We received products to facilitate this post. All opinions are those of the staff at Cars Bars and Pars.

Father’s Day has come and gone with a fun round of golf with my son (he hits the ball over 250 yards). We spent the day trying out some of the latest equipment because when you’ve got multiple golfers in the family, get-togethers always mean at LEAST 9 holes and sometimes 27 holes (if it’s not too hot out), and adding some golf gear that can save time and strokes off of your game.

Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder

Ben checked this one out. He’s more of the tech-lover and he also was cranking the ball over 270yards on this outing. Having the Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder made pinpointing his yardage easy. With a simple push of a button as you look through the lens, we were able to check the yardage and position of the ball. My 153 yards seemed pathetic next to his, but then again he’s a LOT younger (38 years old) and a LOT more fit than I am (I turn 70 this year).

Before using this Blue Tees Rangefinder, I had been under the impression that taking the time to check yardage would dramatically slow down our game, but because it’s a simple point-and-shoot technology there was no time factor involved. I do like the fact that it offers the latest slope technology that accounts for elevation change to provide the exact yardage needed for any shot on the course.

For those of us who are older, with more shaky hands, the option to LOCK on the flag was extremely helpful and the signal (vibration) that it found and locked on it meant that it was QUICK and easy to use. The lens is clear with no haziness.

The Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder is available in 3 colors (black, navy, and pink) and is outfitted with 2 strong magnets that make it easy to secure to the cart as you move from tee box to ball to hole. Pricing is so much less than other rangefinders, with all of the features (and more) of the more expensive brands.

• Price at this posting –  $239.99
• Shop at: BlueTeesGolf.com 

Check out their bundle deals for even more great products and savings

Duca del Cosma Golf Shoes

Aside from your clubs, the ONE thing that can make or break your game is a good pair of golf shoes. Not only is comfort a factor (especially on those days that you want to walk the course), but your shoes need to give you the traction, balance, and stability for a longer, more accurate swing. Think about what happens if your shoes slip (maybe you shouldn’t). Over the years, as with most other golfers, we’ve transitioned from the traditional golf shoe to the sneaker style, but what I had found is that since switching to spikeless shoes, the ability to grip has been diminished. One look at the bottom of the Valderama’s by Duca del Cosma and you can see and feel the difference that the Airplay IV is Duca’s first fully recyclable and spikeless outsole provides. The functional nubs across the sole help generate progressive stability and optimal grip, while its slightly elevated heel height provides the perfect stance.

Duca del Cosma vs the golf shoes I’d been wearing.

Made of quality Italian leather, these shoes reduce the foot fatigue that happens when you’re spending a full day on the greens. Late-round fatigue affects my game (which is why I often go play 9 vs. 18), but I found that the Duca Del Cosma Valderama‘s molded to my feet and allowed me a secure stance. Normally, I switch out the inner soles of my golf shoes with a high-end one that cups my feet better, but the waterproof sock system with OnSteam® recyclable microfibre, and  ARNEFLEX® insole memory foam that’s covered with OnSteam® recyclable microfibre did a great job all on its own.

Not to be dismissed is the great LOOK of these shoes. They are a combination of the saddle shoe look that I missed wearing coupled with a sophisticated sneaker styling that looks sharp ON the course as well as in the clubhouse over drinks and lunch. It’s rare that you find both cutting-edge technology, AND looks in a golf shoe and I for one appreciate what they’ve done with this shoe model.

• Price at this posting – $229
• Shop at: Duca del Cosma

Based on the quality of these golf shoes, I would also check out their gloves because NOTHING beats great Italian leather.

Campbell Caddie

We’ve all done it….walked away from the hole, only to leave our club behind. Not only have I done THAT numerous times, but how many times have you set your club down in the grass only to pick up a WET, GRASSY GRIP? With the Campbell Caddie, you won’t leave that club behind OR have to wipe off your grip, because this golf accessory takes care of all of that AND the backache bending down to pick up your clubs hole after hole after hole.

The Campbell Caddie will help you enjoy your rounds and slips into your golf bag in between uses. There will be no more wet, grassy, or sandy grips, clubs left behind, or the aches and pains of excessive bending or stooping over. You simply put it into the grass and lean your putter, wedge, or iron into the caddie. There’s nothing that bothers me more than having to circle back for a club left behind. The vibrant colors stand out so that WON’T HAPPEN and is available in bright blue, yellow, red, and black.

FYI – my wife takes it with her to the beach to hang her pocketbook so it doesn’t get sand in it.

• Price at this posting – $24.95
• Shop at: CampbellCaddie.com

These make a great gift as well!

What’s on your “MUST BUY” list for golf this season?

Golfers never graduate

That’s what my wife always says to me as I head to meet with the pro for another lesson. I’ve been swinging a club since high school and I turn 70 years old in 2 months. I still take lessons regularly. I find that I can’t improve my game without the help of someone who really understands the dynamics of my swing, my stance, etc.

Some people have a difficult time asking for help

The problem with that is that if you’re practicing your swing the same way over and over, you’re actually developing bad habits that will follow you around the course over and over and over again. In golf, setting up a few lessons with a pro can make all of the difference in not only how you play, but how much you actually ENJOY playing (because as golfers we all know that the frustration is real).

Forget thinking that a Pro will critique you harshly.

All of them that I’ve worked with have been honest, positive, and very helpful. Lessons at the local course aren’t as expensive as you might think and they are worth it because your game will improve rapidly and cause you so much less frustration, making the game much more enjoyable for you. Many places offer group lessons. ME? I prefer to work one-on-one with a pro that I’m comfortable with. I like the fact that he videos my swing so that I can SEE what I’ve been doing wrong and his tweaks make more sense to me.

Be open and honest about your game

Your golf pro knows that you’re no Tiger Woods. The Pro will ask you what you want to start with

• driving
• chipping
• putting
• or whatever you feel you need help with.

Listen carefully and follow the instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip, or your swing; but remember that the Pro knows best (that’s why they’re pros).

Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t worry about if the question or concern is stupid-they’ve heard it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for asking. If you don’t “get it”, tell him/her that you’re not getting it. You are there to learn and you’re PAYING for instructions. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.

You may want to concentrate on one thing during a lesson, or several. You might start with a lesson in driving; learn the right grip, the right stance, the right swing, and the right follow-through in one lesson, and then practice it. Get out to the driving range OFTEN. It’s important for all of this to become natural. For your next lesson, you might work on your short game, or putting. It takes time! Don’t expect to walk out of your lesson without knowing that you’ve got to practice as often as you can.

You’ve invested in the equipment, doesn’t it make sense to learn how to use them to their advantage and improve your abilities.

Have you taken a lesson lately? Summer is the perfect time to get out there and perfect your golf game.

Cars, in general, possess both form and function. One of the things that I’ve learned having spent a good portion of my life in the wholesale automobile business is that auto brands NEVER compromise aesthetics vs performance. Both are important not only because of the way a car looks (yes, we buy with our eyes), but also because some of the slick stylings is actually aero-dynamic, making cars more functional.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT SPORTS CARS!

Something that makes them stand out when it comes to beauty. And we are not talking about external features only. There is more to physical features like sleekness of the car, that determines its beauty.

Here are some of the characteristics that endear sports cars to car enthusiasts.

• Sports cars have attitude at first glance.

Sports cars speak the attitude that they possess. They are not like mere cars whose presence can be ignored. They captivate the eyes of those who see them. They imply that thrill and enjoyment can be expected when their hands are those that control the wheel. These fast cars stand above other cars, that are seen every day, primarily because the designs imply what they are capable of doing. A sleek look should match the great performance.

• Sports cars possess greater power.

Their power comes from their more powerful engines and can do more than ordinary tasks because of the features that only they possess.

• Sports cars are made for driving pleasure.

I once said here that a good car can make you a better driver. It’s true. Why? Because ordinary cars make driving monotonous and boring, while on the other hand, sports cars primarily aim to give the drivers a “high” feeling of speed and control. Only sports cars can provide that need for drivers who seek adventure. They bring the thrill back to driving and express what other cars can not. Sports cars are not designed just for practicality, but for pleasure too.

• Sports cars are made for drivers who enjoy their ‘wild side’.

Someone who really loves to drive will have the need to express this ‘wild side’. Only a sports cars make any road a venue to satisfy those needs and match the “wildness” that drivers innately have. For that reason, sports cars perfectly compliment the child in every driver.

• Sports cars have evolved and improved through the years.

I know that I appreciate the improvements that have been made to sports cars. You could say that sports car technology has infinite possibilities. The stereotypes of sports cars have long been debunked, just take a look at the sports-car SUVS or an EV with that slick sporty styling. You see, those limits have been crossed. The only thing that car enthusiasts can do is to watch as these improvements unfold before their very eyes.

• Sports cars make their owners feel good about themselves.

There’s something very empowering about getting behind the wheel of a car that’s made for speed.

With all these things said about the intrinsic and extrinsic beauty that sports cars possess, only a person who does not appreciate their beauty and/or speed will not opt to get one.

We know they’re better for the environment, but do hybrid cars actually save you money in the long run?

Considering the price of the car vs. a traditional gas model PLUS the gasoline saved, this has been a hotly contested debate in the automobile world.

Several studies released by Consumer Reports and other review agencies have shown that on average, you don’t actually save money by buying a hybrid car. BUT, most of these studies only take into account the difference between gas mileages and they just don’t take into account many of the other factors that go into calculating the total cost of ownership.

A new study released by Intellichoice, a vehicle research center, shows that hybrid vehicles actually DO SAVE MONEY over time. In addition to fuel savings, these are some of the ways that hybrid vehicles save you money.

Better Value Retention

Have you ever heard the saying that your car is worth 30% less the moment you drive it off the lot? As a former wholesale automobile dealer I know that this is true of every new car – except the hybrid. A hybrid vehicle retains its value better than any other type of vehicle. Interestingly, the value retention is as true in the first year, as it is FIVE YEARS DOWN THE LINE!

Grab that Federal Tax Credits

There are numerous tax credits you can take advantage of by driving a hybrid vehicle. Yes, they change based on when and where (state) you’ll be buying the car. These tax credits can range anywhere from $250 to $3,150 depending on the state, the time period and the vehicle you’re driving, so keep an eye out for the rebates as you should be able to find both state and federal credits (to lower your tax bill in April).

Lower Maintenance Costs

Right now a hybrid costs more to purchase up front (in the next few years you should see the prices get closer to traditional gas models), and their maintenance costs are significantly lower than the average vehicle. According to the Intellichoice report, the cost of the average non-hybrid vehicle of a comparable nature to the Prius over a five-year period was $33,305. Conversely, the Prius incurred only $19,897 in costs. As someone who’s wife drove a hybrid Civic for many years (and got over 200,000 miles on that engine before trading it in), I can attest to the fact that it was a HUGE cost saver.

Financing Options May be BETTER

One big hidden cost to buying a vehicle is financing. The percent interest you pay on purchasing your vehicle is a huge part of the total cost of your purchase (unless you’re a cash buyer this is REALLY important). While there are no ongoing special rates for the Toyota Prius, the Civic Hybrid or other hybrid vehicles, the fact is that financing deals are run several times a year specifically for hybrids by most major manufacturers, so again BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

That means that if you wanted to buy a Toyota Prius and just waited until a 0.9% APR deal came around, you could save a significant amount of money.

Insurance Costs

Insurers also take the driving habits of hybrid owners into account. If you own a hybrid, your accident rates are a lot lower than other types of car owners, which in turn lowers your insurance costs.

So, taking all the various factors into account, not just the differences in fuel costs, hybrid vehicles really do end up saving money in the long run.