honored traditions in golf--the St. Andrews caddie. For over two hundred years, caddies have been walking the most famous piece of golfing land in the world, advising players of vastly different abilities, not only on the club to take, but also on the type of shot required. Richard Mackenzie, Caddie Manager at the historic Old Course and a former caddie himself, brings to life some of the most legendary and colorful characters ever to walk the links in this highly readable and enjoyable book. Filled with vintage photographs and documents, A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole traces the great contribution caddies made to the game and features profiles of characters like Old Tom Morris, who has since assumed a prominent place in golf history. In fact, it was Old Tom himself who in 1864 elevated the expectations of the caddies, insisting that they "appear for work clean, and moderately sober." Old Tom was routinely disappointed, however, by a band of ragamuffins with names like "Stumpie Eye," "Trap Door," and "Boosy Chas." Reading Richard Mackenzie's tribute to the St. Andrews caddie is a little like pulling up a stool at the 19th hole and sharing a pint with these and other famous and infamous characters. -->

Genres: Sports

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 1998

Reviews

[Nranger7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a mystery lot of boxes of books in an auction. There were quite a few books on golf. This was one of them. I have zero interest in golf, but this book was small and had a lot of pictures so I decided to read it. I was pleasantly surprised! There were quite a few funny stories and I enjoyed learning about the history of golf and this golf course. Probably not for everyone though. I think someone who had actually played on this course would better appreciate some of the more techinical details.

[Daniel Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet the author recently. Mr MacKenzie was one of the best random wedding table friends I've ever made, and it's been a privilege to put a name to the face, in a literary sense. A tremendous chap, with a lot to say about life, golf, and everything in between (if, indeed, the two are are not one and the same, as intimated by St Andrews first woman caddie, who is one of many interesting characters you will meet in this easy-access deep dive into the history of caddying at the Home of Golf).

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read with lots of pictures and illustrations. Basically, it is a brief history of the caddies at St. Andrew’s golf course in Scotland. I am a non-golfer but do enjoy watching the game on television & starting the tab at the 19th hole when picking my husband up after a round! Passing this book on to the golfers in my life. Hope they’ll enjoy!

[Benny]

loved it

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very literal history of caddying at St. Andrew's. Few funny stories.