A Fool's Errand: A Neighbor, A Top 100 Chase, A Different Scorecard

A Fool's Errand is a golf memoir that transcends the sport. When a seventy-year-old neighbor invites a twelve-year-old boy to play golf, neither realizes they're beginning a nearly fifty-year lesson in how to live. As the boy grows up and moves from ice rinks to muni courses, from caddie to club member, from chasing the top 100 to mindful player, he slowly discovers that his elderly neighbor wasn't teaching him how to play golf at all. He was showing him how to age with purpose, find joy in small moments, and pass on wisdom without words. In our disconnected age, this is a story about unexpected mentorship, hilarious adventures, authentic relationships, and learning to count only the good. “What a great golf memoir and fun read. I found it genuinely moving, but I also laughed out loud multiple times. I have known Ryan for many years and witnessed his quiet transformation firsthand. The uber competitive hockey guy I met decades ago at Hudson National has surely become a more mindful player who really enjoys the moments and the people he plays with today. It’s pretty neat to see how he has learned the important lessons he never knew he was being taught. I hope he gets to finish the chase someday, but more so I hope his message reaches as many people as possible. It’s a good one.” – Jim Craig, 1980 Miracle on Ice USA Olympic Hockey Goaltender