A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole: A History of the St. Andrews Caddie (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Golfers generally seek wisdom, instruction, inspiration, and sympathy from their reading on the game. A Wee Nip tees up something else: charm. A thoroughly delightful and spirited romp through the subculture of St. Andrews's caddies, it fondly chronicles how toting bags at the game's hallowed birthplace grew from the province of scoundrels--some of whom literally fell down drunk on the job--to a corps of thoroughly knowledgeable professionals. Written with flair and obvious affection by the links' current caddie manager, Richard Mackenzie, A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole is both a history and reminiscence, and, despite its wealth of photos and lore, it is a volume easily light enough to shoulder on your own.

Product Description

A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole celebrates one of the most intriguing, entertaining, and time-honored traditions in golf--the St. Andrews caddie. For over two hundred years, caddies have been walking the most famous piece of golfing land in the world, advising players of vastly different abilities, not only on the club to take, but also on the type of shot required. Richard Mackenzie, Caddie Manager at the historic Old Course and a former caddie himself, brings to life some of the most legendary and colorful characters ever to walk the links in this highly readable and enjoyable book. Filled with vintage photographs and documents, A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole traces the great contribution caddies made to the game and features profiles of characters like Old Tom Morris, who has since assumed a prominent place in golf history. In fact, it was Old Tom himself who in 1864 elevated the expectations of the caddies, insisting that they "appear for work clean, and moderately sober." Old Tom was routinely disappointed, however, by a band of ragamuffins with names like "Stumpie Eye," "Trap Door," and "Boosy Chas." Reading Richard Mackenzie's tribute to the St. Andrews caddie is a little like pulling up a stool at the 19th hole and sharing a pint with these and other famous and infamous characters. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 134 pages
• Publisher: Gale Cengage; 11th printing edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553108247
• ISBN-13: 978-1886947382
• ASIN: 1886947384
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,105,692 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing and difficult read!, August 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Wee Nip at the 19th Hole (Hardcover)

I found this book to be a disappointingly sparse and sometimes unintelligible history of St. Andrews and its caddies. The author unfortunately presumes that the reader is intimately familiar with both the golf course layout and the native language of it's caddies. Consequently there are no helpful maps or diagrams included and frequent referral to the glossary is an awkward but necessary expedient to reach a degree of understanding. Sadly under this burden the folksy stories lost their charm. To maximize your pleasure, I recommend that you keep a " wee nip" at your side during the reading of this very short work.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars boring, unfocused, poorly written, March 3, 1998

By A Customer

don't expect much entertainment or insight from this book. how much lore of dead caddies from the 19th century can you stand?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DELIGHTFUL BOOK ABOUT THE CAWDIES OF ST ANDREWS, January 24, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Bellevue,WA) - See all my reviews

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book about the caddies ofSt. Andrews Royal & Ancient Golf Club. The pictures and storiesbring back memories of my visits to St. Andrews and playing the course with a caddie, of course. Thank you my dear friend Richard for pursuing your dream & putting this book in print. Well done! Until we meet again - Lang may your lum reek.