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Golf For Dummies
Tee Up with this Fun and Easy Guide to a Better Golf Game! Inside, You'll Discover How to: Keep your cool on the course by knowing the rules -- and etiquette -- of golf Master the Name of the Game: stroke play, match play, scramble, Nassau Get a grip, a stance, and a swing that will really work for you Create your own routine before you tee off -- from a wigggle to a waggle Correct your slice, blast out of a bunker, and two-putt on every green Manage the elements: rainy weather, crosswinds, and the four seasons -- also known as "Swinging in the Rain" Choose an instructor, buy the right gear, and keep yourself from getting thrown out of the country club Understand "golfspeak" -- yips, a mulligan, jiggers, and more -- from old terms, to nicknames of the pros, to lingo you hear on the green or on TV Discover The Ten Best Things about Golf (it's easy to spell) and Ten Uncool Things to Do on the Course (wearing shoe flaps and using colored balls) Learn the importance of warming-up -- first your mind, then your body!
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 1997
323 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 2, 2025
It does what it set out to do. I am just not all that interested in golf. My fiancé has been trying to make a golf partner out of me and I just don’t know that that is going to happen.
October 7, 2021
You'd think an individual of my vintage would have learned to play golf by now, but no, I am ashamed to admit I've never swung a club in my life, and so I'm about due to learn. I realize that reading about a sport is no substitute for physically participating, but I figured I could stand to learn a thing or two before hitting the links. This book is perfect for that purpose: easy to follow, covering a broad range of topics for any beginner golfer. Recommended if you're a dummy like me.
August 7, 2018
A decent enough self-help book I'd say, but I promptly played the worst front 9 in years. Just too much in my head. ...but then I played one of my best back 9s. So maybe the mental help was good while the swing help was just too much. Either way, I'm not sure how much these types of books can really do. I'm sure it's a very personal and individual impact.
July 31, 2021
I bought this book as I was starting to learn golf. Being a beginner I thought this would help with basics. But instead the author spends more time on things like how many clubs to buy, what types and how golf has evolved, and etiquette. So for me it wasn’t a golf for dummies but more of a Golf for People Who Know how to Play Golf but want more details.
September 19, 2022
This is an entertaining, if not somewhat dated, book on how to play golf. It covers everything you need to know from what clothes to wear to which club to use depending on your position on the course. As a lefty, it is a bit confusing since all the photos and diagrams are for right-handed players. I think this book would be a big help for beginners.
February 27, 2025
I’ve been a golfer for a long time. But I also believe that you can always learn something new “even” if it’s a book for dummies. Well Gary McCord doesn’t disappoint. The book is definitely intended for beginners but there are some entertaining facts and suggestions along the way. It’s a very easy read and I think most anyone would enjoy reading it.
December 29, 2017
Very good book about golf and the fundamentals.
February 22, 2018
The chapter on the mechanics of the golf swing is very good. However, some of the other material is too cursory to be of much use.
April 6, 2018
Very enjoyable
Lots of good tips, the game is vast and not just about your swing and this funny book gets you motivated and moving in the right direction
Lots of good tips, the game is vast and not just about your swing and this funny book gets you motivated and moving in the right direction
June 6, 2022
The bestselling guide to golf just got better!
February 15, 2023
Shit! Enough said really
June 16, 2024
A fun, irreverent introduction to Golf. You get most out of the book by practicing, but the gentle introduction is worth for anyone new to the game.
January 18, 2025
Great information, covering all aspects of golf, although a bit outdated. As a lefty, I did get tired of trying to reverse literally every diagram and written explanation in my head.
February 5, 2023
Dummy approved
Much more helpful than I expected and still very relevant despite being written over a decade ago. Great resource for up and coming golfers.
Much more helpful than I expected and still very relevant despite being written over a decade ago. Great resource for up and coming golfers.
May 14, 2010
I thought this was an excellent introduction to golf, covering all aspects of the game, written in McCord's engaging style and with the typical For Dummies structure and layout. (I also recommend the DVD of the same name, but I don't think it's a substitute for the book).
It covers everything from those just thinking about getting into golf right through to what to expect if you find yourself in a Pro-Am game or playing a round with your boss. The book tells you how to go about approaching taking up the game, making use of the driving range to build skill before you think about playing courses, when to consider buying equipment (not as soon as you may think), where to go for lessons and what types are available, where to obtain advice, and how to go about improving your game.
The book also goes into detail of the types of clubs and strokes, how to practice, how to navigate around the course and the types of gameplay, etiquette and the importance of integrity in a player, basic rules and rules of thumb. It gives you all the essentials, but it won't do the practice for you or give you the minimum level of fitness to walk around a 9- or 18-hole course. That's up to you.
Note: The UK Edition is largely a cosmetic makeover ($ to £, some local references) to appeal to the UK market. If you see another edition for less - particularly if it's on sale or second-hand - grab it, as you're unlikely to notice the difference.
It covers everything from those just thinking about getting into golf right through to what to expect if you find yourself in a Pro-Am game or playing a round with your boss. The book tells you how to go about approaching taking up the game, making use of the driving range to build skill before you think about playing courses, when to consider buying equipment (not as soon as you may think), where to go for lessons and what types are available, where to obtain advice, and how to go about improving your game.
The book also goes into detail of the types of clubs and strokes, how to practice, how to navigate around the course and the types of gameplay, etiquette and the importance of integrity in a player, basic rules and rules of thumb. It gives you all the essentials, but it won't do the practice for you or give you the minimum level of fitness to walk around a 9- or 18-hole course. That's up to you.
Note: The UK Edition is largely a cosmetic makeover ($ to £, some local references) to appeal to the UK market. If you see another edition for less - particularly if it's on sale or second-hand - grab it, as you're unlikely to notice the difference.
January 10, 2017
Seeing that this is the only book on golf that I have read, I can't compare it to others. But, that said, I think it's a great place to start. Gary touches on every subject about golf to get you into the flow of things, with advice on how to correct some of the problems one can expect. I loved the history aspect of this book, with memorable moments throughout. Gary's humor is amusing but didn't get me to burst out laughing until almost at the end of the book. He's got some good ones. Most of his humor seems forced but don't let that stop you. There's a lot of great information in here and he's a rather humble guy with some interesting stories.
One thing I heard about, but didn't find in his book, was the flag colors for the flagstick. From what I've heard the color denotes the location of the hole in relation to the green. (i.e. forward, middle, back). Another thing I would've like to have seen was a little bit more on the rules. He does go through the most common ones, but as a newbie, shouldn't there be more that might be handy? I don't know. Maybe there isn't. Maybe I'll learn them as I violate them. Hmm....
One thing I heard about, but didn't find in his book, was the flag colors for the flagstick. From what I've heard the color denotes the location of the hole in relation to the green. (i.e. forward, middle, back). Another thing I would've like to have seen was a little bit more on the rules. He does go through the most common ones, but as a newbie, shouldn't there be more that might be handy? I don't know. Maybe there isn't. Maybe I'll learn them as I violate them. Hmm....
March 23, 2011
It was really good book it's written in part by Gary McCord, but it is not in his irreverent broadcasting style. It is straight to the point and is well done. He does know his golf. He was a disciple of Mac O'Grady, whose influence on the golf swing still exists on the tours.
Anyways, I would recommend this book as a good fundamental start for a beginner golfer, so he does not have to wander through the confusing and often conflicting minefields of different schools of golf instruction and "friendly" advice of fellow golfers. The 4MM book, or the Tiger instructional book, and others may not be what suits the particular beginner golfer. He can't throw his hips like Tiger. He has to start from fundamentals.
Anyways, I would recommend this book as a good fundamental start for a beginner golfer, so he does not have to wander through the confusing and often conflicting minefields of different schools of golf instruction and "friendly" advice of fellow golfers. The 4MM book, or the Tiger instructional book, and others may not be what suits the particular beginner golfer. He can't throw his hips like Tiger. He has to start from fundamentals.
November 7, 2012
I was interested in this book so I would better understand the game of golf while watching it on tv. This book is really for the novice player. It goes into great detail about the history of the game, etiquette on the golf course and in the clubhouse, even what exercises to do to get your body into shape for the specific requirements of the game.
Gary McCord is a broadcaster, and he peppers the book with personal anecdotes from games he have covered over the years. This is my only concern with this book - there is too much Gary McCord in it, and not enough golf.
Having said that, I would recommend this book to someone who is just starting out in the game.
Gary McCord is a broadcaster, and he peppers the book with personal anecdotes from games he have covered over the years. This is my only concern with this book - there is too much Gary McCord in it, and not enough golf.
Having said that, I would recommend this book to someone who is just starting out in the game.
June 11, 2014
After finishing Golf for Dummies, I have three things to say. First of all, the book provides a very strong analysis of the full swing in golf. This helped me to understand how it works and why some things happen when you hit the ball a particular way. Second, The book doesn't provide a very good explanation of the mental game. This very important part of golf doesn't get much mention in this book. That was very disappointing for me because I had to buy a second golf book to gain a simple understanding of the mental game. Thirdly, this book work really well for you if you are a golf "dummy". If you are a more experienced golfer, like me, you might seek a more complex book.
April 21, 2008
This was a great book for the beginner golfer. The book was a broad cover of all things golf from how to play, how to play better, the rules, good sites to go to, what kind of clubs to get, how to watch it on tv, and everything in between. The author threw in a lot of humor that made it an enjoyable read from beginning to end, if you enjoy golf at all. More experiences players won't take much from it, other than the humor, though. I recommend it to any novice golfers trying to learn the game or learn the game better.
June 3, 2011
For a book that's supposed to be for beginners, this book really didn't fit the bill. It jumped around all over the place, didn't give many very helpful tips and got way into things you don't need to know. For example - he talks about needing to have the right speed on your putts...but doesn't say how you know what the right speed really is or how to get there. But he does spend a whole page talking about Japanese grass...and another whole section on betting. Really? How about you tell me how to actually play??
May 31, 2015
I found the 3rd edition in PDF form online, for free, so of course it is not up to date. McCord outlines useful fundamentals in a user friendly and humorous style, and the illustrations are helpful. I found the sections on favourite golf courses far too focused on the U.S., and the chapter on virtual resources is now hopelessly dated.
Want to read
May 25, 2009I picked this up at a used booksale a few years ago for a few bucks. At the time, my wife and I were about to take a golf class. We took the class but haven't touched the clubs since, so I doubt I'll ever read it. But who knows?
June 28, 2007
As a "want to be" golfer, I am learning a lot from this book. It is a quick fun read.
May 3, 2011
Well, maybe it will improve my game.
November 7, 2008
It's somewhat akward to learn a sport by reading about it. I think the best function it [a book] serves in the case of golf is in the teaching of the essential athlete mindset.
August 26, 2009
A good, more that basic book for beginner golfers.
September 10, 2009
Good reference. Use it to go and read up on something I need to know. Has some helpful tips in it. Golf will be something I will always be working on.
September 3, 2012
Average book with the basics of golf.
April 10, 2013
I am enjoying learning to play golf, but reading about golf and listening to people talk about golf puts me right to sleep.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews