The 2006 golf season is just around the corner for most of us. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you can play golf all year, these tips will still be useful. Please take a few minutes to check and see if you are prepared for opening day at your golf course.

First and foremost, if you did not get your grips re-gripped last fall, this would be a perfect time. Make sure you ask the club repair person to measure the size of you grips and to replace them with the exact same size. If they replace them with a grip too big or too small, it can throw off your feel. While you are at it, if you have a shaft that is broken, now is the time to have it re-shafted. Most of the repair shops are not to busy this time of the year.

This is the time of the year when all of the new equipment is hitting the stores. If you wait to buy a new club in June, it might take you some time to get use to it. Start looking now if you want to replace a wedge, or a fairway wood. Here are a couple of tips for buying fairway woods- if the shaft is too stiff, the ball flight will be lower and it might go right. If you buy a shaft that is too weak, the ball flight will be too high and the ball will have a tendency to go left. So, it's important to get your swing speed measured, so that you have the correct shaft lex.

Many people think they know, but really they end up purchasing a flex that is a bit off.

There is nothing wrong with heading out to an indoor facility and start taking some swings. Before you do that, make sure you have taken some swings for a couple of weeks in the garage or outside. A pulled muscle is a tough way to start the season. As age progresses, muscles get tighter. Make sure to take the time to stretch properly in the beginning of the season, and it will benefit you down the road. Many of your "golf muscles" aren't the muscles that you generally use in everyday life. So make sure to warm them up properly before you start the season.

I will post a newsletter again on the February 15, 2006. The topic will be on how to check to see if you have the proper grip before you hit the ball. The grip is the SINGLE most important part of the golf swing, in my opinion. Don't try building a dream house on shaky ground.

Take care, and it is a pleasure to write these tips for you. I look forward to helping you play much better and consistent golf in 06.

Yours in Great Golf,

Bobby Eldridge - Head Professional of "The Simple Golf Swing"

P.S. I am BIG on the short game. Simply put, a good short game can convert you from a "decent golfer" into a scorer". I've put together a short game academy that will do just that, and we've decided to start the "Simple Golf Swing" academy with the short game because it's the easiest and fastest way to lower your scores. We also have posted a special audio message that will tell you more about the short game academy. If you are interested, I look forward to meeting you and teaching you "The Simple Golf Swing - Short Game" personally. You can find the itinerary and apply for the short game academy by tapping below.

http://www.hypertracker.com/go/dnevogt/sendtoacademy1/ss25/