Weird Facts about Golf: Strange, Wacky, and Hilarious Stories.

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

Doubtless there are those who find it hard to fathom the attraction in hitting a small ball into a wee hole from a great distance punctuated by obstacles. But for those fond of fairways, golf is more than a mere game.

The many facets of golf have created a fascinating history rife with strange and unusual facts and antidotes. Steve Drake has compiled a number of the more noteworthy stories in this volume that is certain to delight both ardent golfers and their less-enthusiastic counterparts.

Take the story of Nigerian nationals who, in 2002, used the qualifying sessions of the British Open as a means for illegal entry into U.K. (they entered the country but never showed up for their qualifying event, and subsequently disappeared). Shocking stories of players being hit by lightning—Lee Trevino survived two strikes—and other natural disasters are also included. In addition, there are profiles of athletes like Michael Jordan who excelled at golf as well as at least one other sport, and other celebrities such as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby who did much to help promote golf’s cache. And what would a book on golf be without mention of the unique sense of style sported by many enthusiasts, the most famous of which is likely Payne Stewart.

A collection of trivial facts—origins of the game (the Scotland vs. China debate), longest drive, most extreme courses, most expensive clubs, and so on—rounds out the book.

The ample list of web sources is a nice touch. Even though there is a detailed table of contents, finding information on some topics would be greatly enhanced if an index were also included.