Maggody, Arkansas (pop. 755) is perceived as a two-bit hick town, filled with one-bit hicks. But the mayor's wife, Mrs. Jim Bob Buchanon, seeks to change that perception with her latest scheme: a charity golf tournament! Which presents a bit of a challenge, since no one in Maggody plays golf and there is no course. But when the prize for the first hole-in-one is announced-a top-of-the-line bass boat-suddenly Maggody goes golf crazy...with limited success and maximum domestic disorder.

Besides the townspeople, there are several outside figures who actually know how to play the game. Among them: The low-level PGA player Bonaparte Buchanon and Tommy Ridner, an instructor from a nearby country club. As for Sheriff Arly Hanks? She has more important things to worry about on, and off, the job-and just wishes all this golf business would go away.

When Tommy Ridner beats the odds and sinks the first hole-in-one, it looks like what's done is done...until he's found in his bass boat-dead. Now Arly Hanks is facing a complicated murder investigation for which darned near everyone in town is a suspect.