You Can't Buy Your Game

A new year is beginning and many folks are thinking about buying new clubs in order to improve their play. Lee Trevino said you needed to watch out for the guy with the squinty eyes, deep tan, and a one iron in his bag. That's the guy who is liable to take your money, not the guy with the newest Ping or Taylor Made driver in his bag.

Of course, we don't see too many bags with one irons in them anymore, but the squinty eyes, the tan, and perhaps the irons with quarter-sized wear marks in the centre of the clubface are a good indication of what you are up against. The fact is, you just can't buy your game, despite what the club manufacturers tell you. You improve your game only by playing and sound practice. The deep tan and the squinty eyes are what gives the hustler away. He earned both of them out there playing the game.

Bobby Jones felt the only way to properly learn this game was by playing it. Anyone who promises to alter your game, save you five or seven shots a round, or make you a player, by selling you new clubs, or some new-fangled swing aid, might as well be selling you snake oil. If it were really possible to buy your game, we'd all do it, and the average golfer would be scoring better than he did fifty years ago. After all, the equipment is better. Apparently, the teaching is better. The courses are in better condition. But the average player continues to aspire to play better than bogie golf, even with the latest and greatest, game-improvement clubs in the bag, along with all the cool new teaching aids available.

A golf game simply cannot be purchased. It is earned with sweat, and sometimes, blood, and tears. So, rather than buying that new driver, or those shiny new irons, save your money and head out to the practice green. Work on your short game and you'll start to see your scores improve. This game has no price. It can't be bought. And, after all, isn't that just as it should be?