Final Rounds: A Father, a Son, the Golf Journey of a Lifetime

by James Dodson

James Dodson always felt closest to his father while they were on the links. So it seemed only appropriate when his father learned he had two months to live that they would set off on the golf journey of their dreams to play the most famous courses in the world.

Final Rounds takes us to the historic courses of Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale, to the windswept undulations of Carnoustie, where Hogan played peerlessly in '53, and the legendary St. Andrews, whose hallowed course reveals something of the eternal secret of the game's mysterious allure over pros and hackers alike.

Throughout their poignant journey, the Dodsons humorously reminisce and reaffirm their love for each other, as the younger Dodson finds out what it means to have his father also be his best friend. Final Rounds is a book never to be forgotten, a book about fathers and sons, long-held secrets, and the lessons a middle-aged man can still learn from his dad about life, love, and family.

Final Rounds is a tribute to a very special game and the fathers and sons who make it so.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography

257 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

James Dodson is the author of seven books, including Final Rounds and Ben Hogan: An American Life. He lives with his family in Southern Pines, North Carolina."

Reviews

[Todd Kiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a special relationship with your dad, or you’re a dad with that connection with your son(s), read “Final Rounds”. You don’t have to be a golf aficionados to enjoy the book. Golf is just the vehicle used for a dad to teach his son about life. It’s a true story. It should give you pause and pull at your emotions. Great read.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelves for years, and finally settled down to what I suspected might be quite a sad read. It wasn't really. It was the story of a son taking his dying father to share games of golf around the great British courses of his youth. It was quite well balanced, not too schmaltzy, and pondered the lives that we lead for better or worse. And the games of golf we play, for better or worse. What spoiled it all a bit, was when I felt the author tried to force his prose into some higher plane, quoting Aristotle or Plato as if to show that he was a "serious" writer as opposed to the golfing hack that was his day job. It didn't add anything, but instead made me feel how self-conscious this exercise was, as if he was strolling the fairways with his dad looking for the moments that would link these episodes to something more philosophical than just hitting a wee white ball with sticks. It wasn't a bad read, but I think I'll be struggling to remember one scene remotely similar to the way Blake Morrison managed to shock the reader into linking life and death on the day his own father died.

[Eric Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! A better golf book there never was. I laughed and cried, often at the same time. So good I wrote a letter to the author many, many years ago and re-created a similar golf trip with my Dad (although we only made it to central Wisconsin).

[Anthony Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure this book is as good if you don’t like golf. Probably not. But this strikes me as both a father and a son and someone who likes golf. And travel. This book is just made for someone like me and I really enjoyed it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a 4 for me, but bumped up for how much it means to my dad.

[Thomas Nero · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book is called Final Rounds by James Dodson. I chose this book because it revolves around a huge golfing trip a father and son have and I am a big fan of golf. I also golf with my dad so maybe him recommending this book is a hint that he wants me to take him on a golf trip when he's older. I wanted to experience a book with a lot of interesting information about famous golf courses in Europe, and that is what i got, as the author is a sports writer and describes the courses and environment with great detail. The author frequently uses flashbacks or background information to develop the story. The author talks about how he missed out on a chance to enjoy a good golfing experience in Europe, plus he wanted to take his dying father on the trip of a lifetime. Memories shared within this book are very touching and contribute to the author’s feelings and why he feels the emotions he does along the way. Some things I really like about this book are the golf jokes and the interviews that the author has done with famous golfers in the past. But, there were some things that I didn’t like about the book. It takes place before I was born and a lot of the pop culture references went over my head and made it less relatable to me. But I did learn a lot about this time period and how the setting developed each character. With the father, he was a WWII pilot who experienced a lot of tragedy during his service that is touched upon a lot in the book. There was a horrible bomber crash that killed dozens of orphans that the father was very close to. This sad moment of the book was a turning point that gave me new perspectives on the characters. I learned why the father acts so optimistic about things, because that tragic experience meant that he wanted to only make the best out of situations from that point on. There are many themes in this story, many of which could not be intended, since it is a nonfiction book and there are lessons to be learned and hidden morals in everything that we do. One of the biggest themes is the idea of finding yourself, and how bad people want to truly find themselves before they die. The author seeks to find himself on this golf trip when he previously tried the same thing years ago on a trip to Europe that only ended in him being sad and full of regret for what he missed out on. The father finds himself after the plane crash and completely changes his personality to cocky and stuck up, too optimistic and generous. This book is written for everyone because the themes and morals conveyed in this book are not just about golf, they relate to everyone. But I especially recommend it to golfers, because the amazing history behind the courses they play in the United Kingdom is really interesting to read. In conclusion, Final Rounds by James Dodson can be enjoyed by the biggest golf hater, and the biggest golf lover.

[Keith D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the finest books I've ever read. I've read most of the reviews and I have to say that many of you just don't get it. Mr. Dodson (the father) was an amazing hard working former veteran normal everyday father who just so happened to live an exceptional life as a husband, father and friend. The ability of many of us to identify with Mr. Dodson because our own fathers were so much like him is the connection. I guess the people who weren't crazy about this book didn't have that same connection with their fathers and I'm sorry you didn't. Jim Dodson is an incredible guy who is multi talented and a genuine good guy. He is very modest about his golf game and his writing for that matter. If Arnold Palmer chooses you to write his authorized biography, then you have a lot going on. This book won countless awards but for me the story line of celebrating his father's life through a common interest of golf is what it's about.... and I would give more than five stars if they would let me!

[Jack DeJonge · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this might not be the most uplifting book, it will certainly make you want to play more golf with your friends and family. Dodson outlines how get became a golf writer and a bucket list golf trip following his father's cancer diagnosis. The two of them backtrack through his Father's deployment to the UK in WWII where he hears stories his dad has held on to for his entire life. Golf is the center of their trip, but it is about much more than that. This is a book for the avid golfer trying to get their fix in the off-season.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot believe that I have not yet rated and reviewed this book on Goodreads. I am not a golfer and so I read this after it was recommended by a friend with more than a little trepidation. But it was beautiful. This is one of the best father and son relationship books that I have ever read. I don't care if you know nothing of golf, pick this one up for the story, especially if you have any interest in true life stories of WWII.

[Jason Schriml · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good father-daughter or in this case father-son book. I also enjoy a good sports themed book. So this really fit for me. I am not a golfer but this book is about the setting and the conversations not so much focused on the courses played. A passionate golfer would be envious of the many golf courses played and some of the more historical aspects of the sport. For the non-golfer it’s not a deal breaker to have all these descriptions so don’t let that deter you.

[Kim StClair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Made me want to learn more about the great old courses in England and Scotland, but was so much more than a "golf book." The story of this man and his father was tender, humorous, and totally sentimental. I want my husband and dad to read this!!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. A great book for anyone who loves golf and grew up learning the game from his/her father.

[Claudette M McElroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

If you play golf or have a father this is a book for you Take the time you won't be disappointed

[Dom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Golf is a game that should make you smile, so smile godammit!" I felt like I was playing in Scotland along with James and his father. Good read that makes me appreciate golf even more.

[Dale Sailer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with Beartown, one of the two most most moving books I've ever read. A must read for any father and son, whether golfer or not..

[Dan Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading this book. Loved it and now I want to go to Scotland to play.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will only truly appreciate many aspects of this book if you are a lover of golf, but it is also a lovely tale of a father and son on a final journey together. Many great life lessons are shared.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author writes for a living. So, I can give him that compliment. Mostly a father/son tribute. But it was interesting reading about some of the golf historicals especially during WW II.

[Mike Mayzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a story that combines golf and the importance of a father son relationship. Plus the joy of golf in Scotland. Lots of feels in this book, highly recommend especially if you love the game.

[Anna Ligtenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

ISBN 0553375644 - I started reading this book hoping for the touching story of the father and son and was vaguely disappointed. Not to say the story isn't there, because it is in it's own way, but the golf far overshadows Dodson and his father, making this a far better book for golf fans than non-fans.

James Dodson and his father finally get around to planning that dream trip: all the best courses in great company. Just before they are to leave, his father calls with bad news - the trip will have to be postponed because the cancer of years ago is back. With a small laugh, the man Dodson calls "Opti the Mystic" tells him the prognosis: he has a month, maybe two, to live. Dodson realizes that this means that the trip may never happen, but another call comes soon after and the trip is on. There are conditions and one of them is that when his father says it's time to go home, it's time to go home, no argument. Opti has "things to do", clearly the tying up of loose ends in his life.

The men set out on the golf trip of a lifetime and, honestly, will bore the non-golf-fan cross-eyed with the details of games and players. If you've gotten that far, barrel through - the point of the book isn't the game, or the courses, it's the relationship between father and son. Golf is just the medium in which they relate to one another. Knowing, all along, that Opti is going to die doesn't detract from the sorrow when the time comes and, oddly, his death doesn't detract from the happier side of the story. Opti the Mystic, with an eye always for the silver lining, gives his son some incredible gifts and Dodson does his best to share them with the reader.

I'm not a fan of golf and found myself just skimming very big sections of the book. The stories OFF the course were far more interesting and I wish they'd been given more ink, but Final Rounds is still a very good book.

- AnnaLovesBooks

[Alan Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been trying without success to find a better way to describe my thoughts of this book than what is printed as testimonials on the back of its dust jacket: Says one, “Final Rounds is a beautiful, deeply moving tribute to the love between a father and son and their shared passion for golf”. In another, Ben Crenshaw notes that the book, “illustrates how synonymous the terms golf and life have always been”. Both of those points are on the mark.

In Final Rounds, an especially well-written book, a son shares the admirable loving relationship he enjoyed with his dying father, and the role golf played in their lives. The book is centered on a golfing pilgrimage the two took to Great Britain once dad’s illness became terminal. That trip itself takes a back seat to hearing about the bond golf developed in them through their lives together, and certainly in the ending chapters taking place after that trip was over. The author is a well-known golf writer, and is far from “everyman” as a player – he has both the skills and the juice to play many of the venues of England and Scotland so many of us would love one chance to see much less play. He’s played those many times and complains of poor play that led him to rounds in the mid-to-high ‘70’s. But the artistry in the crafting of the writing throughout – again, most prevalent in the beginning and ending sections – makes this a particularly wonderful memoir.

When I finished the book on December 30th, it became the 50th book I read in 2014, exceeding my “goal” of 45. It was also the anniversary date of my own father’s death. It helped me to reflect on what golf was in our lives as father and son, so much different from the book, and brought me to realize I must document that soon.

A great read for anyone interested in golf, in family, in father/son love, even in golf history.

[Gary Potratz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author understands how golf can bring two people together. A friend recommended this book to me and I thought it may be depressing and sad but found it to be touching and thought provoking.
The emotions involved here with the game are very real and very powerful. For two family members, in this case, a father and son playing golf to get in touch with each other, speaks volumes about the game itself. The father has only a short time to live, and decides to spend time with his son while playing golf. Very touching. This is what this game can do to people. In his book, James brings the two together with brilliancy. Golfers who love the game so much will understand. I was fortunate to get to play golf with my dad before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at a beautiful course in Arizona called Trilogy. This book brought back all of those memories and made me think back to all of the lessons my dad taught me over the years.
The author brings together history, emotions and life experiences which become priceless as you reach the final chapter of this wonderful book.

[Miste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book but only gave it 3 stars because I truly think you have to be just a little bit into golf to really like. It was a sweet story about a man who goes on an adventure to the golf mecca (Scotland) with his father who is dying of cancer. It could have been just another tear-jerker story but he interjected it with interesting golf history/stories about the courses they played. His father had also spent some time there during WW2 so there were stories about that as well as stories about his relationship with his dad and the character of his dad. It was pretty well rounded but since the author is a golf writer there was alot of anecdotal stories about golf. It was a good read though--but then I like golf. Maybe even if you didn't you would still like it, but it is hard for me to say because I'm biased.

[Allen Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father's love for the game of golf. Teaching his adult son the importance of patience, humility & friendship. A dying father (cancer) takes a trip with his son to the golf courses of old. Where he learned to play as a pilot in WWII. The stories were tear-jerkers with deep meaning & told of a time long ago. Wordy at times. Lots of emphasis on the people who played, the tournaments & the holes of half dozen courses. Lots of names like Stewart, Faldo, Watson, Jones, Sneed, Player & Love III. The best part was where he connected with his son on the 17 & 18 green at St. Andrews. My father loved golf. I only played one round with him, however; when I think of him I think of our round. This man's father & mine shared the same fate. But this book and that round showed me the importance of making it count. Everyday no matter what the score card reads.

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this as a gift from our graphic designer. (He gave us all random books from the dollar bin at the Strand, along with a gift card.) It's certainly not a book I would have picked up, having never played golf besides the kind with windmills on the course, so I knew I'd be skimming over the more "golf-y" parts. But that's not what annoyed me about this book. What did annoy me is the author's whining. Yes, I know your dad (who seems like an awesome guy) is dying, and yes, it's awful that the first love of your life died tragically in college, but really, can you just get over yourself? Buck up, for crying out loud.

[Ryan Rougeux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Dodson's read about his Dad dying, and them taking their last few moments of life on a journey around the links where they originated. It was a little bland for my liking in dialogue, but the description of the golf courses themselves kept me interested. Dodson has a way to incorporate the climate of St. Andrew and corresponding courses into the way the characters were feelings. The rain, wind, and cold climate fit in perfect with the situation of his dad Dying. I thoroughly enjoyed his imagery, but the plot all together just didn't get me excited or grab me the way many other books have. All in all, Dodson’s book was a very good read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was given to me by a physicist colleague after a very successful observing run at the CFHT telescope on Mauna Kea. (My unnamed collaborator spent a few hours at the telescope but most of the rest of the trip on various golf courses of the Big Island!)

It's a wonderful story of a sports writer, Dodson, playing some of the world's greatest golf courses with his father who is battling cancer. If you play golf and have kids you'll laugh and cry throughout.

[Bhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Dodson grows up playing golf with his Dad. As the time goes by, he seeks to re-establish this
bond thru a trip to Great Britain and Scotland playing courses with his Dad who played them during WWII.
Touching and profound, about a wise wise loving father and the Son who realizes fully what a gift he has been given....seeking to pass it on.
I am a sucker for Father/Son stories...this one is right up there!

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the ending makes me tear up every time. Father and son can certainly have a huge bond on the golf course. My dad and I don't talk that extensively out on the course, but just being out there with him is wonderful - treasure every hole. I love Dodson spurning the last round for the memory of a few holes of just walking with his father.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really wonderfully told story of the relationship between fathers and sons. It's a moving story that I can't say much about for fear of spoiling the plot and its ending. I recommend it very highly and it really has a lot of life lessons between its covers. Oh, and there is quite a bit about golf and the zen of golf too.