If you're going to one of the drier places you can probably skip right to the less aggressive surface (i.e. add polish, 4000 abralon, etc.)
If it were me, and I were going to the wetter lanes I'd take it down to 500 then skip to the final 1000 or 2000 in all likelihood. On the oilier conditions those microscopic "peaks and valleys" put there by the 500 will help the cover displace the oil more effectively.
You can do it as often as you like, or until you wear through the coverstock, whichever comes first. We take such microscopic amounts off the shell you'll likely get tired of the ball before you hit something other than cover material.
