The Putting Green Whisperer (Review)

Author Zoe M. McCarthy weaves the disparate, confusing and often hurtful emotional strands of young love into a believable and satisfying story. The lives of Allie Masterson, a University of North Carolina (UNC) graduate in sports training, and John “Shoo” Leonard, ranked number one for four years on the Wake Forest golf team and Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, collide in the world of a Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour. Allie caddies for her father in this Senior PGA tournament, while “Shoo” works as a traditional caddy for another senior contender in the same tournament.

I applaud author Zoe M. McCarthy. She convincingly brings together three themes in this novel: romance, Christian belief and sports (golf). Like a good cook, the author blends enough of each item to make a pleasurable and gratifying read. I heartily recommend this novel and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

"Putting Green Whisperer" is the nickname Allie sticks on John "Shoo" Leonard, a tall, tan guy with a wonderful simile. He crouches down and studies a golf green’s pitch and undulations before putting the ball. Thus, he has the name "Putting Green Whisperer.” This name is sort of like the more popular dog or horse whisperer who understands the animals’ inner workings, except "Shoo" can read golf greens. Intrigued, Allie watches this impressive ability in her fellow caddy known as "Shoo." Allie's first good look at John “Shoo” Leonard is watching he and his buddies play a round of early evening golf.

Allie is not a complicated person. She loves golf and appreciates people who loved golf. Allie is excellent at and likes to encourage people, especially those who golf. "Shoo's" easy-going nature bothers Allie. She desperately wants to help her father in his first PGA tour - now the Senior tour - come back since her mother's death. She was her father's biggest fan and is looking forward to helping him by caddying. The death of Allie's mother, a strong Christian, left Allison with little belief in God and prayer. She is lost without the closeness she once felt with her Mom.

How Allie and “Shoo” come together romantically and as life-long teammates make an engaging, delightful-to-read story. Their loving, but too often authoritarian, families and a shared love of all things golf give Allie and “Shoo” solid foundations on which to build a relationship. “Shoo” finds comfort and direction in his Bible and Christian beliefs. He wants to be the Eric Liddell of golf, an example for aspiring young golfers. "Shoo" prays that Allie will return to her belief in God and prayer.

Traditional caddies are the only kind used in Professional Golf Association (PGA) and Ladies PGA tournaments. Traditional caddies do more than carry bags of clubs.

The traditional caddy walks the course with the player giving advice and support almost like a coach. They handle a myriad of specialized duties like cleaning the ball, raking the bunkers, replacing divots and holding the flag. Great caddies are also skilled in helping to determine the distances to the pins, advising their golfers on which club to use and informing them how their game is holding up. Sometimes they also discuss game improvements with their golfers. They must wear bibs with names and logos of the tournament sponsors, but they can display their own logos on their hats or shirtsleeve. Good caddies usually receive a percentage of their golfers' winnings as pay.

Having grown up with a father who caddied in his youth and was an avid adult golfer, I was curious about the book's title. I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily chose to review it.