Golf:

What dried up in real estate developed into a new home, at least professionally for Clark Cunningham.

The 47-year-old Newport Beach resident, husband and father of three daughters found himself out of a job in September 2008. He was laid off from a job in the real estate services industry and had some time on his hands.

In what he terms, “the spirit of recreating himself,” Cunningham, who always enjoyed writing, sat down with his laptop and an idea in his head. By midnight that day, he wrote the first chapter.

More than a year later, Cunningham’s first book is out and he considers himself a full-time author.

The fiction book is titled, “The Spyglass Cup,” about the bond formed between a group of teenage boys, who spend time together golfing, surfing and fishing — all innocent fun. The title is named for a charity junior golf tournament.

The story parallels with Cunningham’s childhood. He grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and learned to play golf from his grandmother, Eleanor Cunningham. He spent many summer days at area golf courses, including Arroyo Seco Golf Course in South Pasadena. A neighborhood parent would drop him off in the morning and would return at twilight to pick up he and his friends.

Cunningham doesn’t consider himself an avid golfer, but one who plays recreationally. He saw a need in the young adult book world for a story based on friendship and innocent, harmless fun, atypical, he said, of many of today’s young adult book content.

“[A lot of today’s young adult books’ content] is edgy,” Cunningham said. “This is the antithesis of that and one of the reasons I charged forward. “[An edgy theme] is not what I’m about.”

It took about 14 months from the idea to publish the book. Within that time were red ink and revisions as Cunningham learned about the writing and publishing process. He hired Mari Lou Elders, a freelance professional editor, to help with the revisions.

Cunningham remembers receiving his first draft to revise.

“The whole thing was nothing but red ink and I thought I had done a good job,” he said.

That reminds me of a time in college when I sat down with a professor who went over an assignment. He dissected the story and left a trail of red ink. I left humbled.

Cunningham didn’t let the returned draft deter his drive. He has written the first five or six chapters of a second book. He envisions a six-book series with each story connecting to the next one.

Cunningham said it’s not that expensive to write and publish a book and views this as a long-term venture.

“It’s not like you have to get a bank loan. You’d be surprised at how inexpensive you can [write and publish a book],” Cunningham said. “Kids like it when you are going to write another one. I realize this is a six- or seven-year opportunity.”

Cunningham said he is a reluctant reader, but was touched when a mother told him her son read “The Spyglass Cup” seven times. Cunningham has a website, www.thepeerlessfoursome.com, which is where he steers people who are interested in purchasing the book. The book can be found in Orange County golf shops, among them Newport Beach Country Club and Costa Mesa Country Club, and he hopes to get a spot in the Southern California Golf Association’s May newsletter.

Becoming a full-time author was a stretch for Cunningham, though signs emerged that a writer lived inside.

“I remember having the conversation and was asked, ‘If you could do anything, what would you do?’” Cunningham recalled. “I said it would be cool to be an author.”

“Writing is what saved me in college,” said Cunningham, a 1986 San Diego State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business with a marketing emphasis. He became excited when term papers appeared on the class syllabus and performed better on essay exams rather than multiple choice tests.

His business background has helped in this new endeavor, which comes after almost 25 years on and off in the real estate industry. During that time he felt comfortable writing proposals.

Reborn or rebuilt, however you want to call it, Cunningham has found a comfortable perch in a new home, remodeled with fresh ideas pulled from childhood memories.

 Santa Ana Country Club will host the 16th annual Golfers Classic to benefit Boys Hope Girls Hope of Southern California on May 3.

The day includes an 18-hole best-ball tournament, on-course lunch, a hole-in-one contest with an opportunity to win a Mercedes-Benz, live auction and post-tournament dinner.

Call Kelly Pointer, BHGH events manager, at (949) 515-8833 for sponsorship and underwriting opportunities. Visit the tournament website at www.golfersclassic.org for more information.

BHGH, with offices in Costa Mesa, provides disadvantaged children academic, financial and spiritual support through family-like homes.

To learn more about BHGH, visit https://new.boyshopegirlshope.org.

 Fred Couples, the 2010 Toshiba Classic champion, finished sixth in the Masters with a nine-under-par 279 (66-75-68-70) at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Couples, who won the Toshiba Classic by four strokes at Newport Beach Country Club in March, finished seven shots back of champion Phil Mickelson, who claimed his third green jacket.

BRYCE ALDERTON’S golf column appears Wednesdays or Thursdays. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected].