Picture yourself behind the wheel of an Edsel. Now, picture yourself in the Indy 500 in a couple of weeks.
Needless to say, you couldn't keep up with modern-day race cars. The same applies to the golf industry.
It seems like only yesterday when I parted with $140 for a complete set of aluminum shaft golf clubs. Actually, it was 1965, one year after graduation from Onalaska High School. My new clubs, fresh out of the carton, were some of the latest and greatest with the lightweight shafts and persimmon woods.
Little did I know that I would uses these clubs for the next 36 years, totally unaware they weren't the right fit for me. Oh sure, I shot a few pretty good scores.
Even broke par a couple of times, but I also shot in the 90s more times than I want to remember.
Yet, nowhere along the way did I realize how important custom fit clubs were until I met Tom Gees, Scott Hauser and Dave Enos.
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It was Gees, PGA teaching professional, who convinced me to take a series of golf lessons with him. That, in itself, has made a tremendous difference.
Custom fit clubs are the second part of the equation with a long-range goal to trim my 14 handicap down to single digits.
"Those clubs are ancient. You have to get rid of those things," said Gees during my first lesson. "You won't be ready for a while. Once we feel comfortable with your new swing, then we'll think about new clubs."
That was last January. Two weeks ago, Gees gave me the go-ahead for new clubs. I made an appointment with Scott Hauser at Northland Golf & Ski in La Crosse, and today I'm the proud owner of the second new set of clubs in my life.
Hauser and his business partner, Enos, have been custom fitting clubs for 11 years at Northland. They're good. Perhaps that's why they're so busy.
"What club do you hit from 150 yards?" asked Hauser, firing off one question after another as I laced up my golf shoes before my custom club fitting session.
"I used to hit a 6-iron, but now it's a 5-iron," I replied.
Hauser picked out a "modern-day" left-handed 5-iron and watched me hit one dozen golf balls into a hitting net.
Hauser was shocked after the session. Gees was mildly surprised. As for me, I couldn't believe what the computer revealed.
"There must be something wrong with the computer. One club can not make that much difference," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "How can I struggle to hit my own 5-iron 150 yards, and average 206 with this club?"
"Simple," Hauser said. "Lessons with Tom, and golf technology has come a long way since 1965."
The computerized swing analysis checked my average club speed, clubface position, tempo, back path, down path, impact position, average distance and deviation from the center of the fairway.
"Aluminum shafts were big in the 1960s, but then they kind of faded away," Enos said. "In the 1970s, manufacturers went back to steel."
Hauser, Enos and Gees recommended a graphite shaft driver. They agreed that the remaining woods and all of the irons should be made from steel because of my quick downswing, clocked at 92.39 mph.
"Most men average 75 mph and women 60 mph. Anything over 85 mph is great," Enos said.
Hauser and Enos also used degree readings and computer data from my swing analysis to determine the shaft length and flex, lie angle and offset. They also fit me with the right-sized grip. It was then agreed the set would be composed of a titanium driver, 3-, 5- and 7-woods, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- and 9-irons, a pitching wedge, a gap wedge and a sand wedge.
"It's up to you, but we suggest you consider our ACER clubs, which are similar design and material of the top-line golf manufacturers," Enos said. "The main difference between the big names and ACER is you aren't paying for the marketing and advertising, although when it comes to selling, there's much better re-sale value with the big-name clubs."
Sell these clubs? You kidding? I'm set for another 36 years.
n PINK RIBBON CLASSIC: The American Cancer Society Pink Ribbon Classic four-person scramble, scheduled for Wednesday at Cedar Creek Country Club in Onalaska, Wis., is adding a unique touch this year.
The 18th hole is dedicated to American Cancer Society family members, friends and loved ones who are cancer survivors and former cancer patients. For a $10 tax-deductible donation, the name of the person to whom the 18th hole is dedicated will be displayed on pink flags lining the cart path.
For more information, call Kris Hyer at (608) 783-5000.
n JUNIORS SWITCH: Ken Damaschke, golf professional at Drugan's Castle Mound Golf Course in Holmen, Wis., is moving his free juniors golf clinic back one week. This year's clinic is re-scheduled for the week of Monday, June 18, through Friday, June 22. For more information, call Damaschke at (608) 526-3225.