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Golf Gadgets

If you're a player, you've probably already gone through your bag, putting together your '98 wish list for new equipment. The question is, have you got the goods to play your best golf this season? If the answer is yes, read no further. But if you're willing to let yourself be tempted by a few interesting new products, have your credit card ready...operators are standing by.

At the world's largest golf exposition, the 45th PGA Golf Merchandise Show held last month in Orlando, hundreds of must-have items made their debut. Promising everything from better performance to more comfort, the exhibits displayed the newest developments in equipment, as well as the latest in apparel and accessories.

Titanium is the golf's metal-of-the-moment these days, and the products offered at the PGA booths used the high-strength material in every imaginable way. Ping was touting its oversized "totally custom-fit titanium driver," the new Ping ISI Titanium (1-800-4-PING-FIT). The Black Cat Tour driver of forged Beta Titanium (made famous by Fred Couples during his win at the Chrysler Classic) was also attracting interest (1-800-233-5969). The ti buzz even extended to balls: the new Wilson Staff Titanium Double Ti ball has a titanium alloy core plus an inner titanium cover under the Surlyn outer cover (1-800-622-0444).

Cobra Golf introduced a putter designed by Bobby Grace with a tri-plane sole, said to reduce "scuff strokes" caused by striking the green too soon (1-800-223-3537). And Scotty Cameron, puttermaker for stars including Tiger Woods and Justin Leonard, has extended his line of Teryllium putters and introduced a limited edition model (1-888-324-4766).

Big Bertha, one of the most famous names in irons, is getting bigger and better with its new line of Big Bertha X-12 irons. The X-12s have a sleek new profile, with narrower soles and slightly shorter clubheads (1-800-228-2767). Meanwhile, Prince, best known for its tennis racquets, has broken into the golf market with its Thunderstick iron, which features its trademark shock-absorbing technology (1-800-997-7462).

On the PGA's hot list of new merchandise were several ingenious new gadgets designed to lighten the load of those heavy golf bags. The Travel Set, for example, is an ultra-light "revolutionary golf set" that has only one shaft with interchangeable heads (the heads screw on and off with a simple twist). The set's mini-bag, equipped with a tripod, means you'll never have to drag a weighty set of clubs through the airport again (1-888-878-5738). Also on display was the new dual strap golf bag by Izzo, which distributes the load of the bag over two padded shoulder straps for better balance and less fatigue (1-800-284-1220).

With more and more players giving up golf carts in favor of walking the course, innovative manufacturers are also coming up with new ideas for high-tech, automated pull carts. There's the self-propelled ClubRunner, which looks like a reconverted lawn mower (800-508-5408), or the Dynamis, said to be the first truly portable, remote-controlled caddy on the market. Complete with 33-amp battery, it even fits in your car trunk. In the low-tech-but-great-idea category, there's the Comfortcart, with a built-in seat that pops out for a relaxing break (1-800-370-5942).

Another contender on the PGA hot list is the Fairway Finder, an alignment aid that promises better control of the tee shot because it squares the club at impact. This tiny tool is even USGA approved (1-800-474-7412). If you need more help getting your shot where you want it, you might try Bushnell's Rangefinder, a hand-held distance finder that measures the precise length from you to your target. It uses an infared laser to discern distances up to 400 yards and displays them in the view finder, so you can select the correct club (800-669-8600).

Chances are that one of these clever new gadgets will make a difference in your game. Now, if they would only invent that hole-in-one detector…

Crofton Golf Club's PGA pro, Bill Sporre, likes the Adams "Tight Lies" fairway woods, which debuted in 1997. "A lot of courses locally are going to bent grass fairways, and this is one product that really helps amateur golfers there," he says.

Bruce Moffatt, assistant golf professional at Eisenhower Golf Course, hesitates to single out any new golf gizmos, but encourages players to experiment with whatever they like. "Anything that helps your game is great," he says.