Customer Reviews

Two Years in St. Andrews: At Home on the 18th Hole

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've taken two trips to St. Andrews and can definitely relate to George's Peper's outstanding take on the place. I treasured every sentence of these 299 pages. He's really nailed the spirit of St. Andrews, both the setting and its people. I'm not a mad, keen golfer, and my wife - like Peper's - is disinterested in the sport itself. But - like me - she loves the atmosphere of the place. One of the greatest things in the world is to sit on the steps in front of the 18th green and watch group and group tumble home with big, goofy grins on their faces. It's a fabulous way to spend an early evening.

Peper's character really shows through here. When you read his bio on the backflap, it's only then that you get a sense of the depth of his accomplishments in golf and journalism. The book taken at face value gives you the impression that he sort of tumbled into some of these accomplishments (hello, R&A Competition Committee!) by being at the right place at the right time. While I'm sure luck played a small part, there's also the matter of talent and hard work. First, the guy can flat-out write. He's funny, engaging and perceptive. Second, the guy works hard. At one point, he lets on regarding the assignments he's juggling. He's definitely not slacking over there!

The two other characters worth mentioning:

- Mr. Peper's neighbor Gordon Murray. There's that expression "it's not what you know, it's who you know"...Gordon seems the living embodiment of that and of what Pepard calls "Gordon's three degrees of separation" (none of that six degrees stuff applies here).

- Millie Peper. This Westie charmer is surely the cutest thing on four legs to hit the Old Course in some time.

George Peper had a wonderful experience in St. Andrews and, thanks to his low-key, affectionate book about the town and its people, we have one, too. He captures all things good about St. Andrews and Scotland - the friendliness and decency of the people, the feel of the air, the light on the hills and sea, the feeling of standing at the first tee of the Old Course, and the uncanny sense of being exactly where you want to be.

An experienced wordsmith, Peper memoirs his decision to spend two years in their invested real estate lining the sacred 18th at golf's home.

Reminiscent of Rubenstein's excellent book: A Season at Dornoch, former editor of Golf magazine Peper and his wife venture to live in their St. Andrews adventure home.

There is just one great memory after another recalled enjoyably and in adventerous fashion by this pro writer and avid golfer and full of life fellow who exhibits humility while brushing lifes and rounds of golf and drinks with golf elite and St. Andrews citizens.

The differences in culture and golfing are explored, with the Scottish life clearly providing what Peper terms: "a life mulligan." A more purer, innocent, slower, less marketed way of life.

The golf stories are worth the read, especially humorous tale of the H.W. Wind nameplate.

This has to be one of the "Gems" of Golf Travel books.

From start of finish I found this book well written, humorous, sophisticated and wonderfully self-effacing. I would like to meet George Peper; I'm sure we would get along very well. Maybe a game on the Old Course would do the trick.

This is a fabulously entertaining tale of George and his wife's move to St. Andrews from an important position in the U.S.A., namely editor of Golf Digest. The story begins with the acquisition of an apartment overlooking the hallowed turf of the 18th Green of the Old Course at St.Andrews, the home of Golf.

George has the extremely good fortune of being a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and sets about using this privilege to good effect. Not only does he become a popular and successful member, he also achieves a long held ambition; playing a round on the Old Course in Par.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have been inspired by his "two years of golf" and long to follow his example by playing the Old Course, at least once.

His fondness for the people of St. Andrews and Scotland in general comes through with a warmth and genuinely felt emotion.

I can not imagine anyone finding this book disappointing. To me it has been a wonderful windfall.

George Peper has written just a 'handful' of books on the topic of golf, links golf in Scotland and St. Andrews. His writing style is imminently readable and highly entertaining.

This book carries a lot of inside information on the happenings with George's purchase of real estate in St. Andrews and the inner workings of all things golf in the area. Really funny stuff - his descriptions of buying his property, leasing his property to university students and eventually renovating the entire flat. Great stories on his involvement with the R&A and his growing involvement (much to his shock) with them...

The book would have been well served to have left out the commentary about the politics in the US during the timing of the book - but it might be that George (and his wife) and I are probably on different sides of the political spectrum...

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for further information on the golfing life inside Scotland. If you want even more information from Mr. P - go to Amazon and search by his last name - he's got just a few other books about golfing...

Also read A Golfer's Education and / or Playing Through

Peper allows you to understand the social fabric of the town, from the perspective of a transplant, to really understand and enjoy the experience.

George Peper has captured, for all of us stateside hackers, the essence of what golf retirement dreams are made...living on the Old Course at St. Andrews and being enfolded into the Scottish golfing community. This book is a delightful read that I have passed around my golfing group with unanimous praise, and envy. With a lifetime of connections from his days as editor of GOLF DIGEST, Peper takes you from the inner sanctum of the R&A, hob nobbing with the guardians of the game, to the rowdy clubhouses and pubs with his many colorful golfing groups, squaring their bets over more than a few pints. The author's gift is his ability to recount all these experiences with a wonderful humor and evenhandedness, even at his own expense. Many golf readers may long for a Shavius Irons experience in life, but, in retirement, I want to move into Peper's neighborhood.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It is well written and offers many insights into the world of golf.... which can be both good and bad. As for his writing style, humor, and penchant for witty observations, I give Mr. Peper 5 stars. However, by the end of the book I was annoyed by the author's thinly veiled anti-American tone. Given the opportunity our nation has afforded him (what golfer would not want to live overlooking The Old Course?), it was disappointing to read his dismissal of American life and of a polarized American society. Ironic, since Mr. Peper does offer us some background about why the Scots are polarized by golfing clubs, land-use issues, aristocracy, and their English counterparts. Perhaps he misses golf's biggest lesson: that mankind's nature is immutable and inevitable no matter which course we play. Otherwise, it is a fine book.

Someday before I turn 50 (I just turned 40), I plan to visit Scotland and St. Andrew's. But I already feel as if I have been there once after reading Mr. Peper's book.

Mr. Peper really captures the spirit of the town. It's so much different from the hustle and bustle of American life and the digital age in general. He breaks the book into small mostly unrelated "chapters" which highlight part of the town, the course, family, etc.

Thanks, George! Your book was an enjoyable read cover-to-cover.

George Peper is no Herbert Warren Wind, but his book is an enjoyable read for those who have spent time in St Andrews.