Every way you look at it, the internet has revolutionized our world.

I have been reading a fascinating account of the economic changes wrought by the web in a book entitled The Long Tail.

It's written by Chris Anderson, the editor of Wired magazine.

In essence, the Long Tail theory states that in the new digital economy, there are countless niche markets being satisfied by countless niche products.

Anderson likens it to the old Sears Roebuck catalog jazzed up for the 21st century.

No longer do we have to always go to a bricks and mortar retail outlet to get what we want, hoping that the retail outlet has the room on its shelves for our desired product.

The theory works great for stuff like music, movies or books which can be stored simply as ones and zeros until purchased.

But how well does The Long Tail theory work for golf?

Well, let's see. Golfers can book tee times at their favorite courses online.

Better still, we can book tee times at famous or near famous courses in other countries without venturing out of the house. Of course, we can also book the flight to get there and the hotel room to sleep in when we're there! No more trying to find a travel agency in the yellow pages that specializes in golf holidays, for example.

In fact, golf travel companies abound on the internet; it's a veritable buyer's market.

Not only that, you can find a travel company that specializes in golf in one particular country or one area of a particular country.

Chris Anderson calls that "filtering", where we can fine-tune our requests to perfection.

So The Long Tail exists in the golf travel market by offering almost unlimited choice.

Where else does The Long Tail live? What about retail golf clothing? If you know your size, sleeve length, inseam length, you can order golf shirts and slacks with abandon. Again, without ever leaving your home. How about golf shoes? No problem.

Same with golf balls and tees. You can buy those all day long just sitting at a keyboard and wait for the Fed Ex driver to knock on your front door two days later.

But, you are probably saying, you can't buy golf clubs online. Or more aptly put, you don't want to buy golf clubs online. At least, not right away.

Why not? Because you really want to be fitted for clubs. That's the only part of the golf equation that The Long Tail theory doesn't easily encompass.

Go to any online golf distributor's website and see where The Long Tail comes up short.

All the big guys offer the following: left or right handed clubs, men's or women's, steel or graphite shafts and various shaft flexes.

But they can't offer any variation in lie or shaft length. And you can't tell how they feel to swing.

So you still need to head on down to the big box retailer to see if they'll work for you.

But if you can play them right off the rack, without any adjustments needed, then come straight home and place your order online. Often, online prices are much better than store prices. You could save a bundle.

The Long Tail could never exist without the internet.

Neither could the vast choice that's available for golfers.

And neither could this blog. Hurrah for the World Wide Web!