Roland Merullo’s new novel clears up one thing: God loves golfers.
Merullo opens this gentle look at golf and the hereafter by advising the reader that Heaven contains 8,187 golf courses. He does not report a number of golfers.
His main character, Herman Fins-Winston, is British by birth but American by upbringing. Hank, as he prefers to be called, was a golf pro on earth and met an untimely death while still in his fifties. Hank was well on his way to a starring role on the golf circuit but didn’t quite make the cut. Instead, he carved out a rather presentable career as a golf instructor.
In Heaven, life is of course idyllic and he enjoys the comfortable and favorite 18 holes at the El Rancho Obispo Country Club.
These comforts are interrupted when a messenger from God arrives and asks Hank to provide personal golf instruction for God.
From then on, his heavenly sojourn takes an entirely different turn, for God, in one of many manifestations, takes Hank back to Earth for a mysterious purpose. At first, the visit “back home” is filled with pleasure, golf and reminiscences. Then Hank finds himself facing the ultimate golf opponent in a match against odds more important even than life or death.
“Golfing with God” is not for every reader, but if your inclination is toward golf and you have a big sense of humor and respect for religious faith, you will emerge from this reading with a deeper understanding of your faith. Merullo is, in fact, a pretty good theologian, especially if you’re broad-minded and have a healthy respect for people of all faiths.
On his first meeting with God, the Almighty admits to a golfing slump and wants Hank’s help in overcoming the problem. Much later Hank realizes that God’s golfing is excellent and this is just a divine way of helping Hank to deal with his own issues.
“Golf is a metaphor for creation, for the spiritual path, the secret structure of the universe, whatever words you want to use. The Big Picture,” says God.
If that doesn’t sway golfers, nothing else will. But there are sobering thoughts as well. Golf courses in Heaven are crowded as on Earth, imperfect games are played, and at one point Hank becomes frustrated and comments that “I skirted the edge of the hazard on dry land and tried to control my urge to scream at the fact that my heavenly golf game had gone to hell.”
Hank learns that God enjoys Guinness, onion rings and southern food.
“Golfing with God” is not intended as a monumental exploration of religion or of a game the author obviously loves. Merullo has crafted a work that reflects a generous, compassionate God fully understanding of human frailty. No, the writer does not address the question of whether it is sinful to play golf on the Sabbath.
At times the writer may be guilty of letting his imagination go wild. His examples of Heaven draw much from the inspiration of medieval painters and poets, and he occasionally goes overboard — golfing with Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Muhammad, for instance. Then there are occasions when God appears in the form of Albert Einstein and as a beautiful young woman.
But it is a gently told narrative that invites the reader to renew faith with fresh understanding of God. Maybe it will encourage a little more patience on the greens.
Merullo’s essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Newsweek, Forbes FYI, Links, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping and Travel and Leisure Golf. He is also author of the Revere Beach Trilogy, a series of novels about a community near Boston, and “Passion for Golf: In Pursuit of the Innermost Game.” He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughters.
Florence Gilkeson may be reached at florence@thepilot.com.
