On the surface, golf seems like just a sport, a physical outlet for exercise and enjoyment. Upon closer inspection, however, it also serves as a common thread in many business and personal relationships, especially in the Augusta area where golf plays a vital role in the local economy. “It’s not just golf,” says Wedges and Woods Golf Center owner Nick Prokosa. “There is a level of camaraderie in golf that brings families and friends together and serves as a catalyst for business meetings, travel, and more.”
Many people invest a lot of money in equipment with the hopes of making golf outings more enjoyable and successful. However, according to Nick, the best return on investment is not how much money you spend on equipment, it is having equipment that best fits you and learning to use it well.
At Wedges and Woods, the custom club fitters ensure that the equipment is built or adjusted to specifications best suited for the player. “Each individual is different,” explains Nick. “We start with finding out your budget and then figuring out a way to maximize what you need within that budget. We can also make the right repairs for you to maximize your game.” Golf clubs are complex with many different parts that work together, and having elements customized to properly fit an individual makes all the difference.
In addition to investing in proper equipment, putting in practice time is key. “The biggest thing that I see over and over again is so many people try to buy a game,” says Nick. “They spend three, five, or ten thousand dollars on clubs just expecting the club to make them a golfer. It simply doesn't work that way. You have to put in the practice to get the results out of it and the type of practice that you're doing matters.”
Wedges and Woods offers practice areas, which range from long distance driving bays to chipping areas to putting greens, which foster learning to use equipment correctly and to maximum benefit. “We have plenty of things to aim at and to build your game for consistency including ten covered bays equipped with Toptracer - a tracking system that measures ball speed, launch angle, and carry distance and has different games to improve your game,” shares Nick. “It even has a teaching program so you can do homework in between lessons and the data gets back to the instructors so we can see where you need the most work.”
Another important factor is maximizing equipment life span through proper care. “One thing I see a lot is that people don’t clean their golf clubs,” he says. “The grooves on the club face get full of dirt, sand, and debris, which wears your club face down faster and the grips hold onto oil and dirt that make the club slippery… all affecting the swing and game. Sometimes the little things can really make a difference.”
Wedges and Woods Golf Center, which is located at 3731 Wrightsboro Road, also has a retail store, offers golf lessons, and hosts adaptive clinics on Wednesdays to work with those who have disabilities or injuries. For more information, visit wedgesandwoods.com, call 706-854-0360, and follow Wedges and Woods on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
There is a level of camaraderie in golf that brings families and friends together.