Book Review: Scratch

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Scratch     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Troon McAllister
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Sports   Legal Setting   Humorous
Series: Eddie Caminetti # 3
Rugged Land, Mar 2003, $23.95, 464 pp.

Golfer "Fat Albert" Auberlain was a rising star until he suddenly lost his distance and precision, leaving him worse than a hacker. His buddy golf hustler extraodinaire Eddie Caminetti sees Albert’s woes as a chance to make some easy cash and maybe even help his former caddie. Eddie enlists genius Norman Standish to develop Scratch, a golf ball that flies straight off the tee. Eddie advertises the ball and charges one hundred dollars for a dozen. Between his campaign and the cost, everyone believes Eddie’s claims and wants to buy Scratch leading to fights and riots even in the most sedate pro shops.

Golf ball supplier Medalist worries about the impact of Scratch on their market share, so the board sues Eddie’s company. However, no one out-hustles Eddie whether it is on the golf course or in courtroom as the truth prevails.

This is an entertaining sports legal procedural that takes delightful divots and drives at golf fanatics, sports hypocrites, sports equipment manufacturing firms, and frivolous law suits. The story line has eighteen holes of amusing moments, but Eddie is too perfect as he out-lawyers the pros, making too easy a course. Still filled with humor at every hole, SCRATCH has moments that it birdies, but overall scores par.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner