Divots

In Short

This collection of linked short stories explores the whimsical and often turbulent lives of golfers at the Squashy Hollow Golf Club. Through the eyes of an "Oldest Member" who acts as a philosophical mentor, the book details the romantic entanglements and athletic frustrations of men and women who view the golf course as the ultimate theater of character. It has lasted because it marries technical golfing obsession with the classic comedic tropes of the English upper-middle class, creating a world where a missed putt is as grave as a broken heart.

The Story

The narrative arc is less a single progression than a series of intertwined dramas held together by the watchful, slightly pompous, and entirely devoted Oldest Member. We are introduced to the game’s gravity through the defense of its intellectual legitimacy, before moving into the specific plight of Ferdinand, a young man whose sudden and aggressive improvement at golf makes him a pariah among his peers. The older, less talented members of the club conspire to bring him down by introducing a rival, only for Ferdinand to find true, lasting happiness in marriage to Barbara, who promises to keep him humble by intentionally vexing him on the course.

The focus shifts to other members of the club, such as the wealthy and perpetually anxious Bradbury Fisher, whose desire to appear scientific in his play leads to ruin until he embraces his true nature as a "biffer and swatter." We follow William Bates, a man who relies on the Oldest Member’s questionable romantic advice to propose to the long-suffering Jane Packard, and Wallace Chesney, whose brief, transformative obsession with wearing Plus Fours leads him to believe he has discovered the secret to golf—only to find that true joy lies in the "chanciness" of the game.

Throughout these vignettes, the central tension is between the obsessive desire for technical perfection and the unpredictable reality of human fallibility. The stories often revolve around "The Wrecking Crew," a group of aging, unskilled golfers whose presence serves as a constant reminder of the game's difficulty. As the book winds toward its conclusion, the lives of these characters intersect in unexpected ways—through chance meetings in town, surprise engagements, and the occasional intervention of a misunderstood butler. The ending finds the various lovers and rivals settled into a comfortable, if slightly competitive, domesticity. The final scenes resolve the romantic misunderstandings—often involving past flames or literary misunderstandings—leaving the characters in a state of stable, if perpetually golfing, bliss. The Oldest Member finishes his recounting by offering to start the entire cycle of stories over again, reinforcing the idea that on the links, there is always one more tale to tell.

How It Unfolds

The defense of the game The narrator establishes the intellectual weight of golf by citing historical figures, from Shakespeare to Chaucer, to justify his focus on the sport. He mocks critics who lack the technical knowledge to judge his stories properly, setting a tone of playful elitism.

The rise of the confident player Ferdinand Dibble becomes insufferably good at golf, alienating his peers and leading them to plot his downfall. His journey concludes not with a defeat on the course, but with a romantic union that promises to regulate his ego through domestic annoyance.

The struggle for scientific mastery Bradbury Fisher attempts to play with rigid, textbook technique, only to realize he must abandon science for his natural, violent instinct for "biffing." This realization allows him to overcome his rivals and find peace within his own erratic style.

The romantic intervention William Bates and Jane Packard navigate their courtship under the guidance of the Oldest Member, who suggests that romantic proposals are best conducted in sand bunkers. Their relationship survives various misunderstandings and the reappearance of a past love interest, Rodney Spelvin.

The cycle of the game The final stories highlight the perpetual nature of the golfers' obsessions, where even the most "perfect" matches are subject to the whims of the course. The Oldest Member concludes his session, ready to begin the entire process anew for any listener who has lost track of the narrative.

The People

The Oldest Member is the intellectual anchor and narrator; he is deeply opinionated, slightly pompous, and profoundly invested in the moral and athletic development of his fellow club members. Ferdinand Dibble begins as a man whose sudden skill breeds arrogance, but his marriage to Barbara balances his character, as she understands that his happiness—and his golf game—requires a degree of domestic frustration. Bradbury Fisher represents the archetype of the man who tries too hard to be "scientific," eventually finding liberation in his own lack of grace. William Bates and Jane Packard are the central romantic couple whose relationship is defined by their shared, often strained, devotion to the game; they learn that mutual forgiveness is as necessary as a smooth back-swing. Rodney Spelvin provides a foil as the charming, somewhat flighty writer who serves as a catalyst for romantic jealousy, though he eventually finds his own stability.

In Its Own Voice

“In the first place, I noticed with regret a disposition on the part of certain writers to speak of Golf as a trivial theme, unworthy of the pen of a thinker.”

The narrator begins his defense of the sport, asserting that even the "mightiest brains" have found it a worthy subject.

“He had developed a habit of holding the game up in order to give his opponent advice.”

This behavior is what leads Ferdinand’s fellow club members to plot against him, proving that expertise without humility is a dangerous thing on the course.

“It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive, and at last this great truth had come home to Wallace Chesney.”

The narrator reflects on Wallace’s realization that the joy of golf lies in its uncertainty rather than in the mechanical perfection of a pro.

What It's Really About

This book is fundamentally an argument for the character-building power of frustration. It suggests that golf acts as a mirror for human nature; the way a person approaches a bunker or a difficult putt reveals their capacity for patience, honesty, and love. There is a recurring question regarding whether technical mastery brings true satisfaction, or if the "chanciness" of the sport is actually the source of its soul. Beneath the humor, it is an exploration of how people manage their own limitations—whether in their swing, their romantic life, or their interactions with their mothers-in-law—and the realization that a perfect game might actually be less interesting than one played with passion and imperfection.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy dry, observant British wit and the specific, rhythmic language of the early 20th century will find much to admire here. The book is essentially a comedy of manners set on a nine-hole course, and it captures the peculiar, all-consuming mindset of hobbyists with precision. It is best read in small doses, as the repetitive nature of the stories—each centered on similar themes of golf and romance—is part of the charm.

However, readers should be aware that the book carries the period-specific attitudes of its time, particularly regarding class, gender roles, and the "eccentricity" of the English upper class. The language is formal and sometimes dense with golf jargon, which may require a bit of patience for those who do not know a "mashie" from a "niblick." Nevertheless, the warmth of the narrator and the absurdity of the situations stay with you. It is a lighthearted look at the human tendency to take our own pastimes far too seriously. You will walk away with a sense of the game as a lifelong pursuit, filled with both "nasty spirits" and moments of unexpected grace, and a lingering appreciation for the narrator’s conviction that, no matter how bad your round is, there is always a story to be told about it.