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Sandman: A Golf Tale
A young boy is in love with the game of golf, but he doesn’t understand why. He has a natural talent and an enviable swing but playing the game well is not enough. There’s something missing.
When Jimmy, the homeless man who spends his days cheering on golfers from his usual sitting spot just off the 5th green at Old Elm Municipal Golf course goes missing, the young boy becomes curious. His quest uncovers Jimmy’s mysterious link to the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland and reveals a life in golf that not only fascinates but sends the boy on a personal journey to discover the magic of an ancient game and its deeper meaning for a young man doing his best to find his path in the world.
When Jimmy, the homeless man who spends his days cheering on golfers from his usual sitting spot just off the 5th green at Old Elm Municipal Golf course goes missing, the young boy becomes curious. His quest uncovers Jimmy’s mysterious link to the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland and reveals a life in golf that not only fascinates but sends the boy on a personal journey to discover the magic of an ancient game and its deeper meaning for a young man doing his best to find his path in the world.
100 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
About the author
David W. Berner
28 books94 followersDavid W. Berner is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, author, and teacher. As a writer, he has been the recipient of awards from the prestigious Society of Midland Authors and the Chicago Writers Association. David has more than forty years experience in broadcast journalism as a reporter, anchor, news director, and program director. He has contributed to the CBS Radio Network and to public radio stations around the country, including NPR’s Weekend edition.
David has also performed live literature readings at 2nd Story, Essay Fiesta, Waterline Writers, and Sunday Salon. And regularly conducts workshops on writing and memoir.
David has also performed live literature readings at 2nd Story, Essay Fiesta, Waterline Writers, and Sunday Salon. And regularly conducts workshops on writing and memoir.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 16, 2022
He loves the game of golf but when an old homeless man disappears, he discovers the lure and passion of golf lies within. A young boy is practicing his golf swing with a few of his friends at the local golf course. The young boy is good at golf yet he wants to know more about the game. He wonders what makes the game so enticing, so addictive, that he strikes up conversations with staff and fellow golfers. It’s his conversations with and about Jimmy, a homeless man, that piques his interest the most. Jimmy, who resides near the 5th hole, is a wealth of golf knowledge and wisdom, but he hasn’t been seen for days. The boy goes in search of Jimmy yet discovers his own path to life and the magical walk of eighteen holes.
Sandman: A Golf Tale is an imaginative view on life, finding your own journey, and the game of golf. Some say golf is the most fulfilling and most frustrating sport in the world. Others say golf is exquisite and will test the patience of any person. For me, I see golf through the eyes of my grandfather. It’s mystical, poetic, and the greatest achievement among the human race. In Sandman: A Golf Tale, the reader gets a unique perspective through the eyes of a young boy. Throughout the story, his views on life and golf change which in turn makes the reader ponder many things. The plot moves at a slow, easy pace which subdued my mind and allowed me to immerse myself in the story. The narration has an almost poetic vibe, filled with nuances and a transcendent setting exclusive to the world of golf. While we never know the name of the young boy, his POV is expressive, emotional, and very deep. While you don’t need to know anything about golf to read Sandman: A Golf Tale, this book may lure you into the golfing world. A poignant treatise on golf, Sandman: A Golf Tale is a book that’ll make a great impact. It makes a great read for any golfer. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Sandman: A Golf Tale is an imaginative view on life, finding your own journey, and the game of golf. Some say golf is the most fulfilling and most frustrating sport in the world. Others say golf is exquisite and will test the patience of any person. For me, I see golf through the eyes of my grandfather. It’s mystical, poetic, and the greatest achievement among the human race. In Sandman: A Golf Tale, the reader gets a unique perspective through the eyes of a young boy. Throughout the story, his views on life and golf change which in turn makes the reader ponder many things. The plot moves at a slow, easy pace which subdued my mind and allowed me to immerse myself in the story. The narration has an almost poetic vibe, filled with nuances and a transcendent setting exclusive to the world of golf. While we never know the name of the young boy, his POV is expressive, emotional, and very deep. While you don’t need to know anything about golf to read Sandman: A Golf Tale, this book may lure you into the golfing world. A poignant treatise on golf, Sandman: A Golf Tale is a book that’ll make a great impact. It makes a great read for any golfer. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
June 2, 2022
Anyone who has played golf and feels there is more to the game than just their score, the clubs to use or their mechanics will be able to relate to the two protagonists in this wonderful short book. One of them, a boy whose name is never revealed, is an excellent golfer but feels there is more to the sport and feels unfulfilled. The other, a homeless man named Jimmy who hangs around the 5th green at the boy’s home course, also has a unique perspective, mainly gained during his time as a caddy at the most famous course, St. Andrews.
Their stories will be ones that anyone connected to the game, whether playing, looping, or just as a worker at a course (Nancy, the clubhouse cook, is a wonderful secondary character) can relate to the stories of the boy and Jimmy. Berner does a wonderful job of brining these characters to life for the reader in such a short amount of text. Readers who like stories that are short and to the point without a lot of fluff should pick this up. While it is helpful to know about golf, it is not necessary to connect with the boy and Jimmy and their dreams.
I wish to thank Roundfire Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Their stories will be ones that anyone connected to the game, whether playing, looping, or just as a worker at a course (Nancy, the clubhouse cook, is a wonderful secondary character) can relate to the stories of the boy and Jimmy. Berner does a wonderful job of brining these characters to life for the reader in such a short amount of text. Readers who like stories that are short and to the point without a lot of fluff should pick this up. While it is helpful to know about golf, it is not necessary to connect with the boy and Jimmy and their dreams.
I wish to thank Roundfire Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2022
The four golf "majors" may be over for 2022, but there's plenty of beautiful weather ahead to get out on the links and celebrate the great outdoors with a bag of clubs on your shoulder, or in the cart. Whichever!
And plenty of time to read and appreciate David W. Berner's beautiful book, Sandman: a golf tale. At about 30,000 words, it's probably more a novella than a short novel, but it's the perfect length for this ode to the essence of the game. You can read it over the course of a single rainy afternoon when you wish you were out on your favorite course, or on a plane flying to Myrtle Beach or Pebble Beach or, yes, even St. Andrews.
But golf is the setting, not the story. We follow two young men at different points in their lives. They interact, but only peripherally. The essence of the tale is in this passage: "When a man takes on the belief that he must, with all his heart, lead an unconventional life, he too must admit that there is risk, the real chance that he will never find whatever it is he longs for." One young man, we learn early in the book, finds what touches him most profoundly, but loses it. The other lad begins his own journey, and we as readers long that he will realize his dream.
And plenty of time to read and appreciate David W. Berner's beautiful book, Sandman: a golf tale. At about 30,000 words, it's probably more a novella than a short novel, but it's the perfect length for this ode to the essence of the game. You can read it over the course of a single rainy afternoon when you wish you were out on your favorite course, or on a plane flying to Myrtle Beach or Pebble Beach or, yes, even St. Andrews.
But golf is the setting, not the story. We follow two young men at different points in their lives. They interact, but only peripherally. The essence of the tale is in this passage: "When a man takes on the belief that he must, with all his heart, lead an unconventional life, he too must admit that there is risk, the real chance that he will never find whatever it is he longs for." One young man, we learn early in the book, finds what touches him most profoundly, but loses it. The other lad begins his own journey, and we as readers long that he will realize his dream.
July 1, 2022
The Sandman, though billed as a “golf tale,” is rather a story about a complex life question that happens to be set in the world of golf. As such it’s a tale for any reader drawn to a great story, lovely writing and a thought provoking theme. Can an individual of exceptional talent fulfill their potential if it severely challenges the norm? What is the price they pay for living within their own authenticity? Is it worth it? The question begged is also what is the price we might be paying for not being able to benefit from where they may be able to take us? At the bottom line, how does and should the artist live if they don’t fit within the lines?
Berner uses a careful appreciation of the artistry of golf to illustrate his point, much as Hemingway did with bullfighting and deep-sea fishing. And believe me, you will be hooked. This almost fable-like novella breezes rapidly on its clean, spare writing. It traces two vividly drawn characters, an older master who has made the choice and a young phenom trying to decide if he will. It will make you ponder what he should do, what you would do. Don’t miss it.
July 2, 2022
For many who love golf, the game is a mystery. How can hitting a ball with a club appear so easy on television but in reality, be so incredibly difficult? The quest to solve the mystery is what drives many golfers and keeps them addicted to the game. In his new novel, “Sandman: A Golf Tale”, writer David W. Berner tackles the mystery of golf while introducing us to characters who, after absorbing themselves in the game, become content to, in the words of singer Iris DeMent, “Let the Mystery Be”. The characters, a homeless man named Jimmy and a boy referred to only as “the boy”, don’t know each other but their stories intersect and are illuminated by the game of golf and the beauty it offers. Jimmy and the boy revel in that beauty but in different ways. “Sandman” tells their stories and invites us along their journeys as they use golf to find deeper meaning in life.
Read
July 13, 2022"Sandman, a golf tale", is a delightful look at two lives so very different
in age and circumstance and yet parallel in the pursuit of happiness
and fulfillment. A young man with great golf acumen has doubts
about pursuing the sport as his father would like. He meets a
homeless man who sleeps in a sand trap on his father’s course and
we get insight into the homeless man’s life and how it came to be.
Both have a curiosity about living and a love of the game. One has
chosen his path and the other stands at the starting gate still
wondering where his quest will take him. A fun read for any golfer,
philosopher or student of life.
in age and circumstance and yet parallel in the pursuit of happiness
and fulfillment. A young man with great golf acumen has doubts
about pursuing the sport as his father would like. He meets a
homeless man who sleeps in a sand trap on his father’s course and
we get insight into the homeless man’s life and how it came to be.
Both have a curiosity about living and a love of the game. One has
chosen his path and the other stands at the starting gate still
wondering where his quest will take him. A fun read for any golfer,
philosopher or student of life.
July 6, 2022
I just finished reading Sandman. I loved it! Berner did it again with yet another story well told. Though not to be considered a book about golf, but a clever use of the game to wind a tale along a course of an older man and a young boy as strong characters to unfold nuggets of choices in life and their lessons.
July 1, 2022
David Berner is a skilled storyteller, fully on display here. What I most admire in his work is its humanity and heart. And while he acknowledges that the goal is important, it's the journey that's just as crucial. Sandman is a balm for our weary spirits. Give it a read.
July 1, 2022
This is a book so full of life. Golf is the vehicle, but it's the story that locks you in. Loved the simple, fable-like telling. I gave a copy to my 30-year old son and he loved it! Golfers or not. young and old will enjoy this story and its deeper meanings. Recommend!
October 1, 2022
David W. Berner has such a light touch - he's always so smart but also entertaining, and this new book is engaging from beginning to end. I recommend his other books too, perhaps especially Walks with Sam: A Man, a Dog, and a Season of Awakening.
July 7, 2022
Dave Berner brings the heart to the game of golf. I’m a big fan of his writing. This will be on the gift list for all the golfers in my life!
July 2, 2022
I kinda of like it, since I wrote it.
October 7, 2022
David W. Berner’s novella Sandman (2022) is ostensibly about golf. And there’s plenty of golf-related detail: descriptions of foulmouthed greenskeepers and stern caddie-masters, numbers-obsessed amateur players and pushy parents hovering on the sidelines. But like all good stories, Sandman is two stories in one: a story about golf and a story where golf becomes a metaphor for life.
To a greater degree than many other sports, golf is played both recreationally and competitively; golf is also more elitist than most other sports. These two dichotomies structure the trajectories of the two protagonists. Jimmy and a young unnamed American boy, growing up decades apart, face the same basic question: Do they want to win (or suck up to winners), or do they want to enjoy the game? The novella’s episodes are cleverly arranged so that, though these two protagonists never meet, the wisdom one acquired in a faraway land passes on to the other.
Sandman is structured as a double mystery. There’s the mystery of what happened to Jimmy the Old Elm vagrant on the day in the present which furnishes the novella’s frame story; there’s also the mystery of how Jimmy ended up in this life: a semicrazed homeless man living on charity. Travelling fluidly between past and present, between a focus on Jimmy and a focus on the unnamed boy, the narrative suggests that the answer to both mysteries is the same. As Sandman closes, Jimmy is discovered exactly where he meant to end up.
Full of colourful characters, from insufferable amateur players to snitchy caddies, and vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds of various golf-courses, Sandman is a book you’ll read quickly but remember long afterwards.
Full of humour and vivid natural scenes, colourful characters and introspective passages, Sandman is many things: a coming-of-age tale, a mystery, and a meditation on golf as a metaphor for life.
To a greater degree than many other sports, golf is played both recreationally and competitively; golf is also more elitist than most other sports. These two dichotomies structure the trajectories of the two protagonists. Jimmy and a young unnamed American boy, growing up decades apart, face the same basic question: Do they want to win (or suck up to winners), or do they want to enjoy the game? The novella’s episodes are cleverly arranged so that, though these two protagonists never meet, the wisdom one acquired in a faraway land passes on to the other.
Sandman is structured as a double mystery. There’s the mystery of what happened to Jimmy the Old Elm vagrant on the day in the present which furnishes the novella’s frame story; there’s also the mystery of how Jimmy ended up in this life: a semicrazed homeless man living on charity. Travelling fluidly between past and present, between a focus on Jimmy and a focus on the unnamed boy, the narrative suggests that the answer to both mysteries is the same. As Sandman closes, Jimmy is discovered exactly where he meant to end up.
Full of colourful characters, from insufferable amateur players to snitchy caddies, and vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds of various golf-courses, Sandman is a book you’ll read quickly but remember long afterwards.
Full of humour and vivid natural scenes, colourful characters and introspective passages, Sandman is many things: a coming-of-age tale, a mystery, and a meditation on golf as a metaphor for life.
October 3, 2022
So much more than a golfing story.
I have read most of David Berners books, all with great pleasure, but because I have never played golf I thought 'Sandman' wouldn't be for me. How wrong I was. I was totally engrossed from page one of this engaging and beautifully written novella, so much so that I finished it in a couple of hours.
The story centers on a young and exceptionally talented golfer, a teenager with no name, and Jimmy, a homeless man who hangs out near the golf course where the boy plays. Both have a strong, almost spiritual affinity to the game; the boy with no name in the present and Jimmy's golfing history shown via his backstory. Through the eyes of these two, Berner, with his acute and sensitive observations takes the whole concept of the game to a much deeper level as he looks at the interconnection between the course, the game, the surrounding nature and his characters' relationship and interaction with the natural world and, of course, golf - the thread that connects the two main protagonists. Berner's sensitivity really struck home for me, when his characters remove their shoes and tread the hallowed turf with bare feet.
This is so much more than a golfing story; it is for everyone, although if you understood the game I'm sure it would bring even greater pleasure.
I have read most of David Berners books, all with great pleasure, but because I have never played golf I thought 'Sandman' wouldn't be for me. How wrong I was. I was totally engrossed from page one of this engaging and beautifully written novella, so much so that I finished it in a couple of hours.
The story centers on a young and exceptionally talented golfer, a teenager with no name, and Jimmy, a homeless man who hangs out near the golf course where the boy plays. Both have a strong, almost spiritual affinity to the game; the boy with no name in the present and Jimmy's golfing history shown via his backstory. Through the eyes of these two, Berner, with his acute and sensitive observations takes the whole concept of the game to a much deeper level as he looks at the interconnection between the course, the game, the surrounding nature and his characters' relationship and interaction with the natural world and, of course, golf - the thread that connects the two main protagonists. Berner's sensitivity really struck home for me, when his characters remove their shoes and tread the hallowed turf with bare feet.
This is so much more than a golfing story; it is for everyone, although if you understood the game I'm sure it would bring even greater pleasure.
February 12, 2023
I loved this story! I’m a sucker for stories that involve two people at separate times and places, who take paths that result in similar life decisions. We see a young boy today, a promising golfer, in love with life on the course but bewildered by what place golf should hold in his future. Then we see Jimmy, an elderly homeless man, who takes us back to Scotland where golf was born, to show us the hopes and dreams of his youth, a parallel direction the boy is still trying to sort out. While showing concern and respect for each other, both lives are decided on a single day. Sandman is a touching story about choosing priorities and paths that do not conform to the norm. It is written with honestly, sensitivity, and insight, in words that are clear yet beautiful from start to finish. Inspired with interesting trivia about golf, Sandman will especially appeal to those who love the game, but will delight anyone who has ever been young and wondered what the future holds—and haven’t we all done that?
June 12, 2022
Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.
I received a free copy of Sandman: A Golf Tale from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sandman follows a young golfer and a homeless man. We never find out what the young golfer is called, but the homeless man, Jimmy, has stories to tell about his past in the golfing world.
I was actually quite confused by the storyline. It ended up going nowhere where I thought that it was, and not in a good way. I thought I was getting a deep-dive into how golf has affect these people, and how golf has had an impact on their person. What I got was a weird self-analysis (for these two characters) of what golf is, and I found this to be very confusing and honesty not very enjoyable.
While well written, I found it boring and unexciting. Not the type of book that I enjoy.
I received a free copy of Sandman: A Golf Tale from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sandman follows a young golfer and a homeless man. We never find out what the young golfer is called, but the homeless man, Jimmy, has stories to tell about his past in the golfing world.
I was actually quite confused by the storyline. It ended up going nowhere where I thought that it was, and not in a good way. I thought I was getting a deep-dive into how golf has affect these people, and how golf has had an impact on their person. What I got was a weird self-analysis (for these two characters) of what golf is, and I found this to be very confusing and honesty not very enjoyable.
While well written, I found it boring and unexciting. Not the type of book that I enjoy.
October 12, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
A wonderful story of two people fascinated by the world of golf, but you don't need to be a golfer to thoroughly enjoy it. It's almost mystical and so sweet. It restores your faith in humanity and makes you feel good, plus it lingers in your mind. My husband is a golfer and I've been to St. Andrews, which made it interesting for me, but it was the poignant life lessons that made me love this book.
Highly recommended!
A wonderful story of two people fascinated by the world of golf, but you don't need to be a golfer to thoroughly enjoy it. It's almost mystical and so sweet. It restores your faith in humanity and makes you feel good, plus it lingers in your mind. My husband is a golfer and I've been to St. Andrews, which made it interesting for me, but it was the poignant life lessons that made me love this book.
Highly recommended!
July 24, 2022
A wonderfully whimsical short story in which the author had me believing a golf fairy or leprechaun might appear at the turn of every page. The fairy never showed but I was engaged to the very end regardless. This will be most appreciated by those who love golf and its origins.
October 6, 2022
A thoroughly lovely addition to David W. Berner's list of books written directly from the heart. Highly recommended, whether you're a golf fanatic or don't care much for the game. Golf is merely the backdrop for this enthralling tale.
January 28, 2023
A Loner caddie who did nothing with his life.
Not sure what was the point. No life lessons, no beginning, middle or endings. Worst golf book ever . No reason to read this book about nothing. A waste of my time , sorry I bought it
Not sure what was the point. No life lessons, no beginning, middle or endings. Worst golf book ever . No reason to read this book about nothing. A waste of my time , sorry I bought it
November 6, 2025
A golf tale that is not about golf. A tender story that grabs your attention and holds you until the last page.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews