Customer Reviews

Speak Wright: A Literate Guide to the Game of Golf

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This volume, while short on length, certainly add to the competent golfer's library. True, the nature of the theme does not lend itself to a multi-volume task, yet the scribe preserves in print the spoken language of the game, to the benefit of golfers everywhere. Ben Wright, educated Englishman, draws our attention to many of the gems that graced our television viewing experiences when Wright was a commentator for CBS Sports golfing telecasts. His witticisms come from across the great ocean, in typical European style: a good story, waiting to be told. Mr. Wright queries in the introductory pages to his tome at to whether "major network golf announcers necessarily have to be cliched shills for the PGA tour," and surmises that "Perhaps educated writers might be better qualified for the job ..." It is his love for language, so common among those that mature intellectually on a polyglot continent (North America counts three major languages, which intersect with infrequency, so we don't count!), that supports his campaign for recognition of the centuries of wonderful slang and jargon that permeate tees, fairways, rough (especially rough!) and greens around the world. We owe a debt to Wright for penning his introduction, and are bound to read it, to come to know his motivation. As with SAT preparation, the expressions in this volume are best learned one at a time. True it is that a decidedly British expression of the ilk of "After the Lord Mayor's show" might be difficult at best to integrate into your foursome's idiolect; don't let this deter you from the attempt. We can all use a bit more varied culture, especially on the golf course, where four-letter words discolor the air. Wright supplies us with enough ammunition to forever ink in glorious shades every corner of the playing grounds of the sport, and every footpath and stopping ground where the sport is discussed.

not what I expected, and not close to the "'can't put this down" level of Good Bounces. Sorry Ben, you disappounted me.