Who but P. G. Wodehouse could have extracted high comedy from the most noble and ancient game of golf? And who else could have combined this comedy with a real appreciation of the game, drawn from personal experience? Wodehouse's brilliant but human brand of humor is perfectly suited to these stories of love, rivalry, revenge, and fulfillment on the links.
While the Oldest Member sits in the clubhouse quoting Marcus Aurelius on patience and wisdom, outside on the green the fiercest human passions burn. All kinds of human life are here, from the cocky professional Sandy McHoots to the shy Ramsden Waters, whose only consolation is golf. And then, of course, there is the young, handsome Cuthbert Banks, who—plus four on the Wood Hills links—cannot seem to win the affections of the girl who has won his heart. Even golf haters will not be able to resist these ten stories that so perfectly blend physical farce with verbal wit and a gallery of unforgettable characters.
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"An avid golfer friend of mine passed this Wodehouse book on to me. Am not into golfing but I thought I'd give it a try. It's a collection of funny and witty stories (written in 1924)that deal with men and their love for women and golf. There's a lot of bumbling going on, cluelessness, rivalry, conspiring, much in the Wodehouse fashion. I'm sure a lot of golfing jokes went right past me though."
— Erma (4 out of 5 stars)
“Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale…He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.”
— Evelyn Waugh“The works of Wodehouse continue on their unique way, unmarked by the passage of time.”
— Kingsley Amis, author of Lucky Jim“[Wodehouse is] a brilliantly funny writer—perhaps the most consistently funny the English language has yet produced.”
— Times (London)" If you are a golfer it will tickle your funny bone! "
— Denise, 2/20/2014" Amusing short stories about the world of golf. Normally read one story after I've finished a book. Thoroughly enjoyable. "
— Charlotte, 2/18/2014" A collection of short stories about golf as related to young players by the Oldest Member -- very funny, biting satire leveled against the overly-avid golfer and yet ultimately sweet tales of life and relationships. First Wodehouse I've read, but there will be more. "
— Carolyn, 2/18/2014" I'm not a golfer, but these golfing stories are sublime. Written with the classic Wodehousian light tough, these stories manage to convey the passion golfers have for the game without taking it too seriously. Each of these little gems is a love story on the links, for the links, or by the links, and they should be read by golfers and non-golfers alike. "
— Nick, 2/15/2014" A fabulous book of golf stories that has made me fall in love with the game itself. And it reminded me of the long hours i spent playing golf in my Wii console! How much I must have irritated my sister as she waited for me to struggle through every hole in a dozen putts! The audio book was a bliss that made me forget the strain in the initial days of pedalling to work. Lovely. "
— Prasad, 2/11/2014" A collection of ten short golf stories. Wonderful and hilarious. "
— Christine, 2/2/2014" The funniest of the PG Wodehouse books I have read. So good I nearly took up golf! "
— Roderick, 2/2/2014" It's Wodehouse. That says it all. What I can say is that I've never played golf and I was laughing out loud over some of these scenarios. Again: Wodehouse. "
— Nicole, 2/2/2014" This book shows the genius of Wodehouse humor. "
— Chet, 2/1/2014" Before reading this collection of short golfing stories, I had no interest whatsoever in the game but, after finishing the book, I was seriously tempted to take up the sport! The last of the tales has to be my favourite. Fore! "
— James, 1/26/2014" the first couple of shorts were defiantly five star material, but the later stories became a bit redundant. still, makes me want to hit the links again. "
— jonathan, 1/22/2014" Great humorous golf stories told by the club's "Oldest Member." A must for golfers who take the game seriously, but not themselves. "
— Doc, 1/21/2014" The first four stories are so hillarious. "
— Rauf, 1/20/2014" I know it's Wodehouse but it's also about golf! What was I thinking? "
— Sana, 1/17/2014" I love Wodehouse and wasn't disappointed with this book. With every short story, I just pictured Bertie Wooster from the Jeeves and Wooster series as the main character. Pretty funny and clever. "
— Sadie, 1/16/2014" This book shows the genius of Wodehouse humor. "
— Chet, 1/15/2014" The funniest of the PG Wodehouse books I have read. So good I nearly took up golf! "
— Roderick, 1/14/2014" I liked it, even if the stories were centered on golf. "
— Laura, 12/29/2013" Hilarious is the exact expression to describe Wodehouse stories:) I had always thought of Golf as a not-so-exciting sport.. but this book turned my view upside down. Recommended Wodehouse pick if you are feeling so meh ! ;) "
— Vidya, 12/28/2013" Read on my iPhone. PGW really is funny. "
— Harry, 12/25/2013" This may have been my first Wodehouse. Certainly the first I ever saw on my dad's bookshelf. "
— Shankar, 12/17/2013" amazingly funny golf stories on wooster and jeeves. "
— Aditi, 12/16/2013" Most definitely would have been more enjoyable had I been even remotely interested in a good walk wasted. "
— William, 12/11/2013" fore! a must for golf lovers! "
— Kinnari, 12/4/2013" On the one hand, it's a book about golf, and golf from a completely different era. On the otherhand, it's Wodehouse and therefore always enjoyable. The story about the longest single hole of golf was awesome. "
— That70sheidi, 11/28/2013" On the one hand, it's a book about golf, and golf from a completely different era. On the otherhand, it's Wodehouse and therefore always enjoyable. The story about the longest single hole of golf was awesome. "
— That70sheidi, 11/27/2013" fore! a must for golf lovers! "
— Kinnari, 11/27/2013" In true Wodehousian style, ten lighthearted tales of courtship and golf. "
— Laurele, 11/2/2013" A little less fun than his other books because this was short stories all about golf. And I don't know that much about the sport. "
— Elena, 10/4/2013" This is a collection of golf stories. All of them make me want to play golf, and are extremely funny as well. I must say the last one was a little too idiotically silly for me- a faraway kingdom learns of golf and begins to worship it, in turn bringing prosperity to the country. "
— Andrew, 5/6/2013" Fun, verrry british short stories on golf. "
— Dennis, 5/4/2013" Wodehouse demonstrates his understanding of golf and its comic potential, particularly when his characters are the jolly young things whose amorous and other difficulties feature in the Oldest Member's ruminations. "
— Ian, 2/14/2013" Re-reading this over a rainy weekend, I was choking with laughter. No one matches P.G. Wodehouse. He is just the best. "
— Jane, 12/28/2012" I'm not a golfer, but I enjoyed these tales from Wodehouse. Most are "told" by the Oldest Member, usually to some poor guy who is disheartened by his golf game, although the last story is "historical." "
— Stephen, 11/17/2012" Fun, verrry british short stories on golf. "
— Dennis, 10/26/2012" You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this witty read. "
— Mad_Maudie, 8/23/2012" when is Wodehouse not 5 stars? even when it's about golf. his prose never gets tired. "
— scarlettraces, 8/2/2012" In true Wodehousian style, ten lighthearted tales of courtship and golf. "
— Laurele, 7/19/2012" Before reading this collection of short golfing stories, I had no interest whatsoever in the game but, after finishing the book, I was seriously tempted to take up the sport! The last of the tales has to be my favourite. Fore! "
— James, 7/15/2012" Hilarious is the exact expression to describe Wodehouse stories:) I had always thought of Golf as a not-so-exciting sport.. but this book turned my view upside down. Recommended Wodehouse pick if you are feeling so meh ! ;) "
— Vidya, 5/31/2012" This one didn't interest me a lot owing to the fact that it is aimed at the golfers as it's target audience. Lots of googling later, I got through. "
— Karishma, 5/31/2012" Most definitely would have been more enjoyable had I been even remotely interested in a good walk wasted. "
— William, 5/25/2012" This is a collection of a number of Wodehouse's golf stories and, as always, he is a delight and never a disappointment. This one was no exception. "
— Douglas, 3/9/2012" I liked it, even if the stories were centered on golf. "
— Laura, 3/5/2012" Contains two of my favorite comic short stories, "The Long Hole" and "The Coming of Gowf". You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this book as long as you understand the hold that the game can have on people. "
— David, 2/10/2012" when is Wodehouse not 5 stars? even when it's about golf. his prose never gets tired. "
— scarlettraces, 12/16/2011" It is hard to find anything wrong with anything by P.G. Listened to the audio of this book and loved it. "
— Christa, 12/11/2011" A collection of ten short golf stories. Wonderful and hilarious. "
— Christine, 11/25/2011" one of the best Wodehouse stories ever ever!! "
— Vineet, 10/12/2011" On the one hand, it's a book about golf, and golf from a completely different era. On the otherhand, it's Wodehouse and therefore always enjoyable. The story about the longest single hole of golf was awesome. "
— That70sheidi, 10/3/2011" Ah. I know nothing about golf, but these stories were so great. "
— Liz, 7/14/2011" This may have been my first Wodehouse. Certainly the first I ever saw on my dad's bookshelf. "
— Shankar, 3/1/2011" This may have been my first Wodehouse. Certainly the first I ever saw on my dad's bookshelf. "
— Shankar, 3/1/2011" You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this witty read. "
— Lesa, 11/22/2010" You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this witty read. "
— Lesa, 11/22/2010" the first couple of shorts were defiantly five star material, but the later stories became a bit redundant. still, makes me want to hit the links again. "
— jonathan, 8/16/2010" the first couple of shorts were defiantly five star material, but the later stories became a bit redundant. still, makes me want to hit the links again. "
— jonathan, 8/16/2010" Most definitely would have been more enjoyable had I been even remotely interested in a good walk wasted. "
— William, 8/11/2010" Most definitely would have been more enjoyable had I been even remotely interested in a good walk wasted. "
— William, 8/11/2010" I know it's Wodehouse but it's also about golf! What was I thinking? "
— Sana, 8/2/2010" I know it's Wodehouse but it's also about golf! What was I thinking? "
— Sana, 8/2/2010" A little less fun than his other books because this was short stories all about golf. And I don't know that much about the sport. "
— Elena, 6/16/2010" A little less fun than his other books because this was short stories all about golf. And I don't know that much about the sport. "
— Elena, 6/16/2010" In true Wodehousian style, ten lighthearted tales of courtship and golf. "
— Laurele, 2/23/2010" In true Wodehousian style, ten lighthearted tales of courtship and golf. "
— Laurele, 2/23/2010" This is a collection of a number of Wodehouse's golf stories and, as always, he is a delight and never a disappointment. This one was no exception. "
— Douglas, 12/31/2009" This is a collection of a number of Wodehouse's golf stories and, as always, he is a delight and never a disappointment. This one was no exception. "
— Douglas, 12/31/2009" The first four stories are so hillarious. "
— Rauf, 6/13/2009" Read on my iPhone. PGW really is funny. "
— Harry, 2/15/2009Jonathan Cecil (1939–2011) was a vastly experienced actor, appearing at Shakespeare’s Globe as well as in such West End productions as The Importance of Being Earnest, The Seagull, and The Bed before Yesterday. He toured in The Incomparable Max, Twelfth Night, and An Ideal Husband, while among his considerable television and film appearances were The Rector’s Wife, Just William, Murder Most Horrid, and As You Like It.
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.