Bag problem solved

My search for a new trolley bag took me to the local range shop last week where I was eying up a Callaway Weekender. I also quite fancied the Taylormade MAG F1 on offer at Great Value Golf. both of then had all the features I wanted and looked very robust, if a bit bulky for me to lug in and out of the boot. Another complaint was that they were in very sober colours and I had an uncharacteristic yearning for something prettier, if not exactly girly (which I felt was not too much to ask for the best part of £100). Then, as we mooched around the Pro-shop at Orchardleigh, MOH spotted a Benross Zephyr that looked pretty smart and a bit less bulky. We couldn't find a price tag, but further investigations revealed not only a good range of storage but also, mysteriously, a single winter glove, a book of the Rules of Golf (well-thumbed) and what appeared to be the remains of a cereal bar. It didn't take Hercule Poirot to deduce the bag was second-hand, but despite the added extras in pretty good nick. We did a very satisfactory deal with the pro-shop staff, and now as you can see, it's mine! Having Googled the bag in question, and come up with prices from £60 to £75, I’m pretty pleased with myself.

So it was a case of thanks to the previous owner for the book, and out with the vacuum cleaner to dispose of the crumbs. (We returned the glove!) Here's the new baby posing in the garden, kitted out and ready to go.

Bring 'em on

With my search officially launched (impending birthday) for a new set of irons, I took myself down to the local range last week where the sales staff gave me six to try out which I quickly whittled down to two. I was surprised to find that these included the Ping G5 L which initially felt odd and I thought looked clumsy. But there was no getting away from the fact that the balls I was hitting with these were going at least 5 yards further. (Distance may not be everything, but in my book it counts for a lot). Otherwise my favourites would have been the Callaway X20s. Balance? Feel? I don’t know, but as soon as I picked up the 7 iron it somehow just felt right.
Needless to say neither of these are budget clubs, in fact top of the range would be closer to the mark. I’m not sure I’m worth that much even on my birthday and am envying my golfing buddy who recently bought some MacGregors with a very similar feel to the X20s but as far as I can see are no longer on the market.
As for those long-hitting G5s? As I was driving home and reflecting on my experience (as all we educators like to do) it struck me that not all of the clubs I’d tried out had been 7s. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Ping was a 6. Maybe I should go back and check!