Rating: 
Summary: A writer who plays golf, not a golfer who plays at writing.
Review: "A Gentleman's Game" is a book by a talented writer who enjoys playing golf, rather than one by a golfer who plays at writing. For me, this book was more about the relationship between a father and a son than about golf, yet it emphasized the fact that attitudes on a golf course reflect life's experiences. Reading about a boy growing up in a country club environment and a dysfunctional family, befriending members of the seamier side of life in the caddie "hole", and watching wealthier people waste their lives, made me think of "Angela's Ashes". But the comparison was based on the emotions expressed. Tim never wanted for food or other necessities of life. But his treatment by his father, a man who felt out of place in his posh club, his troubled mother, and his disturbed brother made for a less than happy childhood. His enlightenment on the final day at golf camp, the stolen championship, and the "omerta" of those he had considered his friends, is a passage to adulthood. This is an absorbing book to read in a few session. I will look forward to more by Tom Coyne.
Rating:
Summary: A writer who plays golf, not a golfer who plays at writing.
Review: "A Gentleman's Game" is a book by a talented writer who enjoys playing golf, rather than one by a golfer who plays at writing. For me, this book was more about the relationship between a father and a son than about golf, yet it emphasized the fact that attitudes on a golf course reflect life's experiences. Reading about a boy growing up in a country club environment and a dysfunctional family, befriending members of the seamier side of life in the caddie "hole", and watching wealthier people waste their lives, made me think of "Angela's Ashes". But the comparison was based on the emotions expressed. Tim never wanted for food or other necessities of life. But his treatment by his father, a man who felt out of place in his posh club, his troubled mother, and his disturbed brother made for a less than happy childhood. His enlightenment on the final day at golf camp, the stolen championship, and the "omerta" of those he had considered his friends, is a passage to adulthood. This is an absorbing book to read in a few session. I will look forward to more by Tom Coyne.
Rating:
Summary: A gentleman's game
Review: absolutely amazing - - - wow. Go Tom Coyne!!
Rating:
Summary: a must read for men and woman alike....
Review: As a woman and non-golfer, I did not expect "A Gentleman's Game" to interest me -- but to my surprise, Tom Coyne has written one of the best novels I have read in a long time. Although the story evolves in and around the golf course, this book is more about the people who play (and those who love them) than the game itself. "A Gentleman's Game" speaks to a universal audience, a story written for both men and women alike involving such important issues as race, class, and gender. Tom Coyne has written an excellent first novel-- I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: a must read for men and woman alike....
Review: As a woman and non-golfer, I did not expect "A Gentleman's Game" to interest me -- but to my surprise, Tom Coyne has written one of the best novels I have read in a long time. Although the story evolves in and around the golf course, this book is more about the people who play (and those who love them) than the game itself. "A Gentleman's Game" speaks to a universal audience, a story written for both men and women alike involving such important issues as race, class, and gender. Tom Coyne has written an excellent first novel-- I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: author hits a hole in one
Review: Coyne's story is an exploration of human nature and its relationship to golf. We duffers and teeshirt golfers can find inspiration here, for it is not the aloof country-club types who own the soul of the game, but those who show up in the parking lots of public courses before dawn in hopes of getting a tee time. Coyne's writing at times lacks polish, but that seems to only add to its charm - like most of the courses I play, there are bare spots and hardpan, but you play it as it lies.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful and promising debut novel
Review: Coyne's story is an exploration of human nature and its relationship to golf. We duffers and teeshirt golfers can find inspiration here, for it is not the aloof country-club types who own the soul of the game, but those who show up in the parking lots of public courses before dawn in hopes of getting a tee time. Coyne's writing at times lacks polish, but that seems to only add to its charm - like most of the courses I play, there are bare spots and hardpan, but you play it as it lies.
Rating:
Summary: author hits a hole in one
Review: I grew up with a golf course so close to my home that it was not unusual to find balls that had rolled into our yard. I never understood the fascination this game held for the (mostly male) players, but having read this book, I have a better understanding.This is the first book I can recall reading that deals with any kind of young performer where the parents were not the driving (pardon the pun) force. Instead, the author explores the impact a non-pushy parent, one who leaves the decision to excel up to the child, has on their kid. What may be surprising is that this style can have its drawbacks and inflict its not-always-subtle damage, as well as the more familiar type of coaching. The book charts several years in a youth's life as he learns about golf, not only from the "gentlemen" he plays with, but from the caddies he works with. As the reviewers mention, he also uncovers the ugly underside of the game, and what happens when dirty little secrets are revealed very publically. If you're a non-golfer, some of the terminology can be a bit confusing, but the book is worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: chili dipper
Review: I read the book in one sitting but can't figure out why. There are too many unanswered questions. Great charactors that don't go anywhere. Nice writing style that doesn't really say anything. Golf lends itself well to fiction but this book doesn't finish what it starts.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: Like the swing of young Timmy, so is the prose of his creator. Coyne's novel is not really about gentlemen, it's not really about games. Nevertheless, if you've ever played golf, read this book. If you've never played golf, and wondered why the hell any sane person would, read this book. If you've ever been a son, read this book. If you've ever had a father, read this book. If you've never had a father, read this book. In short, if you never read anything else in your life, read this book.
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