A FORMER Mackie Pupil whose career took him into the beating heart of the world of golf has tapped into his experiences to write his first crime novel – which has just been published.
Set against the backdrop of the PGA Championship at Wentworth, Four Deadly Swings exposes the soft underbelly of professional golf, uncovering a web of lies, deceit and secrets which trigger fatal conclusions.
Four swings. One fatal decision.
The genteel world of professional golf is rocked to its core by the brutal murder of rising star Ryan Slater at the exclusive Wentworth Golf Club.
Gordon Simpson left school aged 17 and went straight into a reporter’s post with the Mearns Leader. He soon found his journalistic swing as a sports writer and became golf correspondent with the P&J aged just 21 years old.
Moving on to the bigger players, he covered three World Cups for Press Association and became Golf Correspondent for Daily Record, travelling the world and attending all major tournaments. He has attended the Masters at Augusta 11 times.
Irascible DCI Jack Hunter leads the investigation into the killing, bringing him into direct conflict with disgraced investigative journalist Adam Stringer.
Now working as a freelance sports writer. Stringer sees the killing as his chance for redemption, using his wealth of experience and guile of working in the shadows.
The vitriol and contempt between the ill-matched pair, who had clashed during Stringer’s fall from grace, emerges once more and they race to find Slater’s murderer, set against the colourful backdrop of a professional tournament over Wentworth’s world-famous West Course.
Gordon went on to join the the PGA European Tour (now DP World Tour) and was based at Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey. He became communications director for the Tour and media centre manager for the Ryder Cup. He was pitched in with all the great players – Woods, Faldo, Ballesteros, Montgomerie and McIlroy.
Having taken an early retirement, Gordon decided to capitalise on his unique insight into the world of golf while continuing his love of writing.
He said: ”Sport and language have always wrestled for priority but the combination has been central to the plot of my debut crime novel, ‘Four Deadly Swings’.
”I am now focussed on full-time writing but retain a close relationship with key personnel and companies in the golfing industry, specifically many well-known, high-profile professional golfers, officials, internationally-renown sports management companies and sponsors/investors.”
He added: ” I am excited to bring out my first crime novel. I hope to make a series involving investigative journalist, Adam Stringer – the sequel being researched now.
”It’s been a joyful ride…and all thanks to sport.”
As Hunter and Stringer delve deeper, exposing the soft underbelly of professional sport, they uncover a web of lies, deceit, drug-use and deadly secrets worth killing for, leading to a jaw-dropping finale as the tournament reaches its thrilling climax.
As Four Deadly Swings proves – it’s not only your scorecard that can kill you.
Meet the author on October 3
Four Deadly Swings was published in paperback on August 28. Copies can be ordered at www.troubador.co.uk
For those of you who’d enjoy meeting Gordon and bagging a signed copy of his novel, put Saturday October 3 in your diary when he will be coming along to But n’ Ben books from 2-4pm.