Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
29 used & new from £0.01
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book

Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast (Paperback)

by Curtis Gillespie (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Price: £7.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 14? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
7 new from £1.20 22 used from £0.01
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 10 used & new from £2.23
Paperback (Reprint) 12 used & new from £7.37

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport) by Sean Connery

Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast + A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport)
Price For Both: £13.98

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

To the Linksland: A Golfing Adventure

To the Linksland: A Golfing Adventure

by Michael Bamberger
5.0 out of 5 stars (2) 
A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport)

A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport)

by Sean Connery
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £5.99
Four Iron in the Soul

Four Iron in the Soul

by Lawrence Donegan
4.8 out of 5 stars (16)  £5.99
Bring Me the Head of Sergio Garcia

Bring Me the Head of Sergio Garcia

by Tom Cox
4.7 out of 5 stars (18)  £6.99
The English Golf Coast

The English Golf Coast

by Philip Dowell
£12.59
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Scribner; New edition edition (16 Jun 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0743209265
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743209267
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 374,359 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description
A beautifully written and evocative memoir about family, fatherhood and four-irons. 'There is no quainter or more romantic spot than Gullane,' wrote the Reverend John Kerr is his titanic 1896 work The Golf Book Of East Lothian. A small town of a few thousand people a dozen miles east of Edinburgh, Gullane was a place of such unmatched physical beauty and peace -- not to mention the home of both Gullane Golf Club and Muirfield -- that Curtis Gillespie vowed to return after spending time there as a student. His memoir of the year he spent in Gullane with his family, Playing Through provides the reader with the rarest of experiences: a story rich with comedy, emotional truths and stunning evocations of a unique landscape. Written with warmth and elegance, Playing Through transcends the boundaries of writing on travel and sport to show us the world contained in a village, a place filled to overflowing with life, character, memory and laughter. This is the story of one family's journey, but it is also a story about the things we all share.

From the Back Cover
'This book by the well-respected author, Curtis Gillespie, offers an interesting and unique mix of golf and autobiography amid the game’s hallowed settings in Scotland -– the experiences of a golfing historian turned writer. The descriptions tickled fond memories for me.'
ARNOLD PALMER

'Curtis Gillespie is a beautiful writer, with an exquisite touch reminiscent of John Updike. He can describe the ephemera of the natural world and the fragility of human relationships with the same sure hand. PLAYING THROUGH is a book about golf, history, friendship and the love of family; it is compelling and evocative and memorable in the very best sense.'
ALISTAIR MACLEOD, author of NO GREAT MISCHIEF

'PLAYING THROUGH is one of those special books that comes along only about as often as your favourite links course appears on the Open Rota –- an elegiac tribute to life’s most wonderful and complex game and the enduring bonds it creates, a beautifully rendered meditation on what it means to be a good son, a loving father, and a lasting friend of the game. If I could recommend but one book this year, this would be it.'
JAMES DODSON, author of FINAL ROUNDS --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
(2)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast
50% buy the item featured on this page:
Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast 3.0 out of 5 stars (4)
£7.99
To the Linksland: A Golfing Adventure
20% buy
To the Linksland: A Golfing Adventure 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport)
14% buy
A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream sport) 4.7 out of 5 stars (3)
£5.99
Missing Links
9% buy
Missing Links 4.5 out of 5 stars (25)
£9.13
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey Through the Rough of Life, 12 Oct 2002
This review is from: Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast (Hardcover)
This is not just book about golf more about the triumphs and disasters of the journey from boyhood to manhood.

The author starts his journey in St Andrews where he is studying for an MA. I suspect that he did most of his studying on the golf course and in the bars of St Andrews though as he is soon asked to leave.

Later having married, had children, and lost his favourite golfing partner his father, he returns to Scotland to spend a year writing and playing golf. The friends that he makes along the way, especially the mercurial Jack, all facinate in their own way.

Anyone who has a true golfing soul and appreciates the view from the 7th at Gullane 1 will enjoy this, if you are after an instruction book on golf, forget it.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterclass of biographical writing, 5 Dec 2002
This review is from: Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast (Hardcover)
Day 3 of the open championship 2002 and the rain begins to pour. I ran for shelter whilst the more hardy sole continued to line the fairways. Had I not run for shelter I would have never known about this book. Thank-you rain (for a change).

I'm usually more of a science fiction fan, and came to this book 5 times before I gave in and bought it. I thought it would end up being nothing but a souvenir of my visit to Gullane, but it turned out to be much more.

The book looks at the life of Curtis and those around him, whilst giving an in depth insite in to golf in East Lothian.
So whether your a biography fan, golf fan, a historian of any description, or just a lover of a good story, this could appeal to you. I find myself unable to put the book down when I start to read, and already I want to know more about golf in East Lothian and Curtis Gillespie.

In simple terms this really is a masterclass of biographical writing.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Fast Forward Playing Through, 8 Dec 2002
By Stuart Hall (Paisley, Renfrewshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Playing Through: A Year of Life and Links Along the Scottish Coast (Hardcover)
Presumably this book was written to appeal to golfers rather than as purely for Scottish local interest. There is a shortage of well written and genuinely interesting golf books around and I bought this book as it had a great cover and offered echos in it's content of James Dodson's excellent "Final Rounds", which combines an interesting journey around the courses of Britain with a very emotional account of his final times with his father. "Playing Through" is basically a variation of this theme, but intertwines the author's time living in Gullane, with stories about his father who he clearly loves and worships. The problem is it's just not very interesting and despite one chuckle to myself part of the way through, isn't funny either. It's overly sentimental and lacks charm. When I reached the middle of the book, it seemed to repeat itself, until I realised that the book had been wrongly bound and about 30 pages were duplicated by mistake. Rather than return the book in disappointment, I was actually delighted to be 30 pages closer to finishing this boring book! Sorry, but this book was just a poor attempt - read "Final Rounds" instead.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Playing Through - Autobiography of an unknown Canadian
Were I to be sitting in a pub, being plied with drinks by the author, whilst listening to his ramblings, then I might, just, believe that I was having a good time. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2004 by Mr W N Ramsbottom

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

›Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

  

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

›Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (75)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (464)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (165)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (81)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates