J. J. Gowland

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Biography

This is Kaida

Kaida (not his real name) is 11 years old now and still chases pine cones and greets everyone at the golf course with a friendly wag of the tail, a grin and a pine cone or stick (usually both) dropped at your feet.

His new best friend is BEN. A shaggy dog who chases cars.

Background Information

About the Author:

J.J. has been golfing from the age of 13, and has played golf in Manitoba, Ontario, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, and Hawaii. J.J. has been on the board of directors of a privately owned golf club for over 20 years. J.J. has given golf lessons over the phone, internet and in person. Depending on the weather, the course, the opponent, and a thousand other reasons, J.J. sports a handicap ranging from 15 to 24.

More about the Author:

J.J. has a degree in psychology, from McMaster University and for 3 years worked on a suicide unit in a psychiatric department of a city hospital, 2 years at an outpatient clinic in mid northern Ontario and then moved into sales, administration, and marketing in the high tech engineering software and security products industry.

After studying at Second City, Toronto, and Theatre Sports Improv comedy, J.J. has written and directed comedies and medical bio-dramas for the stage. J.J.’s first stage play, a one act comedy, won a promising playwright award and has been produced in Ontario and Texas. J.J. was also commissioned to write a dramatic presentation about the founder of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

J.J. graduated from the Halton Region Police Services Citizen Academy in April 2005. The course was valuable as research for the upcoming golf murder mystery series.

J.J. has lived in Brockville, Kingston, Winnipeg; Falls Church, Virginia; and El Paso, Texas; Ottawa, Hamilton and currently lives in Oakville, Ontario.

J.J.’s dream life would include writing golf related comedies and mysteries, playing golf, and after dark, be a stand up comedian.

J.J. Gowland writing credits:

Stage Plays:

The Elevator, a comedy in 1 act, first performed at the Oakville Centre,

One Act Festival, Won Promising Playwright award

Other performances: London, Blenheim, Hamilton and Texas.

The Hoax, a bio drama in 1 act, first performed at the Oakville Centre

Other performances: Alumnae Theatre, Toronto, Hamilton (medical conference)

Resulted in a commission for a full length play about the founder of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“Hincksie” Full length, bio drama, commissioned and performed for the

Canadian Children’s Mental Health Association.

Poetry: published on Poetry.com

Short stories and novel excerpt on: www.Writing.com/lucas6

Poetry: published in chapbook by Poetry Café, Oakville, July 17 2005

Guest Poet at Poetry Café, Oakville, July 17, 2005

Poetry: published in Hammered Out Issue #7, Hamilton, Ontario

Launched October 20, 2005

Published in Hammered Out Issue #8, Hamilton, Ontario

Launched March 8, 2006

Novel: “Confessions of a Sandbagger”, ISBN 1-4137-5527-5

Released December 2004,

Trade Paperback, 144 pages

Available world wide.

Works in progress:

‘Murder on the First’, complete at 85,000 words.

1^st in a series of 19 golf based murder mystery novels

Bandits/golf banditry/Pirates /Sandbaggers

Amateurs who keep their handicaps high in order to win a match

Bogey

One stroke taken over the par for the hole

Birdie

One stroke taken under the par for the hole

Hacker

An inexperienced player, a poor player

Handicap

A calculated number that indicates your level of play. Most people who play golf do not bother to maintain a handicap

Hazard

Permanent features on the golf course designed to obstruct play, such as bunkers and water

Par

The number of strokes which a first class player should normally take to sink the ball on a hole or course

The pole in the centre of the green with the flag attached that marks the position of the cup or hole

Yips

He has the yips. A well-known putting and chipping problem. The inability to sink putts or get the ball onto the green because of a nervous twitch or jerk

"If you drink, don't drive

and

you shouldn't putt either."

-Dean Martin

Contact the author at: jjgowland13 @ hotmail.com