It is a great truism of golf that the game cannot be learned from a book. Yet it is equally true that there are some things every golfer must know before setting foot on the course or risk making an utter ass of himself. These are things your local golf pro can't or won't tell you.
In this humble little volume is gathered together a collection of the wisest counsel and advice on the Noble Sport in all its forms. Included here are fantastic original photographs and illustrations from the 1880s through the 1920s, the rules and etiquette of golf as described by the wittiest classic sources, an old-school guide to the very best (and worst) of the world's golf courses, and golf fashion at its vintage best. The ball will not land always on the fairway, the wind will sometimes blow against you, there are times when those natty plus-fours will end the day so besmirched and bespattered by sand and grime that you know in your heart of hearts they will never be the same again, but despair not For this book will ensure you come off with top honors even when the odds are against you.

Golf has been around for over 600 years, its origins tracing back to the links in Scotland in the fifteenth century. Since then, the game has spread worldwide, with millions of fans and players from all walks of life. Born on the Links: A Concise History of Golf encompasses the entire history of this popular sport, from the fifteenth century up to the present. It covers the development of golf equipment, rules, and playing fields, and shows how the game changed from a pastime exclusively for the rich to a sport that is played by millions of people of all classes, ages, and backgrounds. In addition, this book details the lives and accomplishments of the many iconic players of the game-including Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Ben Hogan, Charlie Sifford, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam, and Tiger Woods-and their greatest moments on the golf course. Additional chapters focus exclusively on the history of African Americans and women in the sport, recognizing their distinct struggles for equality and recognition, as well as their ultimate triumphs. A comprehensive yet readable resource, Born on the Links also features a timeline of golf history, lists of the winners and runners-up of every major professional and amateur golf championship held since 1860, the winner of every major international team and cup competition held since 1922, and more. The most up-to-date history of golf, this book will entertain and inform all fans and historians of the game.

The hysterical story bestseller about one man's epic Celtic sojourn in search of ancestors, nostalgia, and the world's greatest round of golf
By turns hilarious and poetic, "A Course Called Ireland" is a magnificent tour of a vibrant land and paean to the world's greatest game in the tradition of Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." In his thirties, married, and staring down impending fatherhood, Tom Coyne was familiar with the last refuge of the adult male: the golfing trip. Intent on designing a golf trip to end all others, Coyne looked to Ireland, the place where his father has taught him to love the game years before. As he studied a map of the island and plotted his itinerary, it dawn on Coyne that Ireland was ringed with golf holes. The country began to look like one giant round of golf, so Coyne packed up his clubs and set off to play all of it-on foot.
"A Course Called Ireland" is the story of a walking-averse golfer who treks his way around an entire country, spending sixteen weeks playing every seaside hole in Ireland. Along the way, he searches out his family's roots, discovers that a once-poor country has been transformed by an economic boom, and finds that the only thing tougher to escape than Irish sand traps are Irish pubs.

Fire-up your swing with the hottest new technique to hit the fairway!

If your shots are off target and your swing needs improving, you simply won't find a better fix than the powerful breakthrough techniques of Jim Hardy. Jim's smash bestseller, "The Plane Truth for Golfers," introduced the revolutionary one-plane and two-plane swings to golfers and teaching pros around the world. It changed how players think about golf and how the game is taught.

In this exciting master class follow-up, he takes your swing to the next level, giving you in-depth instruction in how to execute both of these swings perfectly for on-target shots every time.

Jim shows you how to: Assume the proper stance and posture for each style Position and move your hips, shoulders, and torso correctly "Feel" the difference when you correct the faults in your swing Gain proficiency in your swing with detailed drills for both styles

He begins by giving you a review of the basics, outlining the one-plane and two-plane swings as he emphasizes his most crucial lesson: " All swings are either one- or two-plane actions, and to become good at golf you must work towards being a fundamental purist, only learning and employing those elements relative to your swing type." With Jim's guidance, you'll first determine which swing type is right for you, then master your specialized swing. It's a powerful feeling when your body and arms are moving in total coordination with the club, and it can only happen once you master the art of the swing.

Improve your swing with the teacher the pros trust:

"(Jim Hardy) was the one person who really had the greatest influence on me in terms of my teaching. Jim hadsuch an incredible mind for the game of golf."
--From "The Only Golf Lesson You'll Ever Need" by Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' golf coach

"Jim Hardy is the most knowledgeable teacher in golf. No other instructor has his understanding of golf swing techniques and what makes them work."
--Peter Jacobsen, Champions Tour player and winner of seven PGA Tour championships

"Jim Hardy's theories and explanation of the two distinct swing planes used in golf are perhaps the most important instructional book any golfer could ever own."
--"Inside Golf"

" In my book, Jim Hardy is at the top. His information is the best. His presentation is logical and unique. He has discovered, through original thought, new information that will help every golfer. I have seen it at work and the results are amazing."
--Carol Mann, LPGA Hall of Fame member

In March 2004, Hank Haney received a call from Tiger Woods in which the golf champion asked Haney to be his coach. It was a call that would change both men’s lives. Tiger – only 28 at the time – was by then already an icon, judged by the sporting press as not only one of the best golfers ever, but possibly the best athlete ever. But Tiger was always looking to improve, and he wanted Hank’s help. Over the next six years of working together, the supremely gifted Woods collected six major championships and rewrote golf history. Hank was one of the very few people allowed behind the curtain. Always haunting Tiger was his fear of ‘the big miss’ – the wildly inaccurate golf shot that can ruin an otherwise solid round – and it was because that type of blunder was sometimes part of Tiger’s game that Hank carefully redesigned his swing mechanics. Towards the end of their time together, the champion’s laser-like focus began to blur and he became less willing to put in punishing hours practicing. Hints that Tiger hungered to reinvent himself were present in his bizarre infatuation with elite military training, and – in a development Hank didn’t see coming – in the scandal that would make headlines in late 2009. It all added up to a big miss that Hank, try as he might, couldn’t save Tiger from. There’s never been a book about Tiger Woods that is as intimate and revealing – or one so wise about what it takes to coach a superstar athlete.

John Montague was a boisterous enigma. In the 1930s, he was called "the world's greatest golfer" by famed sportswriter Grantland Rice. He could drive the ball 300 yards and more, or he could chip it across a room into a highball glass. He played golf with everyone from Howard Hughes and W. C. Fields to Babe Ruth and Bing Crosby. Yet strangely, he never entered a professional tournament or allowed himself to be photographed. Then, a" Time" magazine photographer snapped his picture with a telephoto lens and police quickly recognized Montague as a fugitive with a dark secret.
From the glamour of 1930s Hollywood, to John Montague's extraordinary skill and triumphs on the golf course, to the shady world of Adirondack rumrunners and the most controversial, star-studded court trial of its day, " "The Mysterious Montague captures a man and an era with extraordinary color, verve, and energy.

Golf at the top of your game. From course etiquette to golf travel tips to playing in the rain, this book is packed with Stuff Every Golfer Should Know. The next book in Quirk's Stuff series, Stuff Every Golfer Should Know is a handy guide to the golfing life. Sections include About the Game, The Golf Lifestyle, Out on the Course, and Know the Equipment. Learn how to plan a golf trip, how to read the greens, how to watch the PGA Tour, and much more. Series Overview: Little Books, Lots of Stuff! It all began with the publication of Jokes Every Man Should Know in April 2009. With a sleek, sophisticated take on the classic joke book, Jokes Every Man Should Know has sold over 80,000 copies and is still going strong. Not only that, but it has spawned a whole new series of titles at Quirk, all in the same hardcover package and at the impulse price point of GBP7.99.