After more rain than I can remember in my lifetime, I finally got the chance to play eighteen with a portion of my new clubs. Thus far I've received driver, three wood and 21 degree utility club ...all Titleist! And just in time for yesterday's round the Vokey wedges showed up. The full compliment of four, of course!

So, out I go with this motley collection of beautiful woods, primo wedges and twenty year old Ping Eye 2 irons with the crustiest grips I've ever touched. Needless to say, I spent most of the day putting myself into position to use these delicious wedges.

And I must admit that I'm glad I chose the oil can finish. Lots of critics warned me about the deteriorating finish. Even Titleist slaps a warning label on each shaft with a friendly but specific statement about how the finish will change over time.

These are some of the coolest looking clubs I've seen and the finish is already beginning to show wear. They rapidly became the focus of my day on the course. I even had to drop a few extra balls to get that second swing in. So sweet! 

We finished the day without much betting bloodshed and on my way home I witnessed one glorious sunset! All is good with the world. 

No one has a better seat for watching the magnificent 17th hole at Sawgrass than me. I've got my cushy Lazyboy reclined into the perfect three-quarter position with my favorite refreshing beverage close at hand. The big hi-definition image is fabulous and my family understands that any effort to move me is futile. So in this potato-state I relish The Players Championship as if I was there.

One my favorite holes to watch in professional golf is the 17th at Sawgrass. And I'm not alone. The attending fans swarm the 17th and rally around their favorite pro as he walks onto this infamous tee box. It's a real treat for the fans!

And as we watch each contestant step up, those clever programming pros at NBC split the screen with the standard trajectory shot and a static shot of the players reaction. And for one brief slice of time you get a real-time window into the heart and soul of some of these incredible athletes. And somehow I find a way to momentarily relate to some of these big strikers, even if it is with the unfortunate shots that find the drink.

I dig that story of Fred Couple's famous shot into the water followed by the hole-in-one. You know he was completely aligned with the universe when he penned that par on his scorecard.

Maybe you could give up a few of your own all-time favorite Sawgrass stories. Time to share... 

We've all witnessed it. Your opponent, having forgotten his towel, routinely marks his ball on the green. He takes one look and has a quick lick to remove that slightly scruffy mark from his perfect ProV1. It would seem to be a harmless enough practice until you recount the amount of times you've seen it that day. And I'd bet my brand new Titleist driver, you've only seen a fraction of the actual tastings that go on throughout the round.

And now the bad news. Golf courses have been using and assortment of aggressive pesticides and herbicides for decades and although there is a definite trend toward more natural and organic forms of weed and pest control most groundskeepers use whatever is necessary to keep their course looking good. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSA) contends that properly used pesticides pose no health risk if used according to label instructions. But I'm certain there is no mention of direct ingestion on any labels.

Now I'm certain you would probably never dip your hand into a fertilizer bag in your garage as if it were a big bag of Cracker Jacks. Nor would you pour yourself a shot of Round Up in lieu of cool and refreshing lemonade. And yet I've witnessed the ball licking habit on more occasions that I'm comfortable with.

So tell me. Does proper golf etiquette dictate some gracious way to tell your friend he's working on a slow self-poison?

The buzz about proper on-course hydration is all around us. So much so that I recently decided to give up my long term love affair with diet soda in favor of an increased water intake. I wouldn't consider myself an early adopter by any means, but I swear I'm feeling the positive effects of better hydration each day.

There is plenty of expert commentary on the subject. Mike Pedersen has a great post called The importance of water cannot be ignored. I am particularly fascinated with the digestive benefits of adding lemon to your drinking water. He has also done a bit of homework on which water brands are worth drinking.

So here we stand, at the beginning of the golf season and I find myself wondering how I will remain sufficiently hydrated on the course this summer. In years past I've guzzled randomly from the public water jugs placed throughout most courses. But the prank stories I've heard about those containers and what people do in them has me feeling a bit tenuous about continuing that practice.

Then, out of the blue, I received an email from a loyal golfnoise reader who has developed a nifty water bottle carrier system. It's called the Golfing Caddy. She expertly pointed out that most bags do not have a built in water carrier pocket. And, as I've been shopping for golf bags since my freaky golf club rip-off, I've noticed that she is absolutely correct.

She was kind enough to send me one and I'm quite pleased with it. It is a well-manufactured product that has a host of convenient features including a compartment that holds a 24 ounce bottle with a snuggly fitting insulation cooler sleeve. The study wrist strap is configured with a substantial metal clip that allows you to clip to your bag or carry it in hand. It also sports a nifty pleated pocket with a Velcro closure for sunglasses, a cell phone or some other quick access valuable. The attached micro fiber towel is perfect for wiping hands, golf balls or golf clubs.

In truth, I've haven't used my new Golfing Caddy on the course yet, but it was a welcome addition at my son's baseball game last week. It was also a perfect fit for a recent family hike through the park. I can't wait to load it up for the upcoming golf rounds. So if you're interested in improved hydration for the long and toasty summer ahead, jump over to BVT Products and check these carriers out. There are few models to choose from and the price is definitely right!

I spent the better part of my Saturday at a demo day at my former country club. Demo day is a club sponsored practice range gathering where all the major manufacturers bring demo clubs and accessories so the members can test drive the latest and greatest golf technologies. It's a terrific situation for anybody who is actively shopping for new sticks, like myself. A special thanks to my good friend Spivey who was gracious enough to invite me to the event.

I tried on Callaways, Titleists, Nikes, Mizunos, Taylor Made, Bridgestones, Pings and Srixons. Each had it's own unique selling proposition as you might expect from these top brands. I sampled and assortment of drivers, 3 woods and utility clubs. I also managed to swing irons of every size and shape. It was really fun!

The bottom line is that I'm torn between the Ping I-10s and the Titleist AP2s. The Pings are familiar to me as my stolen clubs were i3s. But the feel and look of the AP2s were absolutely fantastic. Maybe a few wise and generous Golfnoise readers could help to push me in the right direction. I can use all the help I can get.

Just watched Tiger par the 18th from the junk for the second time. The guy is fearless when it comes to recovery strategies. He's definitely on the hunt and the competition has a tendency to crash and burn when he turns up the pressure! I've been following Armchair Golfer's on-the-course Masters coverage for the past several days. His view from the inside is both informative and entertaining.

The Masters is all about the best of the best and Tiger Woods is never too far afield when the best is required. Will he win? Only the foolhardy would bet against him. Some would say it's his to lose. There's a nifty masters chat room over at the official Masters Tournament site. Just click on the "Chat Now" and jump into one of the many ongoing live discussions. I chatted with a few fellas about whether Tiger would win or not. Loads of good chatter. Don't miss it.

There are a few sporting events that I insist on watching in hi-definition. Let me see... there's the NCAA Final Four (congrats Jayhawks), The Super Bowl, The Stanley Cup, The World Series and, of course, every major golf tournament. And as any self-respecting sports fan knows, the best hi-def sports coverage on the planet is The Masters!

It's all very intimate, you see. It's about crispy new golf shirts, highly polished golf shoes and perfectly creased trousers. The grounds are... well... Augusta National after all. The pristinely manicured grounds look magnificent from every angle. Even the fans are better looking at The Masters. Go figure!

So as I lick my chops in anticipation of kicking back for the big event I suddenly realize that my service provider, Charter Cable, doesn't carry the CBS hi-definition feed. No worries though... I'm setting my DVR for the Golf Channel coverage and hitting my local pub for the big rounds! 

I walked into the house after my custom golf club fitting and asked my wife, "Do I look any different?" Her reply was, "Not really. Why?" I said, "Cause I'm officially custom fit for golf clubs at this moment." Her simple reply was, "Wow!"

Is it safe to say your whole life changes after a serious golf club fitting?  Well, maybe not a major life change, but it's certainly an eye opening experience. My new found friend and master club fitter John Kelly at Midwest Golf Lab has twenty years of experience working with players of every size, shape and handicap. He definitely knows what he knows. And I believe that's a lot!

For my iron fitting I hit the range about an hour before to warm up a bit. John handed me a six iron once I arrived and we began. The session resulted in personal specifications and recommendations for length, shafts, grips, swingweight, lofts and lie angles. The Trackman Launch Monitor System rocks! This is the state of the art system that tells everything... and I mean everything about each shot! And for the club fitee, an ultra cool computer visual and voice over that reports on every shot.

I returned today for my driver fitting. Unfortunately, the past weeks have been consistently cold and rainy. I have found no real opportunity to get out and swing the big stick. I started the session pretty cold and just couldn't find the groove. Thankfully, John is a patient man. He gently suggested that the fitting could really only be as good as the swings I could put on the ball. I agreed. John saved my fledgling session and invited me back once I get a few rounds under my belt.

I'm wondering if perhaps I should shift my focus over to a lesson instead of a fitting. After all, I've never had any real driver instruction. Perhaps a few refreshment fundamentals might help me get a few steps closer to a serious t-ball.

So the big question... Is all this golf club fitting hubub worth the effort? I suppose it depends on your own golf depth. For me, it's all good. I've learned a bunch about what works and what doesn't. That alone is worth the price of the fitting. So, I suppose I am a changed man who has moved just a bit closer to good ...with a fresh set of weapons on the way.

Who says sunglasses built for "watersports" aren't well suited for the great game of golf. Sometimes you just have to reach out and grab some of the cool stuff when it comes across your path. That's just what I was thinking when browsing the Golfnoise sunglasses store this morning.

I am forever on the hunt for really great golf gear and when I found these Tag Heuer sunglasses I just had to have a closer look. The frame and the temples of the Physics series are made out of a specific Titanium, Aluminum and Magnesium alloy which is twice as light as pure Titanium. This alloy offers the best ratio resistance/lightness in the eyewear industry. The hypoallergenic composite rubber nose-pad, patented strap and end-tips provide excellent adherence and no-skid. These guys are winning product design accolades for there hi-tech eyewear.

So pop on over to the Golfnoise Sunglasses store and have a look at the fantastic array of sun-protection eyewear by Tag Heuer. They even have models specifically suited for golf and tennis. And in case you were wondering... the prices have me reaching for my credit card. Don't miss it!

It's been a few weeks since the golfbag heist and I'm feeling rather unprepared for the pending season opening rounds. Normal springtime golf banter has taken on a sureal quality as my friends are looking to book tee times and I'm still without a useful set of weapons.

But things are about to change for the better. I'm scheduled for a complete club fitting session with local legend John Kelly tomorrow afternoon. And once I work through the jittery skank balls and misfires, I'm certain all the planets will once again align for the noisemaker.

I'm a bit torn about the whole hi-grade fitting process. On one hand, I'm not certain the premium fitting session is really going to make me feel any better about my game. But I'm totally curious about what it's like to strap on the K-Vest biofeedback equipment and rip a few for the dual video camera analysis. I'll try to control my emotions once the Trackman Launch Monitor reveals my true distance and accuracy. You know, it's the same system used on TV to analize the big dogs on the tour.

At this point my curiosity far outweighs my fear so I'm pressing into the unknown session with all the confidence I can muster. After everything is said and done I'll be completely retooled and that's going to be sweet!

Oh, and did I mention, the course pro where my clubs were lifted has agreed to let me buy everything through their proshop at cost! That should keep my wallet from too much pain and anguish.

The weather was perfect Sunday morning. Schedules had shifted just enough to permit a quiet nine-hole spring primer round. Life is good!

I nailed a crisp nine iron pin high just left of the flag stick on the third hole. My opponent is about 30 feet in front. I grab the cart and head for the green. Once parked, I grab both putters from the bags and stroll over to the green. I miss the birdie by inches but I'm charged up and ready for the next hole.

Amidst some friendly banter I raise my arm to replace the putter in the bag. But there is no bag! My friend's bag is there but mine is gone... like vapor!

"What the F__k happened?" ...is my opponent's knee jerk reaction. We look around, but all is quiet. It's 10:00 AM, Sunday morning and my golf bag has been stolen right off of the back of the cart on the third hole.

Now if your weekend golfing ritual is anything like mine, then you're beginning to get the bigger picture here. Your bag is your personal locker adorned with plushy pockets for your assorted valuables. In my case... my wallet, watch, car keys and cell phone! Now let that little nugget of bad news sink in a bit.

We hi-tale it back to the pro-shop to call the police. I phone my wife who graciously and immediately cancels every one of my credit cards. I have a lively conversation with Officer Scott who regrettably advises me not to expect too much in terms of finding my stuff. FINE!

As it stands, my round of golf is over. I'm now mentally shifting my attention to my enormous lack of identity. I have no driver's license, credit cards, cash or insurance info. I have no car keys, house key or office keys. My watch is gone and my cell phone, with every important phone number, is history! It's not that everything can't be replaced, but when the impact of that notion initially takes hold, it can bring anyone's bright and shiny world to a grinding halt!

The week ahead proves to be a tricky and unexpected series of phone messages, call backs and one creepy visit to the DMV (The Dept. of Motor Vehicles). At present, my identity issues are nearly fully reinstalled. It's been one hell of an inconvenient process, but ultimately very doable.

And then there is the situation of the golf clubs. I will be completely retooling, which is an exciting thought, but my recently increased homeowners deductible dictates that I'll be digging deep into my own pocket for the whole shootin-match!

So lets hear it... all ye faithful golfnoise readers. I'm looking for any and all suggestions. Tell me about your favorite clubs, bags, drivers, wedges, rescue clubs, ditty bags and rain gear. I'm dropping the mother load!

And stay tuned, cause I'm going to lean into the general manager of the golf club to see if they're interested in doing noisemaker a solid!

I recently received an interesting request from a devoted southern California reader.

Hey. How about discussing some criteria for selecting a golf ball to match one's game. I am tempted to buy the name brands but my game is so not worth the 35 bucks, particularly since I am a woman and don't have the same swing speed as the male bigger hitters like you. So, I'm interested in your opinion before I lay my money down on new balls for the upcoming season. How's that for noise? 

First let me say... Forget the swing speed/male big hitter baloney. Everyone is entitled to there own game and getting a golf ball fitment can be as important for you as it is for the great Tiger Woods. As golf is a game built on confidence, I would submit that if it's important to play the ball that matches your game, then set your sites on finding it.

Ask at your next lesson. Any teacher worth his/her salt should be familiar with the latest golf ball technology. You may also want to inquire at your local golf discount store. Be advised that their motivation is to make a sale, however. And what about your regular golfing friends? Let them test the snazzy balls and you reap the benefits of their hard research.

When your ready to shop, start right here at Golfnoise's Top 5 Golf Balls. These babies are the cream of the crop. For an expanded list, hop over to Golf Digest's Hot List 2008. You'll find a tricked-up rating system with color-coded indicators for outstanding, very good and good. Included are actual user comments and a variety of price points. There's enough info to satisfy players at every level.

A few of my inside-the-ropes lady friend golfers swear by the Precept MC Lady, Callaway's HX Pearl and Volvik's Crystal Soft Pink. Nike's Karma is also gaining popularity with a few well-turned female players.

So there you go. Your mission now is to step up and test fly a few until you find one that works. Then, let me know if this golfnoise put you on the right path because, frankly, I think your game is worth a bit more than 35 bucks!