In Search of Burningbush: A Story of Golf, Friendship and the Meaning of Irons

Rating:
Summary: Satisfying On Many Levels
Review: This is one one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It stays with you after you've finished, like a good memory. The story takes place on the links of Scotland, but it's much more about a spiritual quest than a shot-by-shot description of two friends playing golf. Most straightforward golf books are very boring in this way. Mr. Konik and his friend Mr. Nafih are complex characters who held my interest to the very end, which has a nice surprise finish. It's a great "dad" book as well as a great selection for anyone who likes a good story that's told very well.

Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: Those of us who live and play golf in scotland are accutomed to reading books in the golf journal genre written by Americans. The authors speed from famous course to even more famous course and say nice things but are clearly unsettled by the lack of caddy carts, yardage posts, no surf and turf or iced water and the warm beer.
There is nothing patronising about Konik's book. He understands Scottish golf, considers it to be real golf, and he can write some. On the agenda is the hunt to re-create writer Michael Murphy's experience and more mundanely find the Burning Bush golf course and the hole where Murphy came to understand everything. Konik also does the obvious - he phones Murphy from the likely spot and gets an answer - of sorts. The action moves nicely along with moments of high commedy. He gets into the small places, and likes them, throughout using his companion as a foil and straight man. Usually these golf journals end on an understandably flat note - i.e. the plane out of Edinburgh. But Konik has a surprise...

Rating:
Summary: Real Golf in scotland
Review: Those of us who live and play golf in scotland are accutomed to reading books in the golf journal genre written by Americans. The authors speed from famous course to even more famous course and say nice things but are clearly unsettled by the lack of caddy carts, yardage posts, no surf and turf or iced water and the warm beer.
There is nothing patronising about Konik's book. He understands Scottish golf, considers it to be real golf, and he can write some. On the agenda is the hunt to re-create writer Michael Murphy's experience and more mundanely find the Burning Bush golf course and the hole where Murphy came to understand everything. Konik also does the obvious - he phones Murphy from the likely spot and gets an answer - of sorts. The action moves nicely along with moments of high commedy. He gets into the small places, and likes them, throughout using his companion as a foil and straight man. Usually these golf journals end on an understandably flat note - i.e. the plane out of Edinburgh. But Konik has a surprise...

Rating:
Summary: This is wonderful
Review: Truly, it is wonderful. It's all here...golf is just like life, which is why I'm usually swearing up and down the course. But here, I was really cheering for these two guys; I wanted them to have the perfect day and many more. A round of golf, or even moments like that do not come around that often...I'm very pleased I had a chance to read about it. Just one thing, after I finished: I wish I was their caddy that day.

Rating:
Summary: This is wonderful
Review: Truly, it is wonderful. It's all here...golf is just like life, which is why I'm usually swearing up and down the course. But here, I was really cheering for these two guys; I wanted them to have the perfect day and many more. A round of golf, or even moments like that do not come around that often...I'm very pleased I had a chance to read about it. Just one thing, after I finished: I wish I was their caddy that day.