Missing Links

Raymond "Stick" Hart works as a groundskeeper at an exclusive country club in Massachusetts, dreaming of becoming a professional golfer while dealing with class discrimination. He and his fellow working-class friends from the municipal course face constant reminders of their outsider status among the wealthy elite golfers. A high-stakes tournament presents an opportunity for Stick to prove himself and potentially change his circumstances. The competition forces him to confront both external obstacles and his own self-doubts as he navigates between two distinct social worlds. The narrative follows Stick's journey through qualifying rounds and matches, incorporating golf strategy and technique while examining the relationships between players, caddies, and club members. His experiences reveal the unwritten rules and social dynamics that govern both public and private golf courses. The book explores themes of social class, ambition, and authenticity in American society through the lens of golf culture. Reilly uses the sport's traditions and protocols to examine broader questions about belonging and self-worth.

Readers call this a laugh-out-loud golf comedy that doesn't require deep golf knowledge to enjoy. Many note they found themselves reading passages aloud to others due to the humor. Readers liked: - The quick-paced dialogue and one-liners - Authentic portrayal of municipal golf course culture - Memorable supporting characters - Mix of humor and heart in the story Common criticisms: - Some found the plot predictable - A few readers felt the ending was rushed - Occasional crude humor that didn't land for everyone Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) From reader reviews: "I've read this book 3 times and laugh just as hard each time" - Amazon "The characters feel like people you'd meet at any public course" - Goodreads "Perfect beach read for golfers and non-golfers alike" - LibraryThing

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🏌️ Author Rick Reilly spent time as a caddie to research the book's authentic golf culture details, carrying bags at several public courses in Massachusetts. 🎯 The book's fictional Ponkaquogue Municipal Golf Links & Deli (aka "Ponky") was inspired by real public golf courses in Boston's working-class neighborhoods. 📚 Missing Links was Reilly's first novel, published in 1996, though he was already well-known as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated magazine. 🏆 The novel was optioned for a film adaptation by actor/producer Michael Douglas, though the movie was never made. 🌟 Many of the colorful betting games described in the book, like "Ship, Captain, and Crew" and "Honest John," are actual gambling games played by golfers at municipal courses across America.