Duffer's Debut: An Introduction to Golf, Its Culture, Customs and Conventions

C.E. (Kit) Lefroy is the director of the School of Sports Administration
at Laurentian University.

Duffer’s Debut addresses many of the nontechnical aspects of golf that
frequently puzzle and even intimidate newcomers to this ancient game.
The author’s intention is to reduce the anxiety that duffers often
feel during the first part of their journey to becoming golfers. The
book begins by addressing such basic questions as “What is golf?,”
“Who plays golf?,” “Where and when is golf played?,” and “Why
play golf?”

Ronberg takes the reader through a series of explanations about the
objective of golf, handicaps, and the most important rules. The three
geographical golf course components—i.e., the tee, the fairway, and
the green—are described in functional terms. Important basic
information is given about equipment, including how to select it and
where to buy it. Some sage advice is also given about expectations,
where to learn (not on the course), and how to behave before, during,
and after a round. Items such as booking tee-off time, cart etiquette,
pro shop check-in, warming up, reporting to the starter, and tee box
etiquette are discussed. Ronberg goes on to explain how to manage
one’s game on the fairway, on the approach to the green, and on the
green itself. He also offers tips on where to stand, order of play,
repairing ball marks, and tending the pin.

To help the novice feel more comfortable on the course, there is a
discussion on “managing the round” that provides information on
speed of play, lost clubs, playing through, hitting into groups,
handling the group behind, and washroom stops. The book concludes with
two useful chapters: “Duffers Do’s,” a useful summary checklist of
things that duffers should do to enjoy golf; and “Epilogue &
References,” which presents a glossary of common golf terms. This
informative, straightforward book should help all players to enjoy the
game more.