Jack Wollitz has had a passion for fishing since he was a child. Around that time, he also developed a fascination with golf.

Recently, Wollitz tapped into that love for golf, publishing his new book ‘The Common Golfer,’ which was released April 7. He previously published ‘The Common Angler,’ and while the two books deal with different pastimes, there is a common thread.

“They’re both participatory sports that enable people – regardless of their walk in life, whatever their life is – they can enjoy fishing and golfing,” Wollitz said. “I have deep roots in both pastimes. I’ve been a fisherman a few years longer than I’ve been a golfer, but both go back a long way.”

‘The Common Angler’ was published in 2021, and it focused on the experiences and joys that fishermen experience while out on the water.

“Because I spent so much of the hours that I’m free on the golf course, that’s a plus,” Wollitz said. “There’s tens of thousands of avid golfers in the Youngstown-Warren area, so it’s natural for that too. Fishing and golfing, I think, have a lot of similarities.”

‘The Common Golfer’ is published by Tucker DS Press, which primarily publishes books involving popular culture. ‘The Common Golfer’ falls into that category by giving insight into the culture around the sport, and it takes a look at stories around Mahoning Valley courses.

He touches on the construction of Mill Creek Golf Course, The Greatest Golfer of the Mahoning Valley, Reserve Run Golf Course and Riverview Golf Course, among other interesting topics.

The tales are broken into short, easily digestible stories. It lends itself to quick reads for those that enjoy reading books at leisurely times.

“I cover everything from whether it’s a good idea to play music in golf carts, to dress codes, to whether to play social golf or competitive golf, just the whole mystique of it,” Wollitz said. “Crazy experiences. I talked to people who had snakes fall out of trees over their shoulders. I had a Canadian friend of mine who had a red-tailed Hawk swoop down and put its talons right into his scalp. Just a crazy amount of a wide range of experiences.”

Golf has been a part of Wollitz’s family for years. While he enjoyed the sport as a child, his wife and daughter also spent time on the course.

His wife was a member of Boardman High School’s first girls golf team. His daughter was a founding member of Poland’s first girls golf squad, and his wife served as the program’s first head coach.

After publishing his fishing book, he already knew that he wanted to touch on golf in his next work. And he loves finding the different angles and stories from those that have played the sport for years.

“I have a lot of friends here that have bought the book and they don’t even play golf, but they know somebody who does. And they go, ‘Now I know why they’re so passionate about it,'” Wollitz said.

‘The Common Golfer’ is available directly from the publisher at www.tuckerdspress.com. Wollitz will also have books available during a book signing at the Boardman Barnes & Noble on May 23.