The Amateurs - John Niven

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You have to be one hell of a story teller to be able to deliver a caper about golf.

John Niven writes with a level of irrelevance and absurdity that I aspire to. He manages to sprinkle is books with humour. on every page. Perhaps it is a west coast of Scotland thing, perhaps others might not get it.

His skill here is the simplicity of the plot and the brilliance of the characters. A boring golfer suddenly gets hit on the head and becomes one of the greatest golfers ever, on the verge of winning the open.

Sprinkle on to this a wife who dresses up for kids parties, a carpet magnate, and a local drug dealer, it becomes a joyous journey.

When I stand on the first tee at Cowglen, I can picture the scene of the members pouring out, watching the transformation in this player in awe.

It is right up my street combining crime and humour together.