The Personal Touch

      What ever happened to the personal touch? Why is it that as a society we have given up on relating to each other and instead going the electronic and techno route? I like dealing face to face with people not a keyboard and computer screen. Just call me old fashion but I like to deal with people not a machine. We have given up on our five senses in the pursuit of total convenience. That search for ease has spilled over into the golf industry.
       The golf course pro shop has become an endangered species and this is very sad. What has happened is the golf shop has transitioned from where you went for your golf needs and were taken care of by the golf staff to basically a 7-11 convenience store where you pay your green fee and only purchase a sleeve of balls or a bag of tees because you discovered you were out at the last moment before your tee time. The shop is an afterthought for last minute items and not where you buy your shoes or clubs. Scheduling a lesson doesn't even cross our minds.
     We try to fix whatever is wrong with our swing by going to the internet and buying a series of lessons where we have no concept of what our golf swing should be in the first place.  If you are a thrifty sort, you go to YouTube and look up what is happening in your swing and bam, the problem is fixed. Or is it? After viewing the video CD lessons or seeing the free videos on YouTube you go to the course or range to try what amazing things you just learned only to find that it worked with Joe Pro on the Video and their swing, but is not the cure that you have been looking for and your swing is worse. Do me a favor, take some live lessons from a professional.  They can see what needs to be done to improve your swing and game.
     I go out of my way to spend my golf dollars in the local pro shop. My irons were fitted and made for me by a local club maker.  I told you the story of my driver in one of my other posts.  My feet are a very strange size, so I have to order my shoes specially made and I normally do that through my course pro shop. The time having my feet measured by a human adds value to my shoe purchase and I know my shoes will fit. I buy a lot of shirts at the course, even though it drives my wife crazy that my wardrobe is mostly logoed golf shirts. Golf balls are also included in my pro shop purchases and the funny thing is, prices are not that much higher than on line or in a "big box" store.  There is also nothing like the personal attention and knowledge from the shop staff.
      Spend your money in the pro shop.  The personal "Thank You" sure beats the "Add To Cart" button.
   

The pro shop.  Your source for everything golf.