Here are a few products you can't (wink!) live without

	It's like you've died and gone to golf club heaven. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
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Have you ever experienced sensory overload? For those of us who are golf equipment junkies, it occurs each year on a grand scale at the PGA Merchandise Show & Convention in Orlando, Fla., an event I attended last week.

Can you imagine 10 miles of exhibit aisles and 500,000 square feet of nothing but golf stuff? That's the definition of Golf Nirvana.

More than 40,000 golf pros converge from every state and 75 countries to glimpse at the latest golf equipment, clothing, training aids, gadgets, accessories and such from 1,200-plus exhibitors.

"The great tradition of our annual industry gathering ... gives us the opportunity to grow the game more effectively," said Roger Warren, president of the PGA of America.

It all kicks off with a gigantic demo day at Orange County National Golf Club (site of the 2005 PGA Tour Q-school finals) and its 42-acre 360-degree practice, putting and chipping facility. Here, all in attendance received a hands-on experience with the latest gizmos.

The actual event (touted as "The Worlds Largest Golf Exposition for Golf Products") then turns to the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday and concludes on Sunday after four days of an audio/visual marketing blitzkrieg from all sides.

Of course the big players in the industry are present, but more interesting are the new inventions and ideas that make their way onto the showroom floor. Here are some products that ... ahem ... you simply can't live without.

1. Most of us have seen the liners in cups that have advertisements on them. Now you may see those ads on flagsticks, thanks to a patented product -- basically a wider flagstick with room for a message --  that increases brand awareness while still conforming to the rules of golf.  

2. How about a golf bag that will charge your cell phone or PDA or similar device while you're playing a round? It comes complete with a built-in solar panel, thus insuring a full charge when you're done with your adventure on the links. It's perfect for people who just have to start bragging immediately after breaking 80.

3. What about bamboo fiber clothing? One company is now making such a product, using a new bamboo fiber weave for their fancy polos. Just thinking about it makes me itchy.

4. I'm all for GPS systems and rangefinders. For those of you who have all the gadgets when it comes to electronics, plasma HDTVs and such, there is now a widescreen GPS system for the dashboard of your golf cart. No word yet on when the additional DVD attachment will be available.

5. For all those nanotechnology enthusiasts, there's the nanotech golf ball. It's supposed fly straighter, thus decreasing hooks and slices and putt truer by preventing jumps and rolls. Oh, and it even reduces the tendency to break. Hmm, didn't realize that was a common problem among duffers.

6. And finally, we now have a bionic fitness golf glove. It's supposed to help all golfers enjoy the game. My question: Why would the word "fitness" be included? Let's hope this marvel of engineering can be purchased for less than it took to rebuild $6 million man Steve Austin.

Now, don't think I'm downplaying the imagination it takes for people to come up with these ideas. From the big companies to the moms-and-pops, it's always interesting to see what is being developed to help improve our golf games.

Sadly, most of these gadgets will never become profitable. Let's just hope the mortgage isn't riding on their success.

Former pro golfer Bob Casper, the son of Hall of Fame golfer Billy Casper, is the co-host of the syndicated weekly radio show, Real Golf Radio.