Caddie in your pocket; innovative handbook will save you shots

Colin Byrne shows me a mock up; the real thing is beautifully produced with a handy ring binding.

Comparing the club golfer and the tour player never looks good but applying the simple, logical steps taken by the best is guaranteed to save you shots.

At least, it appears that way to me having seen a mock up of what is sure to be a beautifully finished product called "The Little White Ball — How to score to the best of your ability" by tour caddie Colin Byrne and his friend, Karl McCullagh.

I couldn't make the official launch at The Royal Dublin just over a week ago, where Colin and Karl came up with the idea of making a practical object that an ordinary golf can slip into their back pocket.

While the tour game is a full of snake oil salesmen as ever — new gadgets appear almost every day — players like to be reminded of the simple things that work and this book does just that.

Bound in ring binder form, you will see chapters on subjects such as the mental approach, the range, the swing, the first tee and what's important to remember around the green.

The R&A have approved the book for use during play, providing you don't hold people up. To that end, I love the Key Points reminder page for its Zen simplicity:

Point 4: First Tee — Pick a Target; get on Fairway or Point 9: Around Green — Least risk/Most reward - Accelerate through hit.  

The Little White Ball by Colin Byrne and Karl McCullagh is available in bookstores and from www.golfinthemind.com