Around the World in 80 Rounds

From Kirkus Reviews:

Formerly a standup comic and currently a regular contributor to Grand Tour magazine, Wood is an affable, down-to-earth sort with a keen eye for detail and a sharp ear for dialogue. He does a fine job of bringing us into the heart of whatever locale he’s visiting at the moment, be it the Australian outback, the hinterlands of Uruguay, the lush panorama of Victoria Falls or the remote hills of Kathmandu. His snappy prose is filled with gentle jokes, clever asides and general goofiness. (For instance, on the subject of an apparent rash of ailing chickens in Laos, Wood wonders, “If a chicken was actually sick, would chicken soup make it feel better?”) This J. Maarten-Troost-meets-John-Feinstein approach should have readers looking forward to the author’s next tee-off. Charming and accessible, Wood’s debut scores a solid eagle.

From Publisher’s Weekly:

Former standup comedian and humor columnist Wood sold his condo in Seattle and set out on a yearlong global golfing journey. He tells a highly entertaining tale of his trip through 22 countries far off the beaten path from the typical golf vacation. He played the first of his 80 rounds on the world's southernmost course at the tip of Argentina and finished in the northernmost climes of the upper reaches of Norway. In between he played a vast range of layouts: a grassless brown track in the Atacama Desert of Chile; spectacular courses in New Zealand and Australia; a course adjacent to the pyramids and sphinx in Egypt; and the only golf course in all of Russia. He suffered various setbacks, such as golf clubs temporarily lost on a South American bus line. He writes well about the terrain and local atmosphere, and provides a deft mix of golf and travel writing. His take on the people of the world is a 48-year-old bachelor's perspective, as he judges Argentina, Chile and Hungary to have the best-looking women and writes longingly of a beautiful foot masseuse in China.

From Fellow Writers:

“David Wood’s entertaining and exciting 60,000-mile odyssey reveals the game of golf not as a chin-on-chest battle with the scorecard, but as the perfect medium through which to explore and enjoy the world around you. This is a book that proves golf has far more to offer than most of us take from it – and inspires us to broaden our relationship with the game.”
– Duncan Lennard, author of Extreme Golf and 112 Miles to the Pin

"David is a very entertaining writer - with a wit and a way of bringing people and stories to life that had me laughing out loud. I look forward to visiting some of the courses he played - hopefully without having to sell everything like he had to do!"
– Bobby Clampett, television golf analyst, golf professional, and author of The Impact Zone

“David Wood has written an inspiring, attention-holding and humorous golfing travelogue. Unencumbered by the ‘trappings’ of life, David set off on his voyage of discovery to far-flung destinations, armed with a vague itinerary, personal documents, a set of ten golf clubs and minimal clothing. Paramount was his ‘eleventh club’—a razor-sharp sense of humor that enabled him to cope with the ebb and flow of world travel. Around the World in Eighty Rounds is more than merely a regurgitation of golf, golf, and more golf. Sure, this all-important aspect holds sway, but ample text is accorded to village and city life, and landmarks of note encountered. Indeed, Wood’s excellent narrative provides insight as to how citizens around the globe conduct their lives—both on, and off, the golf course.”
– Paul Daley, publisher and author of Golf Architecture, Links Golf, and Favorite Holes by Design

"David Wood's story joyously captures the maddening yet addictive allure of golf as he takes us on a journey every golfer would envy."
– Rick Lipsey, golf writer at Sports Illustrated and author of Golfing on the Roof of the World

"David Wood will be a hero to many. He cast off all responsibility except that linked to the pursuit of golf and self actualization. From distant lands he brings rich stories of interesting and amusing endeavors and a picture of a diverse world connected via that ridiculous, compelling and wonderful game of golf. Give this to your friends, they'll love it."
– Charles Lindsay, author of Lost Balls: Great Holes, Tough Shots and Bad Lies