The Edict: A Novel from the Beginnings of Golf [Hardcover]

Bob Cupp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2007

In this colorful tale set in 1457—the year the Scottish Parliament banned golf (in the first recorded reference to the game)—renowned golf architect Bob Cupp brings to life the origins of a pastime that has transfixed us for centuries.

In the Middle Ages, St. Andrews was famous for its cathedral, its university, and for the game developed out in the linkslands by bored shepherds using balls and clubs. One of these, Caeril Patersone, is sufficiently skilled to compete for the title of champion, but in this quest he must contend with not only his competition but also a conniving financier in league with a sordid nobleman, not to mention the ravishing girl they have enlisted to further their interests. The Edict is rich in history about both golf and the community that defined the sport-a delight for anyone ever touched by the magic of the game.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Renowned "golf architect" Cupp's love of the game, plus loads of hooks, slices, mulligans and flying divots give his debut a charming and suspenseful flair. In 15th- century Scotland, golf is popular among commoners and noblemen alike, but no one swings a club better than young shepherd Caeril Patersone. Caeril and his best friend and clubman (caddie) Micael Carrick are favored to win the annual championship tournament at St. Andrews. But a devious nobleman who has made a bad wager and his crooked moneylender set out to orchestrate an upset by enlisting Eta, the beautiful daughter of a debt-ridden family, to distract Caeril during the match. If that scheme fails, they also have a more ruthless and final solution to their problem. Caeril, Micael and Eta must act fast to save their lives, but the nobleman has one more trick to protect his wager: he must convince the king to ban golf, thus canceling the tournament before it concludes. (This true but short-lived event occurred March 4, 1457.) How the Scottish golfers prevail adds much to this lively and colorful tale of playing golf with someone who refuses to lose. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Cupp may be the only practicing golf-course architect to write fiction, and if his championship courses are more significant accomplishments in their milieu than his first novel is in its, that's not to say that this spirited imagining of golf's earliest days isn't without merit. Golf history has become a surprisingly marketable topic lately (see Tommy's Honor, p.16), but Cupp goes beyond history to prehistory. Set in mid-fifteenth-century Scotland, when shepherds were the most accomplished golfers in the land, the novel posits a believable, intrigue-filled scenario for how golf came to be banned by James II in 1457. The hero of the tale, Caeril Paterstone, a young shepherd with his eyes on the title Champion Golfer, must compete against a group of established stars whose games bear striking resemblances to Palmer, Nicklaus, et al. Cupp turns out to be a solid plotter, both on the course and off. His historical imaginings ring as true as the depictions of well-played bunker shots, and even his romantic subplot hits the mark. Quirky and fun. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1 Reprint edition (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307266451
• ISBN-13: 978-0307266453
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,616,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful sports historical thriller, May 16, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Edict: A Novel from the Beginnings of Golf (Hardcover)

In the fifteenth century, golf has become the national pastime of Scotland with only raiding matching it with intensity. So popular is the sport, raiding is halted during the annual tournament at St. Andrews while betting on the players is hot.

The favorite to win the St. Andrews tourney in 1457 is shepherd Caeril Patersone. However, a noble panics when he realizes he made a stupid bet. To insure that Caeril fails to win the event, he writes off a debt in exchange for beautiful Eta to distract the favorite. If that fails, he still has his ace in the hole of appealing to King James II to ban the sport and consequently the tournament because he has proof too many soldiers hit the links instead of the archery range.

THE EDICT is a delightful sports historical thriller based on a real event that occurred in Scotland when the King outlawed golf on March 4, 1457. Readers will root for Caeril, who in spite of being the best golfer in the tournament, is a decided underdog because the fix is in. Historical readers and golf aficionados will believe that Bob Cupp is a masterful author as he makes birdies and eagles with this ace of a fifteenth century sports saga.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such an interesting read, July 30, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edict: A Novel from the Beginnings of Golf (Vintage) (Paperback)

The word `golf' first appeared in a 1457 Scottish Edict banning the Scots from playing in order to turn their focus to archery and defend their realm from the English. And so The Edict is a fanciful tale by Bob Cupp about how such a law could have found its way out of the parliament.

In the community of Fife a structure was built to honor St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, brother to Peter and an apostle to Jesus. This would become the ecclesiastic cornerstone to pilgrims and golf tournaments, increasing the community population exponentially. It is in this backdrop that Cupp writes about a famed tournament that caused the King to outlaw golf on March 6, 1457.

The Edict is the story about a shepherd with a natural talent, who could win the event and be the next celebrated hero of the games. However there are two evil ruffians who go out of their way to cause him to fall short of his dream. A nobleman with a major betting problem realizes he has seriously placed himself in jeopardy by making an ill-advised bet, and an evil lender who plays innocent people against each other, creating a community of distrust, who use skullduggery to prevent the dark horse from winning.

In a Foreword written by Jack Nicklaus, he describes Bob Cupp as one of the most talented golf course designers who has the ability to turn red clay into brilliant fairways. In addition to his vivid imagination, Bob has a healthy sense of humor and the gift of gab. Hence, Jack believes The Edict is important to golf in that it brings to life the possibilities of golf's rudiment beginnings.

Whether you are a casual or serious golfer, The Edict will inspire greater passion and a reverence for the game. I don't believe any reader can honestly read this book and not want to pick up a set a clubs. As a casual golfer that is exactly what I did and I felt a new understanding for the nuances of golf. Thanks Bob!

Armchair Interviews says: You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Spin or Yarn on Golf's Scottish Origins, June 24, 2008

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Edict: A Novel from the Beginnings of Golf (Vintage) (Paperback)

What a marvelous read Cupp has given us! From his prose (whom he graciously acknowledges he had help with) to his research into Scotland and the line drawings, the total product is to be fully inhaled, exhaled, re-inhaled and given away as presents. This book is soooo good!

The romp through history and shepherds boredom to the course designer and the final edict is truly captivating and delightful reading. Golfers will adore it, and even the non-golfer would likely enjoy this read through time.

Aficionados will find the likes of Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus in here as well as USGA, etc.

By all means, buy this book and read it. Anybody else wonder if this could be made into movie?