2. Swing the club back low, then up to the three-quarter point.

3. Pull the club down with your hands and arms, then keep it moving low through the impact zone.

The Rules

There are a lot of good golfers in Sarasota. However, many middle- and high-handicap players do not know the rules, simply because the legalese in the Rules of Golf book, published by the United States Golf Association, can make the average amateur so frustrated that he or she feels compelled to call a professor at Harvard Law School for an interpretation.

It's a good thing to know the rules, since they can prevent you from being severely penalized or even disqualified during a competition. Let me explain the proper procedure regarding changing the characteristics of your club during a round of golf.

Situation: Player A, while competing in a stroke play tournament, walks off the ninth green frustrated, because he has just three-putted two holes in a row. He feels the problem could be his putter, rather than his stroke.

Common mistake: He removes three small sheets of lead tape that the golf professional had put on the back of the putter-head before the round to help enhance his feel. He then putts out on hole 10 using that same putter. The scorer and a member of the tournament committee immediately inform Player A that he's disqualified for violating Rule 4-2, which forbids a player from purposely changing the characteristics of a club during a round of golf.

Correct procedure: Once you start a round of golf, you're not permitted to alter the characteristics of your club unless the club's damaged during the normal course of play. Damaging the club by intentionally slamming it into the ground does not count. If you do damage the club during the normal course of play, you're allowed to repair or replace the club, provided you do not unduly delay play. You also have the option of using that club in its damaged state, but only for the remainder of the round.

You Asked For It

One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is, "What are the odds of scoring a hole-in-one on a par three for the average golfer?" The answer: 8,000 to 1.

I'm still proud of scoring an ace at age 14, especially since I've not scored one since (and, without giving my age away, that's quite some time ago).

Locally, 82-year-old Dr. Martin Blum wins bragging rights when it comes to scoring multiple aces. The Oaks resident has made a hole-in-one six times. His most recent came on the 146- yard par-three fifth hole of the Eagle course at The Oaks, where he selected an eight iron and beat the odds.

Specialty of the Clubhouse

Before you leave to go back up North, I hope you heed my advice to take a short getaway to Gasparilla on Boca Grande, the sleepy island town located one hour south of Sarasota, and play its only course.

I previously reviewed this gem in a former issue, but in case you did not read my column, if you stay at the Gasparilla Inn or in one of the nearby cottages, you can play the fantastic 1920s course that otherwise is private.

One more thing: After the round, visit the 19th hole and have the bartender prepare you a Pernod Fizz, a cocktail a Boca Grande resident had me try and one I've loved ever since.

This libation is comprised of one ounce Pernod, juice of half a lemon, one-half ounce grenadine, a dash of dark rum, and four ounces of good champagne. It's prepared by mixing lemon juice, grenadine and rum in a tall glass, adding a couple of ice cubes or crushed ice, and topping the glass up with champagne.

SARASOTA'S JOHN ANDRISANI is the former senior editor of instruction at GOLF Magazine and the author of more than 25 books, including Think Like Tiger. Send questions and comments to John at jagolf3238@aol.com