Review of "The Philly Phenoms" by Nate Oxman

Score: 96/100 (9.6 out of 10)

The Philly Phenoms by Nate Oxman might be the most entertaining and well-balanced novel we've read so far this year! It's certainly up there.

While this book isn't groundbreaking in its premise (a sports novel centered on the relationship between a father and his son), it's excellent in its execution. Some might even say... outstanding!

There's just something so heartfelt, authentic, and genuine about this book. Even though it's a work of fiction, we were really under the impression that this was a true story—an actual memoir—the whole time! That's great writing. That's understanding people, framing, and substance.

And perhaps it is based on real people and real events.
In fact, the author has intimately close ties to the golfing community, not only as a skilled player and single-digit handicapper in his own right, but also through his longtime role as assistant caddie master at the prestigious Merion Golf Club (since 2009), one of the most iconic courses in America.

He’s worked with generations of caddies, players, and club members, absorbing the culture, stories, and camaraderie that define the game at the grassroots level. These experiences clearly inform the authenticity of the fictional Ridley Creek Country Club in The Philly Phenoms — from the inner workings of a golf club to the unspoken codes between mentors and juniors.

And, hey, we even get some golfing tips and tricks! They usually come from the main character's dad.

So, let's dive right into this heartwarming, heart wrenching, riveting, emotionally-compelling sports novel!

First and foremost, this novel is incredibly... human.
It's grounded in its humanity, the humanity, vulnerabilities, fears, flaws, courage, and inner strength of its characters.

At the book's heart are Lee Lomax Jr., ten to eleven year old navigating a post-9/11 world in the shadow of his dad, Sam, a once-great golf player who gave up going pro to focus on being a husband and father.

Sam quietly carries the weight of love, regret, and unspoken dreams. He isn't a superhero; he’s a man worn by life, yet still capable of greatness when it matters most—often called a "Gamer" by folks in the book (someone who rises to the occasion and performs best when the stakes are highest like Joe Montana or Michael Jordan).

Yet, above all, he's an excellent and loving father to his son and daughters. He is the person they all run to when they are afraid or uncertain—their pillar of strength and their shelter.

This is especially highlighted via one of the book's most heart wrenching sub-plots as Lee's mother (Sam's wife)—a woman we're told the kids have never seen get sick—silently suffers through and battles ovarian cancer.

Sam fights with all his might to be strong for his wife and kids, even when the future is so scary and uncertain.

Add 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror into the mix, and you've got a recipe for a cloudy and concerning future.

But it's really interesting to see how everyone in this book responds to times of crisis and tragedies. It's very raw and human. For example, we really don't see or read about Lee's sisters (Sam's daughters) in the book much; heck, we don't even remember their names. Yet they still seem real and believable. It's the subtle things that make that magic happen

For example, they rally around their dad and show up unexpectedly for one of his big matches. They (along with Lee) also help to relieve the burden on their father and mother by doing more of the chores. In fact, it almost seems like they compete with each other to do the chores, a total reversal of before.

Speaking of total reversals, Lee's motivations gradually and believably evolve throughout the book. He goes from pursuing more superficial goals and rewards like getting ice cream from Dairy Queen or having fun to genuinely wanting his dad to succeed and win.

But blink and you'll miss these things because the author doesn't shove them down your throat and force this messaging on you.

So much of this is subtle.

You know who's not subtle?
Hal Rustin, the book's main villain. But even that works to the book's advantage.
He is an incredibly effective villain, pushing character development and the plot forward. Remember when we said that Lee's motivations evolve? Well, they evolve in large part due to how negatively he feels about Rustin.

Remember when we said that Sam used to be a promising golfer who could've gone pro before abandoning training and competing? Well, he starts training and reenters competition to defend his family's honor from Rustin.

That's how you properly establish motivations. That's how you create a great character—a great villain. Make them impactful. Make them have a huge difference.

Rustin is portrayed as the arrogant, antagonistic force opposing the Lomax family at Ridley Creek Country Club. He embodies entitlement, elitism, and dishonesty—traits that directly contrast with the humility, integrity, and perseverance represented by Sam and Lee Lomax.

Years earlier, Sam had accused Rustin of cheating, a history that adds bitterness to their interactions and raises the stakes when they ultimately face off. Rustin not only tries to dominate on the golf course but also manipulates behind the scenes, aiming to push the Lomax family out of the club entirely. He's creepy, intimidating, and maybe even a bit homicidal.

He seemingly almost runs Lee over in one scene!
And he pressures him in the restroom to the point where Lee is begging in his mind for Rustin not to kick the door of the restroom stall down.

How messed up is that?!

The audience really grows to hate this guy as much as Lee and Sam do. That really gets us on Lee and Sam's side (if we weren't already). We want to see them overcome this terrible, awful guy. We want to see him get his comeuppance.

So, when terrible things happen to Rustin, we cheer emphatically.
Our favorite scene in the entire book (a nominee for Best Moment) was when he started to choke on his own cigar smoke after arrogantly mocking and taunting little Lee, giving Lee an opportunity to show some spunk and courage.

One of the defining characteristics of Lee is how fearful he is. Now, keep in mind, fearful doesn't mean cowardly. A coward runs from their fears, a fearful person can still experience a profound sense of fear yet show courage and bravery in the face of it.

You know what they say? Courage is when you're afraid to do something, yet do it anyway.
Well, if that's true, then Lee is rather courageous!

Lee's strong sense of fear reverberates throughout this book. We see it right away when he becomes fearful when a friend's golfball breaks a window, putting them in danger of getting in trouble for it. Then, in a scene that really grounds this book, we see Lee's fearful reactions to the 9/11 tragedy. Lee's mind, understandably, runs wild with questions, fears, and uncertainties. He wonders if Philadelphia might be targeted next. He wonders what he should do and how he can evacuate having only a bike.

He cries.
In fact, Lee cries a lot. It's something he does constantly.
But it never feels unwarranted and it never seems excessive.

Think about this: Lee is believably a 10-year-old/11-year-old kid whose mother might be dying, who just saw people jump from buildings and die on 9/11, who thinks that terrorists could do that to Philadelphia (his home) too, and who is constantly being threatened and intimidated by this Hal Rustin guy. You'd cry a lot too!

These characters don't feel like fiction, they feel like us.

This book also does a very good job at exploring the theme and pushing the idea that sports and recreational activities are important parts of society. In fact, sports really grounds Lee (and Sam), providing them with an escape and something familiar.

Even when 9/11 is happening, Lee is listening to Sports Center on ESPN. It's something familiar that's warped into something alien and terrifying due to the news.

Golf is something familiar that binds Lee to his father. It becomes an important part of their relationship and their time together. It's something they do together, experience together, pursue together, and live together. They are definitively and emphatically in this together, making them a nominee for Best Dynamic Duo.

There are a few more subtle lines in here that we really liked.
One is from Lee's mother who says: “If your dad ever practiced like he used to, no one in the club could beat him.”

This little line says a ton. It basically tells you how great of a golfer Sam was and how high a potential he had (and still has). It also tells you that Sam's wife believes in him and has tremendous confidence in him.

Another passage we liked was Sam's advice to "take your best shot":

"Take your best shot. No matter what. That’s all you can do. That’s all anybody can do... If you try your hardest, I don’t care where the ball goes... But you gotta try. You gotta show up."

And Sam shows up for himself and, more importantly, his family despite all the adversity and bad things. Furthermore, he sets an example for Lee.

What's extra interesting about this passage is that it meshes, mixes, and mends with another of the book's themes: the uncontrollables—variables beyond our control.

You can't control the weather, the wind, a bird or an alligator on the golf course, or external things that happen, but you can control things like your effort level and your mindset. Even when it's challenging, you've gotta give it your best shot.

Check it out on Amazon!