Frank Baker Golfer – Real or Fiction?

If you find this article, you are likely reading the new John Feinstein book, “The Prodigy”. After reading about Frank Baker and his skills as a golf, you are often left wondering, “is this kid real?” The answer is no. This is a book of fiction with many non fiction characters including Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, Zach Johnson and a number of other PGA Tour pros.

You may also wonder if “Slugger” Johnston, Frank’s coach and caddie is real. Slugger Johnston is a character of fiction just like Frank Baker.

John Feinstein does an amazing job of painting the picture of an amateur golfer that sets the sports world on fire. He shoots a first round 66 at Augusta National with a holed out bunker shot on 18 and wins a match play event after his competitor’s caddie drops a ball out of his pocket. If you are a golf fan, everything in the book seems real.

If you happen to be a fan of golf books and/or John Feinstein, I strongly suggest reading or listening to The First Major: The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryder Cup and The Open. In fact, almost any non fiction or golf related book by Feinstein is wonderful. I am not a fan of the Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson fictions books but check out Season on a Brink, Where No One Knows Your Name and The Legends Club.