Golf Made Difficult

The book, with illustrations by Bob Schulenberg, opens with a puzzled non-golfer listening as his colleagues, in a language all their own, discuss "hosels," "Mulligans" and "the yips." He decides to take up the game. He picks out equipment, studies the rules and learns the swing. Little makes sense. A two inch putt counts the same as a 200 yard drive. The ball, though perfectly stationary, is inexplicably difficult to hit. After immersing himself in the game's dizzying details, his moment finally comes: his boss asks him to play. Walking to the first tee, he realizes that his career may be at stake.

The story makes observations on, for example, the golf course: "The course lets you think that you're on the right track. It allows one good shot and you keep coming back. And so we forget each time we begin Like the house in gambling, the course always will win."

on gamesmanship: "If his game holds up, you'll certainly lose. Ask him: 'On your downswing, which muscles do you use?' Or when he's putting well, you can instill some doubt. Try asking: 'When you putt, do you breathe in or out?'"

and on the origin of the sport's name: "It's a four letter word, but it isn't a curse. They took the word 'flog' and spelled it in reverse."

Golf Made Difficult is 64 pages, with 32 pages of four color illustrations.