An American Caddie In St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, And Looping On The Old Course (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
As a non-golfer who wishes he was good at golf, this book was an entertaining read. While I'd never swing it (GET IT?!?!) as a caddie either, I definitely identified with the attitudes of some of them in this book. Other reviewers complain about the author's writing style, but I found it very conversational and welcoming. I was heartbroken when I was meant to be, and ecstatic at all the right times. This book is worth the quick read; even if you're uninitiated into the world as golf, like myself. While I have played golf one would not consider me even faintly good at it. But I suppose if I lived and breathed golf for a while my scores would get low enough to consider looking farther afield than a local public course. Then there is Oliver, a boy who grew up playing at not just one but two private golf clubs with a handicap of 1.8 that is the envy of many people.So what does a very good golfer do when he suddenly finds himself graduating from high school and headed to Harvard? Why, take a year (considered a “gap year”) and caddie at the famous St. Andrews course in Scotland. But before he can become an official caddie (years of golfing and a low handicap doesn’t qualify one to be a caddie at St. Andrews) Oliver must live through the grueling caddie training program at St. Andrews. And “the St. Andrews caddie world is not a safe place for newcomers. Even less so for student newcomers. And infinitely less so for young American student newcomers.”There the author meets Rick Mackenzie, Caddie Master, a man many caddies are fearful of angering. And the author manages to do that often. The veteran caddies are much older and more experienced than Oliver and they do not welcome Oliver with open arms. But he does have a friend or two at St. Andrews as his uncle Ken and Ken’s friend Henry Anquetil (both old RAF veterans and expert gardeners’) live in town.The life of a caddie trainee on the many courses of St. Andrews (there were 6 in 2004) includes getting up at 4:30 AM and doing two loops each day (18 holes morning and afternoon) before partying or golfing in the evening. With it the author tells about the ups and downs of caddying for all sorts of golfers that range from the clueless, the rich, the once in a lifetime at St. Andrews and even the famous. At the end of his gap year Oliver somewhat reluctantly heads to Harvard but not before being rewarded by becoming, surprisingly, a full caddy.The rest of the book briefly describes his life at Harvard over the next four years and focuses on his summers as he returns to St. Andrews to continue his caddy profession. He grows into the job and finds himself becoming one of the veterans others look to for assistance. But Oliver finds that trouble is never far away when he decides to do his Senior film project on the caddies of St. Andrews – not something that is welcomed at St. Andrews. While at times funny and other times poignant (especially when the author focuses on his aging Uncle and his loyal friend) the book does give a behind-the-scenes view of a famous golf course and the work of caddies. And there are times where the author tries to seem like an average guy but not too many can say they grew up privileged enough to belong to two private golf courses, go to Harvard, and live without too much trouble as a caddy in another country (they are not that well paid). And he throws in the typical young male rounds of parties and women that remind us how young he was in the mid-2000s.A book to read if you love golf, wish to ever become a caddy, or want to know about St. Andrews (the place all golfers want to go -- even in death).
What do You think about An American Caddie In St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, And Looping On The Old Course (2013)?
A naively written memoir, but I enjoyed it for the memories of being at St Andrews with my son.
—Charlie
If you love golf, anything about golf you will love this book. Great read. Highly recommended
—Jen
Again, need to be more selective with my stars. I'd give this a 3.5.
—Pallu
An almost perfect golf book that will make you cry.
—penny
