The day after we posted April’s Feature Interview with Paul Jansen, I mentioned to Chris Buie during our customary late afternoon round how neat I thought Paul's interview had turned out given its diverse subject matter and that I wished for May that we could we find a ‘feel good’ story as a momentary respite from the pandemic. Chris remarked,
‘Like Jim Dodson’s father and son book?’ The comment was spot on and not unusual because Jim is a mutual friend and until 2018, only lived four houses away. Chris said he would mull over possibilities.
The next morning, no kidding, Luke Reese called me from Chicago and asked a favor.
‘Would you mind reading a book I just wrote entitled One for the Memory Banks about friendships forged through golf in the UK?’ He went on to elaborate about his background of running the parent company of Wilson Sporting Goods in Europe from 1995 to 2002, giving someone a chance and getting re-paid a thousand times over, playing match play at a bunch of hidden gems, and the strong bonds created from golf.
Then, the kicker came. He said,
‘There are components that hopefully might tug on you a bit like Dodson’s book.’
WELL! Truly, this was one of the more serendipitous conversations that I have ever had. I was pretty sure Chris didn’t know Luke, so the odds of two unrelated - though similar - conversations occurring within an ~18 hour timeframe are akin to the odds of Luke making a 4 footer (read the book – you will get the joke). Anyway, I received a draft PDF version of the 224 page book, devoured it over the subsequent weekend, sent Luke the questions and here we are.
Admittedly, the timing is a bit off as the book isn’t available until early August but Luke kindly agreed to press ahead with the Feature Interview as fate decreed it to be! I will re-post this thread in late July for one week to remind folks of the book’s imminent ship date. To pre-order the book, something I highly recommend, go here:
www.thememorybanks.comHowever, be warned: you will enjoy it ONLY if you like books that study human nature or if you like reading books that are golf-centric or if you like learning about UK hidden gems or if you like buddy stories or if you prefer match play or if you agree that life is best experienced outdoors or etc. etc. ETC.
You get the point: Golf is the definitely the backdrop but
One for the Memory Banks is a story about life.
Best,