Golf Equipment: Confessions of a “club ho”

(Welcome guest author Brian Blackburn.)

Like many addicted golfers who struggle with their swing, I always find myself looking for answers.   That new swing thought, drill, club, stance, ball position, and on and on it goes.

I am a high handicapper and I like to try out different clubs as well as different swings.  Ebay makes it possible to sample some affordable equipment and then choose to keep them, or (more commonly) sell them at a later date.

Well I had been accustomed to this practice of “trying out” different clubs for a few years before I realized that there is a term for this habit.  I was at the driving range two years ago and was chatting with the teaching pro there….showing him a new club I was playing around with.  He then addresses the other teacher out there and says: Yup “Brian’s a real club ho”.  After they had a little laugh I was a bit surprised that they would think that I was one of those guys who are always trying to buy their game with the latest stuff.  I mean I buy mostly used equipment on eBay, and stuff that is last season or older.  I thought to myself “that just makes me a bargain hunter”.  Besides I could stop buying clubs any time I want….

Then last year I was reading a comical blog post on a forum where a poster was jokingly referring to their own club ho ways.  He mentioned the thought of getting home before his wife to get the long cardboard box from UPS that is so obviously another golf club before his wife could see it, and then removing the club to sit anonymously among the pile of clubs in the house, while the long box goes out in the garage to sit in the big anonymous pile of boxes out there.

“No honey, I didn’t buy another golf club”…

That blog post was like I had written it myself.  It was at this point that I had to admit that I had a problem and wondered if there were any twelve step programs where golfers with the same problem could help me through my ordeal.

So now I have tried to limit my indulgence in this area…..I cannot buy another club unless I get rid of another club first.

Speaking of which, my latest purchase: Anyone remember the “perfect club” from Peter Kessler on the golf channel.  It’s a 21 degree hybrid and I snagged it for 1 penny, plus the $10.00 shipping on eBay.  I was the only bidder, and after 1 trip to the driving range I can see why.  Anyone want it?  I will take $2.00 for it…..all right $1.00 even.