Bob Sheppard's brilliant debut volume of short stories and essays highlights some of the peaks and valleys in golf's history, with a frank look at the fact that the game and the courses are changing, sometimes for the worse. The author shares historical information in a most entertaining way and has a gift for unearthing gems of golf lore and personalities which can be both moving and nostalgic.Sheppard's love for the game, its history, its traditions, and its future shine through on every page. Readers will feel the author's emotional bond with the game of golf as well as his concerns about changes to the game, and surely many will relate to the ideas and opinions expressed. The writing is smooth, and with a good eye for descriptive detail, particularly in the introductory story "Golf and Whisky" where he explores a world in which dreams, memory, and chance often collide to produce amusing consequences for those involved.