When it comes to improving your golf game, everyone's an expert, even other beginners who don't play any better than you. Get help from real experts. Golf For Dummies, Third Edition, features easy-to-follow instructions for hitting the ball farther and straighter, and shaving strokes off your game. Playing golf is fun—playing better is even more fun. With a little help from Golf for Dummies, Third Edition, you'll have the time of your life whenever you lace up your cleats.
Includes:
-Advice on adjusting your grip, stance, and swing
-Helpful tips from the top players in the game
-New methods for improving your short game
-Exercises tailored to keep you fit and improve your game
-Reviews of the latest golfing equipment
-The latest on new organizations and websites for golfers
-Details about great new courses
-Accounts of golf's greatest moments and players
Author(s): Gary McCord; David Feherty
Series: For Dummies
Edition: 3
Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 384
Golf For Dummies 3rd Edition
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
What You’re Not to Read
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Getting Started: No, You Can’t Hit the Ball Yet
Chapter 1: What Is This Thing Called Golf?
The Goals of the Game
Why Play Golf?
What You’ll Find on a Typical Course
How You Can Become a “Real” Golfer
Living the Golf Life
Chapter 2: Gearing Up
Golf Balls: The Dimple Derby
How to Choose Your Weapons
When You Know Your Game
When to Use Each Club
Tradition versus Technology: Keep Tinkering with Success
Clothes: How to Dress Like a Pro
Accessories: The Stuff You Need
Chapter 3: Do I Need Lessons?
Finding Out What You Need to Work On
Where to Go for Lessons
Getting the Most from Your Lessons
Other Sources of Golf Info
Chapter 4: Getting Fit for Golf
Why So Many New Golfers Give Up
Five Secrets to Success
The Keys to Golf Fitness
Tests and Exercises
Chapter 5: Where to Play and Who to Play With
Driving Ranges
Public Courses
Country Clubs
Resort Courses
How to Fit in on the Course
When You’re the Worst in Your Group
When You’re Not the Worst
Jerk Management
Part II: You Ain’t Got a Thing If You Ain’t Got That Swing
Chapter 6: Getting into the Swing of Things
It All Starts with Balance
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Flight School
Building Your Swing
Starting the Swing: First, Break It Down
Chapter 7: Refining Your Swing
What Type of Golfer Are You?
Establishing Your Swing Plane
Going Where Others Have Gone Before
Chapter 8: Putting: The Art of Rolling the Rock
You Gotta Be You
Mind Games
The Most Important Club in the Bag
Building Your Stroke
Short Putts: Knee-Knockers
Long Putts: Lags
Shh! Nobody Mentions...the Yips
The Art of Aiming the Ball
Speed kills
Chapter 9: Chipping and Pitching
Golf Has Its Ups and Downs
Chips Ahoy!
Make Your Pitch
Chapter 10: It’s Your Sandbox: Bunker Play
Bunkers: Don’t Call ’Em Sand Traps!
The Problem with Sand Play
To Be—Or Not to Be—Handy from Sand
The Splash
Buried Alive!
Part III: Common Faults and Easy Fixes
Chapter 11: Typical Problems and Simple Solutions
Skying Your Tee Shots: The Fountain Ball
Slicing and Hooking
Topping the Ball
Duffing and Thinning Chip Shots
Can’t Make a Putt?
Shanking
The Push
The Pull
Power Outage
The “Worm Burner”
Spraying the Ball
Hitting from the Top
The Reverse Pivot
Swaying Off the Ball
The Belly-Button Twist
A Swing That’s Too Long
A Swing That’s Too Short
Not Enough Backspin
Chapter 12: How to Beat Bad Luck and Bad Weather
Eat Your Roughage!
Tree Trouble
Special Shots
Toupee Alert: Strong Winds Reported
Waterworld: Swingin’ in the Rain
A Game for All Seasons: Weathering the Elements
Part IV: Taking Your Game Public
Chapter 13: Ready, Set, Play!
Warming Up Your Body
Warming Up Your Swing
First-Tee Strategies
Playing Games
Keeping Score
Practicing
Chapter 14: Rules, Etiquette, and Scoring
Blimey, It’s a Stymie: The Ancient Rules of Golf
The Rules Today
Etiquette: How to Play the Right Way
The Handicap System
How to Keep Score
Penalty Shots
Chapter 15: Gamesmanship and Sportsmanship
Wanna Bet?
Picking Partners
Match-Play Smarts
Never Give Up
Playing with Your Boss
Surviving a Pro-Am
Part V: Golf: It’s Electric!
Chapter 16: Golf on TV
Why Golf Is So Popular
Golf and Television
What to Watch for on TV
What to Look for in the Top Pros
Take Your Punishment
Chapter 17: Golf on the Web
Cool Cyber-Golf Sites
Online Course Guides
Virtual Pro Shops: Buying Golf Gear Online
Chapter 18: Tiger versus Golden Tee: The Best of Virtual Golf
The Leader: Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Golf Simulators: Almost Reality?
The Golden Tee Phenomenon
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 19: Golf’s Ten Commandments
Take Enough Club to Get to Your Target
If You Can Putt the Ball, Do It
Keep Your Head Fairly Steady
Keep Your Sense of Humor
Bet Only What You Can Afford to Lose
Keep the Ball Low in the Wind
Take Some Golf Lessons
Do Not Give Lessons to Your Spouse
Always Tee It Up at the Tee Boxes
Never Blame Yourself for a Bad Shot
Chapter 20: Gary’s Ten Favorite Courses
Pebble Beach (Monterey, California)
Pine Valley (Clementon, New Jersey)
Cypress Point (Monterey, California)
Shinnecock Hills (Southampton, New York)
Pinehurst No. 2 (Pinehurst, North Carolina)
Whistling Straits—Straits Course (Kohler, Wisconsin)
Bandon Dunes (Bandon, Oregon)
Royal Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)
Harbour Town Links (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
Long Cove Golf Club (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
Chapter 21: Gary’s Ten Favorite Public Courses
Alvamar Golf Course (Lawrence, Kansas)
Bethpage State Park, the Black Course (Farmingdale, New York)
Cog Hill No. 4 (Lemont, Illinois)
Grayhawk Golf Club, Talon and Raptor (Scottsdale, Arizona)
The Homestead, Cascades Course (Hot Springs, Virginia)
Ocean Course (Kiawah Island, South Carolina)
Pinon Hills Golf Course (Farmington, New Mexico)
San Luis Rey Downs (Bonsall, California)
Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course (San Diego, California)
Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Sawgrass, Stadium Course (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)
Chapter 22: Gary’s Ten All-Time Favorite Male Players
Walter Hagen
Fairway Louie
Phil Mickelson
Jack Nicklaus
Mac O’Grady
Arnold Palmer
Sam Snead
Titanic Thompson
Lee Trevino
Tiger Woods
Chapter 23: Gary’s Ten All-Time Favorite Female Players
JoAnne Carner
Laura Davies
Juli Inkster
Nancy Lopez
Meg Mallon
Annika Sorenstam
Kathy Whitworth
Michelle Wie
Mickey Wright
Babe Zaharias
Chapter 24: The (More Than) Ten Worst Golf Disasters
Jean Van de Velde, 1999 British Open at Carnoustie
Greg Norman, 1996 Masters
Gil Morgan, 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach
Mark Calcavecchia, 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island
Patty Sheehan, 1990 U.S. Women’s Open at Atlanta Athletic Club
Scott Hoch, 1989 Masters
Jeff Sluman, 1987 Tournament Players Championship at Sawgrass
T.C. Chen, 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills
Hale Irwin, 1983 British Open at Royal Birkdale
Jerry Pate, 1982 World Series of Golf at Firestone
Tommy Nakajima, 1978 Masters
Billy Casper, 1968 Bob Hope Desert Classic
Roberto DeVicenzo, 1968 Masters
Marty Fleckman, 1967 U.S. Open at Baltusrol
Arnold Palmer, 1966 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club
Arnold Palmer, 1961 Los Angeles Open at Rancho Park
Billy Joe Patton, 1954 Masters
Byron Nelson, 1946 U.S. Open at Canterbury
Sam Snead, 1939 U.S. Open at Spring Mill
Ray Ainsley, 1938 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills
Roland Hancock, 1928 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields
Part VII: Appendixes
Appendix A: Golf Speak
Appendix B: Golf Organizations
Index
