Loosen up. Don’t squeeze your golf club or you’ll lose accuracy and distance of the hit. Bring that same relaxed attitude to your marriage, especially when you’re on the course. It should not be a competition between you and your spouse. Relax and enjoy the game, and your spouse.

Keep looking up. Even if you’re playing the worst game of your life, keep a positive attitude. Keeping that positive outlook in your marriage is very beneficial as well. Look at your spouse’s new skills and let him or her know you’re watching. When you start to pick at their game you create conflict that will go well beyond the last hole, that’s not something you want to do.

Fix those divots. Golfing creates divots, or holes, wherever you play. Repairing the green is usually quick and easy. Fixing the divots of a marriage aren’t always quite as simple, but worth it all the same. You might not be able to fix all the problems in one round of golf, take your golf time to bring them up.

Laugh often and together. In addition to releasing endorphins, laughing creates a light, friendly mood. It will relax your spouse and encourage him or her to be more open to discussion, serious or playful.

Connect. Not only will your clubs be connecting with the balls on the greens, your hearts will be connecting as well. Reminisce about your first date, first dance and first vacation together. Reconnect with your loved one.

Play by the rules. You wouldn’t want your golf partner to break the etiquette rules of the golf course and your spouse is no different. Remember that "playing through" the game of golf can transfer to your marriage as well…let your partner play through by completing his or her thought before you continue with yours. It may not always feel fair, it’s the rule of the game… of golf, that is.

Share bag space. Unless you are both seasoned pros with different sets of clubs, bring one set of clubs to carry around.

Don’t keep score. How about a game just-for-fun? No need to put undo stress on your game - or marriage. Just enjoy your day outside, soaking up the sun and spending time with your loved one.

Playing golf with your spouse can be a wonderful way for you to reconnect. Plan a tee time that works for both of you and even consider asking another couple along from time to time. It’s a great way to not only share a day but you’ll also enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. Finding something that you both like to do can strengthen any marriage. Why not see if golf can do that for you?

Hopefully, your child will express his or her interest in golf to you. If they don’t but you enjoy the sport, you might have to initiate this conversation. Encourage your young golfer and provide access to the greens.

Look for a program for kids. In every major city, there are courses that offer "Junior Golf" programs of one kind or another. While the information may not be listed on their website, they likely have it if you call and inquire. Call your local recreation center or PGA office. You can look at www.juniorlinks.com as well.

Choose a program that sparks their interest and encourages fun rather than competition. They may not show a real talent for the sport right away, so they’ll need to stay interested until their talent comes shining through.

Spend time at a driving range. This is usually a low cost, fun way to spend the day with your child. He or she doesn’t have to get the highest score and you don’t need to sweat teaching everything, or anything for that matter, most kids will enjoy a day spent hitting a few balls. Focus on fun.

Watch a golf event on TV or go watch a live golf tournament so course etiquette can be taught. Your son or daughter will need to know about the rules of the greens and how one golfer behaves toward another. This can be a great way to teach your children by example and not just by words.

Visit your local golf course (often called Municipal courses or Par 3 courses) as soon as you are comfortable. If you choose a tee-time that will keep you out of the peak hours, you can reduce the pressure on your child (and you) to do well, since there won’t be others asking to play through. You’ll also allow for extra time for questions, tutoring and lolly-gagging.

Don’t forget clubs. Your youngster won’t necessarily be able to use your full size clubs. He or she might need to rent or purchase a shorter set of clubs if really committed to the sport. You might be able to find used sets on eBay, Craigslist or at a yard sale.

Whatever you do, support your child’s interest in the sport of golf.

Not everybody keeps their trunk spic and span, or at the very least, clutter-free. So their golf items get tossed around, dirtied up, and crushed before they get them out and get organized to meet their tee time.

Some golfers are so unorganized with their necessities that they’re holding everyone else up at the tee box because they’re still scrambling to see if their glove edged its way under the spare tire or if it’s hiding under the jumper cables they carry for emergencies.

A trunk organizer specifically made for golfers can eliminate the missed tee times, the frustration, and the sloppiness of throwing everything into your trunk loose and not being able to make it stay in one place.

You may need a simple, small trunk organizer, which is suitable for your tees, gloves, and golf towel. But many trunk organizers are bigger than average, allowing you to house your golf shoes in it so that they don’t get scuffed in the process of taking twists and turns during your drive to the course on a weekend jaunt.

The best choice is to get a golfer’s trunk organizer with adjustable walls. That allows you to put items wherever you see fit instead of having to cram them into a space the manufacturer decided upon.

Useful tip: Some golfers carry their trunk organizer directly from the trunk of their car and put it into the golf cart, so that they can easily access extra golf balls, tees, and markers whenever necessary.

Most golf trunk organizers cost around $30 and are made of nylon. You can get small ones or larger, two-tiered organizers with mesh material for ventilation of your golf shoes.

Cardiovascular workout - Any activity that leaves you slightly short of breath and works up a bit of a sweat is great for your cardiovascular system, or heart. In addition to lowering harmful cholesterol, it also helps speed up your metabolism, making weight loss easier. A round of golf burns about 300 calories in a 150 pound individual who plays for 1 hour while carrying clubs. If you choose to ride in a cart, the same round of golf will burn only 230 calories. The driving range burns about 200 calories per hour.

Proper exercise - Weight Bearing exercises are great for your bones. Weight bearing exercises two to three times a week can create long, lean muscle mass, which helps support a strong skeleton. This type of exercise can also help prevent bone degeneration, including osteoporosis. To include weight bearing in your golf game, carry your clubs. A great option to release stress on your shoulders is a double strapped golf bag.

Plenty of Vitamin D - This vitamin is essential for strong bones, it regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D also helps regulate the growth of skin cells. While you can eat some foods that are high in vitamin D, your body can actually make all of this vitamin it needs just by catching some rays outside. So go outside, take a walk around the links and let your body do its work.

Sleep Better - Study after study has shown that regular exercise increases the positives that sleep brings. You’ll fall asleep faster and remain in a deep sleep for a longer period of time with regular exercise, which includes activities like golf. Sleep is important because it allows time for your muscles to repair themselves. Playing a round of golf by day will likely increase the quality of your restfulness by night.

Find New Friends - Golf is a social game. There’s plenty of time to chat with new friends and get to know new ones. Making friends increases endorphins, which helps mental outlook and an overall feeling of well being. Studies have shown that seniors that remain social and friendly live up to six years longer than those that don’t. So, get out there!

Grab your clubs and balls, set out to the golf course and enjoy a day in the sun. Before starting any workout regimen, make sure you are healthy enough by checking with your doctor.

“More than 750 U.S. patents on golf balls have been recorded since 2001, as against only 500 for all the rest of sports, including golf clubs and golf in general.”

Source: “Horizons: golf balls–from cover to core.” Plastics Engineering, April 2005.

A quick search of the U.S. Patent Office and Trademark Office found that the latest golf ball patent was issued only a few days ago.

Today’s golf ball is considerably different from the ones used 10 or 20 years ago. It’s a marvel of modern engineering. Manufacturing golf balls requires advanced technology and careful testing.

So how does the average golfer know which is the best golf ball to buy?

Folks in the United States are very familiar with Consumer Reports. Many people rely its reviews of big-ticket items, but Consumer Reports also covers other things - including golf balls.

The May 2006 issue of Consumer Reports included a report “Golf balls: Slicing through the hype.”

Consumer Reports testing results revealed that the best buy was the Nike Power Distance Super Soft balls for only $14. These balls were rated second overall.

The report includes a nicely illustrated article about golf balls — “Anatomy of a golf ball and what it means for your game.”

Visit the Consumer Reports.org site and study the ratings before buying your next set of golf balls.