Golfing

As spring approaches, I get the itch to start golfing again. Admittedly, I'm not much of a player. I enjoy the game immensely, but I am only about a bogey golfer. Yet, there was a stretch last summer where I broke 80 twice in the same week, so there is hope for my game.

I am not one to purchase the best or the latest technology to improve my golf game. In fact, I carried an old Persimmons driver for the first 10 years I played. Now, for the past 12 years, I have invested in better sticks. But usually by the time a new club is in my bag, it is hopelessly outdated. I also don't carry anything anymore since the majority of my walking is from the motorized cart to where my ball lands - occasionally in the fairway.

Unlike so many other hackers, I am not very superstitious. I used to own a power cart that I purchased from a friend. It was painted orange, which allowed me to have navy blue decals with the Chicago Bears logo affixed to the vehicle. Unfortunately, the cart sputtered like my favorite NFL team did against the Green Bay Packers in last January's NFC Championship game - so I sold it.

However, I do use personalized logo golf balls highlighting both The Bottom Line and Festival in the Pines. I give away most of the balls as prizes for summer golf outings. My biggest superstition is that I don't ever use one of my prized possessions featuring my company logo if I am teeing off over a body of water. I learned long ago that advertising doesn't work so well when the only ones who find my ball are the resident turtles. So it's probably not a superstition as much as a cost- saving maneuver.

I often laugh at golfers of similar ability who become so enamored with the type of ball they play. Whether it be soft or hard, multi-layered or low compression, I am not good enough to spend as much on balls as I do the golfing experience. For example, a dozen Titleist Pro v1 balls costs about $46. For that amount of money, the ball should send me a distress signal when its travels out of bounds and order the snacks and beverages for my foursome. Remember: Only the best in any sport actually take advantage of technology. And that type of player can probably best afford it, too.

FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS: For the 30th year in a row, I am administering an NCAA Mens' College Basketball pool. And, since I probably shouldn't enter my own contest, I want to share my selections for this year's tournament. My Final Four teams include: Ohio State, Duke, Louisville and St. John's.I have Ohio State beating Duke 78-76 for the championship. Of course, a couple of my Final Four picks may have been eliminated by the time you read this editorial. But that would be par for the course (No pun intended).