When my husband purchased his first set of golf clubs, he took them into the living room and began to look at them.

I was excited for him, so I ran to the living room, intending to chat with him about his great new hobby.

Now, he is normally the kind of guy who is all for chatting, so I was surprised when I skipped into the room, and he looked up at me with a serious expression, to say: “You have to leave. You see, I need to be alone with the clubs.”

It was not until that moment I realized the impact that golf can have on a person.

Oh, I have a Grandpa who is a great player (His advice? Keep your concentration, and know your greens.) and I have spent a few years living by a golf course. I even spent a day running after Bob Hope for an autograph at a charity tournament - but I guess I never really understood the power of the game.

Let’s learn a few things from someone who knows: WYOU Sportscaster, Mike Conigliaro.

What is some advice for someone who wants to get into the game?

Get some clubs and have fun! The best part of golf is that you are outside enjoying the day with friends. I do recommend golf lessons. Lessons help you to improve a number of things... from analyzing and improving your swing, to making sure you are using the right kind of golf clubs. The most important thing is to have patience - just accept the fact you are not going to be great player right away. It takes a long time just to learn the game, and it can be really tough to control the ball in the beginning. So just accept your mistakes and laugh it off.

Some tips for more advanced players?

Always keep your ears open on the course and be ready to take in tips from other players - it’s a great way to improve.

Some of your favorite golf courses in NEPA and why?

There are many great clubs in Northeastern PA. Glenmaura is one I love, and I really enjoy Stone Hedge (except hole #2). I also like to play the Blue Ridge Trail, and Panarama, near Carbondale.