Some life stories ask to be written. Others feel like they belong on the big screen. Getting There! by Regis Sauger quietly fits both of these scenarios perfectly. While you might not find it flashy or dramatic for the sake of being dramatic, still, page by page, it builds into a story full of character, truth, and a kind of human warmth that often gets overlooked. It is the kind of memoir you can picture unfolding on film—not because of fame, but because of its honesty.
Regis Sauger did not set out to be a star. He set out to work. What followed was a lifetime of unexpected turns. Raised in post-Depression Detroit, he started out as a kid selling lost golf balls dug out of muddy drains. That side hustle evolved into a career, which eventually became a calling. Sauger became a golf professional, competed at the highest levels, and then turned course designer. But along the way, he lived many lives, each marked by small victories, tough decisions, and real people.
It’s not a Hollywood plot twist that makes Getting There! feel like a movie waiting to happen. It is the organic flow of a man developing via his service, grief, family, and career. We feel the consequences of Sauger’s decision to leave the PGA limelight in order to raise his kids. We witness a man learning to start over late in life after losing his wife to cancer. And we witness purpose come full circle when he starts using golf to help kids with disabilities.
The book does not rely on flashy writing or storytelling tricks. It does not need to. The strength of Getting There! lies in its directness. Sauger talks to you like a man who has earned his voice. He does not oversell his achievements. He owns his mistakes. And he shares just enough to let you see the layers behind each moment.
There are funny parts. Sad parts. And many small scenes that will stay with you. There is the kid who learned to “lay rubber” in a borrowed car, the soldier who ended up teaching golf at Fort Devens because he helped the base commander with his swing, and the man who later learned how to repair golf course infrastructure from scratch. Each story adds something real and human to the whole.
If this were a movie, it would be the kind that leaves people quietly moved. The kind that starts slow and finishes strong. There would be moments of reflection, a few laughs, and maybe even a tear or two. It would star someone like Tom Hanks or Kevin Costner—not because of the name, but because they know how to play a character who feels like someone you know. Someone who worked hard, failed sometimes, and kept showing up anyway.
Until Hollywood catches up, Getting There! gives us the full experience in Sauger’s own voice. It is not a hero’s journey in the traditional sense. It is a craftsman’s journey. A father’s journey. A builder’s journey. And most of all, a human one.
This is a memoir that deserves to be read slowly, appreciated fully, and shared widely. Because if there is one message that carries through every chapter, it is this: getting there is never about the destination. It is about everything you learn along the way.
In today’s world, where many memoirs chase drama or controversy, Sauger’s approach feels like a breath of fresh air. There’s no ego here, just enough swagger to remind you he’s still got a bit of fire left.
Getting There! is a celebration of doing the best you can with what you have. It’s about honoring your roots, taking risks, and never giving up, no matter how old you are. By the end, you realize this is a story about perseverance, purpose, and legacy.
Read this if you love golf, admire resilience, or just want to hear from someone who’s lived long enough to know what matters and has the heart to share it with the rest of us. Read Regis Sauger’s life story and inspire yourself to do more. Order your copy from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKDM6ZQC
