Golf Balls

Until you reach a fairly high level of skill, the type of ball that you play may prove to be inconsequential. If you slice or hook it, catch it thin or thick, or hit it towards the toe or heel of the clubhead face, the ball is going to react very badly no matter what make or type it is. However, once you do consistently strike it smartly, enough to generate significant backspin, then you will be able to notice a difference between ball construction and design.

The major difference is in ball trajectory, which is controlled primarily by spin rate. In general, the lower trajectory balls will give you greater distance on low scorching drives (more roll time after impact) in the fairway, and the higher trajectory balls will allow it to hold greens hit better (due to less roll and more 'suck back' spin).

So, which one to use? Try both kinds, and observe the difference for yourself to determine which provides the lower scores.

Clubs
Club brand and model selection is a highly, highly personal choice. Apart from choosing a cavity back model with graphic shafts, it must look attractive to your eye. You will hit a good looking club well. In time, your clubs will become your good friends, and you must keep them clean... always. Clean the club just used out on the course (a quick wipe with the golf cloth will suffice until later), and reclean all clubs after returning back to the homestead.

And never, ever, throw your clubs; it angers them. An angry club is a misbehaved club. No telling what kind of shot it is going to make you hit next. Better to caress it gently. Take care of your club, and it will take care of you.

Bags
Carrying all those clubs is heavy enough, so why add to the weight? Unless you use a pull cart, check out the ultra-light bags at your neighborhood golf supply place. You may also equip it with a light weight stand that automatically folds out when you set the bag down (on it's end).

Think of it as your invisible "auto-caddie". That will give you plenty of excuses to talk to yourself, during club selection, reading the greens, etc. etc. Just don't start telling jokes (no pun intended).

Data
Data, from "Star Trek TNG", would make an excellent golfer. His interest in cause and effect and dispassionate removal from the emotional world would make for the ideal golfer's temperament. As you can probably tell by now, we are getting a bit silly. Picard would certainly lend more dignity to the game than Data.

Players
Hogan, Hogan, Hogan. The mystique. The long hours of practice. Those rubber pants he wore when he made his comeback win after the auto crash. He did what he had to do, and did it like no one before or since. If there ever was a golfing god, it was he.

Mike Reid. Who, you may ask, is Mike Reid? Come on, it wasn't that far back. Yes, he did injure his wrist playing table tennis, but "Radar" was the quintessential thinking man's golfer. He didn't have the pizzazz of Long John Daly, Longer Tiger Woods, or Rocky Thompson, but he cooked in the accuracy department. That, my friends, has FUNDAMENTALS spelled all over the place. Congratulations Mike Reid, where-ever you are!