Search - Billy Boy: A Novel

Billy is a 16 year old who's come to Forth Worth with his dad after the death of his mother.

His dad's a gambler, and a golfer, and a cowboy and a ladies-man also he's ex GI and the Korean war is going strong. But this is Texas and its summer and Billy has hopes of becoming a caddy at the prestiguous Colonial Coutry club and possibly meeting Ben Hogan local legend in residence.

When Billy's dad loses all their money gambling then re-enlists in the service leaving Billy at the local YMCA fending for himself, this book portends to be bleak but this was a simpler time, when presidents still had time to play golf and times were good. Billy concentrates on the positive and there's plenty of that. Particularly the attractive grand daughter of one of the clubs more affluent and eccentric members.

If this book were a movie it would be The Flamingo Kid meets Legend of Bagger Vance with a little of the Bishop's Wife thrown in.

The perspective of a poor boy among the wealthy in Eisenhower era America. With legends such as Ben Hogan and John Bedemus haunting the pages amid lush green manicured fairways, stately pecan tree hazards and lucky golf clubs found in mysterious circumstances makes this a meditation on the Zen of Golf and now-gone way of life. Add in angels or are they ghosts or are they imaginary golfing buddies?

Anyone familiar with the era or with the game of golf will find this one appealing and those that appreciate a good coming of age story will appreciate it all the more.