Don't let demo days drive you crazy!

Tiger plants green jacket on Phil Mickelson in 2006

The introduction of square-shaped driver heads has certainly cranked up the interest in golf on the eve of the 2007 season, which traditionally seems to start in the UK when the BBC launches its coverage of the US Masters (April 2-6) from Augusta National.

Just as every tennis court in the country is occupied around Wimbledon fortnight in July, so golf courses and driving ranges suddenly fill up with would-be Tiger Woods and Luke Donalds.

And this tends to coincide with the major brands sending their staff out on the road to show off the latest equipment.

Square drivers to the fore on demo days

But wait....don't let demo days drive you crasy! Before you shell out on the latest square headed driver on a whim ( Nike SasQuatch Sumo2, Callaway FT-i, Turbo Power XQ MUTO 460Ti, Integra iDrive and Ram QUB3 are all bidding for your cash, together with the controversial Hippo HEX and the more traditional-shaped King Cobra LD Speed, TaylorMade Burner and Titleist 907) it's a good idea to know how to make the most of a demo day.

It involves a little pre-demo homework, a consideration of the goals you aim to achieve with potential new kit and ensuring you're properly warmed up to hit the clubs you particularly fancy.

The alternative is to appear on the range like a kid in a chocolate factory, try every club in sight and emerge totally confused by the technology on show.

Visiting the various websites of the brands you prefer will give you some insight into what's available in your area (by submitting your postcode to find your nearest dealer) and what you're likely to find at the demo. It's also handy to read pre-distribution reviews or ask advice on the Golfmagic forum.

It's a good idea to make notes from your research so you can take them with you to the demo day and prepare some questions for the experts about your personal specifications. Decide, too, when buying new gear whether to get the clubs fitted to your current swing or to a swing you want to have after planned professional lessons and practice.

Demo days - so much to choose

Another important criteria is to arrive as if ready to play a round - wear proper golf clothing, shoes and gloves, simulating your course comfort. That's why it's also crucial to warm up as you would for your regular fourball or a competition. Bring your own clubs, too to help with comparisons.

It's important to know your own specifications as a starting point but not vital, especially as they can differ between brands. One company's regular steel flex might be another brand's stiff graphite.

With such excitement at all the new stuff to try don't wear yourself out, especially if you start miss-timing the ball. The staff at these events recommend you take a break and practice your putting or flip a few wedges to regain your tempo.

Golf demos days are there to be enjoyed, so make the most of them. Don't hog the best equipment and ask plenty of questions.

And remember there's more to golf than mere distance off the tee. With expert help, you can buy yourself a good golf game if you set the right targets and buy smart.

Selected Demo days in March

Here are some useful dates for the rest of the March. Brands and times in brackets; dates subject to alteration so check first with the venue):

March 14

American Golf (Callaway), North Gailes Golf & Leisure Centre, Irvine, Ayrshire (4-8)

Lincoln Golf Centre (John Letters), Thorpe on the HIll, Lincoln (5-8pm)

Stressholme Golf Centre (Ping), Darlington, Co. Durham (4-8)

Ramsdale Park Golf Centre (Ping), Calverton, Nottingham (4-8)

Trent Lock Golf Centre (Callaway) Long Eaton, Nottingham (4-8)

American Golf (Callaway), Carmarthen Road, Swansea, Wales (4-8)

Haywards Heath GC (Callaway), High Beech Lane, Haywards Heath, Sussex (4-8)

Sealand Driving Range(Callaway), Sealand Road, Chester (4-8)

American Golf Chigwell (Callaway) Abridge Road, Chigwell (4-8)

March 15

Wexham Park GC (Ping), Slough, Berks (12-4)

Gary Mitchell Golf (Ping), Uddingston, Glasgow (4-7)

Beau Desert GC (Ping), Hazel Slade, Cannock, Staffs (11-3)

American Golf (Callaway), Pimhall Road, Stirling (4-8)

Wentworth GC (Callaway), Wentworth Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey (4-8)

Moreview Golf Centre (Callaway), Bradway, Sheffield (4-8)

True Fit Golf (Callaway), Cuerdley, Warrington (4-8)

American Golf Watford (Callaway), Bushey Mill Lane, Watford (4-8)

American Golf Addlestone (Callaway), Moated Farm Drive, Addlestone Surrey(4-8)

Croydon Driving Range (Callaway) Croydon, Surrey (9-5)

Heathfield Driving Range (Nike), Heathfield, Kidlington, Oxon (4-8)

March 16

John Reay Golf Centre (Callaway), Sandpits Lane, Kersley, Warks (4-8)

Strathclyde Park Golf Range (Ping), Mote Hill, Hamilton, Lanarks (3-7)

Nevada Bob (Callaway), Wincheap Industrial Estate, Canterbury (4-8)

March 17

Sandford Springs GC (Yonex), Hants (11-3)

Shirley GC (Callaway), Stratford Road, Shirley, West Midlands (11-3)

Windlesham GC (Callaway), Grove End, Bagshot, Surrey (11-3)

Silvermere GC (Callaway), Cobham, Surrey (9-5)

March 19

Golf Works Spawell (Ping), Templeogue, Co. Dublin, Ireland (4-8)

Sandown Park Golf Centre (John Letters), More Lane, Esher, Surrey (9-5)

March 20

Hoebridge GC (Ping), Old Woking, Surrey (2-6)

Herons Reach Hotel (Ping), Blackpool (2-6)

American Golf (Nike), Moated Farm Drive, Addlestone, Surrey (5-9)

New Ross GC (Ping), Tinnerany, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland (1-5)

March 21

Three Counties Golf Centre (John Letters), Becketts Farm, Alcester Road, West Midlands (5-8)

Blackmoor GC (Ping), Bordon, Hants (1-3)

Tramore GC (Ping), Newton Hall, Tramore, Co. Waterford, Ireland (1-5)

March 22

West Hill GC (Ping), Brookwood, Surrey (12-4)

American Golf (Nike), Carmarthen Road, Swansea (4-8)

Grampian Golf & Leisure (Ping), Kings Links Golf Shop, Aberdeen (4-8)

The K Club (Ping), Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland (12-4)

March 23

Newbury Golf Centre (Yonex), Newbury, Berks (4-8)

Buckingham GC (Ping), Buckingham (1-5)

Newbury Driving Range (Callaway), Racecourse Road, Newbury, Berks (4-8)

Cruden Bay GC (Ping), Cruden Bay, Peterhead, Grampian (2-6)

Wexford GC (Ping), Mulgannon, Co. Wexford, Ireland (9-1)

March 24

Great Yarmouth & Caistor GC (Yonex), Norfolk (1-5)

Sand Martins GC(Ping), Wokingham, Berks (10-1)

Broome Manor GC (Nike), Pipers Way, Swindon, Wilts (10-2)

Inverness Golf Club (Mizuno and Ping), Grampian (10-4)

Fairways Driving Range (Cleveland), Inverness, Grampian (10-4)

March 26

Stonebridge Golf Centre (Ping), Meriden Warks (5-8)

March 27

Ashford Manor GC (Ping), Ashford, Middx (10-1)

March 27

American Golf (Nike), Bushey Mill Lane Watford, Herts (4-8)

Elgin GC (Cleveland), Elgin, Scotland (TBC)

March 28

Royal Cinque Ports GC (Yonex), Deal, Kent (10-2)

The Vale GC & CC (Ping), Bishampton, Pershore, Worcs (11-3).

Woburn Golf and CC (Ping), Bow Brickhill, Milton Keynes, Bucks (3-6.30)

JJB Northwick Park (Nike), Watford Road, N. London (4-8)

Nairn & Dunbar GC (Cleveland), Nairn, Scotland (12-4)

March 29

Enfield GC (Yonex), Enfield, Middx (2-6)pm

Hadden Hill GC (Nike), Wallingford Road, Didcot Oxon (4-8)

Inchmarlo Golf Centre (Cleveland), Aberdeen (4-8)

March 30

Cruden Bay GC (Cleveland), Aberdeen (2-6)

March 31

Kings Links Driving Range (Cleveland), Aberdeen (10-4)