The Hacker's Bible

By Bill Ray.

Young, old, or in between, The Hacker's Bible will teach you the game of Golf. To become a good golfer, certain techniques must be studied, learned, and performed. Sit first and relax. Take the time to read what this book says about playing golf. Then go out and do it: End up satisfied and playing the real Game of Golf!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475991956

Bill Ray.

Bill Ray spent more than 60 years in Alaska. But has now retired and lives with his wife Nancy in Sequim, Wa. During WW11 he enlisted in the Navy and became a Chief Radioman. After leaving the service, he returned to Alaska and was eventually appointed to the States Liquor Control Board for 5 years. He then served 6 years in the Alaska State Legislature as a Representative. From there he was reelected to the Alaska State Senate and served for 16 more years. Privately among his friends, he was recognized as a highly capable Salmon and Halibut fisherman.

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The Hacker’s Bible

BILL RAY

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

The Hacker’s Bible

Copyright © 2013 by Bill Ray.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013909321

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9194-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9195-6 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 05/23/2013

CONTENTS

Taking A Stance

Gripping The Club

Squaring The Clubface

Distance Back From The Ball

Correctly Placing The Ball

Eyeing The Ball

Teeing The Ball

The First Tee Jitters

Selecting A Club

Making A Turn

Using Your Driver

Fully Swinging The Club

The Backswing

The Downswing

Using A Half Swing

Power Swings

The New Power Swing

Power Tip

The O Factor

Power Leaks

Straight Shots

Fairway Woods

Using Your 3 Wood

Hybrids

Aiming With Your Irons

Varying Your Setup

Short Game Success

Use The Whole Fairway

Taking A Good Divot

Bunker Shots

Hitting From The Rough

Slices, Hooks, Shanks, Pushes And Pulls

Topping The Ball

Chunking The Ball

Reading The Greens

Putting

Obstructions

Sidehill Lies

Pitching

Chipping

Par 3’S

Cocking Your Wrists

Don’t Be A Sore Loser

Golfing In Your 20’S

Golfing In Your 30’S

Golfing In Your 40’S

Golfing In The 50’S

Golfing In The 60’S… And Up!

Plumb Bobbing

Warming Up

Three Best Clubs

I Finally Understand

Your First Choice

Take Small Nibbles

Having A Bad Day?

Don’t Get Mad

Rules To Remember

Golfing Courtesy

Shooting Under 100

Good Advice

This book somewhat describes my ongoing love affair with the game of Golf. Our relationship has lasted for a period of over 75 years. It began during the summer months when I was 14. Which was the first year I spent caddying at a golf course situated some 4 or 5 miles from my home in Idaho. When no prospective customers were available, then as an adjunct to toting someone’s golf bag. I was allowed odd periods of swinging a club, and at times even pitching a few balls in the practice area. These instances took place when inclement weather or some other inconvenience disallowed me making a dollar or two being an assistant to some golfer. I never received any actual instructions, but occasionally the pro might offer a random remark or two if he was absently watching me. I owned no clubs, but there was an old discarded 7-iron in the caddy shack. And I always had a few balls that I’d found out on the course. They were little but necessary reminders of the fun golf gave me. And they were in concert with my abiding wish to learn more about golfing. Not much of a background, but it was still a lasting beginning to my lifelong desire to become at least an average golfer.

Directly after my graduation from high school my family moved to Southeast Alaska. For the next several years I was separated from any nearby golf courses. Wartime came and I enlisted in the Navy. The years passed, and after my service I returned to Juneau. But at that time I still never had the opportunity to play golf. There was no course there, but I didn’t forget my need for it. My father had moved to San Clemente, Calif. and luckily was living within a block of one of the greens at the local golf club. I visited him a couple of times during the year. And almost every day I was there, I spent out on the course. While every evening I stole additional time practicing free putting on the nearby green. That was when I was actually indoctrinated into being a whenever hacker. Which means whenever I was even close to a place to play golf, I’d spend most of my time indulging in the game. Luckily my working position allowed me considerable travel time. So whenever I took a trip, I’d also look for a golf course to visit.

Truthfully I’ve never been a par player, so maybe I should have taken some lessons from a pro. But honestly I couldn’t afford to. I guess you could say I’m still just a regular golfer. But I have never lost my abiding affection for playing the game. As a result, over the years I’ve spent time playing golf in Washington, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Spain and finally back in Alaska. Oh, yeah! I’ve even popped a couple of short drives onto Coeur d’Alene Idaho’s floating island green.

During my time in the service, I suffered a lifelong back injury. For the next several years it never bothered me. But like every ill thing that happens to a person, it finally caught up with me. The physical damage to my back fully blossomed, and last year ultimately denied me the opportunity to continue playing golf. Perhaps my age at 90 assisted my injury, and aided the Golf Gods in denying me any more fun on the links. My trouble was, I just couldn’t walk fast enough to keep up playing in a steady game. The need was still there, but I had to hang up my clubs for good. But I’m still not finished with Golf.

When I was playing regularly, I read innumerable articles by some of the finest players. I also spent incalculable hours watching various tournaments played by the best-known golfers. So I’ve truly gathered an inordinate amount of solid material. That gave me considerable success in knowing how to properly play the game. Now I’m passing it on to you in over 60 helpful suggestions, plus additional information. If you’re an intermediate golfer, I hope they’ll give you help with your golf game. Or if you’re just an ordinary HACKER, it’s truly your Bible and I guarantee it should be highly beneficial. I’m confident this book is exactly what you both need. Good luck! Incidentally it’s also keeping me close to the game of golf. Hot damn!

This book is dedicated to my wife Nancy for putting up with all the starts and stops I had when writing it. It’s also dedicated to my two sons-in-laws for the their interest and capability at playing Golf. And needless to say, all the Golf Professionals mentioned from whom I borrowed material. And were unknowingly highly responsible for its success by lending me their mentality during this complicated process. For their kindness I sincerely thank them too.

Since I was a kid I’ve always looked forward to reading about golf, or having the opportunity to watch some on TV. Yet before I’m very far into either one, my attention begins to wander. I’m really not sure why, but all of a sudden I simply lose interest. Maybe that’s because they don’t show me anything on TV, about how to hold my clubs in certain instances. Nor does the information I get from reading the golf stories. Give me enough exact knowledge on how to correct the usual golfing problems a person encounters. Over the years I’ve continually looked for some direct assistance. You know something always handy. Like a hardback or even a paperback I could have, to check on something of interest about golfing. A resource available any time I felt it was necessary to easily solve some of the intricacies of the game. Like hitting safely from behind a tree, or perhaps simply telling me how to properly stand and hit a ball when I have an uphill lie. So now I’ve finally taken the time to gather up, then put into one book what I believe is important to many gofers. In the following pages are more than 5-dozen explanations clarifying in detail how to solve the majority of the usual difficulties faced while playing golf.

I hope the experienced golfers who’ve read this far will continue reading. As I’m sure they might find something that may be of value to them. And I know there are still many neophyte duffers, and other not very good players. Who still don’t have the ability to become expert, or even very good at hitting those little white balls and need help. So I’ve tried refining to plain and understandable language some of the professional advice I’ve seen, read, or heard, and considered worthwhile in assisting a person in playing golf.

After you’ve read some of my instructions. You may believe I’ve made some contradictions in my coverage of certain essential requirements necessary to improve your golf game. Not true. I’ve presented several individual teachers and pro’s opinions. Truthfully some do differ significantly. So just try, what you think may work for you.

What I’ve done is repeat instructions I’ve borrowed from several golf professionals and teachers. Golfers like Ben Hogan, Arnie Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, John Daly, Payne Stewart, and the irresistible Lee Trevino. By no means is this all of the unknowing lenders, but the only ones that easily come to mind. I’d like to identify their particular publications and give them personal credit for their efforts. So after this books publication, and anyone presents proof of material they’ve written previously that is appearing here. I’ll be more than proud to personally give them