Getting a grip on the situation

Forget about the countdown to Tiger Woods' return to the PGA Tour. It's time for golf dawgs in central Ohio to focus on their own return to the links and to start preparing for the coming golf season.

The recent break in the cold weather warms Oldgolfdawg's heart and has prompted him to take the first step in such preparations: the re-gripping of his clubs. The next best thing to buying a new set of sticks is having clubs you are comfortable with re-gripped. Oldgolfdawg dropped all of his clubs off at the Golfsmith store at New Market Center Way on Wednesday to be re-gripped and is planning to pick them up today.

Faithful followers of the little white pea who play 30 or more rounds a year probably should have their most used clubs re-gripped after every season. Being comfortable with your grip pressure during a swing is important. Worn-out grips might be affecting your swing in ways you don't realize.

A new set of soft Winn grips and a new Tiger/Shark putter grip is just the ticket to get Oldgolfdawg to move into the next phase of his preparations: conditioning. The rapid melting of the snow has made it possible to walk the streets and bike trails again and Oldgolfdawg is taking advantage of the opportunity by getting out and stretching his legs. He's also just about ready to dust off two conditioning CDs -- Roger Fredericks Reveals Secrets to a Fundamental Golf Swing and Katherine Roberts Yoga For Golfers -- in preparation for his first visit to a driving range in more than three months and the possible start of the season in two to three weeks.

Having one's clubs re-gripped brings immediate gratification while getting into a stretching and exercise routine requires a bit more of a commitment. As a carrot in this regard, Oldgolfdawg likes to create a wish list of courses in Ohio he wants to play this year that he has never played before. It gives him something to shoot for and extra motivation to get into better golf shape. To that end, here is his 2010 wish list: Tartan East Golf Club, Clover Valley, Avalon Lakes, Little Mountain Country Club, StoneWater Golf Club, Grey Hawk, Beavercreek Golf Club, Vineyard Golf Club, The Links at Firestone Farms and Quail Hollow.

If anyone out there in blogger land has additional ideas on good courses to play in Ohio, please e-mail them to Oldgolfdawg@columbus.rr.com.