If you played a lot last summer, or have been playing for several years on the same grips, it is almost definitely time to get new grips put on your golf clubs. This is something that a lot of weekend golfers do not even consider or ever do with their clubs, but it can definitely make a difference when you are playing. It is called a "grip" for a reason, and you need to have a good grip on it in order to play your best. So the question most are asking at this point is "Where can I get this done and how much will it cost me?"
An obvious choice that a lot of people choose to take for club repair is the big box golf stores like Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, etc. These stores always have a store PGA professional that takes care of these things and they will in many cases be the cheapest in terms of the cost of the grips because they will purchase the grips in bulk versus the amount a golf course will purchase. Grips in almost every location can run as low as $4 and get as expensive as about $15, it just depends on what you want. You will find that sometimes they run on the high side for the labor fee, not to mention they may not take the care that your local club pro who you see more often would take.
The recommended course of action is to take these to your local club pro and see if they offer the service and have the grip you are looking to put on your club. Do you play at Seneca a lot and have a growing relationship with the guys in the shop? Ask them. Are you a member at a course like Hurstbourne? Ask the pro or one of the assistant's if they can take care of it for you. Something you will often see with a course that you play often is they may not even charge you the labor fee. Maybe the course you play at charges $8 for the grip you like but you can get them for $6 at the big box store. Many local course pro's will let you bring them the grips and put them on for a fee.
Can you do it yourself? Yes and no. If you've never done it or seen it done I wouldn't recommend it. You have to have a vise of the correct size to hold the club in place, double sided grip tape, solution to slide it on, a way to rip the old grip and tape off, and the knowledge of how to do it. It's not difficult, and some people pick it up as a way to make some extra money but you have to invest in the correct equipment as well. Don't just throw the grip on either. Most grips have guides to line up for correct alignment when hitting the ball as well. Maybe ask your local pro if you can watch while they do yours and see if its something you are interested in.
Check your grips for wear every so often, especially if you play a lot. If you play more than 2 or 3 times a week you may even need to get your clubs re-gripped twice a year. The grip is an essential part of the game, even though it never touches the ball. You've gotta have a grip in good condition in order to play your best golf. Get those grips taken care of!
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