The Duffer’s Literary Companion

A podcast exploring the rich literary tradition of the game of golf, hosted by authors Stephen Proctor and Jim Hartsell.

Listen on:

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Episodes

Thursday Apr 04, 2024

Stephen and Jim discuss the seminal 1996 Scottish golf travel book, Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens by Philadelphia native Jim Finegan. In the Down The Rabbit Hole segment, the guys name their own current favorite top 10 Scottish courses.

Thursday Feb 29, 2024

Stephen and Jim discuss the classic 1944 book Golf Between Two Wars by the legendary Bernard Darwin. In addition to Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, a deep discussion ensues on such unforgettable characters as Cyril Tolley, Cecil Leitch, Glenna Collett, Tommy Armour, Alexa Stirling, and Joyce Wethered. Darwin's writings and equipment and architecture are all still remarkably relevant after 80 years.

The Finest Man I Ever Met

Wednesday Feb 21, 2024

Wednesday Feb 21, 2024

A mini episode for Stephen, with a reading from Sam McKinlay's wonderful Scottish Golf and Golfers. Sam was the golf writer for the Glasgow Herald from 1956-1980.

Friday Feb 02, 2024

Stephen and Jim discuss the 1995 book, My Usual Game.  They are joined by the author, David Owen. David has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1991.

Thursday Jan 04, 2024

Stephen and Jim discuss the classic 1950 memoir, Thirty Years of Championship Golf by Gene Sarazen with Herbert Warren Wind

Thursday Nov 30, 2023

Stephen and Jim discuss the prolific Scottish author Angus MacVicar, specifically his 1984 book Golf in My Gallowses.

Thursday Nov 02, 2023

Stephen and Jim discuss the seminal 2001 book, A Season in Dornoch -  written by the great Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein.  Lorne joins for part of the discussion. A celebration of all that is great about Scottish golf.

Thursday Oct 05, 2023

Stephen and Jim discuss the classic 1992 book To The Linksland by Michael Bamberger -  featuring characters like the great Scottish pro John Stark of Crieff and Peter Teravainen. Michael joins the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on Scotland, golf writing and his legendary career.

Golf Dreams by John Updike

Thursday Aug 31, 2023

Thursday Aug 31, 2023

Stephen & Jim discuss the great collection of golf writing from 1996 by John Updike.

Thursday Aug 03, 2023

Stephen and Jim discuss the seminal 1994 book Hell's Golfer by Tom Morton. They are joined by the author from his home in the Shetland islands of Scotland. 

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The Duffer's Literary Companion

Authors Stephen Proctor (The Monarch of the Green, The Long Golden Afternoon) and Jim Hartsell (The Secret Home of Golf, When Revelation Comes) celebrate all that is great about the rich literary history of golf writing.

The first three episodes will explore the history of golf writing in the UK and the USA, covering writers such as Horace Hutchinson, Bernard Darwin, Pat Ward-Thomas and Herbert Warren Wind.  Subsequent episodes will go in-depth on specific books by writers like Tom Morton, Michael Bamberger, Andrew Greig and many others.

New episodes will be released on the 1st Friday of every month. Available on Apple and Spotify.

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