SO YOU WANT TO TINKER WITH YOUR CLUBS?

     I am frequently asked about the relative complexity of golf
club modification or repair. Many golfers, it appears, would like
to do some limited work on their clubs because the subject
interests them or they can't afford the cost in time or money for a
club repair technician, or both.
 
     While club repair and modification are immensely complex
issues encompassing a surprisingly large body of knowledge,
there are repairs or modifications that the average person, with no
more than reasonable craft skills, can accomplish. 

	Just replacing your own grips, which doesn't get done often 
enough, can improve your game at a fraction of the cost of having it
done. 

	It appears that many of you are already trying a variety of 
things on your own with a variety of results. For those, there is help.

     The best place to start is by getting the catalogs from the
club component and repair tool distributing companies. 

	Next, I recommend that you read them. All of them, 
cover to cover. You will be first surprised at the wide range of 
items available to every one at wholesale prices. 

	From these catalogs you can get an education on which 
repair or modification items are within your interest and skill 
areas. 

	One of the most valuable sections of each catalog is the 
educational books and materials section. Each major distributor 
publishes their own book or set of books that cover in words and 
pictures each step of each evolution that can de done to a golf club. 
Makes good winter fireside reading too.
 
Ordering these catalogs can be done by phone and they are free.

     Here is a short list, by no means complete, of distributors
or manufacturers that will get you started:

     TOUR GOLF PRODUCTS, Box 4067, 68 W. Church St., Newark, OH
43055. Ph: Ohio 800-251-0508,  Elsewhere 800-258-0924. Tour Golf,
run by Dr. K. Lin, makes and sells basic components unbeaten 
for quality and price. Educated and experienced in composite 
chemistry and technology, Dr. Lin designs, distributes and 
warrantees his own products. Want a top quality composite boron 
shaft for $17.00? Call Tour Golf. 

     GOLFSMITH INTERNATIONAL, 11000 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78753
Ph: 800-456-3344. A "one stop shopping" source for a wide array
of club components, tools, books and tapes. Tom Wishon and his
staff bring many years of experience to the golf club industry.
Their telephone staff are very knowledgeable and extremely
helpful in sifting through your needs and wishes.

     DYNACRAFT, Box 840, 71 Maholm St., Newark, OH 43055. Ph:
800-321-4833. The Altamontes, (Joe Sr. & Jr.), also offer a
complete line of everything. Enough variety to boggle your mind.

     THE GOLFWORKS, Ralph Maltby Enterprises, 4820 Jacksontown
Rd., Box 3008, Newark, OH 43058. Ph: 800-848-8358. Ralph Maltby
is one of the originals and possibly the best known in the golf
club repair/making business. His instructional books are classics
of clarity and completeness (full of pictures too).

     THE PROFESSIONAL GOLF CLUB REPAIRMEN'S ASSOCIATION, #402,
Tropicana Industrial Park, Clearwater, FL 34621 Ph: 813-733-9241.
This unique organization is a cooperative that charges a $20.00
annual membership but sells components to members at really low
prices. 

	Started over thirty years ago they have remained a major
source of practical no frills components and tools. For your
membership fee you also get the quarterly news letter that is a
tremendous educational resource. Buy the back issues for the past
ten years and you'll have an enviable resource library.

     All these businesses except Tour Golf also offer resident
schools where you can get a "hands on" education in club fitting,
repair and making (can you ever get too much education?). I know
all these companies well. They each offer all the quality items
you might find on any golfer's wish list.