Play It As It Lies: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Golf | Back Nine Press

Overview

Play It As It Lies from Back Nine Press fuses Matthew Filner’s candid stories of fatherhood with vivid rounds on iconic golf courses. There isn’t a manual for parenting, but the book gathers 18 years of daily moments—diaper changes, school drop-offs, and the quiet rituals at the tee—juxtaposed with the discipline and rhythm of the golf swing. The result is a warm, entertaining read that invites readers to notice the small, meaningful steps that shape family life and their relationship with the game.

What you’ll experience

• Stories spanning 18 years of parenting, told with honesty, humor, and empathy
• Scenes from rounds on celebrated courses that illuminate life’s small decisions
• A blend of personal reflection and lighthearted golf anecdotes that feel approachable
• Accessible prose designed for weekend reading, book clubs, or gifting golf lovers
• A lens that connects teaching, guidance, and shared moments between father and child

Why this book speaks to golfers and parents

The book uses golf as a thoughtful framework for exploring patience, resilience, and joy in everyday parenting. It offers relatable vignettes and insights without promising a fixed outcome, instead inviting readers to consider how daily actions on the course and at home can create lasting memories. If you’re drawn to stories that honor both sport and family life, you may find new perspective in Filner’s reflections.

Real-life moments on and off the course

From the hush of an early morning fairway to the satisfying crack of a well‑timed drive, the narrative threads together on-course rounds with the front-row seat of family life. The scenes blend sensory details—sunlight on greens, the feel of a grip, the sound of a putt—with everyday decisions that shape character and connection. These moments aim to resonate with readers who recognize their own routines, rituals, and small victories.

• Warm humor that accompanies the more reflective passages
• Scenes that emphasize growth, patience, and teaching through example
• A pace that moves between golf’s precision and parenting’s improvisation

What readers may gain

Readers may come away with a refreshed appreciation for family time, a better sense of how golf can frame life’s lessons, and a sense of community with others who share a love for the game and the people in their lives. The book speaks to possibilities rather than guarantees, offering ideas to spark gratitude, conversation, and a few shared laughs along the way.

About the author

Matthew Filner writes with candor and warmth, weaving the challenges and joys of fatherhood into thoughtful reflections on golf. The voice is approachable, and the storytelling invites readers to see everyday moments as part of a larger journey on and off the course.

Notes on praise

Critics highlight its heartfelt fusion of golf and family life, its engaging storytelling, and the way it honors both games without turning life into a guarantee—only an invitation to reflect and enjoy the ride.