Beyond the equipment, it's experiences like "Callaway Live" or this week's "The Links at Petco Park" that show that the company is in touch with golf's new generation of players. The best part?

Callaway doesn't take itself too seriously, and they don't just talk about making golf more fun. They do something about it. (And if you can't have fun playing at a baseball stadium, or at Top Golf -- which Callaway has a minority stake in -- you might want to check your pulse.)

For the second-straight year, I got the chance to be one of the first on the tee at Petco Park. The urban ballpark is a gorgeous place to just walk around and take in the city and bay views on a 70 degree San Diego day, but playing 9 holes of golf there is, well, let's just say there is a reason it sold out for the second year in a row. If you're anywhere near downtown San Diego during the course's short "season" of November 3-8, you should try and see for yourself. The golf is sold out, but I heard they were selling some tickets to sit in the stands and enjoy the fun from a (safe) distance.

Walking through the clubhouse to home plate for the opening shot was once again an andrenaline- filled experience for me. Not quite first tee jitters - I just had to remind myself that it's just another 115 yard wedge shot off a perfect mat. How hard can that be? Plus you get two shots to make par (by hitting the target, lined in different color paint and shaped in a variety of real green configurations, complete with bunkers). Making birdie is accomplished by landing your shot inside a much smaller circle, lined in white. If you're truly interested in shooting the best score you could go for the "fat of the green" with your first shot to secure par, then go for the birdie with the next.

But of course, none of us did that, we're not that smart! I was playing with Matt Fisher from AmateurGolf.com's Equipment Panel, and A.J. from MLB.com. We participated in all the fun themes provided by the creative folks at Callaway, especially at the 8th hole, dedicated to Arnold Palmer. There, we paid homage to the recently-passed legend by making Arnold Palmers and doing our best to "Go For Broke."

My only mistake was playing "Plinko" from The Price is Right. Instead of winning a Callaway towel, I was relegated to wearing beer goggles for my first shot on that hole that made me so dizzy I barely made contact. It was my only bogey of the day. But alas, I birdied two of the last three (yes, I hit the island green 9th) to shoot 1- under. Far from the 5-under that is on top of the VPAR leaderboard (their live scoring from a phone- based app was a welcome new addition this year), but better than I did last year.

I encourage you to visit the official page for The Links, or watch the accompanying video to get a feel for what it's like to play golf in a baseball stadium.

ABOUT THE LINKS AT PETCO PARK

Launched in 2015, The Links at Petco Park is an extension of the partnership with Callaway Golf and The San Diego Padres that puts golfers into the ultimate in stadium golf. Callaway worked, once again, with consulting architect Geoff Shackleford to come up with a fun layout that includes:

• Holes range from 68 to 165 yards
• Scoring: Par 3 = hit the green; Birdie 2 = inner ring; Ace = 1; Bogey 4 = miss green; Double 5 = O.B.
• Total Length: Men's and Ladies = 1052 yards
• Total golfers playing in 2016: 2,700 (Tee times sold out within hours)
• Holes are each individually named after popular Southern California beaches
• Players hit from different levels of the park down to the field during their round
• Golfers use Callaway-provided gear, including Steelhead XR Irons, MD3 Milled Wedges, and Chrome Soft balls.
• Charity supported is ProKids | The First Tee of SD, (mulligans are sold 3 for $20 and ProKids provides volunteers)
• Fun Level: Off the charts