Hickory golf honours game's traditions

FROM THE GOLF WEEK WEBSITE
By James Achenbach
Every year I try to play in at least a dozen golf tournaments. I mean real tournaments, not pro-ams or charity events.
My favourite event of 2009? The Selma Four-Ball Classic, held at stately Selma Country Club, Alabama.
Modern golf clubs are forbidden. Put away your Callaways, TaylorMades, Nikes, Titleists and Pings for this one, because competitors play with hickory-shafted clubs.
This is where I met the Hickory Tiger, named after a certain golfer who has won 14 major championships.
The Hickory Tiger, aka Randy Jensen, knows a thing or two about majors, having captured the US National Hickory Championship a record eight times. Jensen showed up for the Selma Four-Ball Classic with long-time partner Mike Stolarsky in tow.
They played, they birdied, they won by four, they returned home to Omaha, Neb., where Jensen manages Classic Golf, a shop specialising in vintage clubs and apparel.
“Do you play regular golf?” somebody asked him. “If, by regular golf, you mean graphite shafts and titanium driver heads, no way,” he answered. “I don’t play anything but hickory golf.”
“Why is this?” came the follow-up question.
“It’s too easy with modern clubs,” he said. “You can hit the ball all over the clubface and still hit good shots. Playing with hickory is more of a challenge. It’s more fun.”
Hickory golf has been in exile some 75 years. It was 1924 when the U.S. Golf Association issued its approval of steel shafts. Six years later, in 1930, Bobby Jones used hickory in winning his Grand Slam. The last USGA championship captured by hickory was in 1936, when lawyer John Fischer II of Cincinnati won the US Amateur.
“It’s hard to express how much my dad loved those hickory shafts,” said his son, John Fischer III, also a Cincinnati attorney. “He went to the MacGregor factory, and it took him two days just to find the right ones.”
In conjunction with the Golf Collectors Society (www.golfcollectors.com), the younger Fischer has published a delightful 36-page memoir, “The Last Hickory Golf Champion,” about his late father’s hickory adventures.
Today there is a resurgence of hickory, as reflected by national hickory championships in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Finland and the United States.
The Society of Hickory Golfers (www.hickorygolfers.com) promotes hickory tournaments in North America, and an annual hickory tour has emerged. Many hickory events have been contested at Oakhurst Links in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where golf has been played since the 1880s and where the grass is cut by the world’s most efficient lawn mowers, sometimes known as sheep.
In Selma, I spotted a license plate with one word on it – HICKORY. It belonged to Tad Moore, one of the world’s best-known golf club designers. For decades, Moore created clubs for Maxfli and other companies. Now he has turned to hickory.
Moore produces replica clubs in a shop on Selma Avenue (www.tadmoore.com). Also in that shop is putterman Otey Crisman III, whose father, Otey Crisman II, made aluminum-headed putters, most with hickory shafts, that won the Masters five times and the US PGA Championship four times.
As hosts of the competition at Selma Country Club, Moore and his wife, Carol, showcased Southern hospitality in spectacular fashion. This included a heavy emphasis on early 20th century apparel and nightly parties at antebellum homes.
Hickory appears to be sweeping the South of the States. In Louisville, Kentucky, Mike Just, president of Louisville Golf, introduced a line of hickory clubs in 2007 and watched them account for about 15 percent of Louisville Golf’s sales in 2008.
In Greensboro, North Carolina Chris Deinlein plays in a regular money game at Sedgefield Country Club with his hickory-shafted clubs. Sedgefield is long enough and tough enough to host the Wyndham Championship on the US PGA Tour, but that doesn’t stop Deinlein.
“Sure, I get comments,” Deinlein said, “but I don’t care. This is the only way I play. If I sacrifice 10 or 15 yards off the tee, so be it. I believe the game was meant to be played this way. And old courses do not become obsolete when golfers use hickory.”
Almost all golfers score higher with hickory than steel. The drives are shorter (240 yards is a monster hit) and the irons don’t have much sole bounce and tend to be diggers.
An authentic player such as Jensen will use nothing but original clubs. Others may play replica clubs. There are two types of hickory competition – pre-1905, with clubs and gutta-percha replica balls from that period, and pre-1935, when the clubheads were much improved and rubber balls had emerged. Most tournaments fall into the pre-1935 category, with players using the softest modern balls they can find.
To that end, a company called McIntyre White Authentic Golf, located in San Diego, manufactures three different rubber golf balls using modern soft cores and Surlyn covers with old-time designs.
All this is like a step back in time, but it’s more. Hickory golf is a ritual in which the history and traditions of golf are honoured and celebrated.
If the truth be told, some of us would do it just to play dress-up in the elegant clothes of another era

Gatorade becomes first company to drop Tiger Woods

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By ALEX SPILLUS and ANITA SINGH
Gatorade has become the first company to drop its endorsement of Tiger Woods since his wholesome image began to unravel amid reports of multiple affairs.
The company, however, said that the decision to discontinue its Tiger Woods sports drink product was "made months ago.
In a statement, the PepsiCo-owned company said: "We decided several months ago to discontinue Gatorade Tiger Focus along with some other products to make room for our planned series of innovative products in 2010."

Harrington owns up to being a practice

and swing-tinkering junkie

FROM THE IRISH GOLFDESK.WEBSITE
Padraig Harrington has confessed that he is addicted to practice and swing tinkering.
The good news is that he is starting to listen to the members of his inner circle, who are clearly fed up with his obsession to fix something that clearly isn't broken.
His wife Caroline started the ball rolling on Monday, followed by his caddie Ronan Flood on Tuesday and mental coach Bob Rotella on Wednesday.
In drug treatment parlance, it's called intervention and Harrington confessed that it could make a huge difference to him in the long term.
"It might prove significant in the context of my career," he conceded after carding a second successive 72 in The Players Championship at Sawgrass.
"I do have a problem in that I get totally addicted at times with my swing and in recent weeks it has become an obsession.
"I had a long chat with Bob Rotella and my caddie Ronan last night, it was like an intervention. Things are definitely turning the corner.
"I've gone down this road before, I will go down it again, that's the nature of the game. I kind of get stuck into things and then get very obsessive about it.
"I'm happy that I've done it but it's time to get back to playing golf. I have definitely become addicted to my golf swing over the last couple of months and I definitely need to get rid of that."
Harrington admitted he was still a little way off ending his latest swing experiment but said he recognised the need to do so.
"There's two things (needed to do that). The first is to realise it, the second is to commit to it. I'm not committed to it fully as of yet because I do want to finish off what I'm doing, but I'm fully committed to a time frame.
"It would take a few weeks to turn it around but, yes, in four weeks' time, I intend to be fully finished with the game of swing."
Harrington's coach, Bob Torrance, explained recently that his star pupil is trying to achieve a more penetrating ball flight.
Torrance said: “He is trying to keep the ball down a bit. His launch angle is too high and he tends to hit underneath it a wee bit. The trajectory is too high after impact. We are getting steep on the ball to improve his strike so that he can compress the ball more, the way Jimmy Bruen used to do back in the 30s and 40s.
“He is trying to come at the ball steeper to get more penetration in his flight. It is the launch angle of the ball leaving the club. It will come in high but it will still be going forward when it is landing, instead of dropping straight down.
“There will be more backspin on the ball. A ball that drops straight down from the sky is not going to come back. But a ball that comes in lower with spin is going to go forward and then screw back."
According to David Dusek at Golf.com, Harrington's search for a driver is becoming almost as obsessive as his search for his swing.
So far this season, Padraig Harrington has not played like a guy who has won three of the last seven major championships.
"When you win something, especially when you have success, I see that as a reason to stop and start changing things to get better," Harrington said in a press conference earlier this week. "I'm not trying to play as well as I played last year to win the two majors. I'm trying to play better than that."
To that end, Harrington is not just tinkering with his game; he's also continuing his search for a new driver.
During much of 2008, Harrington used a Wilson Dd6+. In January and February, he was swinging a Wilson Smooth. But as we reported, he switched to a TaylorMade R9 with a Grafalloy ProLite 35 shaft at the Shell Houston Open.
That club was pulled out of the bag in Augusta the following week, when Harrington put a Titleist 909D3 (9.5°) into play. Last week at Quail Hollow, he used a Titleist 905TR (9.5°), and in a practice round this week he tried a Callaway FT-9.
When it came time to tee it up on Thursday, the Wilson Smooth Harrington used through much of 2008—including at Royal Birkdale and Oakland Hills—was once again in his bag.
Harrington went into detail about his mind set just a few weeks before the Masters, explaining: "There’s no doubt when I was playing a couple of events, all the events up to the Match Play, I was more focussed on how I’d play the following week rather than how I was playing in that week’s event.
"It’s a distraction and I just let it run into too many tournaments and got caught out. I’d usually get away with it but my short game wasn’t 100 per cent sharp; I didn’t putt as well as I would and normally I can hide a bit but I got caught out this time around.
"There’s no doubt in my mind got too far ahead of itself and I wasn’t competing at the time. But I’ve done that every year, that’s me. I’ll always be fighting that battle of playing tournaments or wanting to go and practice like mad to get better.
"It’s only now I realise there’s so many events I was leading or was in contention to win over the years that I spent Saturday evening changing my swing so I’d play better the following week. In many ways I’ve let that work … like when I stop during the winter, nobody looks forward to their winter break more than me because I’d have gathered up so much information during the year that I want to change thing
"I’m so enthusiastic during the winter working on things and changing them but I let that drag into the season this year and that’s eh … it could be the extra emphasis on the Masters but I’ve done it many times. I probably do it every year it’s just I got caught out this year by the fact that some of the other parts of my game, my bunker play or something like that, weren’t quite right. Maybe I was pushing for results as well and just got at bit hard on myself on the golf course. There are a num ber of elements where I just didn’t get away with it this year, early-season.
"Actually, the season feels a lot worse than it sounds. I’ve just missed two cuts like. I’ve done worse, let’s say but, definitely, I know why and what was happening and the attraction of trying to change and improve things always draws you in. I’ll never get away from it to be honest. I like working on my swing to get better."
After three missed cuts from nine starts in the US, Harrington made the cut on the level par mark as did Graeme McDowell, who made a fantastic birdie 3 at the last to sneak in for the weekend.
The Ulsterman hit a 313 yard drive over the water and a 140 approach to 11 feet for the bravest of birdies as Rory McIlroy missed the cut.
McIlroy, 20, was two under playing the 17th on Thursday but took 6 there and bogeyed the last to card a 74.
On Friday he bogeyed the 11th and 15th and then birdied the 16th to leave himself needing a three under par homeward nine to make the level par cut.
Bogeys at the third and sixth ended that dream and he eventually trudged home in 40 blows for a 77 that saw him miss the by seven shots on seven over - his first failure on the US PGA Tour.

Here's a Golftext scoreboard that can be hired out, complete with an operating team, to anyone who is organising a golf tournament and wants to inject a touch of professionalism to the event.

English company offering big, professional-

style scoreboards for tournament organisers

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
A North-east of England company is hoping to get organisers of Scottish golf tournaments - clubs and/or districts, even business or society outings - interested in hiring a big, professional-style scoreboard complete with score operators.
The Craigmillar Park Open, held at the Edinburgh city venue at the weekend, had such a scoreboard for the first time and, it has to be said, it gave the 72-hole tournament that "extra something."
Bryan Ross is the man behind the enterprising scheme. This is what he has to say in the company brochure:
"I would like to introduce you to Golftext, a company specialising in professional tournament leaderboards and on course signage, now available for daily hire throughout the UK, Portugal and Spain.
"We recognise that all golf days are special and we believe that events should have a special visual presentation, which is crucial to creating the right impression and tournament arena.
"Golftext can now offer you the 'Professional Experience' that will guarantee to raise your tournament profile, ensuring a successful day for you and your guests.
"Whether you're a golf organiser, golf club, small or national company we have the package to suit your event and budget. Your package can also be self funding, this is possible through business sponsorship, which in addition can generate further funds for your event.
"Our dedicated and experienced team of staff will arrange, install, operate your chosen package and liaise with your key personnel during the event.
"I'm sure you'll find on of our standard packages to suit your needs or, take a look at our "extras" and "leaderboard" pages to build your own tournament package.

North of the Border, Bryan's company are hoping to get a toehold in the South-east of Scotland - that's why the Craigmillar Park Open was chosen as a trail-blazer - but they eventually hope to gain business from tournament organisers right across the Central Belt and even up into Fife, Angus, Perth, the North-east and Highlands.
More details available on http://www.golftext.net/ or by E-mailing Bryan Ross at bryan@golftext.net

Purtzer's four secrets to driving the ball better

FROM PGATOUR.COM
Tom Purtzer has always possessed one of the sweetest swings in professional golf. He led the US PGA Tour in driving distance in 1990, averaging 279.6 yards, and has also topped the driving distance category on the Champions (Seniors) Tour in four of the last six years.
Here are Tom tells you his secrets of how to drive the ball better:
1 Get fitted for the right equipment. Take advantage of the available technology to find out what equipment -- shaft, clubhead loft, ball -- will be of greatest benefit.
Purtzer: "The modern high-tech equipment only helps if it fits you properly. If it doesn't fit you, it's worse than using what you're using now."
2 Keep stretching. Hitting a golf ball a long way is more about flexibility than strength.
Purtzer: "To me the most important thing is to be able to stay flexible enough to make a body turn -- shoulders, hip. That's the key."
3 Don't fall victim to equipment misconceptions. Stiffer shafts and stronger lofts don't necessarily translate into more distance.
Purtzer: "My way of thinking is old school. The older you get, you want to soften up the shaft to give yourself a little more kick to get the ball to fly, to keep the ball in the air."
4 A trusty driver is a friend forever.
Purtzer: "If it works, why would you change? My driver is three generations old. There have been three upgrades since mine."
The shaft in Purtzer's driver is at least 12 years old. Moral of the story: It's hard to say goodbye to a loyal friend who has been good to you for a long time.

MacGregor Golf on the way out of business

MacGregor Golf, the second-oldest golf equipment company in the United States, is selling off chunks of its operation - and is heading for oblivion.
It has suffered a dwindling of staff and defection of top management executives. Perhaps not rats deserting a sinking ship but a good enough analogy.
Now, it is liquidating at least some of its inventory.
“We’ve been picking up some of it at rock-bottom prices,” said Mark Marney, owner and chief executive of The Golf Warehouse.
According to the merchandiser’s website, the MacGregor Bobby Grace DCT series putters, for example, have been marked down from $169 to $49.88.
The inventory fire sale follows MacGregor’s 11th-hour withdrawal from January’s US PGA Merchandise Show at Orlando and offering no product introductions this season.
The Albany, Georgia-based company, whose ownership group includes Greg Norman, has already sold apparel maker Greg Norman Collection to New York-based Tharanco Group on February 2.
A MacGregor spokesperson acknowledged that the company’s Asian subsidiary, which it had owned since 2003, had been purchased in a management buy-out.
According to a former MacGregor employee, the company has been on the block for months. That source, as well as another retail observer, said at least one major retailer considered buying the remaining assets of MacGregor and making it a house brand.
The industry rumour mill has speculated extensively about a potential MacGregor buyer, including reports that one of its international distributors could be a suitor.
Meanwhile, MacGregor’s staff has been depleted. President and CEO Michael Setola joined Greg Norman Collection; putter designer Bobby Grace resigned in June; Reid Gorman, who preceded Setola as president, left the company in October; and the sales staff has been gutted.
Remember the name. MacGregor. It could soon be a thing of the past.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY FOOTJOY

Padraig Harrington and Footjoy

- a Perfect Fit in 2009

The No. 1 Shoe in Golf, FootJoy is delighted to announce that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Padraig Harrington.

Following an historic 2008 season in which he captured two Major championships, was named US PGA Tour Player of the Year and The European Tour Golfer of the Year, Harrington will have yet another “No. 1” when he tees off wearing the No. 1 Shoe in Golf in 2009.
Harrington will wear the latest addition to the FootJoy range, SYNR·G, available from February 1 in UK. Designed and developed to provide a solid foundation, SYNR·G is the most stable shoe FootJoy has ever produced and is perfect for players such as Harrington who possess higher swing speeds and demand additional support and motion control in their golf shoes.
"FootJoy is a brand that just about every young golfer is brought up wearing, and I'm was no different," said Harrington. “The belief should be that you are playing the very best shoes available, which will give you an edge over the field. The new SYNR-G shoes from FootJoy support the foot well throughout the golf swing, which is so important to hitting solid, powerful shots.”
A perfect combination of comfort and stability the SYNR·G will take golf shoe performance to a new level, achieved through the exclusive Tri-lateral Stability Frameä combined with a perforated alloy mid-foot support bridge to cradle the foot and provide a stable hitting platform.
“We are thrilled to welcome Padraig Harrington to Team FJ,” said Richard Fryer, European Marketing Manager - FootJoy. “Padraig not only brings an unparalleled record of worldwide success but also an intimate knowledge of the research and technology behind footwear development. He will no doubt be a great ambassador for FootJoy.”
Padraig will be featured in new FootJoy television advertisements as well as print and online creative throughout the year.

For more on SYNR-G, visit the microsite at www.footjoy.com/SYNRG.

US court upholds injunction against Titleist

selling certain models of Pro VI golf balls

FROM THE GOLF WEEK.COM WEBSITE
A United States federal appellate court ruled December 23 to uphold an injunction issued in November that prevents Titleist from selling certain models of its Pro V1 golf balls.
The injunction stems from Callaway’s patent infringement suit against Acushnet Co., Titleist’s parent company.
At the crux of the litigation is Callaway’s argument that Titleist infringed upon four Callaway patents during creation of Titleist’s Pro V1 franchise.
A lower court has already ruled in Callaway’s favor, but Acushnet appealed and that legal motion is pending. Acushnet requested a stay of the injunction but was denied.]
The sales ban, which takes effect from January 1, 2009, only applies to Pro V1s using the patents in question. But its impact on the marketplace remains unclear, in part, because the two parties have differing legal interpretations of the scope of the injunction.
Callaway maintains Pro V1s made with the patents in question can’t be sold to consumers; Acushnet argues it simply means that the company can no longer sell such products to retailers.
In September, Titleist converted production of current Pro V1s so that they are outside of the patents in question, according to Acushnet officials. That leaves a limited supply of non-converted Pro V1s remaining at retail.
In a statement, Steve McCracken, Callaway’s senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said: “Callaway Golf believes it is time for Acushnet to accept its losses in court and get on with the task of helping retailers clean up their inventories over the next week.”
Acushnet countered with its own statement. Said Joe Nauman, the company’s executive vice president, corporate and legal: “Acushnet does not believe that the injunction order requires Acushnet to recall any Pro V1 golf balls from retailers, or that retailers are required to return any golf balls to Acushnet.”
The company, however, will accept any Pro V1s that are returned.
It remains uncertain when, or if, the courts will address this point of contention. Meanwhile, the appeals process regarding Callaway’s assertions of infringement continues. Acushnet disputes the validity of the patents that Callaway alleges Titleist infringed.
Don't hold your breath. A decision isn’t expected until late 2009.

'Moment of Inertia' ... what's it

all about? Is it just a big twist?

By GRAHAM DALLAS

(If you missed Graham's first article last week about club lofts being 'tweaked' to produce longer hits, scroll down to find it)
The latest buzz letters in golf are M O I - short for Moment of Inertia. The advertisements are telling you that with a high M O I driver you’re going to hit it farther and straighter. Well, we’ve heard this before, haven’t we?
M O I is basically the clubhead's resistance to twisting with off-centred strikes. The higher the M O I, the less inclined it is to twisting.

Tim Wishon describes this beautifully as the spinning as an ice skater throwing out their arms to stop spinning. So, by moving the weights further from the centre of the clubhead, it will become more resistant to twisting.
And so, as clubheads have increased in volume over the years, so has their M O I. You never heard about this, until recently, as the advertising men were focusing on "bigger is better." Then the governing bodies stepped in and capped the size of the driver at 460o; closing that marketing opportunity.

So you can’t increase M O I by getting bigger, let’s do it by cHanging the shape. Square and triangles are becoming the favoured shapes of the marketing departments. You know how it goes, “Give us something that looks different, a massive budget, and we’ll sell shed loads”.
What they don’t tell you is how much changing the shape increases M O I or that it is minimal when compared to simply fitting the shaft correctly. Let me explain this, as it is never advertised.
Steel shafts have one spine, graphite shafts have two. The spine is the shaft's most resistant point to flexing. When the shaft flexes, the natural forces in the shaft (which are considerable) will want to get the spine to where it flexes least.

The only thing stopping this occurring is your grip. If you hit the ball off-centre, the force of the clubhead wanting to twist will be added to the shaft's desire to twist. We’ve all felt the result of extreme cases - the club twisting in our hands.
So what we have to do in identify the spine (there are simple ways for club makers to do this), mark it and then fit the club so the spine is pointing towards the target, or directly away from the target.

For the purists among you we make a little adjustment to shaft alignment to compensate for head mass. Then, with off-centred hits, the shaft will be working to correct the fault rather than to amplify it.
Fitting the shaft this way will increase your club's M O I infinitely more than the latest shape. So you ask me, surely the major manufacturers do this when making clubs?

Well I can tell you, having worked in this industry for around 25 years, that I have only come across two who do so and they only started doing this in 2008. You will be surprised to know that they are Golfsmith and Benross.

Of course, all good clubmakers will do this for you are a matter of course.
So if you really want to increase your M O I, don’t buy the latest shape, just get your shafts aligned.

Editor's note: If you are really interested in the technical side of club manufacturing, you should log on to Ralph Malby's website: http://www.ralphmaltby.com/

==================================================================

Karyn & Graham Dallas, the wife-and-husband team at Kirriemuir Golf Club pro's shop, are advertising Tg54.com on our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Switch over now and find out what it's all about. Scroll down and look in the first column when you get there.

Graham Dallas tackles a lofty subject

Graham Dallas has written an interesting article on how the lofts of golf clubs have been "tweaked" by the manufacturers over the past 20 or 30 years ... perhaps without the club golfer knowing what was happening.
Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read it.

Equipment endorsement money can
help Tour players pay the bills

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By JAMES ACHENBACH
Senior Staff Writer
LA QUINTA, California — Apart from the on-course competition of the US PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, there is the off-course competition among golf equipment companies.
Any player advancing through Q-School -- no matter how obscure or unknown he may be -- can parlay endorsement money from equipment manufacturers and other commercial businesses into a minimum of $150,000 to $200,000 a year.
Just look for the logos to see who is sponsoring whom. For well-known golfers, the pay-off can easily be $300,000 to $400,000 in endorsements. These figures were verified in a multitude of interviews with players and agents.
Looking at the big picture, that’s how important it can be to earn a PGA Tour card. It’s guaranteed money that is not based on victories or high finishes or television exposure or any other yardstick measurement.
Why do golf equipment companies pay endorsement money to so many touring pros? There are two big reasons.
One, tour validation is extremely important in the sale of golf balls and golf clubs. If the pros use it, amateurs want to use it, too.
Two, an official golf equipment count is conducted at each tournament by the Darrell Survey, which has been doing this for 75 years. Golf companies want desperately to win as many equipment categories as they can.
The big tug-of-war these days on the US PGA Tour is between Titleist and TaylorMade. Callaway, Nike and Ping also are in the middle of the weekly equipment skirmish, but it is Titleist and TaylorMade that dominate the weekly counts.
It could be argued that golf companies are buying loyalty from the players, but the counter argument is that no intelligent player would use equipment that didn’t provide confidence and flashes of birdie-laced brilliance.
Here at the 2008 Q-School at PGA West, Titleist won the ball count, along with the iron, wedge and putter categories. TaylorMade was No. 1 in drivers and fairway woods.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came in putters, where Titleist and its various Scotty Cameron models outdistanced Callaway’s Odyssey models by a 61-39 count. Ping was third with 22.
Traditionalists often lament the demise of small golf companies, so Adams Golf and Rife Putters have emerged as heroes to many who follow the results of the weekly Darrell Survey.
Adams, focusing heavily on the development of new hybrid clubs, has rampaged to the top of the hybrid category (labeled as utility irons/hybrid woods by the Darrell Survey). At Q-School, Adams had 75 hybrids in play, more than 50 ahead of second-place TaylorMade.
TaylorMade may have invented the modern hybrid club with its many Rescue models, but it has been overwhelmed by Adams among touring pros who use hybrids.
Rife has been the dominant putter of the 2008 Champions Tour, and the company finished fourth in the putter count here at the PGA Tour Q-School. Rife claims that no player is paid to use its putters.
Keep in mind that many golfers are in fact paid to use specific equipment.
PGA Tour veteran Harrison Frazar, among the leaders at this Q-School, carries a TaylorMade bag. However, that doesn’t stop him from using Callaway X-Forged irons.
How can this be? Frazar’s TaylorMade contract specifies that he carry the bag, wear a TaylorMade cap and use a TaylorMade driver.
Winning the driver count is a big deal for TaylorMade, No. 1 in PGA Tour driver usage for nine years in a row.
“They wanted to include the irons in the deal,” Frazar revealed, “but I took less money in exchange for the freedom to use whatever irons I wanted. It can be a big mistake to tie yourself completely to one company. TaylorMade makes great clubs, but I just wanted to be free to use any irons.
“I’ve seen a lot of players get locked into situations (contracts) that really hurt their golf games. I wasn’t going to do that.”
Randy Smith, Frazar’s instructor, said simply, “If a guy doesn’t have confidence in his clubs, he has a big problem that often can’t be overcome.”
James Nitties, tied for the lead after three rounds of the Q-School, has a contract with Nickent Golf that requires him to carry a Nickent bag, wear a Nickent cap, and play a Nickent driver and hybrid. So Nitties is using Titleist AP2 irons.
On the other hand, many established US PGA Tour players have contracts that specify the use of a minimum number of clubs -- such as 10 or 12 -- from a sponsoring company.
The details of his contract are not made public, but Tiger Woods continued to use Titleist irons when he first signed an equipment contract with Nike. Eventually he switched, and now he uses 13 Nike clubs (all but the putter, which is a Titleist/Cameron).
Superstars such as Woods and Phil Mickelson make millions a year from their equipment companies. To a fledgling pro, though, a smaller but significant six-figure endorsement deal can make a huge difference.
It wasn’t always like this. Former US PGA Tour winner Pat Fitzsimmons, whose heyday occurred in the mid to late 1970s, carried a Hogan bag and used Hogan clubs exclusively -- and wasn’t paid a dime.
“You got your equipment free,” said Fitzsimmons, now the head teaching professional at The Palms Golf Club, located next to PGA West. “They didn’t pay anything. There was very little money out there unless you were a big name.”
What does Fitzsimmons think of today’s endorsement climate?
“It’s hard to me to fathom,” he said. “Real hard.”

John Letters marks 90th year with
donation to Poppy Appeal

John Letters of Scotland, the world famous golf club maker, has reached its landmark 90th anniversary and is marking the occasion with a donation to the Poppy Appeal which this year is commemorating ninety years since the end of the First World War.
A percentage of every product sold by John Letters in the month from 11 November, Remembrance Day, will be donated to the Poppy Appeal which raises funds to support ex-serviceman and their families.
The owner of John Letters Golf Limited, John Andrew, said: “My Great Grandfather John Thomas Andrew fought in world war one and was of the lucky ones to survive and such The Royal British Legion has long been one of my favourite charities and we have made donations in the past."
"However, as we have both reached a landmark of 90 years together this year, we have decided to make a donation on all sales for a period of a month from Remembrance Day. This way we hope to raise thousands of pounds which will help support the current and ex-service community.”
90 Years Of John Letters' Golf Equipment
John Letters Golf was founded in 1918 by a Glasgow businessman called John Letters. He decided to base his company in the industrial heartlands of the West of Scotland.
At the time eyebrows were raised that a club maker could flourish if its owner was not a golf professional and if it was not based in one of the centres of Scottish golf. In actual fact John Letters Golf was ideally placed to take advantage of the great technological advances of the 20th century and John Letters' lack of grounding in professional golf made him more open to change as his company became one of the first in Europe to experiment with steel shafts.
By 1949 John Letters Golf had reached a position of dominance in the British game, kitting out three quarters of that year's Ryder Cup side, and most of the small club makers run from back rooms overlooking the great links courses had disappeared. The Golden Goose John Letters putter became one of the 20th century's most iconic clubs.
Today John Letters Golf Limited, under new ownership since 2005, remains one of the most enduring and recognisable names in golf. The company continues to produce golf clubs, balls, bags, gloves and other accessories. In the increasingly competitive world of golf equipment manufacturing John Letters can now look proudly towards the next 90 years.

Harrington signs $10million new
contract to play Wilson clubs

It's been confirmed that repeating Open champion Padraig Harrington has signed a three-year extension of his contact with Wilson Golf which will earn him $10 million.
The negotiations began seven months ago on a renewal of his contract but Harrington successfully defended the Open title at Royal Birkdale and then won the US PGA championship, two major victories that increased the Irishman's value to the Wilson Company.
It is believed that other club and equipment manufacturers had made offers to add Harrington to their "stable," but he said he was never tempted to leave Wilson with whom he has had a 10-year arrangement.
Harrington has done more than play Wilson clubs, he has helped the company develop clubs to his requirements.
Harrington now enjoys the same status as the other big names who use Wilson equipment in other sporting arenas, tennis superstars Roger Federer and the Williams sisters and New England Patriots quarter back Tom Brady.

Glenmuir picked already for 2010
Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor

PRESS RELEASE
Glenmuir's proud association with The European Ryder Cup Team will extend beyond this year’s forthcoming matches to an impressive 23 years at The 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.
With preparations for this year’s Ryder Cup European Team wardrobe now complete, Marketing Director, Andy Bough, and European Ryder Cup Director, Richard Hills, confirmed Glenmuir as Preferred Supplier of On-Course Polo Shirts and Knitwear to The 2010 European Ryder Cup Team - a position it has enjoyed since 1987.
The prestigious partnership is one of the longest-running in the world of high-profile professional sport and reflects that the Glenmuir brand and its products perform at the highest levels of the game.
Andy Bough said: "Obviously this is a very prestigious partnership for Glenmuir. We are excited that The European Team will be wearing Glenmuir again at this year’s Ryder Cup and are delighted that our association with The European Team will continue to The Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010.
"We are immensely proud that the Glenmuir brand has been a part of some of The European Team's greatest moments in The Ryder Cup - including a record-equalling points haul in Ireland 2006, which proved to be a third successive win.
"Glenmuir was also the Preferred Supplier of On-Course Polo Shirts and Knitwear for The European Ryder Cup Team’s last visit to America, in 2004, for their record-breaking winning score of 18½- 9½ at Oakland Hills Country Club and we hope Nick Faldo's Team can repeat that success at Valhalla, Kentucky, later this month."
In its role, Glenmuir works closely with every European Ryder Cup Team Captain to design matching outfits for each day of the competition, including practice days.
Because of its position as one of Europe's leading golf apparel brands, Glenmuir is able to offer a complete service to The Ryder Cup committee - from working on initial designs for The European Team and seeing them through to delivery to each player, in the required sizes - to manufacturing and distributing Official Ryder Cup logo merchandise.
Andy Bough added: "To be the Preferred Supplier of On-Course Polo Shirts and Knitwear to The Team, we have to demonstrate considerable expertise through design, quality control and sizing - and throughout, our communication has to be excellent.
"We leave no stone unturned in making sure that when every player steps out to the first tee they look good, feel good and are able to perform.
“The conditions at Valhalla are going to be a challenge for the players and we have responded by working with Nick Faldo on a very sport-technical, high-performance wardrobe for the Team."
Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, said: “We are delighted that one of Europe's biggest golf apparel brands will once again be part of one of the world’s biggest sporting occasions.
"The Team all benefit from Glenmuir's excellent products, reputation and service and as our preferred shirts and knitwear supplier they will play an active part in making The 2008 Ryder Cup another huge success for The European Team.”
Glenmuir has an outstanding pedigree in logo merchandising and is associated with some of the biggest competitions in golf - including The Open Championship, The Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Seve Trophy.
The company also has an unrivalled retail distribution network across Europe and beyond, while its Scottish headquarters provides a comprehensive stock and embroidery service and has supplied clothing for the PGA, The European Tour, PGAs of Europe, EGU and the Golf Foundation.

Glenmuir is back with a bang at
Open Merchandise Pavilion

PRESS RELEASE
Glenmuir is celebrating a successful return to the Official Merchandise Pavilion at the Open Championship after a 12-year absence.
The Lanark-based company, one of Europe’s leading golf apparel brands, took over 2,000 Claret Jug embroidered items to the Open and achieved a more than 90% sell-through - with cult US golfer Boo Weekley and top coach Butch Harmon both buying souvenirs for friends and family.
Other distinguished visitors to the Glenmuir stand included Sir Michael Bonallack, former Secretary of the R&A - while 1999 Open Champion and Glenmuir staff player Paul Lawrie MBE spent more than 30 minutes signing caps, programmes and shirts for fans.
A team of Glenmuir staff were at hand for the week to showcase the company’s acclaimed Spring/Summer ‘08 collection, with its latest designs and colours proving to be a huge hit with golfers from all over the world.
Glenmuir Marketing Director Andy Bough said:
“Returning to the Open was aspectacular success for us and Glenmuir clearly has a worldwide fan-base with golfers at all levels of the game.
“At one point, we had Boo Weekley and Sir Michael Bonallack on the stand at the same time. “Boo doesn’t hide the fact that he views golf as a job to help pay for his fishing and hunting hobbies – while Sir Michael is one of the game’s greatest administrators with a tremendous affinity for the game. It doesn’treally get much more diverse than that!
“I am delighted with the sales, the loyalty shown by golfers to our brand and the enormous effort put in by the Glenmuir team to make our return to the Open Championship Official Merchandise Pavilion such a phenomenal success for us.”
Glenmuir has an outstanding pedigree in event and logo merchandising, most notably as Licensee of official Ryder Cup merchandise, and its return to The Open came on the back of a successful performance in the merchandise pavilion at the last Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2006.
In September, the European Ryder Cup team will be wearing Glenmuir performance shirts at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, Kentucky.

Callaway moves New Jersey golf
ball factory operation to China

Callaway is to close its golf ball-making factory in New Jersey and move the operation to China to take advantage of lower manufacturing and shipping costs.
The 70,000sq ft plant at Gloversville will close its doors for the last time on July 31 at a cost of 120 jobs.
Callaway spokeswoman Michele Szynal said that because almost half of the company’s sales and more than 50 percent of its profits come from outside the United States, the move made sense “from an operations, logistics and cost point of view.”
Some of the Gloversville production, which consisted of Callaway and Top Flite-branded balls, will move to Chicopee, Massachusetts, where the bulk of Callaway’s balls are manufactured.

Press Releas

THREE-YEAR GUARANTEE ON STYLISH
GLENMUIR WATERPROOF JACKETS

The strength of Glenmuir’s growing performance outerwear range is showcased this Spring Summer by the Scottish company’s flagship Rain Bloc ® waterproof jackets.
The men’s Inverurie and ladies’ Elie waterproof jackets from Glenmuir - one of Europe’s leading golf apparel brands - deliver superb weather-beating performance backed by a three-year guarantee.
Both high-quality jackets feature the Glenmuir Rain Bloc ® waterproof system, comprising a laminated microfibre fabric which uses a special inner membrane to allow moisture vapour created by the body to escape, but repels external wind and rain.
The fabric is extremely lightweight and quiet, waterproof and breathable, with the waterproof system guaranteed against laminate breakdown or leakage through the fabric or taped seams for three years.
Both the Inverurie and Elie are styled in a performance fit and feature concealed zip-off sleeves, Velcro side tabs for fit adjustment, elasticated cuffs with Velcro adjusters, adjustable draw cord waist, high-neck storm collar, water repellant full-length zip and side pockets and chest ventilation flaps.
The Inverurie, which also boasts a stretch panel at back shoulder for freedom of movement and a back scorecard pocket, is available in sizes S-XXL and three colourways – Caribbean blue/navy, storm grey/burnt orange and black/sand.
The Elie comes in S-XL and a choice of three eye-catching colours – sky blue, mint and raspberry – with black detailing.
Both jackets are available for a suggested retail price of £84.00.
Andy Bough, Glenmuir Marketing Director, said: “The waterproof market has been identified as a key area for growth for Glenmuir and our 2008 range of top-quality jackets, trousers, wind shirts and fleeces uses a variety of fabric technologies to deliver superb weather-beating performance.
“In addition, the Inverurie and Elie waterproof jackets are backed by a three-year guarantee as part of our on-going commitment to customer service.”

KINGS LINKS GOLF CENTRE, ABERDEEN

Biggest Names in Golf Under
One Roof for One Day Only

Aberdeen's Kings Links Golf Centre will be host to the biggest names in golf on Saturday, March 22.
Representatives from Ping, Callaway, Nike, Wilson, Taylor Made, Mizuno and Cleveland to name a few, will be at Aberdeen’s biggest golf retail outlet and driving range for a one-day only event where North-east golfers will have an opportunity to try out the very latest in golf equipment.
The Demo Day, which will run from 10am until 4pm, gives golfers the chance to meet the manufacturers and the centre’s professionals to discuss and try out the best and most suitable equipment for them.
For the first time at the Kings Links, Mizuno will have representatives on hand to demonstrate the benefits of its new Trackman technology. Based on Doppler radar technology, Trackman measures the exact 3-D club movement and ball flight, and provides precise data on the ball launch, ball flight and ball landing.
Paul Girvan, director of golf at The Kings Links Golf Centre says: “This is the first time ten leading manufacturers of golfing equipment will be under one roof to showcase their latest products. It is an ideal opportunity for golfers to have one-to-one session to find out which kit is best for them. Our professional golfers will offer their views on what each golfer needs, depending on his or her ability and aspirations.”
Golfers are recommended to book appointments in advance to avoid disappointment. For more information contact Paul Girvan on 01224 641577.
The Kings Links Golf Centre, situated on Golf Road, Aberdeen (behind Pittodrie Stadium) is the largest independent golf retail centre in Scotland and boasts a 56 bay floodlit driving range on two tiers with carpeted bays and the finest quality mats and range balls. The award-winning 3000 sq ft superstore, stocks everything for the beginner to the seasoned golfer. Kings Links is operated by Craig Group Leisure, a division of global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group

Press Release

PROQUIP SIGNS TRIO OF MAJOR
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

North Berwick, Scotland – March 5, 2008 PROQUIP USA, the American distributor for ProQuip Golf, has announced the signing of three Major Championship winners as global ambassadors for the world’s leading lightweight weatherwear brand.
The signing of world No. 8 and former U.S. Open Champion Jim Furyk, former U.S. Masters Champion Craig Stadler, and LPGA Hall of Fame member Juli Inkster, is the first act of ProQuip USA’s new proprietor Gary Markel, a Florida-based businessman who acquired majority ownership to ProQuip Golf’s North American distribution rights in January.
Gary Markel said: “We are truly fortunate to forge partnerships with a quality individuals as Jim, Craig and Juli. They will be consummate ambassadors for the company, and certainly punctuate our commitment to positioning ProQuip as the world leader in golf weatherwear.”
Markel is president of Clearwater, Florida-based Gary Markel Companies, which focuses on the insurance and real estate industries.
Markel also is a limited partner in a professional sports franchise, the Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Baseball).
Furyk, Stadler and Inkster will all wear ProQuip weatherwear on their respective tours, and appear in ProQuip print advertising, while Furyk will also appear in ProQuip broadcast advertising.
Furyk will wear ProQuip’s Silk Touch rain suit on Tour, while Stadler and Inkster will wear both rain and wind apparel.
The breakthrough Silk Touch fabric, developed exclusively by ProQuip, features a silky soft and virtually silent outer fabric, plus a unique stretchable inner lining for ultimate playing performance and comfort.
“It’s great to finally have a rain suit that I have the confidence to wear in competition,” says Furyk. The company is just minutes from my home in Ponte Vedra Beach, so I have had a chance to do a lot of testing of their technical rainwear. To me it’s the very best in the world.”
Inkster is no stranger to ProQuip weatherwear. She wore ProQuip Ladies Ultralite in cold, wet and windy conditions last September at the Solheim Cup in Halmstad, Sweden, and was undefeated in four matches.
ProQuip was the preferred weatherwear supplier to The U.S Solheim Cup Team.
The 47-year-old LPGA Hall of Fame member will wear ProQuip’s new Ladies Liberty and Ultralite rain suits, and Ladies Silk Touch windshields on the LPGA Tour.
Website: http://www.proquipgolf.com>

Press Release

DOWNFIELD SCORES A
FIRST WITH TeeDeal

Dundee’s leading Downfield course, is one of the first clubs in Scotland to sign up with TeeDeal, a new online golf booking service designed to enhance accessibility to the national sport.
The brainchild of Tayside businessman, Olav Skretteberg, TeeDeal is set to revolutionise the way people play golf in Scotland with the country’s first real-time online booking service. Golfers world-wide will be able to review over 500 Scottish courses and book available tee times at special rates.
With a formal launch planned for April this year, TeeDeal is expected to drive new online business for golf clubs which will not only help to maximise take-up of unbooked tee-times for clubs but will also ensure that the golfer enjoys best value golf.
Initially TeeDeal is focusing on the Tayside area before rolling out the service to the rest of Scotland. By this time next year, a comprehensive directory of Scottish courses combined with the best available green fees is expected to attract golfers both at home and abroad.
Explaining the thinking behind TeeDeal, Managing Director, Olav Skretteberg, said: “In the leisure and tourism sectors it’s vital that we meet customer expectations. With online technology continually making things faster and more convenient, driving club bookings through the web is going to become increasingly vital.
"People are becoming more and more accustomed to booking their travel and accommodation online so it makes sense that they can book leisure experiences online too. TeeDeal will make this possible for Scottish Golf and is unique thanks to its real -time bookings and immediate confirmation.
"You literally just click, book and play! We’re delighted to be working with Downfield and other Scottish courses in helping to generate previously untapped online business.”
Downfield is recognised as one of the finest inland course in the United Kingdom. It has hosted many events over its long history including tournaments such as the S.P.G.A. Masters, P.G.A. Scottish Open, Scottish Amateur and British Girls Home Internationals. However it was the honour of being a Final Qualifying venue for the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 and then again in July last year that has put Downfield Golf Club near the top of the tree as a golfing destination.
Downfield Golf Club Manager and Professional, Kenny Hutton said: “We’re very excited about the prospect of using TeeDeal to sell tee times online. An obvious advantage is that people will be able to book a round of golf at Downfield, 24-7.
"TeeDeal is more sophisticated than the golf advertising sites currently available because it offers real-time bookings. This means that, when they receive their immediate confirmation, golfers will feel confident that their tee-time is reserved.
"The icing on the cake for us as a club is that while TeeDeal will attract new business, we continue to enjoy total control over our tee-times as well as the new income generated. It’s a win-win situation.”
A key objective for TeeDeal team is to help promote Scotland as a top tourist destination where visitors can enjoy great golf and as such has been working with various tourism contacts and the East of Scotland Golf Alliance to maximise the potential benefits of TeeDeal.
Graham Hood, Golf Development Manager for East of Scotland Golf Alliance, commented: “TeeDeal should be congratulated for their vision and commitment in developing a much needed service that will suit both the golfer and golf course operator.
"In a world where technology is ever changing, the game of golf remains much the same as the one our forefathers played, but time does not stand still and the need for better customer awareness and utilisation of on line resources can only be of economic benefit to the golf product in the East of Scotland Golf Alliance area.”
Local clubs wishing to find out more can call Business Development Manager, Ann McGillivray, on 01738 448331 or 07944 181921. Alternatively, e-mail ann@teedeal.co.uk or visit the TeeDeal website at www.teedeal.co.uk.
Picture shows
Kenny Hutton (right), Golf Manager and Pro of Downfield Golf Club, with TeeDeal’s Olav Skretteberg and Ann McGillivray.

Press Release

GLENMUIR PRODUCES ITS FIRST
JUNIOR COLLECTION

Glenmuir, one of Europe’s leading golf apparel brands, has launched the first ever bespoke junior collection in its proud 117-year history.
The Lanark-based company’s new Spring/Summer ’08 range features‘Golfing Kids’ – two shirts, a long-sleeved windshirt and a cap, all designed specifically to introduce youngsters to the Glenmuir brand, which sits right at the heart of golf.
Andy Bough, Glenmuir Marketing Director, said: “Glenmuir is one of Europe’s leading clothing brands with men and lady golfers and we felt this year was the right time to produce our first ever kids’ collection.
“Young golfers are very fashion-conscious and like to follow the golf clothing trends set by tour pros on TV. Our Golfing Kids range is heavilyinfluenced by the athletic design of our new Men’s Performance Shirts, which feature contrasting colour panels, modern fabrics and cool and contemporarycolours.
”The GK Pro is a 100% combed cotton lightweight baby pique shirt with zipneck and is characterised by smart contrasting side panels. With anti-curlcollar and raglan sleeves, it comes in four colour options (white/navy,light blue/white, garnet/white and black/white).
The GK Club is a 100% combed cotton lightweight baby pique polo shirt. It’s available in a more traditional design of four solid colours, each with a contrasting collar and cuff stripe (white/navy, light blue/white, garnet/white and black/white) and featuring the Glenmuir 1891 embroidery.
Young golfers looking for a high-quality wind shirt will be attracted to the feature-packed GK Team – a half-zip top with concealed zip-off sleeves, elasticated cuffs with Velcro adjusters and an adjustable draw cord at thewaist.
With a Teflon-coated 100% polyester microfibre shell and 100% polyester-coated lining, the GK Team has great weather-beating properties to keep youngsters warm and dry. It’s available in navy/light blue and black/sandcolour options. All the Glenmuir Golfing Kids clothing is available in age sizes 8/10, 10/12and 12/13.
The range is completed by the smart new cotton twill GK Cap, in three colours with a contrasting sandwich peak and eyelets (black/white,light blue/white and navy/white).

Press Release

PGA APPROVES USE OF ELECTRONIC RANGEFINDERS
- INCLUDING SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

The PGA is set to become a trail-blazer in tournament golf after rubber-stamping the use of electronic rangefinders in all its events, including national championships.
The radical move by the Professional Golfers' Association could pave the way to a golfing revolution across the world as leading tours attempt to tackle the bugbear of slow play which frequently sees rounds stretch well past the 5 1/2hr mark.
Among the high profile PGA tournaments where rangefinders will be allowed are the:

*The Scottish PGA championship.
*The Glenmuir PGA professional championship.
*Irish PGA Championship, won last year by defending Open champion Padraig Harrington.

Approval for use of all distance-measuring devices was agreed at the PGA's executive committee meeting. Other leading golf bodies expected to monitor closely the success of the scheme.
The decision to give the green light to rangefinders followed a successful trial at last year's PGA four-ball championship with hand-held SkyCaddies (the PGA's official rangefinder).
More than 100 of the finalists carried them with 55 of 78 pros quizzed responding positively, many citing how their use speeded up yardage calculations and the which-club-to-play decision-making process.
They have also been used with a wide degree of success on the PGA Europro Tour.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones welcomed the decision."I'm aware a number of traditionalists might well be appalled by this decision but the evidence suggests that using rangefinders really helps improve pace of play so it is difficult to see why such a decision should be detrimental to the game," he said.
"Slow play in professional and amateur golf has increasingly become an issue and we've taken the decision to embrace technology in a bid to resolve this problem and increase enjoyment of the game."
The single biggest advantage of rangefinders is that you can take an accurate yardage from any point on the golf course - whether you're ideally placed in the middle of the fairway or stuck in trouble in the trees.
"Slow play is often caused by golfers straying into trouble and the caddie or player then having to pace off the yardages. With rangefinders it saves all the fiddling about and consultation of the yardage book, hence speeding up play."
Jackie Hitchcock, managing director of SkyCaddie UK, the PGA's official rangefinder, which has mapped out more than 17,000 golf courses and is on track to have 90% of the world's courses mapped by the end of 2008, believes the PGA's backing of rangefinders can lead the way in the sport.
"We're delighted the PGA has taken this decision as it further validates that our technology gives golfers - regardless of skill level - instant access to valuable information they need to play at the highest level," she said.
"Professional golfers on Tour never play competitively without this type of information because they have caddies and the courses are marked with reference points for their benefit. Now recreational golfers can have the same information without the wasting time which slows the game.
"Our mission is to grow the game of golf by using technology in a responsible way to improve pace of play, enhance enjoyment of the game, and ultimately increase participation without compromising the traditions of the game.
"To see the PGA and its professionals using them can only help others to follow suit," she added. "This is the start of a whole new era for both amateur and professional golfers.
"Since the R&A allowed rangefinders to be at the discretion of local rules, more and more people have jumped on board. We've seen more and more courses using rangefinders in competitions and general play and that's fantastic.
"Course details are stored on a lightweight hand-held unit, all of which come with 'IntelliGreenT' as standard, which allows players to view all aspects of the green from any position.

PGA PRESS RELEASE

BEWARE NEW DRIVING BAN IN 2008

Thousands of golfers are being urged to seek professional advice to avoid collecting a driving ban in the New Year.
The introduction of new rules by golf's governing body - the R&A - could even see golfers disqualified from club tournaments if their driver flouts the incoming regulation, which comes into force on January 1.
In the rush to the beat the deadline - six years after the initial announcement - PGA professionals around the country have been passing on their expertise to help golfers fall foul of the new rule.
"We have been informing our members regularly over the last three months that certain drivers will be banned," said PGA professional Peter Hunt."There have been plenty of enquiries, with at least eight a day calling in to get their driver checked out.
"Most of the golfers seem on the ball as they have had the last six years to prepare for this. But there will still be those who have illegal clubs from next month and the last thing you want is to get caught so I'd certainly recommend getting it checked out."
The new rule was announced in 2002, when the R&A took action to eradicate the technological advances in clubs and their 'spring-effect' club heads.The R&A have produced a list of all conforming and non-conforming drivers on their website, but for pure peace of mind all golfers are being encouraged to get their driver checked by their PGA club professional.
To find your nearest pro visit www.PGA.info

CHECK YOUR DRIVER! DOES IT CONFIRM TO
NEW RULE OR WILL IT BE ILLEGAL ON JAN 1

Club golfers are being urged by the R&A to check that their driving clubs conform to a new Rule of Golf that comes into effect on January 1, 2008, and applies to all golfers of all abilities and in all forms of play.
Driving clubs must not have the effect of a spring which exceeds the limit set forth in a Pendulum Test Protocol established by the R&A.
While many golfers have already replaced or made plans to replace such clubs with conforming models, some golfers are still unaware of the new Rule and its implications.
Golf clubs have been asked to raise awareness of the new Rule among their members and to assist them in determining the conformance status of their drivers to minimise any uncertainty and confusion that may lead to disqualification.
To read the relevant Rule and check the list of conforming clubs click here

SAMUEL RYDER'S PUTTER LIKELY TO FETCH
BETWEEN £20,000-£30,000 AT AUCTION

A putter that is one of only two such clubs owned by Samuel Ryder, the man who gave his name to golf’s most famous competition, the Ryder Cup, is to be sold in Bonhams’ next golfing memorabilia sale in Chester on January 26, 2008.
This historically important putter, a Robert Forgan mallet-shaped putter from c.1910, is stamped with the initials ‘SR’ and is being sold with a signed letter from Joan Scarfe, showing the history of the putter. Joan Scarfe Ryder was Samuel Ryder’s youngest daughter and her godson is the vendor.
Samuel Ryder (1858 – 1936) was an entrepreneurial character who made his fortune selling seed packets to garden lovers. When his addiction to hard work started to affect his health, aged 50, his doctor prescribed fresh air and light exercise and encouraged him to take up golf. Initially unimpressed by the idea, he became hooked after employing Abe Mitchell – a well-known British player - as his personal coach.
Not someone to do things by halves, Ryder practiced six days a week for a year before applying for membership in 1910 at his local club, Verulam, in St Albans, playing off a respectable 4 handicap. The following year he was elected Captain of Verulam.
Ryder started sponsoring golfing events and in 1926, following an unofficial match between American and British professionals prior to that year’s Open Championship, the Ryder Cup was born.
Samuel Ryder had been watching his friend and coach Abe Mitchell compete in the singles competition, and after the match which the British team won, everyone agreed it would be a good idea to set up a similar official event.
Ryder agreed to provide a trophy and commissioned Mappin & Webb to craft a gold chalice costing £100 guineas. The figure on the top of the lid of the trophy was modelled on Abe Mitchell.
The first Ryder Cup took place in 1927 in Massachusetts and the competition has been running bi-annually ever since. Samuel Ryder died in 1936, having witnessed the first two home matches in 1929 and 1933.
His family also developed a passion for the game and his daughter, Joan Scarfe Ryder, was her father’s constant companion on the golf course and she continued to attend every Ryder Cup competition held in Britain until her death in 1985 aged 81.
Ryder was seen by many as ‘frequently a deadly putter’ and his prized putter now comes to the market for the first time and is estimated to fetch £20,000 – £30,000.
Bonhams’ golfing specialist said: “The Ryder Cup is undoubtedly golf’s most exciting event and we are thrilled to be offering the Samuel Ryder’s wooden putter. There will be many Golf Clubs in Europe and the US that have hosted the Ryder Cup interested in acquiring this important piece of golfing history.”

SRIXON BUYS CLEVELAND FOR $132.5million

FROM THE GOLFWORLD WEBSITE
The long-rumoured sale of Cleveland Golf has come to fruition, although the buyer came out of the dark, with SRI Sports Ltd. (parent of Srixon) landing Cleveland (which was owned by Quiksilver) for $132.5 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
The deal is expected to close before Jan. 31, 2008 with net proceeds from the sale being used to pay off debt.
Quiksilver acquired Cleveland in two separate purchases (as part of its acquisition of Rossignol in July, 2005 and a separate deal two months later for the remaining portion).
SRI Sports (which also own the Dunlop name in Japan and, according to its financial report, had net sales of $2.2 billion for the first six months of 2007) is the largest equipment company in Japan, but a brand still trying to gain traction in the United States.
The marriage, however, does make sense. Although also a maker of clubs, Srixon's primary market in the US is in golf balls and according to Srixon's website, Sumitomo is the No. 1 patent holder of golf-ball technology in the world.
Cleveland, meanwhile, has established itself as a maker of clubs and does not have a golf ball in its line.
Srixon currently has 70 tour players worldwide on its staff, including Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby, Tim Clark and Henrick Stenson. Cleveland also has an extensive tour staff headed by Vijay Singh

Press Release

STYLO GOLF SHOES BACK ON ON COURSE AFTER
MAJOR INVESTMENT, COMPREHENSIVE REDESIGN

Stylo, one of Britain’s best known golf shoe manufacturers, is back on course following major investment, a brand relaunch and a comprehensive redesign of its products.
New look Stylo shoes, including the brand’s best-selling Typhoon line, are benefiting from an injection of style and technical innovation that has resulted in a 15% increase in year-on-year sales across the company’s account base of more than 500 green grass golf shops.
Mark Wilkinson, the clothing and fashion entrepreneur who acquired exclusive rights to the Stylo brand 12 months ago, said:
“Stylo is still one of the most recognised British golf brands among consumers and has a rich heritage that includes associations with some of the biggest names in international professional golf.
“The brand has been treading water in recent years, but we are now reinvigorating Stylo designs with bolder styles and brighter colours that appeal to more golfers, while retaining the core values of the brand that appeal to the more traditional customer. We have done this with the help of designer Sandy Baker, who heads up our in-house design studio in Leicester.”
The Stylo Typhoon (SRP: £39.99), like all the models in the 2008 product line-up for men, women and juniors, offers exceptional value to the consumer, including an Iso-thermal waterproof/breathable membrane, a contemporary EVA outersole fitted with Champ Stinger spikes and a padded bellows tongue.
“Innovation and new designs are at the heart of what we are doing at Stylo and over the coming year we aim to introduce a completely new sole unit that will be totally different to anything currently available to golfers,” Mark Wilkinson added.
“These are exciting times – and the future for Stylo is looking good.”

THE BELFRY SIGNS UP TO GOLF SHOW

The Belfry’s Gary Alliss is one of Golf Monthly’s top 25 golf coaches in the country – and visitors to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, will be able to see for themselves just why he’s received that accolade.
Alliss, who also captains Great Britain’s PGA team’s defence of the Llandudno Trophy in the United States next month (September), will lead a team of Belfry professionals in providing free coaching at the show’s first outing in November.
The four-time Ryder Cup venue has signed up as an official partner to the inaugural show and will have a large presence at the NEC with a specialist coaching area.
The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is a new event for the National Exhibition Centre, but its sister show, the London Golf Show, is now in its fourth successful year at ExCeL in the city’s Docklands area – and the Birmingham show is set to copy that successful template.
Gary Silcock, The Belfry’s Scots-born director of golf, said: “Becoming a partner to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, was an easy decision for us. The success of the London Golf Show is well documented and there seems no reason why, at last, we should not have a well-attended show in the region.
“As the area’s premier golfing destination and venue – and with our superb academy facilities – we were delighted to be able to become involved with the show on so many levels. It gives our teaching professionals the opportunity to work with people who might not otherwise have considered The Belfry for their golf tuition.
“Gary Alliss will head up our team at the show offering free coaching to all the show’s visitors, plus there will be prizes to be won and many more interactive opportunities.”
Andy Barwell, managing director of the Golf Show Co Ltd – owner of The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham – explained: “The Belfry has really entered into the spirit of things by not only taking partnership status and a large stand, but by also offering some great prizes before and at the event, and lending their own marketing support to the show by way of hosting several of our events.”
Visitors to the show will enjoy a giant retail store; a specially-constructed indoor driving range; the chance to go head-to-head with celebrities; the opportunity to sink a 100ft putt; the best in golf fashion; numerous interactive attractions, many with amazing prizes; and an area dedicated to junior golf with free coaching, fun and games and prizes.
And new for The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is the Innovations area, where the designers and retailers of the myriad latest golf gadgets will be demonstrating dozens of game-improvement ideas.
■ The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, takes place at the National Exhibition Centre from November 16-18. For more information or tickets visit www.golfshownec.com

Press Release

R&A ANNOUNCES NEW RULES ON
CLUB ADJUSTABILITY

The R&A has announced a change to the Rules of Golf regarding additional forms of club adjustability, effective from 1 January, 2008. All new forms of adjustability must be approved in advance by The R&A and adjustments during a round will continue to be disallowed as at present.
The Rules of Golf currently state that woods and irons must not be designed to be adjustable, except for weight. In March 2005, The R&A first indicated an interest in allowing more types of adjustable features on woods and irons and in February 2007, a proposed Rule change was published for review and comment.
The R&A has decided to adopt the proposal after careful consideration of comments from manufacturers and other interested parties.
“We believe that the Rule change regarding club adjustability will create opportunities for both manufacturers and golfers alike, without diminishing the challenge of the game,” said David Rickman, R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.
“Top professional golfers have long had the opportunity to have their clubs adjusted or modified quickly and often. This has allowed them to ‘fit’ their clubs to their swings as they wished. By changing the Rules to permit greater club adjustability, all golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy similar fitting benefits” added Rickman.

1. The new Rule will state the following:

“All clubs may incorporate mechanisms for weight adjustment. Other forms of adjustability may also be permitted upon evaluation by The R&A.

The following requirements apply to all permissible methods of adjustment:

(i) the adjustment cannot be readily made;

(ii) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and

(iii) all configurations of adjustment conform with the Rules.

During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means (see Rule 4-2a)”

2. There is no change to the Rules for putters, which are already permitted to incorporate other forms of adjustability as well as for weight.

3. An announcement on the 2008 Rules of Golf, including the principal changes to the “playing Rules”, will be made at the end of October / early November.

MANDATORY USE OF BUGGIES ON PUBLIC GOLF
COURSES IS SPREADING IN UNITED STATES

FROM CBSSports.com WIRE REPORTS

A Long Island, New York woman is boycotting her favourite course. A man in Florida has published a book and filed lawsuits to defend his rights. A former golf executive thinks the game, under these circumstances, shouldn't even be called golf.
"It ought to be called 'cart ball.' It isn't golf," said Sandy Tatum, a bona fide golf purist who once served as president of the U.S. Golf Association and won an NCAA golf championship at Stanford.
A growing number of course-owning American cities and counties are mandating the use of electric or gas-powered carts, believing they are needed to speed play and therefore allow more golfers on the courses.
Officials in Nassau County, on Long Island, came under fire last month when they announced that carts would be required for anyone wishing to play its premier municipal 18-hole course -- Eisenhower Red, a Robert Trent Jones-designed loop that annually hosts a PGA Champions Tour event for golf professionals older than 50.
It is not known how many other courses around America have similar policies. Anecdotal evidence suggests it has become more of an issue in densely populated areas where large numbers of people are competing for a relatively small number of tee times.
Nassau County officials argued that Eisenhower Red is so popular that carts are necessary to keep up the pace of play. They contend that anyone who wants to walk can still use the county's two adjacent 18-hole courses at the park named in honour of one of the country's best-known presidential duffers.
Of course, the added income from golfers paying up to $29 each to rent a cart won't hurt the bottom line in a county that only several years ago teetered on the brink of bankruptcy.
"We're not doing it for the money," Deputy County Executive Peter Gerbasi said after the policy went into effect. "We're trying to make the course more available to more people."
Adrienne Danzig of Westbury isn't buying it. She is among the golfers who contend that carts are anathema to the sport.
"I love to walk," she said on a recent summer morning as she prepared to grab her pull cart from the boot of her car. "I think golf is made for walking unless you're at a resort where you have to walk a mile to the next hole. I've played here for many years, love to walk, love the Red Course, and they have completely destroyed this option."
Rich Martorana of Massapequa said it was wrong to insist on carts, especially on a public course. He also questions whether carts have actually made for quicker rounds.
"I use carts with my friend all the time," he said. "However, you shouldn't force people on a public golf course to now take up a cart. And it doesn't speed up play. It hasn't improved anything. ... I think the county is simply making money on the deal."
Editor's comment: Don't snigger at the back. What happens in the States today, usually happens over here tomorrow. And if our powers-that-be cotton on to the idea that here's another great money-making idea, just like car-parking tickets and speed cameras, it will happen. Remember where you heard it first.

Anything new in America - golf or not - will find its way across the Atlantic pretty quicky.
Which means we should be interested in an article in today's "Washington Times."
This is what it says:

U S TOURNAMENT SPECTATORS CAN WALK
AROUND WITH POCKET SCOREBOARDS

Tech-savvy golf fans could follow all of the action yesterday at AT&T National without needing to walk all 18 holes of Congressional Country Club.
AT&T lent 500 "Wireless Caddie" devices to spectators, giving them access to an updated leaderboard and play-by-play of their favorite golfers. D.C.-based XM Radio, meanwhile, handed out 1,000 satellite radios to fans for the day, allowing them to follow a live broadcast of the tournament.
For spectators, the handheld devices solved one of the biggest problems of watching a golf tournament in person: Fans can follow only a few players at a time. But the companies also acknowledged they were offering the free devices as a way to lure new customers.
"There's a limit to how much golf you can see at once," said David Butler, a spokesman for XM, which is broadcasting the tournament live on its PGA Tour Network. "It's not like basketball or baseball where all the action is right in front of you. And what we've found is that one of the most effective ways to get new customers is letting them sample the service."
Most of the devices from both companies were grabbed up by spectators before noon yesterday. Reviews of the AT&T Wireless Caddie were generally positive, though some fans complained of its weight — nearly a full pound — and others noted a delay of about 30 seconds to a minute to get the most updated scores.
"There's a bit of a lag, but otherwise it's awesome," Sam Sinha of Silver Spring said as he poked at the device while watching players putt on the 15th green. "It's pretty intuitive. I've been constantly using it."
Fred Waning and Garth and Gary Bogar of Sterling, Va., scrolled through the leader boards on the Wireless Caddies while observing action near the 10th and 18th holes. Earlier, they used the device to determine Adam Scott's drive on 18 went 341 yards.
"It's a bit heavy, but it's useful," Waning said. "You don't have to use the scoreboards."

REMEMBER WHERE YOU READ IT FIRST!

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