Golf on a budget

>> Hit the links in style without losing your shirt

by ERIK LEIJON

At this time of year, as the snow slowly begins to disappear, every single outlet mall, big retailer and hotel conference room has a golf equipment sale. They all hope to grab a few precious bucks from seasonal hackers who forgot they tore a hole through their glove in September after tossing a pitching wedge into a nearby stream in disgust after another frustrating summer on the links.

So, even though there might not be decent, dry golf conditions for a while, here are some equipment suggestions for golfers on a more moderate budget. The items should be available at most golf retailers. And remember to search the rummage bins for gold—a $400 driver isn’t going to drop your score if you’re sporting an 18 handicap.

Jazz Golf Complete Sets
(11-piece Fat Cat for men,
seven-piece Ensemble for
women)
When buying a complete set of golf clubs (presumably the first time), it’s important to not buy used clubs or hand-me-downs. Nor is there a need to go through every conceivable measurement or time your golf swing, because most clubs come in a standard length. But it is important to feel comfortable with the weight and head design, since every company has their own particularities.

Jazz is the only Canadian manufacturer of clubs, and have complete sets based on a player’s competence. There’s no use buying beginner clubs—regardless of brand—since they tend to cost about the same and don’t make those first few rounds any easier. Whichever set you choose, just remember to actually feel them first, specifically the flex on the clubs, since many people will prefer harder, steel or hybrid clubs as a matter of taste.

If a nameless department store set feels good, there’s no shame in a beginner saving a few hundred dollars. Any set comes with the woods and irons, but putters, sand wedges, bags and bigger drivers need to be purchased separately. The Jazz ladies’ Ensemble set actually comes with a putter and bag, making it a great value for female players. The American company Founders Club also has well-priced and good quality sets.

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $430–$480 for Fat Cat, $280 for Ensemble

Titleist NXT
Extreme Golf Balls
Using progressively more expensive golf balls is like a sadomasochistic fetish. Beginners will happily buy refurbished balls from Zellers and not care where they end up or how scuffed they get, but once you graduate to a slightly flashier brand (Dunlop DDH Arrow Straights are nice, although out of circulation), suddenly every decent shot will be directly attributed to the new balls. Titleist NXT extreme balls—which provide excellent distance but are soft enough for people who don’t use much spin—are the next step. Just remember, once you trade up, you can never go back.
MSRP: $35 for a dozen

Etonic G>Sok Golf Shoes
It is impossible to improve one’s golf game wearing running shoes. Also, don’t wear football or hard cleats because they’ll destroy the course. More than other spiked shoes, golf footwear primarily needs to be comfortable, because an 18-hole round will mean walking for hours on end. Etonic’s are among the least expensive you’ll find, yet should get the job done in the waterproof and style department. As for keeping your feet firm to the ground on your follow through, that will require practice. You’ll also need to re-spike your shoes when they get worn out (which will set you back another $10 each time).
MSRP: $80

Callaway Sport Series
S200 Sunglasses
Playing without sunglasses or any type of headwear to protect your eyes from the sun’s glare will ensure you’ll be squinting on the course like Mr. Magoo. Most players don’t like to have a dark tint obstructing the more subtle undulations of the green. Callaway’s sunglasses are slightly less expensive than Oakley’s or Peak Vision, and the sport ones are sleek and comfortable.
MSRP: $100

A real investment in sport eyewear means getting a pair with polarized lenses. Davis Love III (who’s on the downside of his career, though can hardly be attributed to his sunglasses) wears Kaenon Hard Kore. Available on the official Web site. Price: $209

Nike Windproof Vest
Half of being a golfer is really just looking like one. People see a man wearing a bright red shirt on a Sunday with shades and a scowl and presume he’s hitting every green in regulation. Montreal weather can make picking an outfit more than just about colour coordination. Be sure to have a windproof, water-resistant vest or flak jacket on hand in case the clouds are building up right above the clubhouse. Remember the rules: the storm whistle only blows if there’s lightning, otherwise it’s game on.
MSRP: $50

Where to play

>> A selection of public courses

GOLF AND SEA-DOOS: St-Zotique

If you consistently shoot over 100 and want to shield your lack of ability from the outside world, there are courses where like-minded bushwhackers can congregate. Golf Vaudreuil (1126 Chemin St-Antoine, 450-455-2731), located in the farming area of Vaudreuil-Dorion, is more than just a prospective location for a Michael Fortier stump speech. It’s inexpensive (ranging from $13-$40 depending on tee-time) and the fairways are mostly big and forgiving. It’s where most West Island golfers first cut their teeth.

Located in Laval, but not too deep in, Golf U.F.O. (4600B Dagenais W., 450-627-1214 x242) has a variety of golf-related activities. There’s an 18-hole course, a nine-hole course and two nine-hole par-27 courses (meaning every hole is a short par-3) for real beginners. The standard nine-hole course even has light fixtures, so it’s possible to night golf (just get rid of the slice first, an errant ball in the dark is as good as lost). Prices range from $32–$43 for 18-holes, and $12–$16 for the par-27s.

There is a private and a few semi-private courses in Kahnawake, if you would prefer to take your golfing southward and eastward. The nine-hole public course is called Mohawk Hills (Route 207 South, CP 505, 450-632-7446) and last year charged $15 per nine holes (this year figures to be around the same).

If you can tolerate an occasional tree in the middle of the fairway, Golf de Club St-Zotique (1350 Principale, 514-875-6666) has 27 holes and Sea-Dooers navigating the narrow stream in between the course and the highway. It costs $41 for 18 holes on weekends.