Jack Nicklaus was 10 years old when he first played golf. He claims a first nine-hole score of 51, followed by nines of 61 and 71. He sooned joined a junior program at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, where his father played. Then he took private lessons with his legendary teacher Jack Grout. That summer he won the 10-year-old flight of the Scioto youths' championship -- and he hasn't looked back since.

Bobby Jones got into golf for health reasons. When his family lived in downtown Atlanta, he suffered from a digestive disorder for which doctors could find no cure. His father then decided that good old fresh air may be the answer and moved five-year-old Bobby and his mother to a house overlooking East Lake Country Club, which at that time was on the outskirts of the city. Bobby first swung a club when a club member saw him watching him play, and asked him if he wanted to try it. Bobby became good by copying the swing of East Lake pro Stewart Maiden. He would watch Maiden play then rush home to imitate him.

Sam Snead also copied his swing from someone -- in his case his elder brother Homer. The brothers built a small course at their home in Hot Springs, Virginia, by digging four holes and "planting" tin cans. They used rocks for balls and branches for clubs. Homer had a long smooth swing -- exactly as Sam would have.

Ernie Els was eight years old when he got into golf, by caddying for his father. Despite his eventual success -- Ernie has won two U.S. Open titles -- he did not take any lessons in those early years. He instead stayed away from the science of golf and learned a natural motion, one regarded as among the best there is.

Greg Norman claims to have taught himself to play by reading Jack Nicklaus's classic book "Golf My Way." He was in his teens by then. In fact, he was 15 when he first picked up a club. He caddied for his mother a few times, and on one occasion borrowed her clubs after she was done playing. He continued to do this until he got his own clubs. Greg practiced hard and within two years he went from a 27 handicap to scratch.

Walter Hagen was another youngster who built a makeshift course (the club at which he caddied, the Country Club of Rochester, New York, did not let the caddies on the course). He built his in a field. He put together a set of clubs by asking members for whom he caddied if they could spare any of their old ones.

Curtis Strange's father was a club professional in Virginia Beach. Tom Strange taught Curtis, and his identical twin Allan, the fundamentals of the game: the proper grip, stance, address, etc. Curtis claims his father, who died when the boys were 14, instilled in him the confidence that helped him win two U.S. Open titles.

Both of Nancy Lopez's parents played golf, at a municipal course in Roswell, New Mexico. Nancy was only four when her father gave her a cut-down club and told her to keep hitting it until she reached a nearby green. The parents walked on ahead -- whereupon Nancy whacked her first shot right over their heads!

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