Golfing with a bunch of 'Misfits'

Former Longmeaodw resident scores an eagle with his guide to golf course characters By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor When it comes to golf characters, author Joel Zuckerman calls 'em as he sees 'em. And, as an avowed golf aficionado who has played courses all over the world as well as a respected golf journalist his articles have appeared in over 90 magazines including Golf, Sports Illustrated, Golfweek, and Continental Magazine Zuckerman knows of what he speaks. That's what makes his latest book Misfits on the Links: A Golfer's Guide to Freaks Along the Fairway (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $9.95, March 2006) such a delight. If you see yourself in this book and as Zuckerman told PRIME, almost every golfer might catch a glimmer of him or herself in several of these characters you're not alone. "I'm as much of a misfit as anyone," Zuckerman admitted. The 40 characters in Misfits, Zuckerman said, are all based on factual observations ... with a little artistic license. "A half-dozen of these characters are based on people I could name from up in your area, including some of my good friends in and around Springfield," said the Longmeadow native and former Crestview Country Club member. " 'The Guru' is my best golf friend, and he's actually a combo he's 'The Guru' and 'The Ruelsmeister'." Zuckerman said another friend from UMass, who now makes his home in Philadelphia was the inspiration for "The Cell Mate." "He was actually in the position that the artist rendered in the book," Zuckerman said. "He's my best golf buddy, but one time he couldn't get off this call ... and he was putting with the cell phone between his shoulder and his ear." As far as some of the other characters "The Nostalgic," "The Introspect," "The Cockeyed Optimist" well, every golfer is that Misfit at some time or another. "Everyone who has ever said 'that's a great shot ... it's right at the green' just before the ball went into the woods is an Optimist... every golfer who ever hit a great shot at a hole, and then goes back and plays lousy on that hole is a Nostalgic ... everyone who comments on a shot they've just made is an Introspect ..." he said. But every book has to start somewhere, and Zuckerman said this tongue-in-cheek tome sprung from an essay he wrote on "The Non-Playing Wife" and some other misfits for a now-defunct golf magazine. He collaborated with Sports Illustrated artist Jeff Wong for that piece, and called on Wong's talent to bring his characters to life again for this book. Barely a month from its first printing, in early May Zuckerman said the publisher has already ordered a second printing of Misfits just in time for Father's Day gift-giving. "The comments I get from people are that it's funny, it's clever, but it's dead-on," he said. Misfits on the Links is available at major bookstores. To order an autographed copy of the book, visit Zuckerman's website: www.vagabondgolfer.com.