Hard to put down and even harder not to devour in one sitting, Sandman - A Golf Tale is way more than a simple golfing story (so you really don’t need to know all that much about the game to enjoy this book); having its prose instead entangled within external things, such as amiable secondary characters from the greens and clubhouse, the caddies, the human desire for either aid or refrain, et al. Full Review: https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=353 ~ Exclusive Magazine, Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Anyone who has played golf and feels there is more to the game than just their score, the clubs to use or their mechanics will be able to relate to the two protagonists in this wonderful short book. One of them, a boy whose name is never revealed, is an excellent golfer but feels there is more to the sport and feels unfulfilled. The other, a homeless man named Jimmy who hangs around the 5th green at the boy’s home course, also has a unique perspective, mainly gained during his time as a caddy at the most famous course, St. Andrews. Their stories will be ones that anyone connected to the game, whether playing, looping, or just as a worker at a course (Nancy, the clubhouse cook, is a wonderful secondary character) can relate to the stories of the boy and Jimmy. Berner does a wonderful job of brining these characters to life for the reader in such a short amount of text. Readers who like stories that are short and to the point without a lot of fluff should pick this up. While it is helpful to know about golf, it is not necessary to connect with the boy and Jimmy and their dreams. ~ Lance Smith (Reviewer), NetGalley

A brief tale about mystery men on the golf links. Stories are circulating on the Old Elm Golf Course about a guy named Jimmy who lives in the sand trap near the 5th green, sleeps on the grounds, and survives on discarded food from the clubhouse. Regulars on the course are accustomed to seeing Jimmy cheering them on, but as the book opens, he hasn’t been seen in a couple of days. The author quickly makes it clear that Jimmy has had a long, interesting history of his own, caddying and golfing in some of the world’s renowned, far-flung courses (including the famous spots in Scotland), while also finding adventure and romance. This golf-oriented personal history takes on a greater resonance when reflected in the background of an unnamed young man who’s visiting Old Elm; he’s learning the ways of the sport and being introduced to the allure of the golfing world. As these two parallel plotlines unfold, Berner finds plenty of opportunities to include the pseudo-philosophizing that’s apparently a requirement for golf lit. “Experiences, the good and the bad, are the doors to happiness,” goes one such passage. “Heartache and joy run alongside one another. Love is found and lost, and both feed us.” Berner’s plainspoken narrative has an appealing roughness (“The boy was certain that whenever Jimmy scratched together some money, he bought booze,” the boy reflects at one point. “Everyone figured as much”). And golf enthusiasts who’ve wondered about the backstories of those odd individuals who always seem to inhabit the peripheries of old courses will appreciate the fantasy Berner has spun here. An effectively colorful, somewhat philosophical story of love and heartbreak on the golf links. ~ Kirkus Reviews

What does a young boy's newfound interest in golf have to do with a homeless man who hangs out near the course? As the story of these two disparate individuals emerges in Sandman, it's evident that what sounds like a book limited to golf enthusiasts actually opens its themes to embrace social issues, thus expanding its audience from the golf course to general-interest readers who relish stories of survival and change. Two boys who play golf regularly have seen Jimmy almost daily, but when he vanishes, they discover that the greenskeeper has chased him away, calling the police on him for sleeping on the property. This sparks a different kind of relationship between all—including the reader, who receives not just the perspective of the budding golf players, but the homeless Jimmy himself: "This is how it would go when Jimmy was on the course. At the green’s edge, facing the tee box some 390 yards away, Jimmy took deep breaths, closed his eyes, and began to walk down the middle of the fairway. He was blind to the world, but it didn’t matter in the early hour. The sunlight hadn’t yet cracked the horizon. With each slow step, he allowed all of his senses to take over. The birds chirped, there was the mustiness of dirt and dampness of dewy grass, and the turf gave in like a pillow each time his toes pushed off for the next stride." Readers who anticipated a golfing story alone will be surprised at the scope of this account, which moves not just into social issues, but philosophical reflections about life: "Life is not meant to be lived badly, he thought. I will not do that. Experiences, the good and the bad, are the doors to happiness. Heartache and joy run alongside one another. Love is found and lost, and both feed us. The only constant is where we find ourselves, the land we walk on, this turf, this ancient sandy earth, the sea, and the wind. Life plays out on nature’s heavenly spaces. We fail and we prevail." Also unexpectedly moving is Jimmy's link between golf and nature: “The wind here is a beautiful thing,” Jimmy said, standing on the 14th tee. “It’s as much a part of this land as the sea and the turf. If you accept this, you can weather it.” As Jimmy assumes the three-dimensional persona of more than just a homeless man living alongside a golf course, golfers in the novel and readers alike become part of a unique process that moves from a homeless man's dilemma to his rare gifts of golfing and life knowledge: “Do you see the church steeple? Far along the horizon?” Jimmy asked. “That’s your aiming point. Your target is God, if you will.” Jimmy smiled, hoping to ease the man’s mounting fears with a bit of light humor. “But then there’s Hell out there, too,” the man said, referring to one of the course’s fiercest hazards, Hell Bunker. It is a monstrous hole in the ground, 300 square feet of sand and seven feet deep. If one’s ball ends up there, consider it in the belly of the beast. “Nothing to worry about,” Jimmy said. “No concerns on your tee shot and we’ll work around it when we get there. It’s all about managing.” Readers who enjoy both golf and philosophical and social reflection will find that Sandman fits the bill on both counts. It is an exceptional read filled with surprising insights and attractions that make it both a literary standout and hard to put down. ~ Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan, midwestbookreview.com

What an absolute delight this piece of literary fiction is! With vivid descriptions, excellent character portrayals and an engaging story-arc I was hooked from page one; what’s more I couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the last page. The opening is clever. We never see Jimmy the tramp, but we are instantly presented with questions. Who is he? Why does he walk the fairway of the Old Elm Golf Course in his bare feet? And most importantly, what has happened to him? His obvious love of the game is lost on the groundsman, who has had enough of the vagrant’s presence. Yet, the boy is intrigued by him, and back at the watering-hole, Nancy prepares him food and worries about him. I admire the way the other main character is not given a name, he is simply ‘the boy.’ I was gripped by his day on the golf course, seeing the game and the world through his eyes and through his ponderings. Although Sandman is set around golf, this isn’t really a book about golf. It is much more than that. It is a deep, and thoroughly lovely, look and expression into what happiness is. It reflects on life, dreams and integrity. It is superbly written, and like the flow of a trickling brook, it is completely relaxing and mesmerizing. David W. Berner takes us on a bird’s eye tour behind the passion of golf, behind the game itself and into the appreciation of nature and the company of like-minded people. This is a gem of a novella, a five star story that’s well worth a read. A beautiful novella, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely read more by this author. ~ International Review of Books

"Sandman perfectly captures the mood, the place, and the magic of St. Andrews. David W. Berner has brought to life the camaraderie and respect amongst the caddies, and this story will bring back treasured memories to those who spent time golfing on the hallowed turf." —Mark Mullins, former St Andrews caddie and Club Champion of St Andrews New Club ~ Mark Mullins, former St Andrews caddie and St. Andrews champion

“Sandman is a breezy read in the best way, with a storyline to satisfy our wistful golfing souls.” —Tom Coyne, best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland and A Gentleman's Game ~ Tom Coyne, best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland

"David is a brilliant and highly descriptive author, and Sandman offers an exact picture of the complexities of all sides of the game of golf along with a plethora of emotions" ~ Bruce Miller, Golfwell

"A must read for golfers who enjoy what defines golf, and the game it is" — Golfers on Golf, Radio Show ~ Rory Spears, host of radio show GOLFERS ON GOLF

"Sandman perfectly captures the mood, the place, and the magic of St. Andrews. David W. Berner has brought to life the camaraderie and respect amongst the caddies, and this story will bring back treasured memories to those who spent time golfing on the hallowed turf." —Mark Mullins, former St Andrews caddie and Club Champion of St Andrews New Club ~ Mark Mullins, former St Andrews caddie and Club Champion at St. Andrews New Club

“Sandman is a breezy read in the best way, with a storyline to satisfy our wistful golfing souls.” —Tom Coyne, best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland and A Gentleman's Game ~ Tom Coyne, best-selling author of A Course Called Scotland and A Gentleman's Game

"What an absolute delight this piece of literary fiction is! With vivid descriptions, excellent character portrayals and an engaging story-arc I was hooked from page one; what’s more I couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the last page. The opening is clever. We never see Jimmy the tramp, but we are instantly presented with questions. Who is he? Why does he walk the fairway of the Old Elm Golf Course in his bare feet? And most importantly, what has happened to him? His obvious love of the game is lost on the groundsman, who has had enough of the vagrant’s presence. Yet, the boy is intrigued by him, and back at the watering-hole, Nancy prepares him food and worries about him. I admire the way the other main character is not given a name, he is simply ‘the boy.’ I was gripped by his day on the golf course, seeing the game and the world through his eyes and through his ponderings. Although Sandman is set around golf, this isn’t really a book about golf. It is much more than that. It is a deep, and thoroughly lovely, look and expression into what happiness is. It reflects on life, dreams and integrity. It is superbly written, and like the flow of a trickling brook, it is completely relaxing and mesmerizing. David W. Berner takes us on a bird’s eye tour behind the passion of golf, behind the game itself and into the appreciation of nature and the company of like-minded people. This is a gem of a novella, a five star story that’s well worth a read. A beautiful novella, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely read more by this author." ~ The International Review of Books

What does a young boy's newfound interest in golf have to do with a homeless man who hangs out near the course? As the story of these two disparate individuals emerges in Sandman, it's evident that what sounds like a book limited to golf enthusiasts actually opens its themes to embrace social issues, thus expanding its audience from the golf course to general-interest readers who relish stories of survival and change. Two boys who play golf regularly have seen Jimmy almost daily, but when he vanishes, they discover that the greenskeeper has chased him away, calling the police on him for sleeping on the property. This sparks a different kind of relationship between all—including the reader, who receives not just the perspective of the budding golf players, but the homeless Jimmy himself: "This is how it would go when Jimmy was on the course. At the green’s edge, facing the tee box some 390 yards away, Jimmy took deep breaths, closed his eyes, and began to walk down the middle of the fairway. He was blind to the world, but it didn’t matter in the early hour. The sunlight hadn’t yet cracked the horizon. With each slow step, he allowed all of his senses to take over. The birds chirped, there was the mustiness of dirt and dampness of dewy grass, and the turf gave in like a pillow each time his toes pushed off for the next stride." Readers who anticipated a golfing story alone will be surprised at the scope of this account, which moves not just into social issues, but philosophical reflections about life: "Life is not meant to be lived badly, he thought. I will not do that. Experiences, the good and the bad, are the doors to happiness. Heartache and joy run alongside one another. Love is found and lost, and both feed us. The only constant is where we find ourselves, the land we walk on, this turf, this ancient sandy earth, the sea, and the wind. Life plays out on nature’s heavenly spaces. We fail and we prevail." Also unexpectedly moving is Jimmy's link between golf and nature: “The wind here is a beautiful thing,” Jimmy said, standing on the 14th tee. “It’s as much a part of this land as the sea and the turf. If you accept this, you can weather it.” As Jimmy assumes the three-dimensional persona of more than just a homeless man living alongside a golf course, golfers in the novel and readers alike become part of a unique process that moves from a homeless man's dilemma to his rare gifts of golfing and life knowledge: “Do you see the church steeple? Far along the horizon?” Jimmy asked. “That’s your aiming point. Your target is God, if you will.” Jimmy smiled, hoping to ease the man’s mounting fears with a bit of light humor. “But then there’s Hell out there, too,” the man said, referring to one of the course’s fiercest hazards, Hell Bunker. It is a monstrous hole in the ground, 300 square feet of sand and seven feet deep. If one’s ball ends up there, consider it in the belly of the beast. “Nothing to worry about,” Jimmy said. “No concerns on your tee shot and we’ll work around it when we get there. It’s all about managing.” Readers who enjoy both golf and philosophical and social reflection will find that Sandman fits the bill on both counts. It is an exceptional read filled with surprising insights and attractions that make it both a literary standout and hard to put down. ~ Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review, midwestbookreview.com

Sometimes we shape our own destiny. Sometimes, it might be something else. SANDMAN: A Golf Tale follows two unlikely fellows: the privileged young boy as he charts a course through the conflicted world between his own desires and others’ expectations; and the enigmatic, gentle homeless Jimmy who is living life on his own terms. What could be common between the two? Golf and seemingly impossible expectations. A search for life purpose, self-realization, and self-discovery. Caught between fulfilling his father’s expectations and finding a life path of his own choice, the boy must piece together what is truly significant in a world full of the extraordinary and the marvelous. ~ Prairies Book Review