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Four Iron in the Soul [Paperback]

Lawrence Donegan (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 2 April 1998

In this very funny sports book (a cross between Nick Hornby and Bill Bryson) young journalist Lawrence Donegan tells the story of the summer he spent caddying for Scottish golfer Ross Drummond, ranked over 400 in the world,on the European Tour. Thisis the inside story of the geniuses,the cheats, the gurus and the hangers-on that make up the golf scene.

"A joy to read. Not since Bill Bryson plotted a random route through small-town America has such a breezy idea for a book had a happier or funnier result" - Lynne Truss, The Times

"Funny, beautifully observed and it tells you things about sport in general and golf in particular that nobody else had thought to pass on" - Patrick Collins, Mail on Sunday

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Four Iron in the Soul + Bring Me the Head of Sergio Garcia + 'Dream On': One Hacker's Challenge to Break Par in a Year
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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (2 April 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140260145
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140260144
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.6 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 41,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

Lawrence Donegan's tale of life as a golf caddy is a refreshing look at sport through the eyes of neither a star, a fan nor an outside observer.

Four-iron in the Soul is told from a fresh angle--that of a newcomer to golf and all its to-ings and fro-ings--a tale expertly told by the amusing ramblings of a man well travelled in his own chosen profession.

Donegan, a musician of "Lloyd Cole and the Commotions" and "Bluebells"(remember the staccato "Young at Heart"?) fame, and later journalist with the Guardian, put down his bass guitar and tucked his quill in his pocket to caddy for pro golfer Ross Drummond on the European Tour.

Donegan's childhood dream had been to become a professional footballer or golfer but after a brief flourish in his early years he abandoned his sporting aspirations.

That was until Drummond--by his own admission one of the competitors present more to make up the numbers in most tournaments--grudgingly agreed to let Donegan be his caddy.

Donegan points out that he was more of a bag carrier for the player ranked towards the bottom half of the world's top 500. He tells of the day when, researching an article, he first met Drummond and got bitten by the caddying bug.

Four-iron in the Soul is open and witty, blunt and hilarious all at once. It is an enjoyable read and a crisp, original insight into the game of golf. --Andrea Thursday

About the Author

Lawrence Donegan was born in Scotland in 1961. He went to Stirling University, and had a brief spell as a pop star - he was in the band THE BLUEBELLS, who had a big hit with the infuriatingly catchy "Young at Heart", before joining the Guardian. He lives in Glasgow.
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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars FORE 13 Aug 2009
By Alexander Bryce TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Forewarned this is a laugh a page. Written by an ex musician, journalist,enthusiastic golfer for anyone interested in the game or simply interested in humour.
It gives the best insight I have come across into the life of the tour pro with the accent often on the guys who are struggling to make ends meet and their caddies who tour the world like a band of gypsies. 5 star luxury enjoyed by the more illustrious pros is not alas for them . Broken down camper vans, cheap booze, take away fast food and even faster women is their lot.
Lawrence Donnegan shows us that there is a very fine line in terms of skill and scoring[ perhaps one or two shots per round ] between those who win millions and those who scrape by for a few years before taking a real job.
For those who make it big time there is a life of private jets and an entourage of flunkies taking care of there every need. And it does'nt get much better than the lifestyle of the chosen few.
A very entertaining and enlightening read.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars If you ever thought caddies were one club short........ 21 July 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
.... of a set then "Four-iron in the Soul" will only confirm your worst fears.

This a humourous and well written account of a year in the life of that peculiar animal; the caddie on the European Tour. The fun and frolics, the desolation and despair are all here. Occasionally rubbing shoulders with the Tigers and Sharks of the sport but more often trekking across the Continent in an old camper van looking for a bag to carry because Ross Drummond has failed yet again to make the cut.

Unless Lawrence Donegan is a superb liar, this is a warts and all account of the life that many golf fans may secretly crave, but when the chips are down would probably put up with for no more than a day.

With due respect to Ross Drummond who is a fine golfer, this book would not have worked nearly as well if it was written by a "Fanny" or a "Wobbly" or a "Fluff". This is life in golfs' slow lane.

If you are a golf nut and have read "A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour" you will find that this book compliments it superbly. If you are not, this book will only help to confirm why those of us who are nuts, are.

A great read.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars living the dream 1 Sep 2006
By simon
Format:Paperback
i am not a golf fan and the closest i have ever got to the game,is the pitch and put at whitby,but never the less,i am a fan of lawrence donegans books.

all his books are about living the dream,from california,to ireland to being a caddy at a golf tournament.four iron in the soul,captures a moment in a mans life when,he actually pushes himself to something he always wanted to do,to partake in a pro golf tournament,sadly not as a golfer,but as the next best thing,a caddy.

even if you are not a golf fan,you can relate to moments in this book,as its a travelling life,interspersed with characters ,you can only meet in a life style like caddying.the books an eye opener,an emotional roller coaster of laughs and tantrums,its a book ,that once you pick up,you won,t put it down till you have read the last page.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A very entertaining read
This is both a book about the challenges of life as a caddy or professional golfer, and also about the challenges of life in general - and on both counts it excels. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jason
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story and insight into the Golf World
thought this book looked very intriguing - the world of golf through a caddies eyes - given that I've always wondered what it must be like, touring with some of the richest... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Steven Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring for golfers and non golfers... exploring and funny!!
This is a great golf book outlining the experiences of the author who (previously a member of the band The Bluebells and who had dreamed to play golf) became a caddy and had the... Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2010 by J K Forsyth
4.0 out of 5 stars four iron in the soul
excellant insight into golf on the european tour.just shows it is not all it is cracked up to be.donegan carries you along with much hilarity but also gets his point across,more... Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2010 by the jonah
4.0 out of 5 stars a must for golfers
All of us wannabe golfers.
this is a great insight into caddying on tour.
Funny serious and very well written,
Published on 11 Oct 2010 by A. Chegwidden
5.0 out of 5 stars The underside of professional golf!!
This book is for anyone daft enough to want to be a professional golf caddie - One read of this and they will run a mile!!! Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2010 by Chris L
5.0 out of 5 stars Just a brilliant read - even if you don't like golf
This is a highly underrated book. Although a golfer, I am by no means fanatic, but I love this book. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by Hele Park Golf Stanbury
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
A must for every golf lover. It is a very enjoyable and interesting account on the (not always) wonderful world of the European Tour, and on the relationship between the pro and... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by R. Alessandro
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Humorist
I don't play golf and I hardly ever watch it, but I picked up Lawrence Donegan's book because I have to write speeches for golfers every once in a while, and I was looking for... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2008 by William Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Title Better book
If you have ever wanted to get inside the mind of a tour caddy or professional read this book now. All aspiring professionals should be forced to read this book before committing... Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2002 by "djenkins3"
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