Deep, Deep in the Rough, Rough
by
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A snake in the grass slithers its crooked path past the large rock wall with a bronze plate embedded in stone announcing the home and head offices of the Royal and Ancient Golf Union, better known as RAGU, the official rules keepers of the game of golf. Unbeknownst to the casual weekend golfer, there exists a massive organization responsible for making, keeping and enforcing the many layers of golfing rules and etiquette, not dissimilar to the tangle of spaghetti from which it derives its namesake. This organization created the handicap system, appropriately named as everyone who plays the game is on some level challenged. It consists of a scoring system based on recorded and attested scores, witnessed and signed by all the players in the round, so that legions of recreational golfers might compete on a level playing field, with each other and with golfers at all levels of expertise. It was an insidious plan which lead to crowds now playing golf courses which had heretofore been sanctuaries of privelege for the wealthy. There are now more golf courses worldwide than any other form of athletic endeavor combined and you still have to wait on every hole. But without the ruling body, you would not have the game of golf as we know it. This is the beating heart of the golfing world, nestled in the woods; it may as well be C.I.A. headquarters. It is just about as secret, controlling and monolithic, but their employees, as oppossed to the Central Intelligence Agency, dress in various shades of pastels.
Riley and Wiley sit nervously in the conference room in the inner sanctum of the association. Seated around the table are the executive committee of RAGU, headed by the Smurf-like executive director, Bob Post. He's all hair, all the time. His hair is so firmly in place and lacquered, that even in a hurricane, it never budges. And it's not just his hair that is fixed in place. Let's just call him way north of extremely rigid. He is certainly not a happy farter.
"So, let me get this straight. You want us to sanction a golf match played out in the wilderness, by four ne'er-do-wells you hired in a bar, for 40 days?"
"That's right Bob. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to really go back to the earliest days of the game, back to the roots of golf," Riley offers.
You mean when the Scots in windswept dunes were hitting a goat's bladder with a stick?" Bob says skeptically. The executive committee members grimace at the thought.
"Something like that, but without the bladders," Wiley adds.
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About the Book
DEEP, DEEP in the ROUGH, ROUGH is a golf comedy about a golf match conceived by four wealthy members of the famous Burning Bridges Golf Club, who, in a drunken bet, hire four amiable losers to play a golf match like no other, a throwback to the earliest days of golf -- through 4 states, over 40 days and covering 400 miles -- through the wilderness! Accompanying the unlikely foursome is a crusty old codger named Cookie, driving a team of horses and a tricked-out Conestoga wagon and the scorekeepers of the game, an ex-KGB couple named Boris and Ludmilla representing the Royal and Ancient Golf Union, the owners of the rules of golf. What starts out a crazy bet soon becomes a worldwide sensation as the bizarro foursome and their epic golf match are covered by the television sports reporter Donna Dina and her intrepid cameraman. What transpires is a golf match of biblical proportions, through the area known as the Four Corners, where New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona share a border, but not a golf course in hundreds of miles!
Through the wide use of the player’s dreams and fantasies, as well as a wild concoction of memorable characters they meet along the way, this unlikely journey highlights the deeper meanings of the game of golf and ultimately leads to bonds of love and friendship no one could have ever imagined. Deep, Deep in the Rough, Rough could forever change the nature of golf and, perhaps, golf in nature. Hold on to your golf carts because this is one wild ride you will never forget.
About the Author
Lory Smith has long been known for his unique sense of humor and expansive creativity but nothing could have prepared the world for his latest book, DEEP, DEEP IN THE ROUGH, ROUGH. It is a fictional golf novel about four amiable losers who are hired by wealthy club members of the famous Burning Bridges Golf Club, to play a golf match like no other, spanning 400 miles, over 40 days, through 4 states- through the wilderness! They are accompanied on this unlikely journey by a mystical old codger, appropriately named Cookie, driving a team of horses and a Conestoga wagon. There to keep score are the formidable enforcers, the ex-KGB husband and wife team of Boris and Ludmilla, representing the keepers of the rules, the Royal and Ancient Golf Union, known by the acronym RAGU. What transpires is a golf match of biblical proportions, which becomes a sensation around the world. Closely following the players on their epic journey is the television personality Donna Dina and her intrepid cameraman. The unforgettable characters the players meet along the way makes for an out of body comedic experience, one that could forever change the nature of golf and golf in nature.
This is the third novel Lory Smith has written. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING, set in 1971 in British Columbia about the last town to get television was published in 2005 and GO FAST, GO CRAZY, about two teens on the run from the law who hook up with a French tourist was published in 2007. Lory Smith's memoir of his 20 years as one of the founders of the Sundance Film Festival, was published in 1999. He worked in the film and television business for over 20 years. His film credits include work on THELMA AND LOUISE, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, CITY SLICKERS II, DESPERATE HOURS and over 85 other productions. Lory Smith also wrote, produced and directed several short films, including the award winning THREE THINGS I'VE LEARNED (co-written with Michael Kelly) and CHLOE'S BLANKET. His films played in international film festivals around the world, including HBO's Comedy Arts Festival.
Lory Smith is also an accomplished visual artist, making art work in various mediums for over 30 years. His art work is in the collections of Prince Bandar, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S. and members of the Sackler family, art patrons to the Smithsonian and Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Lory Smith, originally from Utah, now divides his time between New York City, Cold Spring, NY and Cape Cod. He is married to the decorative artist Andrea Torrens and has two college age daughters, one in Denver, CO and one in Burlington, VT. They represent his greatest accomplishments.