Like most golfers who were first exposed to the sport in the last few decades, I have almost never played a round with the assistance of a real, live caddie.

On the rare occasions that I did, at Pebble Beach Golf Links and The Links at Spanish Bay, they were great experiences.

	James Bartlett is a longtime golf writer, and he teamed up with the Professional Caddies Association to write this book. Other contributors include Reid Champagne, who writes for Delaware Today magazine and other local publications, as well as Mark Nelson and Anderson Craigg.

I had no idea how liberating it was to simply walk the course without a bag on my shoulders, or while pushing or pulling a golf trolley. All I had to do was think about my next shot and listen to what the caddie suggested about club selection, targeting and how my putt would probably break on the green.

The loopers I hired clearly had years of experience, both on the courses and with a wide variety of golfers. Their people skills were the equal of their ability to gauge the wind, pick a club and read a green.

Whenever they’re done caddying, some of these guys should explore a career in the diplomatic service.

The caddie/player teams we see on the professional tours are just one of the many ways in which the professional game differs so much from the game for the rest of us. The caddie can help process the flow of information that is needed to put the right swing on the ball and also help the golfer maintain a focus on the task at hand.

Left to our own devices, too many of us can ruefully admit to thinking about the last shot while in the middle of the next one, with less-than-happy results.

Although caddies are rare commodities, the rest of us can still take advantage of what caddies can bring to the game, if we really want to.

That’s the message of James Y. Bartlett’s new book, “Think Like a Caddie, Play Like a Pro” (Sellers Publishing; $24.95 SRP).

Bartlett is a longtime golf writer, and he teamed up with the Professional Caddies Association to write this book. Other contributors include Reid Champagne, who writes for Delaware Today magazine and other local publications, as well as Mark Nelson and Anderson Craigg.

Caddies don’t make the swings, but they can help the golfer with everything that leads up to them.

The point of the book is to suggest to players how to use the resources that any good caddie brings to a round, in a sense, how to be a caddie for yourself.

Think in terms of the typical situation facing any golfer in a routine 18-hole round.

A good caddie will know the course conditions.

The caddie will help the golfer assess every likely element that could affect the ball’s flight or roll toward the target, be it wind, ground slope, hazards or other factors.

A caddie will rarely, if ever, let the golfer take his swing without making sure the player is aware of these factors, is prepared to handle them and is focused only on that particular shot at that particular time.

A professional player can take advantage of a second brain in conducting the pre-shot routine. What this book does is illustrate how the rest of us should try to split our minds in two and improve our results with the same process.

The book includes plenty of examples from the professional tours, along with several amusing anecdotes.

There are several useful checklists for different game situations. I also especially liked a segment on the right kind of statistics to keep track of during a round.

Some of these stats don’t normally show up on The Golf Channel’s post-tournament shows, but they should be highly useful for the rest of us.

This book is a nice introduction to the concepts of course and player management that are such important elements to improving your game. It is a fast and enjoyable read, written from an interesting perspective.

Golf is a game of subtleties. A slight rotation during a swing of a degree or two can mean the difference between hitting the green and landing in the bunker.

With continued advancements in club technology, it is possible to see a difference in your game as a result of new clubs, whether you desire increased power, accuracy or forgiveness. But if there are flaws in your swing, new clubs will not make them disappear.

You don't have to go out and purchase the most expensive set of clubs - concentrate on getting the right set. Selecting golf clubs that are the correct size is the first step.

Unless you stand over 6 feet or under 5 feet, standard-size clubs should be correct for most men and women. Men's clubs are generally 1 inch taller per club.

The shaft is the next essential consideration. Today's shafts are usually composed of steel or graphite.

Steel shafts are more durable and generally less expensive than graphite. They offer more control but require a faster swing to generate distance. Graphite is popular because of its light feel.

However, ball control is sacrificed by the increased power generated from the swing. Shaft stiffness is also a factor. You will find a range of flexibility, from extra-stiff to shafts for seniors with more "bend" to them.

Beginners and players with less powerful swings will find a flexible shaft more effective, while players with powerful swings will gain more control with a stiffer club shaft.

Loft is another term you will come across in your search. It refers to the height the ball will achieve in flight. Inexperienced players are generally encouraged to choose clubs with more loft as they are more forgiving on less accurate swings.

Driver designs have recently reached the United States Golf Association's (USGA) limits for size and length. In the case of such drivers, bigger seems to be better. A bigger club head generates more speed through the swing and can offer a larger sweet spot and more forgiveness.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) can happen to anyone; in fact more than 10 million Americans are estimated to suffer from this painful condition. One of those 10 million is baseball legend, Hank Aaron. Hank is in the record books for breaking Babe Ruth's legendary home run record, eventually retiring from the game with 755 home runs.

During his baseball career, he was in excellent physical shape. However, after retirement, Hank started to experience knee pain. The pain got bad enough that he had trouble with everyday activities like walking short distances, playing golf, and even driving. "It was really embarrassing, especially as an athlete, to not be able to do these simple things," Hank said.

After his primary care doctor recommended that he see an orthopedic surgeon, Hank was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee and began discussing treatment options with his doctor. He tried steroid shots and physical therapy. "They helped a little, but I still had pain," Hank said. "I talked to my doctor and asked is there anything else that we can do - anything besides surgery? That's when my doctor recommended a viscosupplement injection."

"Hank's experience is very similar to many of my patients. They want to relieve their knee pain, but they're reluctant to have surgery or take a lot of pills," said Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, orthopedic surgeon and best selling author of "FrameWork - Your 7 Step Program for Healthy Muscles, Bones and Joints.

"That's where an option like a viscosupplement injection can be very helpful. It's simple for the patient because it's just one injection, but more importantly it can give them pain relief for up to six months. That's time for people to get back to exercising, maybe lose a few pounds - both of which are really important for your knees."

Now that Hank's knee pain is gone he feels like himself again. "I'm able to go out and play with my grandkids," Hank said. "I'm able to ride my bicycle. I can finally play golf again without riding around in a cart. I don't think about my knee anymore."

After seeing firsthand how much knee pain can affect his life, Hank's now stepping up to raise awareness about osteoarthritis of the knee. Learn more about Hank's experience and help him raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation at teamhank.com.