Tom Coyne is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Course Called Ireland and A Course Called Scotland; Paper Tiger; and the novel A Gentleman’s Game, named one of the best 25 sports books of all time by The Philadelphia Daily News and adapted into a motion picture starring Gary Sinise. He is podcast host and senior editor for The Golfer’s Journal, and has written for GOLF Magazine, Golfweek, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, and numerous other publications. He earned an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Notre Dame, where he won the William Mitchell Award for distinguished achievement. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.
“A heartfelt, rollicking ode to golf . . . Coyne describes playing
golf in every state of the union, including Alaska: 295 courses,
5,182 holes, 1.7 million total yards. Along the way, he dives deep
into the essence of the game—its joys, its agonies and addictions,
its hold on golfers’ souls. But most of what you’ll remember after
putting the book down are the people he encounters, in all their
great American diversity and passion.”
—John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal
“A Course Called America is an unequivocal pleasure. Tom Coyne
gives a fresh perspective on many places I've been, and I had to
pause a number of times to relish the way he reflects on what he
encounters—the people, the history, and the humor. Here is a
soulful and thoroughly entertaining journey that will give people a
sense of what golf means to so many of our friends who love the
game.”
—Ben Crenshaw, two-time Masters Champion
“A Course Called America is a discovery of our country, our
culture, our people and the diverse ways we come to the game of
golf. As a golf course architect, I thought I would love the
descriptions of the courses he discovered, and looked forward to
finding out which would be crowned the Great American Golf
Course. I quickly realized that the stars of this book
are not the courses, but the people playing them. I became
enthralled with the varied experiences of golf, the camaraderie,
the matches. Tom Coyne is a wonderful storyteller, and
the stories that unfold across this vast landscape called
America—some laugh out loud funny, and some stirringly poignant—get
to the soul of our game and the heart of our nation.”
—Gil Hanse, renowned golf course architect
“As Tom uses his gift for storytelling to chronicle his journey
through some of America’s best golf courses, you’ll find yourself
remembering why you first fell in love with the game. A Course
Called America is a beautifully woven together story that is
somehow hilarious and moving all at once, and paints a vivid
picture of all that golf in America has to offer.”
—Stacy Lewis, two-time major champion
“In A Course Called America, Tom Coyne sets out to discover
what makes a great American golf course. Well, I'll tell you what
makes a great American golf book—Coyne, an ambitious itinerary, and
his eye for what's special on and off the course. This result is
exceptional—a big, sweeping adventure, as endearing as it is
sprawling, and a fitting tribute to American golf.”
—Phil Landes, aka "Big Randy" from No Laying Up
“This book is one for the ages . . . May be the best of [Coyne’s
books] . . . While Coyne searches for the perfect American golf
course, what he actually discovers is how golf can build a bridge
of harmony between people of different races, religions, and
cultures.”
—Les Schupak, The Met Golfer
"Besides oozing with rich golf history and lore, Coyne’s heartfelt
anecdotes about people he meets and the joys of companionship are
appealing. . . . This is a delightful, entertaining book even
nongolfers can enjoy."
—Kirkus Reviews
“An entertaining blend of travelogue, memoir, and sports writing .
. . Golf nuts will be tantalized by the glimpses of America’s
premier courses, while those looking to book an epic post-pandemic
golf trip will find plenty of inspiration.”
—Publishers Weekly
PRAISE FOR A COURSE CALLED SCOTLAND:
“One of the best golf books this century.”
—Golf Digest
“Tom Coyne has a knack for setting impossible tasks for
himself. . . . Mr. Coyne is back at it again with A Course
Called Scotland. This time he avails himself of cars, planes, and
ferries, but the task he sets is no less preposterous: to play 107
courses in 56 days. . . . Readers who enjoyed Mr. Coyne’s
rollicking Irish book will be interested to learn how their
fearless travel guide has fared in the intervening years. . . .
There’s no less wit in the writing—British weather forecasts, he
concludes, are ‘as useful as ashtrays on motorbikes’—and almost as
many well-rendered characters, both locals he meets and friends and
readers who join him along the way. . . . All the famous courses
are here: St. Andrews, Dornoch, Turnberry, Carnoustie. But even
seasoned golf travelers will be unfamiliar with many of the courses
Mr. Coyne finds. He tees it up where nature carved holes that no
architect would dream of, where 12 holes instead of 18 suit the
members just fine, and where munching sheep, not mowers, keep the
fairway grass short. Does he discover the secret to the game? He
finds several, including, most practically, ‘never, ever give up.’
”
—John Paul Newport, The Wall Street Journal
“They said it couldn’t be done—that he’d never be able to top
Ireland. But with Scotland, he did it. Damn you, Tom Coyne!”
—Michael Bamberger, author of Men in Green
“A fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the
width of much of the British Isles . . . One of the reasons A
Course Called Scotland works so well is because Coyne extended an
offhanded invitation to listeners of a radio show to join him in
Scotland. . . . The eclectic cast of characters who pop up
throughout the story underscore the deep connections forged through
travel.”
—Golfweek
“Coyne has a wonderful way of making the reader feel a part of the
quest. You experience his trials and tribulations as well as the
sense of wonder and awe that comes with playing golf in
Scotland.”
—Chicago Tribune
“There is a purity in the Scots’ game that isn’t about manicured
greens or a ball’s ‘spin rate.’ Coyne admires their ‘homemade’
swings that merely focus on getting the golf ball around the course
and in the hole. He becomes convinced that perfection is an
illusion, though a powerful one. He slowly accepts his limitations,
one day at a time, swing after swing.”
—Bloomberg
“Tom Coyne’s much-anticipated follow-up to his fun book A Course
Called Ireland lived up to my high expectations. Who wouldn’t be
jealous of Coyne’s adventures getting to play every links in
Scotland? He mixes well his commentary on the courses with the
historical significance of each place he visits. This is a
must-read.”
—Golf Advisor
“The author entertains us with accounts of foul weather, fair
friends (one of whom got hit in the face with a drive), and
astonishing courses, some dating back centuries. . . . Golfers and
golf-o-philes will gobble this down.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“In this witty and charming follow-up to A Course Called Ireland,
Coyne continues living a golfer’s dream by playing every links
course in Scotland, golf’s birthplace. . . . Enthusiasts will revel
in Coyne’s eloquent narration of his course-by-course adventures,
while casual fans might be tempted to pick up their clubs a little
more often.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Fighting through physical exhaustion, self-doubt, homesickness and
spates of nasty weather, Coyne knocks out 111 full or partial
rounds on 107 courses, sometimes three rounds a day, in his search
for the ‘secret’ of great golf. It’s no secret that his passion for
the game (and life) shows through on every page, and we get to
follow his every step through modern golf’s birthplace.”
—Golf Tips Magazine
“News of a new tale by Tom Coyne is always reason to
celebrate—assuming you love golf, irresistible storytelling, a cast
of colorful characters and a poignant journey through
the birthplace of the game. Lots of us share Tom’s Mitty-dream
of running away to the great links lands and the lesser known
coastal gems of Scotland. But he’s masterfully accomplished the
feat with his charming pilgrimage around the game’s Holy
Land that unfolds as smoothly as a fine single malt. Coyne's
trademark wit, humor, unerring ear for the locals, and deep
knowledge of the game are on full display, rendering this a poetic
journey you won’t soon forget.”
—James Dodson, author of Final Rounds
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