Book Review: Right Distance, Wrong Direction: Humorous Stories from The Back Nine by Don Boehm

I don’t play golf. But that didn’t stop me from laughing out loud over story after story in Don Boehm’s new collection of one hundred true stories about golf and its players. To collect all the stories in Right Distance, Wrong Direction, Don has journeyed across the country from city to city playing golf. In each city, he has also worked with charitable organizations that have mobile mammogram vans that travel to urban and rural locations to provide this service. He has collected these stories to entertain, but part of the proceeds from book sales will also be donated to help women without health insurance receive early diagnoses and eventually to eradicate cancer.

While cancer is no laughing matter, laughter is the best medicine, and the title alone of Right Distance, Wrong Direction lets you know right away this book is going to be funny. When asked, Boehm’s fellow golfers did not hold back in liberally telling tales of their and their friends’ most hilarious golf antics. Of course, there were occasions when golfers told Don they couldn’t think of a funny story, but then, while he was playing with them, you guessed it—the unexpected happened and a funny story arose. I only wish there were videos for all the stories—they would put America’s Funniest Home Videos to shame. Or maybe they could be the inspiration for Caddyshack III.

While I didn’t understand every golf term, I was never at a loss for following these stories. Sure, I expected to read about some bad golf swings and golf balls landing in odd places, but I didn’t expect golf clubs that went flying into the Pacific, birds stealing golfers’ watches, angry bull elk attacking golf carts, or alligators eating golf balls. I can’t say much more without giving away all these juicy and entertaining stories—and don’t forget, they all really happened! But I will quote from one story that when I pictured it, almost had me in tears.

Maggie said, “Okay,” as she got up to hit her shot. Upon her striking the ball, one of the men started yelling, “Roll, bitch, roll.” Then Maggie said, “I don’t know why, but for some reason, I dropped down onto the ground and started rolling!”

Maggie, her husband, and I were rolling from her telling of this story. Her husband said she had on a white sweater and pants and was rolling in the freshly cut grass getting green stains all over them. As we laughed, Maggie ended with, “And that’s my story!”

When you’re done rolling on the ground with Maggie, go out and get a copy of this book. It will be perfect reading on the golf course in-between holes or anytime you need a great laugh. And don’t forget that the book sales help fight breast cancer.

For more information about Don Boehm and Right Distance, Wrong Direction, visit www.RightDistanceWrongDirection.com.