Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Welcome to a Great Game 7

Chapter 1: Why Play Golf? 9

Chapter 2: Choosing Your Weapons Wisely 17

Chapter 3: Taking Golf Lessons (and Other Sources of Help) 35

Chapter 4: Getting in Golf Shape 49

Chapter 5: Where to Play and How to Fit In 77

Part II: You Ain't Got a Thing If You Ain't Got That Swing 87

Chapter 6: Getting into the Swing of Things 89

Chapter 7: Improve Your Move: Refi ning Your Swing 121

Chapter 8: Chipping and Pitching: Short-Game Secrets 131

Chapter 9: Putting: The Game within the Game 143

Chapter 10: Bunker Play: It’s Easy (Really!) 173

Part III: Common Faults and Easy Fixes 183

Chapter 11: Did I Do That? Solving Common Problems 185

Chapter 12: Beating Bad Breaks and Bad Weather 207

Part IV: Taking Your Game Public 227

Chapter 13: Step Right Up and Play! 229

Chapter 14: Rules, Etiquette and Keeping Score 247

Chapter 15: Gamesmanship and Sportsmanship 267

Chapter 16: Stepping Up Your Game 279

Part V: How to Be a Smart Golf Consumer 287

Chapter 17: Watching Golf in Person and on the Telly 289

Chapter 18: Getting Your Golf Online 303

Chapter 19: Screen Gems: Surveying the Best of Virtual Golf 311

Part VI: The Part of Tens 315

Chapter 20: Golf's Ten Commandments 317

Chapter 21: Ten Excellent Courses for Beginners 321

Chapter 22: Ten Great European Courses 329

Chapter 23: Gary's Top Ten Male Players 335

Chapter 24: Gary's Top Ten Female Players 339

Chapter 25: Ten Immortal Golf Moments 343

Part VII: Appendixes 347

Appendix A: Golf-speak 349

Appendix B: Golf Organisations 365

Index 369

About the Author

Gary McCord is a PGA Champions Tour player and celebrity golf instructor. He's best known for the knowledgeable perspective and irreverent wit he has shown as a golf commentator on US television for nearly 25 years. Tony Smart is a golf writer, photographer and consultant. His writing has recently been featured in publications such as Golf World and Golf Monthly.