Ever watch golf on TV -- or perhaps a tourney in person? You see crowds of people watching the game, but very few actually playing. And even if you look at those playing the game, most would admit they would like to improve their game.

   Why is this so? Because improving your golf game requires time and a genuine commitment to making some changes in how you play your game. What I am trying to do here is outline a few things that you can do to help take your game to the next level.

   First of all, lay aside all the hype. You don't need to buy the latest golfing video. What you MUST do is master the fundamentals. What are they? You already know: your stance and posture, your backswing and downswing - and your putting game. Master those things before anything else.

   Again I repeat, stay away from your golf pro shop - if you have your heart set on buying merchandise, that is. But you CAN get something good at your golf pro shop - buy some lessons from your club's golf pro. Those lessons will do you more good than anything else. How can you hope to master the fundamentals of the game when you are off the course, watching a video or reading a book?

   But if you DO get the itch to buy something, there is one thing that will do you a world of good: a training aid. These are devices that will strap around your hands, feet, legs -- and they will restrict and direct your body movements as you swing and put. Put one of them on and just start practicing. After a while you will forget that you have it on. And long after you have taken it off, your body will remember what you have taught it, and will respond the correct way. A good training aid can become your secret weapon.

   Well, what's after that? I would recommend some further lessons at this stage. You need him/her to look you over carefully as you play the game, and tell you about things that you were already told about but have forgotten. In addition, your pro can give you some advanced lessons on distance putting, chip shots, playing in the rough, etc. After all, you weren't ready to learn about those things earlier - you just needed to learn how to hit the ball straight.

   Let me take a moment to take about golf clubs. This is probably the area where more money is wasted than anywhere else. If you are a newbie to the game, don't even bother buying a set until you have played at least 5 games. Until then you can rent a used set. And when you buy your first set, buy a good used one - take the money you save and get some more pro lessons. At that point in your game you will benefit more from the lessons than that $1,000 set of pro clubs.

   My final recommendation to you is this: Unless you are aiming for the ranks of professional golfers, you need to make sure that you are having FUN when you play the game. Having a lot of fun will help you to stay interested and to keep playing -- and that, more than anything else, will help you to improve your golf game in the long run. Here's to your success!