A Course Called Home: Adventures of an Accidental Golf Course Owner | Avid Reader Press

Restoration, resilience, and a community rebuilt on nine holes

Tom Coyne, the globe-trotting golf writer behind acclaimed travel narratives, returns home to a century-old nine-hole club in upstate New York. The Sullivan County Golf & Country Club sits under winter ice, its clubhouse creaking with age, but the story's warmth begins to thaw as Coyne considers a bold twist: ownership.

The day-to-day life of the course—contouring greens, watering fairways, and coaxing color from tired flower beds—unfolds with tactile detail: the feel of damp earth, the rasp of a lawnmower, the chatter of regulars who arrive in jeans and cut citrus from their gardens. The shift from spectator to steward is gradual, and the challenges feel intimate rather than abstract, grounded in pride, memory, and a shared love of place.

What makes this book stand out

• A deeply personal memoir told with humor, humility, and sharp-eyed golf storytelling.
• A vivid portrait of a close-knit grounds crew and a community that rallies to save a local landmark.
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses of course maintenance, fundraising, and the practical side of turning a dream into reality.

Real-world moments you can sense on the page

• Neighbors pooling resources, discounts on mowers, and hands-on help with bunkers and greens.
• Visitors who become part of the family as they share rounds, stories, and memories.
• Celebrity cameos woven into the narrative that highlight golf's generous, lighthearted spirit.

Published by Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, this book is a tribute to the game’s quiet, enduring power to connect people and places. It invites readers to consider what ownership can teach about stewardship, collaboration, and finding purpose where you least expect it. If you love golf, travel writing with heart, or community-driven stories, this chronicle offers a thoughtful, engaging read that could nostalgia as well as inspiration.