A Son of the Game

by James Dodson

When acclaimed golf writer James Dodson leaves his home in Maine to revisit Pinehurst, North Carolina, where his father first taught him the game that would shape his life and career, he’s at a point where he has lost direction. But once there, the curative power of the sandhills region not only helps him find a new career working for the local paper but also reignites his flagging passion for the game of golf. And, perhaps more significantly, it inspires him to try to pass along to his teenage son the same sense of joy and contentment he has found in the game, and to recall the many colorful and lifelong friends he has met on the links.

This wise memoir about finding new meaning through an old sport is filled with anecdotes about the history of the game and of Pinehurst, the home of American golf, where many larger-than-life legends played some of their greatest rounds. Dodson's bestselling memoir Final Rounds began in Pinehurst twenty-five years ago, and now A Son of the Game completes the circle as it follows his journey of discovery back to where his love of the game began—a love that he hopes to make a family legacy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

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

[Mason Bonn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story about golf and it's magnetic pull, along with intertwined themes of family and true love.

[Shane Sturtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, maybe a little bit too long of a read, but overall I enjoyed it. The story definitely came full circle, but it was maybe a little too wordy and took away from some of the plot and stories with his son, which was the best part of the book, I think.

Some of the historical context and the history of the Sandhills with Arnold Palmer and Harvie Ward was cool. I didn't know a lot of them and Dodson uncovered some of golf's best stories. I really liked the chapter and story about Ward caddying for Payne Stewart and everything Stewart went through with the passing of his father.

"Maybe the most important thing in life is figuring out where you're supposed to be. I learned that the hard way. My job was to try and help Payne understand this before his time ran out." -- Harvie Ward to Payne Stewart

That was beautiful and there were a lot of life lessons throughout the book that were always present with the game of golf.

Sometimes the roundabout stories about the history of golf were a little too distracting, but I will still probably read another book by Dodson.

[Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a very in engaging book for a non golfer. I got a quarter of the day and baled out. Lots of name dropping an personal references of North Caroina golfers. I'll try the Ben Hogan biography in the future.

[David Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I played golf for years, and I get the message of the book, it just really didn't work for me.

[Todd Timmerman]

Enjoyed it. Good read and inspiration for someone in their late career looking to dial it back a bit!

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Dodson is a compelling writer. He tugs at the heart strings when he wants to, yet he has a newspaper reporter's ability to give great information in an entertaining and interesting way. If you are not a golf fan, there are some parts of this book that will appeal to you, but overall it would be lacking. So much of this is centered around golf; either history, or the actual playing of the game, or how it affects the relationship between Dodson and his son similar to the way golf influenced the ralationship of Dodson and his father. A good book for me, but not for everyone.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeking to regain his love for the game of golf, Dodson took a part time job for a small newspaper near Pinehurst, and found much more than he expected. I've always wanted to go to Pinehurst and his descriptions added to that desire. Not quite as good as Final Rounds, but a fine book none-the-less.

[Dennis Willingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book on golf and its lessons for life by the author of the outstanding "Final Rounds". Seemed to be largely a collection of essays on different subjects he didn't have enough material for a whole book on. Really wish he'd been able to collect more information on Harvie Ward before his death, I would have liked to learn more about "the last amateur".

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love golf, or have ever witnessed the wonders of Pinehurst, this is a must read!

[Landin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me want to drop everything and move to Pinehurst.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love to read books about golf but I lost interest in this story on page 22--

[Robert Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dodson is a great golf book writer. I loved his Hogan bio for example, but this was a bit slow and disappointing. Not bad but not great.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a sweet book but I just got bored -
Obviously I am not a golfer ...