I’m eventually getting near the end of my stash of Professional 100’s. They have served me well, usually getting 20-30 rounds out of each ball. The paint might eventually wear a bit thin, but I guess being hit at 100mph over a couple of hundred times, it can only be expected. With only a three ball sleeve left, I thought it was about time to find some new supplies. I went to see my local professional, we discussed what I was l looking for and then he took me out to the practice ground for a ‘ball fitting’. We decided on the Pro v1X being the most suitable. For the first time in over 30 years I bought a new ball. You may snigger at my thriftiness but one can’t just go wasting money. Have you seen the price of golf balls nowadays? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind paying for quality. I expected that they would be dearer, I can remember a pint of the finest only costing four bob! So, armed with my new purchase, I turned up to play in our daily 6am fourball. I had done everything as usual, a strong black coffee with a black pudding and kipper buttie for breakfast. Arriving bang on time at the club, seven minutes before tee time, giving me plenty of time to have a few warm up swings. I took my usual turn of being second to tee off. I had already taken my 6 iron out of my bag to use for my second shot. And then......I was stunned, gobsmacked, shell shocked. Perfect swing, lovely balanced follow through. All eyes staring down the middle of the fairway, only to see my ball veering off line and go out of bounds. We called out to it, ‘sit, sit, sit’, but it just ignored us. First time in nearly 40 years! Only goes to show, they don’t make them like they used to do!