If you don't play golf, chances are, you know someone who does and perhaps you'd like to join them on that surrealistically pristine grass. Or, maybe you need to learn how to swing those clubs well enough to make some business deals on the course without embarrassing yourself.

The World Golf Association estimates that as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 plays golf and although close to 80 percent of golfers are men, the women's ranks are growing. Membership in the Executive Women's Golf Association has increased from 28 in 1991 to more than 18,000 today.

By leaving the cart at the clubhouse, you can significantly improve your health while having fun. Studies show that golf (minus the cart) improves cardiovascular fitness, balance, endurance, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and lowers body fat and overall weight. However, it isn't an easy game to learn.

Get Oriented

"You have world class athletes who can't hit a golf ball; it's not a natural movement," says Todd Schaffer, director of instruction at Shula's Golf Academy in Miami Lakes, FL., "but it can be very fulfilling." To get started, he recommends setting realistic goals, getting a tour of the course as part of the learning process, and becoming familiar with basic etiquette, which boils down to not distracting another player who is about to hit a ball, by talking or standing in the wrong place. "How quickly you learn," he says, "depends on your personal ability and how often you practice