This isn't Tiger's wallet

The price of everything is going up. Food, gas, tickets to a game and a dinner out with my better half.

This was never so apparent than when I recently went shopping for a putter. You know, a little flat bladed golf club where you tap a little white ball into a hole.

Before I continue, let me give you a little history. I have golfed since I was a little kid. My Aunt Jane used to drop my cousin Drew and I off in the morning at the local 9 hole course and pick us up around dinner time. Lunch was whatever was in the vending machine.

I used clubs I borrowed from someone. Didn't own any. As I got older, I still played, but sparingly, getting out maybe 10 times a year. Again, I didn't own clubs. I think I used my brothers hand me downs for a while, then I had a mix and match set that included a few old clubs from this guy and a few old clubs from that guy.

I was in my late 30's before I bought a new set for myself. They weren't anything close to what you would call nice, but what the heck, I sucked anyway, so what's the difference?

Well, they soon rusted out and the grips dry rotted from lack of use. My point here is, I'm not a big golf club purchaser, decades go by between each purchase. I'm really out of touch with the market today.

A few weeks ago, my 2 brothers and I were going out to hit a few balls into the water and the trees. I thought to myself, I'm going to buy myself a new putter. Like that will make a difference in my game.

The one I have looks a little dated, like maybe Bobby Jones used it during the depression. So, I go up to this barrel of clubs in the club house and pick up a putter to check it out. It's all modern looking and shining, that's good enough for me. If I look good holding it, I should buy it.

I don't have my glasses on but I struggle to look at the little tag on the shaft. I make out a 1 and a 5 and something else I couldn't quite make out because my arms weren't long enough. I immediately think this little putter is about $15. No problem, I'm all in, until I get out my glasses to confirm the price...$150.00?? For one club? For a little putter? I mean, you don't even get to swing a putter hard, you just tap the ball. I could not believe what I was seeing.

When I mentioned this to a friend who was playing with us, he said, "#150? That's cheap."

I thought he was kidding, until I did a little research and learned that I could spend easily, if I wanted to, 2-3-4 hundred bucks for a stinkin little putter. I couldn't have been more surprised.

I swear I must have been living in a time warp.

I was pricing drivers on line tonight. Hell, I'd have to sell one of my cars to get a Big Birtha whatever driver. I also priced full sets of clubs. Sorry, I just don't get it. I'm quite sure if I used a top of the line set of clubs, I wouldn't shoot a lower score but quite possible would succeed in hitting the ball deeper into the trees.

I play a dozen times a year on a good year. I'm not taking a mortgage out to get a new shiny set of clubs, no matter how good I look holding them.

As we speak I have a bid in on Ebay, for a full set of irons. The manufacturer isn't known, but there is a insignia of a vodka company on the clubs. Now we're talking.

Opening bid: $21

Fore.........!