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Somewhere in Ireland a Village Is Missing an Idiot
A multitalented combination of Dave Barry, P. J. O'Rourke, and Rick Reilly, David Feherty is the nation's wackiest and most popular on-screen golf personality. His back-of-the-book "Sidespin" column is the most turned- to feature in Golf Magazine, and his unmistakable Irish lilt and sensibility is a mainstay on CBS Sports golf broadcasts.
But what of his rumored dark Irish sense of humor? What does Feherty really think-- and cannot share on national television-- about the Sturm und Drang of the professional golfing world? Or, for that matter, what does he think is the appropriate diet for those of us who like to partake of a wee bit of adult beverage in the evening? Now, at long last, readers can distill Feherty's uncensored brand of idiocy for themselves.
Sure to put a smile on the crankiest duffer in the family, Somewhere in Ireland, A Village is Missing an Idiot answers the question all Feherty fans have been asking themselves for a yearŠ who is this guy and why is he here?
But what of his rumored dark Irish sense of humor? What does Feherty really think-- and cannot share on national television-- about the Sturm und Drang of the professional golfing world? Or, for that matter, what does he think is the appropriate diet for those of us who like to partake of a wee bit of adult beverage in the evening? Now, at long last, readers can distill Feherty's uncensored brand of idiocy for themselves.
Sure to put a smile on the crankiest duffer in the family, Somewhere in Ireland, A Village is Missing an Idiot answers the question all Feherty fans have been asking themselves for a yearŠ who is this guy and why is he here?
- GenresSportsHumorNonfiction
297 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2003
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 12, 2021
Completely unreadable, I could not get past twenty pages. Clearly he was very successful prior to his wanting to write and seemingly golf fans were going to read him no matter what. But there is just nothing here.
November 4, 2023
I picked up this book because of its title. How could you not? But the title was the book's best writing.
David Feherty is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who had some success on the various professional tours but then changed careers--and found more fame--as a golf analyst and commentator with CBS sports and several news outlets. (His recounting of the change is one of the books highlights. It finishes: "The rest is history. No tearful farewells, no emotional speeches, I just deleted myself from competitive golf, and I was the only one that notices that something had disappeared. But, like a bad bottle of Guinness, I came back noisier, with greater force, and considerably more noticeable than before.")
He is very funny, and lightened up the normally staid and too-serious culture of television golf. Feherty's success on the screen turned him to writing a column and this book is a collection of his essays; though it does not claim to be so, it becomes obvious to the reader that the bulk of the book has been lifted from previous columns. This is the book's major shortcoming: it meanders from topic to topic, whimsy to whimsy, chuckle to chuckle, with not clear direction or theme to bring the reader along. He is funny (though his humor often drifts off into the rough as it were) but after a while, it's easy to just become bored of the jokes because the author is not moving you anywhere.
To his credit, the final vignette is about his experience with Make a Wish Foundation--told in very typical self-deprecating style. He uses that experience to help the reader understand the larger picture of the nexus of professional golf and charity. It's a good story and a good way to get off the stage which we do at the end of the story. But it's as if we fall off the front of the stage rather than exiting stage left. No summary, no conclusion, no final words, just the end of the Make a Wish story and nothing on the next page.
I'll keep the book around for the creativeness of its title. Without that, I'd have rated it a one- or two-star.
David Feherty is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who had some success on the various professional tours but then changed careers--and found more fame--as a golf analyst and commentator with CBS sports and several news outlets. (His recounting of the change is one of the books highlights. It finishes: "The rest is history. No tearful farewells, no emotional speeches, I just deleted myself from competitive golf, and I was the only one that notices that something had disappeared. But, like a bad bottle of Guinness, I came back noisier, with greater force, and considerably more noticeable than before.")
He is very funny, and lightened up the normally staid and too-serious culture of television golf. Feherty's success on the screen turned him to writing a column and this book is a collection of his essays; though it does not claim to be so, it becomes obvious to the reader that the bulk of the book has been lifted from previous columns. This is the book's major shortcoming: it meanders from topic to topic, whimsy to whimsy, chuckle to chuckle, with not clear direction or theme to bring the reader along. He is funny (though his humor often drifts off into the rough as it were) but after a while, it's easy to just become bored of the jokes because the author is not moving you anywhere.
To his credit, the final vignette is about his experience with Make a Wish Foundation--told in very typical self-deprecating style. He uses that experience to help the reader understand the larger picture of the nexus of professional golf and charity. It's a good story and a good way to get off the stage which we do at the end of the story. But it's as if we fall off the front of the stage rather than exiting stage left. No summary, no conclusion, no final words, just the end of the Make a Wish story and nothing on the next page.
I'll keep the book around for the creativeness of its title. Without that, I'd have rated it a one- or two-star.
September 14, 2023
Although the book is not terrible, I struggled to be drawn in to the excitement. And in David Feherty's defense, all of the writing is time-sensitive. If I had been more interested in golf around the time David Feherty was writing this, it probably would be more compelling.
Next, the book seems like a compilation of his articles he has written over the years. Since he regularly wrote a column for a golf publications, many of the items just seem like an article he wrote for the regular column.
As the book was wrapping up, I learned Feherty had previously written another book. I was a bit surprised by this as I felt his presentation in this book was uninspired. I just figured he was still developing a style in a "first book." Really? So he's already written a first book and this book here should show his development and refinement?
To conclude, unless you are an avid golf fan from the early 2000s, you can skip this book.
Next, the book seems like a compilation of his articles he has written over the years. Since he regularly wrote a column for a golf publications, many of the items just seem like an article he wrote for the regular column.
As the book was wrapping up, I learned Feherty had previously written another book. I was a bit surprised by this as I felt his presentation in this book was uninspired. I just figured he was still developing a style in a "first book." Really? So he's already written a first book and this book here should show his development and refinement?
To conclude, unless you are an avid golf fan from the early 2000s, you can skip this book.
September 26, 2017
Feherty is fecking funny! This collection of work from various golf periodicals gives insight to the mind of the mobile mic guy, and I say "the boy ain't right!"
October 21, 2007
The guy is simply the funniest thing in an otherwise stodgy game. He is a perfect counter to Johnny Miller's no-holds-barred criticism and analysis. If those two ever were to work on the same network it would either be really good or a complete disaster.
He is truly a fascinating guy. Great humor often results from personal pain. There was an amazingly candid article in Golf magazine a few years ago that describe Feherty's life away from the camera.
He is truly a fascinating guy. Great humor often results from personal pain. There was an amazingly candid article in Golf magazine a few years ago that describe Feherty's life away from the camera.
September 21, 2010
My ex is the only reason I know who this man is. But he cracks me up. I bought this a few years ago during golf season when Feherty continually made me laugh watching CBS golf and playing Tiger Woods video games.
Feherty seems to say what most of us would think in a certain situation, but his view has more humor. And anytime he is writing about Gary McCord and their golfing stories, I laugh.
Feherty seems to say what most of us would think in a certain situation, but his view has more humor. And anytime he is writing about Gary McCord and their golfing stories, I laugh.
November 19, 2011
I spent a recent Friday giving 6 hours of History finals. I got home that evening, and after vegging in front of The Wild Bunch and The Big Red One, I started reading "Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot". Thank you David Feherty. You get to write, and say, the things the rest of us don't get to say because our wives won't let us. This is just funny. Yes there is potty humor, and violations of political correctness, and I'll read it again.
November 13, 2013
I like David Feherty. I love his show on The Golf Channel. Love his wit and his commentary. That said, this book was a huge disappointment. It was mostly a rehash of his columns in Golf Magazine. When I'm really into a book I can stay with it for long periods of time. This one was hard to read for more than 30 minutes at a time. It took a long time to read it.
January 5, 2008
God this man is hilarious. The more I read of his the more I respect him as a writer as well as a golfer/comedian/broadcaster. His best articles and stories are the ones that are heartfelt. David has a great knack for telling some great stories within 500 words or less.
December 8, 2008
This was the perfect read for me right now with all the gloomy news about the economy and the craziness of the holiday season; it made me laugh out loud. This book would make a great Christmas gift for any golfer on your list
November 13, 2008
Funny, funny, funny. Feherty can't help being funny. Even his struggles are comical.
April 17, 2012
Classic Feherty. His out-there style shines in this one.
February 6, 2013
I don't play golf so in all fairness, a golfer would have liked the book more.
July 18, 2013
Hilarious.....as usual.
June 2, 2019
If you like Feherty, this is gold. If you have read his columns for Golf Magazine, it is just a retread of that.
I had not read them, so I liked the book a lot.
I had not read them, so I liked the book a lot.
August 12, 2007
a collection of writings from his golf magazine column. very funny man even funnier book
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews