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The essentials of golf begin with
the clubs you choose. Shopping on the Internet will save you
time and money but choosing can be difficult, as there seems
to be endless options. From our work with different golfing
web sites we have seen sales for golf clubs dramatically
increase in the past two years but do people really know
what they are buying? I think the answer to this is yes if
you have been playing for a few years and no if you are a
total beginner. Some people starting out in the golf world
have more money than sense. At the start of every golfing
year (generally in March) you see new members on the first
tee with thousands of dollars worth of equipment beside them
and the golfing skills of a squirrel.
Excuse the expression from above
but you really need to go back to the basics when starting
golf. Golfing is a skill that needs to be developed, by
having clubs worth thousands will not help you any more than
the person starting with second hand clubs worth fifty
dollars, I had that told to me from more than one Irish
professional during my time. All the major club
manufacturers are selling online at great prices, choose
carefully and get well within your budget, the left over
money can be well spent on other golf apparel.
What are the essentials to have?
Without being silly and
mentioning the usual such as golf balls etc you should have
the following:
Good waterproof golf shoes
Waterproof Jacket and Pants
Golf Cart (Manual or Battery)
Golf shoes are essential, and if
they are not waterproof put them in the garbage. Your feet
must be kept dry at all times. Golf is not always in great
weather. If your feet are wet for a number or hours you will
not feel comfortable and run the risk of catching a nasty
cold or flu like symptoms. There are plenty of cheap golf
shoes on the market along with cheap so called waterproof
pants and jackets, but by spending carefully on the golf
clubs allows you spend wisely on essential clothing.
Golf Carts:
Some people prefer still to
carry their bags but most will purchase a golf cart. The
carts can either be manual or battery operated. The manual
speak for themselves and can be a folded away in the trunk
of your car the battery are a little more complex and need
some careful taught before purchasing. Battery operated
carts need maintenance and constant recharging. Check out
the battery life expectancy before you buy. Some are like
buying a car, they have a speedometer, mirrors and a light,
do you really need all that?
Golf
Balls:
Yes the ball will make a
difference to distance and spin but don’t be foolish, if you
are a beginner you should expect to loose plenty so don’t go
mad buying the latest and greatest, you need to improve you
overall accuracy and game in general. The more experienced
golfer should pay more attention to the ball they are using,
you could be losing valuable distance from the tee meaning
the difference on your next shot from an eight iron or a
comfortable pitching wedge.
Golf Tee:
Short and simple, if you are
using oversized heads allow for a higher tee. Plastic tees
do not break as easily as the wooden type.
Golf Glove:
I have seen many a good golfer
never wear one but in hot weather it gives you added grip
and in damp conditions it could be your only grip. Should
not cost you an arm and a leg.
Putter:
I’m not one for getting into
graphite shafts and other related metal when purchasing a
putter. I prefer something that I feel comfortable with, if
that happens to be graphite and within my own budget, so be
it. The putter today comes in all different shapes and
sizes, from the standard height to the putter that tucks
just under your chin. Beginners start with a basic putter
and move on, basic meaning something that is not costing you
an arm and a leg. Experienced golfers will have their own
unique putter style they prefer.
Overall – Internet golf shopping:
The prices will seldom be beaten
if you purchase online, do not worry about quality as the
products are the very same as what you will find in your
local sports store. The variety is very large and tempting
and delivery is to your door. Before you do go shopping
online make a quick list of the essentials that you need |