Dale Francis Thompson
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Dale Francis Thompson
by Dale Thompson
Sequel to the acclaimed novel The Keeper’s Dream
Ellie never intended to follow in her brother’s footsteps.
For years she stood quietly in the background, watching Tom rise from an unknown greenkeeper to one of the most respected professionals in the game…
Ellie never intended to follow in her brother’s footsteps.
For years she stood quietly in the background, watching Tom rise from an unknown greenkeeper to one of the most respected professionals in the game. But when illness threatens to take everything he fought for, Ellie discovers something inside herself she never expected.
Strength.
What begins with frustration, anger, and heartbreak slowly becomes something more. A battered 7-iron, a quiet corner of the course, and the steady guidance of an old mentor reveal a talent Ellie never knew she possessed. Shot by shot, practice after practice, she begins to carve out a path of her own.
When she earns her place on the LPGA Tour, Ellie enters a world of elite competition where nothing is given and everything must be earned. Surrounded by the best players in the world, she quickly learns that talent alone is not enough. Discipline, patience, and resilience are the true currency of professional golf.
Meanwhile, Tom faces the toughest battle of his life away from the fairways. The game that once defined him now waits quietly as he fights to reclaim his health. Through the uncertainty, he watches Ellie step onto the stage he once stood upon — not as his shadow, but as a competitor in her own right.
Guided by the steady hand of Mack, the mentor who helped shape Tom’s career, Ellie discovers that greatness is not measured by trophies alone. It is measured by the courage to stand your ground when the pressure builds and the resolve to keep walking forward when the road becomes uncertain.
From local fairways to the world stage, Between the Grass and the Sky is a powerful story of family, resilience, and the quiet strength that grows through hardship.
It is a story about finding your place, carrying the lessons of those who came before you, and understanding that sometimes the greatest victories happen far from the roar of the crowd.
Because there is always life…
between the grass and the sky.
Hello to all you ready readers out there, my name Is Dale. You can expect fact and fiction from my bookstore. Golf has been a passion of mine for over 25 years, so most of what I write is golf related.
I am a lifelong golfer, storyteller, and qualified EGTF instructor based in the West Midlands, UK. For more than twenty years, I have taught and played the game I loves, drawing inspiration from the quiet beauty of the fairways and the people who keep them alive. My debut novel, The Keeper’s Dream, combines my love of golf with a deep appreciation for human resilience — following a young greenkeeper’s journey from humble beginnings to the world’s greatest stages. I believe golf mirrors life: moments of triumph, patience, heartbreak, and hope — all held together by the pursuit of something just out of reach. When I'm not writing or teaching, you’ll find me walking the local courses at sunrise, still listening to the sound of the wind through the trees… and keeping the grass between him and the sky.
The Keeper’s Dream
A novel by Dale Thompson
On the quiet fairways of Levenfield Golf Club, Tom Hargreaves spends his days tending greens and his nights chasing a secret dream — to one day stand among the greats at The Open Championship.
Life, however, is far from kind. With a mother battling illness, a younger sister to protect, and a job that barely pays the bills, Tom’s dreams seem as distant as the horizon he mows toward every morning.
But when a chance encounter with club member Mr. Drummond and the gruff, world-wise Mack changes his path, Tom is thrust into a journey that will test not only his skill, but his faith, his heart, and his understanding of what truly matters.
The Keeper’s Dream follows one man’s rise from silence to self-belief — a story of loss, courage, and the beauty of staying grounded while reaching for the impossible.
Some dreams are played for glory. Others are played for love.
“Keep the grass between you and the sky.”
The Evolution of Golf Club Design
Forged in Time is a tribute to the soul of golf—told through the clubs that shaped the game. From the windswept links of Scotland and hand-carved wooden shafts to the precision of modern engineering, this book explores how craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation came together to create golf as we know it today. A celebration of the artisans, tools, and timeless pursuit of the perfect strike, Forged in Time is essential reading for golfers, historians, and lovers of the game.
The Art of Golf Course Architecture
From the windswept dunes of St Andrews to the bold contours of modern championship courses, golf’s story has always been written in the land itself.
Understanding How Children Grow, Think, and Feel from Age 3 to 10
Little Minds, Big Traits is a warm and thoughtful guide for parents, grandparents, and caregivers who want to better understand the important traits that begin forming during early childhood.
Between the ages of three and ten, children begin learning how to understand emotions, build friendships, solve problems, and develop confidence in themselves.
This book explores the key traits that help shape a child's character and development, including:
• Curiosity • Imagination • Emotional Awareness
• Independence • Friendship • Kindness
• Confidence • Resilience • Persistence
• Focus • Problem Solving • Creativity
Each chapter offers simple insights and gentle encouragement for nurturing these traits through everyday experiences — from playing in the park and building puzzles to answering questions and exploring the world together.
Written with warmth and real-life observations, Little Minds, Big Traits reminds us that the most powerful influence in a child's life is often the time, patience, and love we share with them.