ATTENTION HIGH handicap golfers.

Here are some pointers as you conclude this season and get ready for next spring from one of your own, not from a tour player who has no concept of what it's like to shank a shot straight right into a trap or top the ball three straight times in the fairway.When I say, "I feel your pain," I have. Many times.

But I've learned a few things as my handicap has descended (from the high 30s several years ago to the low 20s today with hopes of getting to the high teens next year).

There's a reason we are high handicap golfers. We have some basic swing flaws.

Buying a set of graphite shaft Cobras or Bubble Burner shaft Taylor Mades or switching to balata or those new super-duper titanium core balls is not the answer for us.

No, we need a golf doctor.

The problem, as in real medical life, is finding the right one.

In the eight years since I embarked on the recreational pursuit that my wife terms "a midlife crisis," I've had three formal lessons - the six-session things.

The first two were disastrous. In fact, the second one was so bad that at the conclusion, the club pro looked at me and said, "I obviously haven't helped you enough," as he pulled out his wallet and refunded half my money. We were on a fairway and I was lying about 5 on a par 4 with another 100 yards to go to the green. The last lesson was conducted on the course to supposedly put into practice all the wonderful things I had learned. It lasted three and a half holes before the pro's wallet came out.

It was the third set of lessons last year that kept me from giving golf up totally - which was really good news for golf ball manufacturers. They can now expand.

I felt comfortable with this particular assistant pro. He got some background on me and my family and told me about himself and his family. Then he got down to business.

Thanks to him, I now have an X-rated video in the home. I didn't let my daughter see it until she turned 21 last year. It's titled "Dad's golf swing."

People can tell you what you're doing wrong but you can't really imagine what your faults are until you see yourself doing them. For contrast, the pro told me to tape that weekend's pro golf tournament, which happened to be the PGA Championship, right after my segment. Ernie Els and Fred Couples I'm not. But you can learn and incorporate some things by seeing how smoothly they swing.

But how do you find the instructor for you?

I think there's some chemistry involved. Just like in your relationships with other people. Find someone you feel comfortable with. Someone you trust. Someone who's helped a friend or two of yours knock shots off their game.

Maybe only commit to one lesson at first so that if it doesn't work out you're not stuck for the full $125-150.

The key is getting a basic enough foundation - proper stance and proper grip to start with - so that you can have some meaningful practice sessions at the driving range or in your back yard.

To go to the range with a terribly flawed swing means you'll leave the range with a terribly flawed swing.

I have found - and my golfing associates have told me - that when things start going south (and east and west) with my game it's because the backswing is way too fast and choppy. I get out of rhythm. Slow and smooth are good swing keys.

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Incorporate those things that help you - a friend in Provo helped me greatly with my turn, for example.

Experiment with your game.

After you've gone to a golf doctor.

And if you're going to play courses with a lot of water, invest in some SCUBA gear.

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