Muni Golfer's Darrell Survey

At every PGA, LPGA, Champions, Nationwide and Japanese PGA Tour event, I representative of the Darrell Survey stands on the 1st and 10th tees during the tournaments first round and records the equipment being used by each golfer in the field. This information is then compiled into a weekly and yearly report that is sent to subscribing golf equipment companies. The companies use this information to monitor that their staff players are adhering to their contracts, as well as using the information in print and broadcast advertising. So when TaylorMade claims it is the #1 Driver on the PGA Tour or Titleist says it is the #1 one ball in golf, it is thanks to the data collected by the Darrell Survey.

While no one from the Darrell Survey has ever looked in my bag before I started a round of golf, I do keep a record of the equipment I use during every round I play each year. So here then is my version of what the Darrell Survey's year end report would have contained for the Muni Golfer for the 2011 season. In the 13 rounds I played last year, I used one driver, seven fairway woods, 3 hybrids, one 4-iron, two sets of irons (5-GW), three wedges, four putters, seven golf balls and three golf gloves.

Here's a breakdown:

Drivers:
Wilson Staff Smooth

 Fairway Woods:
Adams Redline RPM 4-wood, Sonartec SS-07 4-wood, TaylorMade Burner 3-wood, TaylorMade Burner 5-wood, Adams Fast 10 3-wood, Adams Fast 10 5-wood, Golfsmith XPC Plus 4-wood

Hybrids:
Tommy Armour 845, TaylorMade Raylor

4-iron:
TaylorMade r7 CGB

Irons (5-GW):
TaylorMade Burner, Wilson Staff Ci-7s

Wedges:
Solus 53-degree, Solus 56-degree, Solus 59-degree

Putters:
Odyssey White Hot XG #9, Odyssey White Hot Tour #9, Odyssey White Hot Rossie, Snake Eyes MCS-2

Golf Balls:
Maxfli Revolution, Maxfli Fire, Wilson Staff Zip, Titleist Prototype #1, Titleist Prototype #2, Titleist NXT, Titleist DT SoLo

Golf Gloves:
adidas Exert, FootJoy Sta-Soft, FootJoy SciFlex

A Late Start

Well, here it is the end of the first week May and I have yet to get to the golf course, let alone the practice range. My season is off to the latest start in recent memory. My first scheduled is in two weeks, so it is time to start earnest preparations. It I can get to the practice range three times--twice to hit balls and once to chip and putt--and get in a practice round next weekend, I could have my game in enough shape to play the scheduled 18 holes with my foursome.

Today, I went through my golf bag, making sure my equipment is ready. I re-gripped an Adams Redline RPM 4-Wood, which is going back into my bag as the only fairway wood. In addition, I added a 20-degree hybrid and 59-degree Solus lob wedge. This means my bag will consist of a Drive, 4-Wood, hybrid, irons (4-GW), sand wedge, lob wedge and putter. I had a great deal of success with a similar set configuration in 2008. I also marked some new golf balls, put three new golf gloves in my bag and re-stocked by supply of energy bars.

The golf season is well under way, but for me it's just beginning. I have a bit of catching up to do, but hopefully it won't take too long before I'm in the swing for 2011.

Victory Golf Show: Like a Kid in a Candy Store

My friend Ken and I attended the Victory Golf Show at the King of Prussia Convention Center this past Sunday. The show was just what any golfer needed to begin shaking off the winter blues and rekindle the excitement of the coming season. It was like being a kid in a candy store as hundreds of vendors offered discounted golf equipment, as well as information, discounts and bargains on golf courses and golfing destinations. There was also hitting bays in which you could test the latest golf equipment from the leading manufacturers such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, Adams, Cleveland, and Mizuno; instruction from some of the area's top PGA professionals; contests, entertainers like comedian and impressionist Billy Finch and local sports celebrities like Eagles play-by-play broadcaster Merrill Reese.

One of The Muni Golfer's favorite stops was Rock Bottom Golf, an online discount golf retailer from which numerous clubs and other equipment. One of the advantages to visiting the golf show on Sunday is many vendors are slashing their already discounted prices. With that in mind, The Muni Golfer went looking a new 4 hybrid. I managed to pick up both a 4 AND a 5 hybrid from Nickent Golf. I got the newer 3DX DC Ironwood model to replace my 4 iron, and the older 3DX Ironwood to replace my 5 iron. They will make nicely complement the Nickent 19 degree 3DX DC Utility that's already in my bag. The guys from Rock Bottom Golf were even nice enough to credit an online $10-off coupon which I forgot to print out and bring with me. I got both hybrids for $100. Ken also picked up a Nickent 3DX Ironwood 4 hybrid at Rock Bottom Golf.

Another fun aspect of the golf show is seeing a lot of the unique golf products that you don't necessarily find in the golf catalogs or stores. One interesting item that Ken and I both bought was the Dry Grip Rain 'R' Shine golf towel from Golf Duck. This unique product is a microfiber golf towel that you clip to your golf bag to keep your clubs clean. But it has a water-resistant outer shell and flips over your clubs to keep them dry like a rain hood in wet weather. A neat little dual-purpose golf accessory that was being sold for $20. Ken also picked up a pair of winter golf gloves from Valley Forge Gloves, a local golf glove manufacturer, and a long-sleeve mock polo for $20.

All-in-all, it was a fun time, almost as fun as being out on the fairways. And by the end of the day, when it was time to leave, it sure felt like Ken and I had walked 18 holes...