Robert1893:
ItsTooSweet: That is horrible advice. If you want to waste your time playing crappy golf then you should take this advice.
Actually, it's not horrible advice.
Yes, it truly is. If this is such sage advice then...
Name all the top money winners that says it's important to master the starter ball and starter equipment.
Go down the list of top 20 money winners on the front page and find anyone of them who gives this advice.
Go to a Tour Champion ready go list and find a top ten finisher, ask any one of them if their advice is to get proficient with starter equipment and starter balls.
Enter a ready go with your starter equipment and starter balls and bring your awesome course management skills that you learned until level 48 with you, and tell us if you lost money or if you made money. You can post your scorecard here. DoctorLarry can post his scorecard as well.
Show any posts in the forum of any top player giving the advice to master the starter ball and starter equipment.
If it is such great advice you should be able to find top players all over the place giving this advice.
Robert1893: At the early stages, a player's focus should not be on his or her scoring average. The player's focus should be on learning the courses and course management.
Assuming any of this is true, which is highly debatable, nothing in your post requires starter equipment or starter balls to achieve.
I would highly suggest to beginners who want to get good quickly, level up as quick as possible and get decent equipment. Find yourself a mentor who plays outrageously well.
Mastering your starter ball and starter equipment is an inefficient waste of time if you want to play at a high level quickly. You can also immediately jump to championship green speeds, you don't have to wait a year or several.