The Doonbeg Ghosts

Many a writer/historian, in golf or any other field, must at some point enter a state of reverie, where every scintilla of information experienced, read, gleaned or deduced seems to swirl through the mind in a cerebral spin-cycle somewhere between the present and times past. The protagonists of such a story, or those who witnessed their deeds, have left behind snippets, clues and breadcrumbs from which this Golf Nut has pieced together the knowledge necessary to portray, with some degree of accuracy, how they might have responded to particular questions or scenarios.

Ivan Morris has drawn upon his vast reservoir of knowledge on the exponents, philosophers and architects of the game to create, or perhaps recreate, a golfing conversation that might have unfolded had certain events taken place during an imaginary round of golf at the world-renowned Doonbeg Golf Links. The narrative is aided by the ability to instantly transport the protagonists to other locations (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and United States).

As the setting is Doonbeg the ghostly protagonists are somewhat expected Dr. Alister MacKenzie,  Sir Alex Shaw, Old Tom Morris (no relation) and Tail-Gunner are not unexpected but ‘Mac’s’ lesser-known side-kick, Jack Fleming is a welcome edition. Arnold Haultain, the author of The Mystery of Golf, appears out of left-field although one of the early thinkers on the game who trawls depths that are best left unchartered by the casual golfer. The early part focuses on Bobby Jones one of the truly great exponents of the game who was happy to impart his wisdom.

Despite the dream-like nature of the plot the content contains important historical information that has been distilled in a way that is more palatable for a reader to retain and envisage more so than an pure historical disseminated of the same content. It throws in golfing legends (Nicklaus, Player, Thompson, Els, Clarke) the author likely met during his life while there are references to other golfing characters like John Burke, Rhona Adair, Gene Sarazen, Chick Evans, O.B. Keeler, Grantland Rice, Jack Mulcahy, Alex Russell, George Houghton all seemed to fit into the narrative while lightly carrying nuggets of information which would otherwise get lost in time unless the author doffs his hat to their efforts.