This is the complete practical guide to improving your golf game in every area - long game, short game and putting. It includes over 500 specially-commissioned colour photographs, including step-by-step instructional sequences throughout. It provides the complete history of golf: from its legendary beginnings to worldwide popularity - the great courses, players and tournaments. It is richly illustrated with evocative historical pictures and archive material as well as contemporary portraits and artworks. It offers vital background information on choosing equipment; rules and etiquette; shots; strategy; and, course management and overcoming hazards. Charting the history of a uniquely prestigious sport, this book begins by examining every aspect of golf, from its equipment and traditions, to the great tournaments, courses and famous players. Reflecting golf's international spirit, the chapter on courses includes lesser known Japanese and South African courses as well as the revered St Andrews of Scotland and Pebble Beach of the USA. This is followed by a detailed section on great players with many much-loved golfing stalwarts and characters. Then, the heart of the book presents a combined instruction course, reference manual and trouble-shooter. Two highly experienced golf teachers have collaborated with one of the best golf photographers working today to create this in-depth course of instruction that will help to improve the game of any player, from the beginner to the expert.