Golfing With God: A Novel - Hardcover

Merullo, Roland

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1565125010 ISBN 13: 9781565125018

Publisher: Algonquin Books, 2005

Synopsis

Herman "Hank" Fins-Winston was a pro golfer destined for greatness. Now he lives in a condominium on the thirteenth fairway of one of heaven's glorious courses – a fact he finds surprising and amusing, since for one reason or another, a fair percentage of golfers never make it to paradise. Hank is having the time of his afterlife until he's summoned one idyllic morning to play a round with the Almighty. It seems that God is having some trouble with His game. As they play the heavenly courses, both in paradise and back on earth, Hank comes to realize that what began as a golf lesson has become a spiritual journey.

About this title

About the Author

Roland Merullo, is the critically acclaimed author of seven books, including the Revere Beach Trilogy, three novels about growing up in a tight-knit community outside Boston, and Golfing with God, a novel about a man's unexpected spiritual journey. He lives with his wife and two daughters in eastern Massachusetts.

From the Back Cover

This is the story of a journey—from heaven to earth and back again. For Herman "Hank" Fins-Winston, that journey begins one idyllic morning—as all mornings are in heaven—when he is summoned to play a round of golf with God. Yes, that God. The Almighty. The one with the capital G. And yes, Hank really is in heaven, a fact he finds truly amusing because, for one reason or another, a fair percentage of golfers never make it to paradise, and because he himself was no angel in his former life.

It seems that God is having some trouble with His (or Her: God is funny that way) putting game, and believes that Hank, who was a golf pro on earth, can fix His case of "the yips." But as they play the heavenly courses both in paradise and back on earth, Hank comes to realize that what began as a golf lesson has become much more, and that rather than teaching God about the game, it is he himself who is learning the lessons—about fearing failure, about second chances, about the connectedness of all living things, about not taking the next breath for granted, and about our God-given ability to improve ourselves—one stroke at a time.

Funny and uplifting, Golfing with God is a beautifully realized novel that takes the reader on one ordinary man's most unexpected passage.

Reviews

Merullo (Passion for Golf) blends knowledge of the game with glimpses into his spiritual journey in this engaging story of golf, the after-life and "the spiritual education of one soul." Former golf professional Herman Fins-Winston has been enjoying heaven between reincarnations long enough to play several of its 8,187 excellent golf courses. When God, who finds golf his only relaxation after minding the universe, has trouble short putting because of the "yips," He (alternately called "She") summons Herman to help. It turns out that God has a "divine" swing, uses old persimmon woods and regularly hits 390-yard tee shots. Merullo infuses his own brand of theology into the story. (On getting into heaven: "You only have to try, to want it, to be sincere about wanting it. You have to not have hurt anyone too badly in your most recent previous life.") The first section, set in heaven, is stronger than the second, in which God (in the persona of a young trophy wife whom Herman dreams of taking to bed) travels with Herman back to earth. There, they play some of the best golf courses in search of the golf greatness he missed in his previous life. Inevitably, Herman's golfing prowess leads to a showdown with evil. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"No!" the reader of golf fiction screams. "Not another novel starring God as a golfer!" Yes, the game has its spiritual side, and, yes, its devotees often experience a lifelike mix of transcendence and frustration, but why must the Almighty worm his way into so many fictional foursomes? But then, just as the outlandish premise of Merullo's novel becomes clear--a failed touring pro, now playing for fun on one of Heaven's 8,187 golf courses, is called upon to help God (Herself an avid golfer) cure a nagging case of the yips--we find ourselves turning pages rather than throwing the book into the nearest bunker. Why, for God's sake? Perhaps because Merullo, author of the critically acclaimed Revere Beach trilogy, writes with wit and subtlety rather than trying to pound inspiration into our heads with a titanium driver. And, best of all, he gets the golf right: precise, well-constructed descriptions of courses and shot making, revealing a respect for the game itself, not just its potential as metaphor. If you must play golf with God, pray it's this one who shows up on the first tee. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Algonquin Books
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1565125010
• ISBN 13: 9781565125018
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288