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words by > Jeff Mayers

Golfers are always tinkering—with their swings, with their clubs and with any new gadget that might help shave a few strokes off their scores. Call it an obsession, if you wish, but all golfers will understand.

Now, as never before, super-light equipment of space-age materials is providing recreational golfers with forgiving clubs and tailor-made balls that make the game a little easier, and a lot more fun.

These days, driver heads are bigger and often oddly shaped, hybrid clubs are more prevalent and fast replacing long irons, and golf balls are matched to ability and swing speed. Put it all together, with the guidance of a knowledgeable salesperson or a teaching pro who knows your swing, and you’ll find that, with practice, the right equipment really does make a huge difference in your game.

In addition to these innovations, a bevy of new gadgets are popping up on the internet and at retail stores this golf season, many just weeks after debuting at January’s annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

CRUISE
around the course

Ride in style and without the irritation of a short-hitting partner with the AT 950 Electric Multi-Function Cart, which can also be used for neighborhood transportation or gardening. Digging divots qualifies as gardening, right?

www.motorgolf.com">www.motorgolf.com $1,080

Finding your way on the
FAIRWAY

Getting around the golf course is easier than ever using GPS technology, which takes the guesswork out of measuring yardage and choosing the right club. Some of the competitors in this category are GolfBuddy (www.golfbuddyusa.com $274.99), iGolf (www.igolf.com/p>

$229.99) and sureshotGPS (www.sureshotgps.com">www.sureshotgps.com $399). A related item is Windage (www.playthewind.com">www.playthewind.com $6), which helps you gauge how the wind will affect your shots.

SIMULATE
your swing

If you can’t physically play the world’s 800 best courses, tour them from home on the Golf Launchpad. The “ultimate golf simulator,’’ it works with your own clubs and on PC, Mac and PS2 platforms. Club speed, swing path and angle at impact are measured and computed by EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour software. www.electricspin.com">www.electricspin.com $199 to $249

Take a
SWING

Nike continues to use its marketing and product development expertise to perfection. This year, it’s the Juice 312 (312 signifying the number of dimples), a distance ball for golfers with low to mid-swing speeds. These days, there’s a club—and ball—made for every swing. Don’t be afraid to get the equipment that fits yours. www.nike.com/nikegolf">www.nike.com/nikegolf $19.99

Port-a-
PUTTING

The PuttRunner is billed as the “world’s smallest automatic putt-return system.’’ Now you can take your obsession with you on the road, and the electronic sounds for successful putts will cheer you on every step of the way. It comes with a plastic carrying case, so leave some room when packing and make sure to book a room with an interesting floorplan. www.clevearl.com $39.95

STYLISH
strokes

Your wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without a pair of traditional plaid golf pants in six different patterns. GolfKnickers (www.golfknickers.com$129.95) offer the long-established look—including over-the-calf argyle socks and a variety of sweater vests to complete the look. And to hold up those pants in style, use the Green Friendly Golf Belt (www.greenfriendlygolf.com $79.95), which features a ball mark repair tool and ball marker at the end of the belt.

TEE
time

You can tee up your Juice 312 on the biodegradable Eco tee and whack it with your new driver. These tees are said to last up to 10 times longer than the conventional wooden tees, but what will happen to those of us who like to use broken tees on the par 3s? www.ecogolf.com">www.ecogolf.com $25

What golfer hasn’t chewed on a wooden tee in some nervous moment? Chew on Tasty Golf Tees, which are sanitized and flavored. Just remember, it’s best to avoid putting these, or any other tees, in your mouth after they have been in the ground. www.tastygolftees.com$5.49

And then there’s the Teego Personal, the perfect practice tee. Just tap on the ball release trigger with your club, and a new ball will be placed on the tee, leading to quicker and more efficient practice sessions. www.teego.com $199 to $249

COMEDY
clubs

Your opponents and teammates alike will laugh themselves silly when you cover your new driver with an upside down cow head cover dubbed “Udderly Ridiculous.” Or take your pick from the green frog feet of “Prince Charming” or “Mingo Bingo,” the long pink legs of a flamingo. In addition to bringing a whole lot of fun to the course, they are also used to protect the club and shaft. www.buttheadcovers.com$25

GRIPit
and rip it

Taking strong shots will be a lot easier with the Bionic Golf Glove. The glove features “anatomical relief pads that even out the surface of the hand for a lighter grip that can lead to improved distance and accuracy.’’ It’s able to compensate for any hand characteristics that interfere with game play. www.bionicgloves.com $24.95

GLITTER
grip

Even if you can’t putt, at least you can look stylish with contemporary art putter grips. Glitter has been added to the grip to give it a more glamorous look. Three layers are combined— the first is applied to the club shaft; the second is placed on top of the rubber base; and the thin third layer is applied to create a comfortable feel. The grip will dazzle them, regardless of your form. www.crystalcleargrip.com $9.95

MAKE
your own

If the right putter does not seem to fall into your hands, just build your own. Adjust-A-Putter could be the last stop before desperation takes over. The shaft angle, head weight and head balance can be completely adjusted to suit your game.
www.golfexcellence.ca$178

GOLFING
in the rain

If the bag is getting too crowded and there is little room for new clubs, this space-saver might come in handy. The BallBrella is a combination ball retriever and umbrella that stows on the outside of your bag. The umbrella measures 60” and has a 96” telescopic ball retriever built right into the handle.
www.ballbrella.com $39.95

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