One Liner:
The KING Utility irons from Cobra are classically shaped muscle-backs with a hollow body, a wide sole and adjustable hosel in a choice of thee lofts.
Fast Facts:
Standard variable length or ONE length (37.5 inches)
2-Utility in RH, 3-Utility RH/LH & 4-Utility RH/LH
ONE Length – 3-Utility & 4-Utility
All 3° adjustable
Forged face
Stock shaft: KBS $-Taper lite, Project X Catalyst 80
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline CONNECT Blue
In shops June 12 at $219 each
WYNTK:
Cobra Golf beefs up its iron offering with new hollow-body utilities with a classic look in a muscle back design. The sole of the KING Utilities is wider than the usual long iron and combined with the head’s tungsten weighting has the center of gravity pushed low in the body. Cobra says added to the forged PWRSHELL face this produces a strong, penetrating high trajectory giving distance and control.
Pinehurst Resort and JSX Airlines are offering the ultimate, all-inclusive summer golf getaway featuring non-stop, roundtrip service from Dallas Love Field and Westchester County (N.Y.) Airport to Moore County Airport, just 10 minutes from the resort and historic Village of Pinehurst.
The limited time, direct route service from these two golf hotbeds is bundled with Pinehurst’s “Summer Tee Golf Package,” one of the resort’s most popular stay-and-play options for golfers looking to experience as much world-class golf as possible over three or four days.
JSX Airlines
“We’re proud to partner with Pinehurst Resort to provide crowd-free, worry-free flights to America’s most historic golf destination,” says JSX CEO Alex Wilcox. “By offering a safe and efficient travel experience, we eliminate the uncertainty and hassle of commercial flying to give golfers peace of mind and the absolute fastest way from takeoff to tee time.”
All-Inclusive Packages Highlights:
Roundtrip airfare on JSX’s 30-seat luxury jets with business class service and no middle seats
Airport transfers from SOP to Pinehurst Resort and back
Accommodations at the majestic Carolina Hotel, the “Queen of the South”
Three or four rounds of golf on any of the resort’s nine 18-hole courses, including famed No. 2
A full breakfast and hearty dinner each day
Dallas Package Snapshot (Three Nights):
Three night-stay, three rounds of golf
June 25-28, July 2-5 or July 9-12 (Thurs. – Sun.)
depart DAL 8 a.m., arrive SOP 11:30 a.m.
depart SOP 6 p.m., arrive DAL 7:30 p.m.
Price: $2,499 (double occupancy)
New York Package Snapshot (Three Nights):
Three-night stay, three rounds of golf
June 25-28, July 2-5 or July 9-12 (Thurs. – Sun.)
depart HPN 2:30 p.m., arrive SOP 4 p.m.
depart SOP 2 p.m., arrive HPN 3:30 p.m.
Three-Night Price: $2,499 (double occupancy)
New York Package Snapshot (Four Nights):
Four-night stay, four rounds of golf
June 28 – July 2 or July 5-9 (Sun. – Thurs.)
depart HPN 4 p.m., arrive SOP 5:30 p.m.
depart SOP 12:30 p.m., arrive HPN 2 p.m.
Price: $2,899 (double occupancy)
“JSX helps us to deliver an all-inclusive and efficient seasonal travel experience that’s incredibly easy to book and enjoy,” says Tom Pashley, President of Pinehurst Resort. “We look forward to welcoming golfers to the North Carolina Sandhills and the Home of American Golf.”
The 11th Hole on Pinehurst No. 4
For East Coast golfers who many not be familiar with the innovative airline, JSX is a hop-on jet service that’s faster on the ground, more comfortable in the air and competitively priced with flights starting from $89 each way. The company was recently honored by Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as the 2020 “Best Overall Regional” air carrier in North America and by Fast Company as one of the “Most Innovative Companies” of 2020.
Honma’s TR20(short for “Tour Release 2020”) clubs combine 60 years of expert craftsmanship with cutting-edge design and construction from a uniquely structured team of industry-leading engineers. The TR20 440 and 460 drivers, along with the TR20 P and V irons, provide fast, tour-level performance with uncompromising Honma artisanship for low, mid- and high handicaps in the North American market.
Honma has long been revered internationally for its high-performance, exquisitely crafted clubs with luxe aesthetics and material composition. Its tradition of Sakata, Japan-based takumi (craftsmen) creating clubs for players seeking refinement and precision drives an enduring legacy. Similarly, the brand’s team of U.S. engineers have a hand in developing some of most trusted and innovative equipment designs of the last 25 years, imparting state-of-the-art technology and customization to deliver properly fitted, player-designed clubs. The TR20 line, the company’s first-ever North American-led product line, delivers golfers the best of two masterfully talented worlds.
“When you combine the attention to detail and finely crafted performance upheld by the takumi with our expert Carlsbad R&D team, every phase of the clubmaking process becomes a finely engineered work of art,” says John Kawaja, president of Honma Golf. “In the hands of golfers, the TR20 family of clubs inspires confidence and the pride that they’re using equipment that’s been meticulously created by two expert teams. When Japan’s finest club designers’ team up with America’s most accomplished club designers, the clear winner is the golfer who values inspired quality and performance.”
The TR20 clubs were specifically designed and built as individual solutions for the better player, with playability and appeal to a wide range of handicaps. Releasing the driver and irons first established the Honma TR narrative with new TR21 fairway woods and hybrids coming in Fall 2020.
HONMA DRIVERS SHOWCASE PRECISION PERFORMANCE, ADJUSTABILITY
The driver creation process begins with a hand-shaped and finely detailed Mississippi persimmon block that’s transformed, through countless stages of development, into a state-of-the-art clubhead. The result is one of the most technologically advanced drivers on the market. “Like a race car, these drivers are built for speed,” says Chris McGinley, VP of Global Product. “They have a minimum lightweight TiCarbon Fast Frame with a maximum amount of carbon body area. It’s a carbon clamshell – the entire outer crown and sole are made of carbon, while the underside of the crown is ribbed to reduce weight and increase strength – that sits on top of a very thin titanium frame eliminating vibration and the variable face thickness increasing face repulsion and COR for more initial ball speed.”
Discerning golfers can customize the TR20 drivers, available in 440cc and 460cc, using an adjustable three-weight triangle system and patented non-rotating hosel system for lie and loft adjustments. Both are unique to Honma.
The TR20 460 driver finished a strong fourth overallin MyGolfSpy’s 2020 Most Wanted testing, recording the third-highest ball speed among all drivers tested.
IRONS BUILT FOR GOLFERS’ NEEDS
Both the TR20 P and V irons showcase gorgeous player-preferred profiles with sleek lines and shaping and are built to be fast and forgiving so that golfers can achieve distance with pinpoint accuracy – even on misses. A new release coming soon is the TR20 B (blade) irons, set to join the iron family in the summer of 2020.
TR20P is a player’s distance iron that incorporates game improvement-like playability. A forged steel body and thin L-cup face help generate ball speed, while a co-forged tungsten piece in the cavity lends forgiveness – as does a slightly wider sole. The low center of gravity contributes to higher launch and longer carry distance. “The blade length is small enough to be accepted by a tour pro, but big enough to be market playable,” says McGinley.
The TR20V is a true player’s iron that’s long. A traditional one-piece cavity back, it’s forged from soft carbon steel and helps launch shots quick and high, but with control. It features a slightly shorter blade length and thin topline that better golfers prefer, as well as a recessed, electroform Honma mole logo in the cavity as a nod to the great forged irons of the company’s past.
The TR20 family of drivers ($649.99 apiece) and irons ($199.99/club with graphite shaft, $174.99/steel) is now available in stores, online, and by appointment at a Honma Experience location including Reunion Resort and Golf Club (Kissimmee, FL), Ko Olina Golf Club (Kapolei, HI), and the Honma House (Carlsbad, CA). Reservations are available for custom fitting sessions at Honma Mobile Experiences currently available in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.
For more information about Honma Golf visit: https://us.honmagolf.com.
As I approach “The Big Five O” (that’s 50 years old for you young pups), I realize I need to stretch, like for all facets of my life. That includes before and after golf. The days of showing up 10 minutes prior to my tee time and firing away, are in my rear view mirror.
Prior to a recent round, I complained about some back and hamstring tightness. My playing partner pulled out his newly acquired Theragun Mini and handed it to me for a test drive. After massaging my tender areas (lower back, hamstrings, psoa, etc) for 10 minutes, I was loose and ready to embark on my match.
It has been said, that the perfect golf partner is the guy who gives three foot putts. After feeling the soothing effects of the massager, I now proclaim the best companion is the Theragun mini. Small enough to fit in your golf bag yet big enough to power through the back knots and nagging pains. A loose back equates to big full swings and 50 has never felt this good.
The Skinny:
The Theragun mini is the smallest massager/theragun gun in Therabody’s new Generation 4 lineup. It is ideal for golfers due to its small form factor, quite motor and long lasting battery time. The mini offers three speeds delivering penetrating massage for up to 150 minutes per charge.
Features:
Proprietary brushless motor with QuietForce Technology™
Ultra-portable
3 speeds (1750, 2100, 2400 PPMs)
Ergonomic grip
Internal lithium-ion battery (150 minutes)
1-Year warranty
What’s Included:
Theragun Mini
Standard Ball Attachment
Charging Cable – Power Adapter
Soft Case Pouch
One Liner
TaylorMade Golf’s Truss model putters have a triangular hosel design for added resistance to twisting and to help stabilize blade through impact.
Fast Facts TaylorMade Truss Putters
Two blade models – center or heel shafted & two mallets – center or heel shafted
Pure Roll face insert
Nickel cobalt finish
KBS Stepless Stability Shaft
Lamkin Sink Fit Skinny grip
$300 each
WYNTK
TaylorMade testing confirmed what many amateur golfers already knew; when a putt is mishit over half the time impact occurs towards the toe hurting both distance control and starting the putt on the intended line. Their solution was to create a line of putters under the Truss name that at address look the same as traditional putters but in fact have a massive triangular hosel which gives a high MOI (resistance to twisting) and lots of more stability.
“TaylorMade collected data on 40,000 putts hit by golfers of various skill levels and tracked the most common area of the face where strikes occur,” said the company in the product announcement. “Results showed that more than half of the strikes occurred on the toe-side of center, which causes deflection and can lead to offline putts. Armed with this information, TaylorMade engineers set out to create a twist-resistant putter that offered greater torsional stability while maintaining a traditional shape.”
A large part of the equation was the realization players wanted the benefits a putter with higher resistance to twisting such as when impact is towards the toe but also wanted a traditional look at address. The four Truss models fulfill both those criteria.
One Liner: The appeal of Callaway’s JAWS MD5 wedges has been expanded with a glare-reducing raw finish and the addition of two grind options.
Fast Facts:
JAWS MD5 wedges add raw finish
New T Grind & X Grinds
Tour influenced shaping
Proprietary groove design
$159.99 each available June 4
WYNTK:
Roger Cleveland, Callaway Golf’s chief designer noting the success of the MD5 wedges in platinum chrome and Tour grey finishes has now added a raw finish to cut distracting reflection of the sun and two new grinds from his work with players on the PGA Tour.
The JAWS sharp edge milled radius groove design produces high spin give added control of distance and trajectory.
The lofts and grinds available:
Right hand 50° – S Grind, 52°- S Grind, 54°- choice S or X Grinds, 56° – choice S & X Grinds, 58° – choice S, X, T Grinds, 60° – choice S, X, T Grinds, 62ׄ° -C Grind
Left hand 52°- S Grind, 56°- S Grind, 60°- S Grind
One Liner:
Complementing Exotics ESX Pro metalwoods announced last week Tour Edge has released details of the Exotics EXS Pro Forged irons, EXS Blade irons & Blade wedges.
Fast Facts Exotics EXS Pro Forged Irons:
Players category cavity-back design
Triple forged with tungsten toe weight
CNC milled forged face, grooves & cavity
Electroformed insert of steel, ABS polymer & gel
Pitching wedge 46° loft, 5-iron 25° loft
Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate Tour VSS Pro, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105
Stock grip: GolfPride Tour 360
$149.99 each available June 1
Fast Facts Exotics EXS Blade Irons:
Players category forged CNC milled muscleback design
Narrow sole, thin top line
Rounded sole leading edge
Pitching wedge 47° loft, 5-iron 27° loft
Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate Tour VSS Pro, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105
Stock grip: GolfPride Tour 360
$149.99 each available June 1
WYNTK: Both of these new players category iron models are limited-edition with the cavity back EXS Pro Forged targeted for play by those with low to medium handicaps and the EXS Blades for low handicappers and professionals.
According to David Glod, Tour Edge founder and Master Club Designer, “We received enormous demand for player’s irons after putting our focus on game improvement hollow-body irons with the EXS 220 releases. As a club designer, I love player iron designs that are as beautiful as they are playable.”
In addition to the two iron models Exotics EXS Blade Wedges ($149.99 each) were introduced offering six standard lofts from 50° to 60°. Forged and then CNC milled from soft S25C carbon steel they have a flared toe design which moves the CG higher for lower launch and higher spin.
“We used a lot of feedback from the PGA Tour and tested these irons with our professional staff, as well as with extensive robotic testing,” said Glod. “I can report back that we have three winners across the board. I believe that the milled forged iron connoisseurs out there are going to be very impressed with the playability we were able to combine with a traditional forged feel.”
Those of us who play golf for the fun of it sometimes wish we could use our Visa card to fix our game not to mention filling in any gaps due to a deficit of talent.
Rather than beating balls on the range or spending hours on the putting green it would be a lot easier to “buy a game.” Just stop in the local golf shop and pick up the latest and greatest carbon-titanium-steel-graphite driver or plumber’s neck-mini-mallet-blade putter. The only problem then becomes keeping the secret from the brother-in-law so Saturday’s $10 Nassau would be a sure thing.
Ideally, our clubs should help rather than hurt our chances of scoring somewhere near our potential. Unfortunately, as with a lot of things, the real-world intervenes and it’s not just the time constraints of our busy lives that clearly puts the task of evaluating clubs in the “unsuited for the uninitiated” category. There is also the feeling one may need a PhD to figure out all the esoteric and often mysterious differences in clubs which assuredly shoves the solution way beyond those of us in the deskbound office brigade.
Let me tell you a story to prove the point.
Living in Florida where 75 million annually vacation provides lots of opportunity to golf with a cross section of fellow strugglers and one afternoon the starter matched me up with a typical husband and wife escaping from the bleakness of a Midwestern winter.
Both were experienced players and the wife, back into the game after a hiatus to raise a couple of kids, teed it up regularly with a group of “girls” at the club back home. Her husband, the quintessential mid-level executive weekend warrior, had a pronounced left to right ball flight which probably meant his favorite courses were not ones with trees lining the left side of the fairway. They were nice people and enjoyable companions for the few hours it takes for this maddening game.
While waiting on the par-3 third hole husband noted my bag had clubs from seven different manufacturers and asked, “What’s that all about?”
The simple explanation was seven manufacturers because the company who made the longest-straightest driver for my swing did not have an iron model that produced the best distance and control. Similar computerized shot analysis sessions put two other wedge brands, a fifth company’s fairway wood and a sixth’s hybrid in my bag. The choice of putter, from still another manufacturer, had been the computer’s second selection since the first choice was distinctly unappealing; in fact if you can picture an ungainly lump on the end of a shaft you would have the idea. Given my decades of playing and writing about the game the importance of custom clubs was beyond question as was the need to reevaluate specifications every couple of years.
The critical point is as we age our swing changes, especially the speed we can generate, and that necessitates changes in our clubs. In my case I now walk right past the “tips” heading for two tees forward and depending on how the body is feeling on any given day, maybe three. This isn’t a complaint simply a realistic assessment by a someone who can no longer play at the level to which he was accustom.
Getting back to our friends and the husband’s question, he told me that back home only a few of his buddies had been through a fitting (most likely the ones worried about that $10 brother-in-law Nassau) but he readily understood the idea of carrying clubs to help not hurt his game.
He even agreed the fee paid to a professional clubfitter makes sense when viewed as a modest investment in your future enjoyment of the game and the question of finding a professional clubfitter was answered by a quick smartphone consultation. There was one less than 10 miles from his home.
At the end of the round we exchanged business cards and promised to stay in touch, but in my mind I’d let a week or so go by and then send an email prompting him about a club fitting appointment.
The temptation was also there to mention how much more his wife would enjoy playing with him if he didn’t offer advice and tips after each swing but then having travelled that particular road myself I figured he could learn to navigate the potholes himself.
Interestingly, while husband was off in the palmettos attempting a recovery from another boomerang-shaped drive, his wife she asked if a fitting would make sense for her. Though we had played only a few holes it was apparent with her basic swing and better than average short game she had the potential to score much lower. After surveying her bag, it was obvious a fitting would help.
Out of curiosity I inquired where she had gotten the stiff shafted irons and steel headed driver, but the reply did not surprise me. When she started playing again husband came home with this bunch of beauties and a, “Here honey, play with these.” He must have gotten a heck of a deal but at least the bag and headcovers were a matching mauve.
This is important. Do not let a friend dictate or even gently steer you toward something they like. The corollary of course is trying your buddy’s new driver and absolutely striping it one time does not mean you’ve found the answer to the maiden’s prayer. Do not stop on the way home to get one just like it ‘cause chances are that one driver swing was the golf gremlins messin’ with you.
Also be cautious of being fit by someone who sells a single brand or a limited number of brands. The truth is even the most knowledgeable best-intentioned fitter can only fit you to the driver or irons for which he has samples. You will never get the chance to try the perfect club if it is not in the shop.
But getting back to the story, a couple of weeks later the husband sent an email saying he had been to the fitting and how surprised he was the club specs had changed starting with a swing weight. Rather than the graphite shafted ultra-lights he had been playing his new clubs were a heavier D-3 swing weight and the driver had a strong draw bias to help straighten out his slice.
His excitement was evident. Another Florida visit had been planned but the timing coincided with the PGA Merchandise Show, so I missed seeing him however a few days after the Show another email arrived.
This one was from the wife, and she was over the moon, writing she had been fitted for clubs as well and also made the trip south. Both of them were happy with the “instant” improvement—hitting the ball farther and straighter. Best of all, she confided, there’s no doubt in her mind she can take her husband on in a $10 Nassau straight up.
One Liner:
As America’s economy gradually reopens Tour Edge Golf is the first of the major manufacturers to release details on a new club family, the Exotics EXS Pro Metalwoods.
Fast Facts Exotics EXS Pro Driver:
Sliding rear weight to shape ball flight
Carbon crown & toe panel for weight low and forward
Low spin
Diamond Face design
Internal sound diffusion bar
Adjustable hosel +/- 2°
Stock shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange, Project X HZRDUS Smoke
Stock grip: GolfPride Tour 360
Retail $399.99 available June 1
Fast Facts Exotics EXS Pro Fairway wood:
Adjustable sole weights heel & toe
Low & forward center of gravity lowers spin
Beta titanium face cup combo brazed
Internal sound diffusion bar
Sole channels to reduce turf drag
Stock shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange, Project X Hzrdus Smoke Yellow
Stock grip: GolfPride Tour 360
Retail $299.99 available June 1
Fast Facts Exotics EXS Pro hybrid:
Adjustable sole weights heel & toe
Beta titanium face
Sound diffusion bar
Sole channels to reduce turf drag
Stock shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Silver Hybrid, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black
Stock grip: GolfPride Tour 360
Retail $249.99 available June 1
WYNTK: With the anticipation of golfers returning to the game and getting a marketing jump on their competitors Tour Edge announced an entirely new club family, the Exotics EXS Pro metalwoods. They tell me the originally protypes were intended for players on the professional tours and after input from the pros the decision was made to make them available to the public.
“At first, we were just designing prototypes for the pro tours, but along the way, we realized that the market has a need for these tour-inspired designs as a limited edition series,” said Tour Edge President and Master Club Designer David Glod. “With our previous Exotics launch, the EXS 220, we designed our most forgiving and stable clubs we’ve ever produced. The EXS Pro line is designed to bring the level up with the more traditional player with a faster swing speed who is looking for anti-left clubs with extremely low spin and penetrating ball flights.”
The driver has a classic pear-shape with new features including a sliding weight along the rear of the clubhead plus from last year’s Exotics EXS 220 model the Diamond Face which has 33 “mini-trampolines” to improve ball speed plus the internal Sound Diffusion Bar.
Glod also made the point the EXS driver and fairway woods are built to have the performance and quality to provide the same or better results than other makers clubs costing much more.
Retailing has taken an unprecedented hit. According to the U.S. Census Bureau the Sporting Goods/Hobby/Musical category had 38% lower sales in April than in March and Adobe’s Digital Economy Index reported online purchasing increased 49% in April.
It is easy to see the most immediate task for all retailers is to figure how to take advantage of the “new normal,” whatever that may be.
As shelter-in-place restrictions are being removed stores of all sizes are faced with figuring out how to attract customers, perhaps in ways never considered previously. E-commerce was already a major factor but due to the recent health requirements the trend is sure to gain momentum. Consumers, many for the first time, are taking advantage of the inventory variety, ease of comparison shopping, speed of ordering and often lower prices.
According to one major golf retailer, PGA TOUR Superstore (PGATSS), the solution is continuing a customer-centered instore experience and doing business at “Two Club Lengths.”
Dick Sullivan, President and CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore, has a reputation for dynamic management that is readily apparent while leading the company for the past decade. PGATSS’s results and his leadership were recognized in 2018 when he was the first retailer to be elected chairman of the National Golf Foundation. We had the opportunity to ask him questions about the present retailing situation and what it means for his operation.
Ed Travis: With store closings forced by the efforts to contain transmission of the COVID-19 virus did PGATSS lay off employees? If so, will they all be eventually reemployed?
Dick Sullivan: Our number one priority remains health and safety of Associates and customers. After that our focus is on preserving jobs. We have not furloughed Associates or had pay cuts. Our vision and business strategy are driven by a long-term approach in everything we do. That means making good, smart decisions for our business for the months and years ahead.
ET: An online ordering program with Curbside Caddie pickup was initiated. Considering the circumstances do you consider it a success?
DS: Absolutely, we were still able to accommodate our customers in our local markets while the stores remained closed to the public. We conceived the Curbside Caddie idea and integrated it into our digital experience in less than 48 hours. It has represented approximately 25-50% of our total e-commerce orders since launch.
ET: During the stay-at-home period were hard goods sales hurt more or less than soft goods?
DS: There has been significant demand in the accessory’s category because the majority of our sales are being driven by people that are out playing golf or practicing at home. Not surprisingly, many Customers have bought training aids, push/pull carts and golf balls, etc.
375% reflects the increase in push/pull cart sales from April of this year, compared to April of last year. With nearly 95 percent of golf courses open across the US, many facilities have put in place walking only protocols. Golf is a game that offers many physical and well-being benefits. Walking nine holes of golf is equivalent to 5,000 steps.
What has been the consistent number one category of products sold online was clubs. Our online club sales were up 120% vs. prior year and we attribute this to excellent blended offering of both repositioned and new clubs. It’s interesting to note, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in women’s packaged sets being purchased. Soft goods have seen smaller comp increases during this time compared to hard goods.
ET: With approximately two-thirds of your locations reopened have there been problems for employees and customers with social distancing and other preventative measures?
DS: We’ve done a good job of “doing the right thing.” Sanitation supplies, on the way in and out of the store, signage to reinforce social distancing, Associates wearing masks and we provided them with individual hand sanitizers in addition to multiple sanitation stations throughout the stores. We are also regularly wiping down clubs that are being demoed, golf balls that are being used in the simulators and on the putting green, and high traffic areas and surfaces.
We implemented a new ‘Starter’ position to help customers navigate the rules and to clean any equipment that is brought in for repairs or regripping. It gives the customer an opportunity to ask questions and hear what we are doing to help make them comfortable and safe.
We have also established a que line at check-out and labeled spacing to ensure social distancing guidelines.
ET: Will the costs of extra cleaning, etc. result in increased prices?
DS: No. Putting people first has always been our top core value. The health and safety of our Associates and customers will always be our top priority. Comfort, care, and cleanliness, has been our operational approach driving us during this time. For example, we have secured disposable masks, reusable masks, gallons of hand sanitizer, individual hand sanitizer, gloves and set up 450 hand sanitizing stations.
We also set up social distancing protocols reminding people to stay “two club lengths” (six feet) away from each other. And, then there is the signage throughout our stores and at the Store Support Center reminding people to practice social distancing, frequently wash hands, etc., all based on CDC and other government guidelines and recommendations.
ET: Before the closings, the growth trend in both instore and online sales had been extraordinarily strong. What special promotions or other initiatives will be done to reestablish that growth?
DS: We will continue to manage online business as we have working different exclusive promotions and offers. For the stores, we will celebrate Father’s Day with our usual focus on gifts for Dad and special offers. After Father’s Day, we will assess the results including what we heard from our customers and Associates and then plan the balance of the year as needed. I think it goes without saying that we are moving into uncharted territory with the season shifting to the second half of the year. The typical playbook is not going to work in 2020 and we want to be as agile and responsive as possible.
ET: Instore sales at the Altamonte Springs, Fla. location have shown a very significant increase since reopening May 4. What were the contributing factors and have similar results been seen in other locations?
DS: We have seen a significant year over year sales increase since re-opening our Altamonte Springs location. This is due to a couple of factors. The first being that a local competitor closed their location prior to and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, the Altamonte Springs location relies more on its residential community rather than tourists. As you know, when they rank the top cities in the US for golf, Orlando is always in the top-10. http://theaposition.com/golf/courses-and-travel/1526/the-a-list-what-is-the-best-golf-city-in-the-us
ET: Given the depressed conditions some retailers are permanently closing locations while PGATSS is opening a new store in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. What is your thinking about such expansion right now and are more new store openings planned in the near future?
DS: Our brand has tremendous momentum and many markets that are not yet served. We support a game that is well-positioned to serve a higher purpose – particularly right now. Our growth plans have not changed. Not only Palm Beach opening, but we will open a store in Columbus, Ohio the week of the Memorial.
ET: An attraction and strength of PGATSS stores has been the “experience” consumers get when making a visit. How do you see that going forward?
DS: We have a very strong brand and history of consistently delivering positive experiences and trust for our Customers. Customers have thanked us for creating a safe environment for them to continue to enjoy shopping in our store and leveraging all that our store has to offer – putting green, hitting bays, fitting studio and more. We have made many enhancements to continue to facilitate the in-store experience that our customers enjoy. Their feedback and input have validated that they feel comfortable, are easing back in gently but looking forward to getting back into the store.
ET: The stay-at-home rules and retail shut down resulted in an immense increase of online transactions. According to some analysts this means basic changes to retailing in general as many shoppers may have simply gotten the “online habit” rather than making trips out to stores. Do you share that view, or do you see retailing returning with a similar buying pattern as it has had in the past due?
DS: We expect to continue to have strong online sales and will continue to elevate the digital experience – as we always have. That said, given the strong retail results we’ve been experiencing, as well as the feedback and insights directly from our Customers over the past month, we believe that our retail experience will be an opportunity for consumers to get custom fit and connect with others over their shared passion for the game, as well as continue to be mindful of their own self-care – mind, body and spirit. Golf is the game that provides that solution.
One Liner: Callaway now offers personalized club fittings at no charge over the phone from Certified Master Fitters.
Fast Facts:
Free club fitting consultation
Sign up at Callaway Distance Fitting
30-minute phone appointment with Master Fitter
Online questionnaire and club selectors
WYNTK:
In what seems like a move to cement relationships with confirmed Callaway players rather than to bypass companies in the burgeoning club fitting business, a phone consultation program has been initiated for a session with one of Callaway’s Master Fitters to set new club specifications.
A phone appointment is made by registering on the Callaway Distance Fitting website. Prior to the conversation with the fitter, which takes 30 minutes, a series of questions describing your game must be answered which are used by the fitter along with online questionnaires to zero in on the proper clubs. Callaway clubs of course. There are four questionnaires called Selector Tools: one each for drivers, fairway woods, irons, and wedges plus a fifth for the proper ball.
Michael Vrska heads the program as Director of Custom Fitting and Player Performance and in the announcement said: “Distance Fitting is providing golfers with an outstanding custom fitting experience from home. We’re already seeing how effective this program is at delivering a personalized and comprehensive fitting in just 30 minutes and getting players into the right equipment to help them play better golf.”
This is not the first online/phone club fitting program run by a major manufacturer, Ping has had WEBFIT for some time, and it is unlikely this new Callaway program will seriously challenge the major club fitters such as Club Champion or even local fitters who have a loyal following. All club fitters make use of Callaway clubheads creating a partnership that benefits both.
What Distance Fitting does though is for those who know Callaway is what they want to buy it lets them zero in on exactly the correct model.
In a move that surprised no one, the PGA of America and Reed Exhibitions have canceled the PGA Fashion & Demo Experience scheduled for August 18-19 at the Las Vegas’ Venetian Resort due to concerns of transmitting the CORVID-19 virus.
A series of digital programs will be begun in June to “facilitate business connections.”
“Our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the golf community at PGA Show events. We are simultaneously steadfast in our dedication to help support the golf industry right now,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Event Vice President Marc Simon. “In partnership with the PGA of America, we will introduce details soon regarding a number of virtual and digital options to help connect and re-engage the golf industry, and support PGA Professionals, attendees, exhibitors and associations.”
Reed Exhibitions also announced today a contribution on behalf of PGA Shows to the Golf Emergency Relief Fund, established to provide short-term assistance to workers in the golf industry who are the backbone of the sport and face significant financial hardship.
The PGA Fashion & Demo Experience has substantially less attendance and fewer exhibitors than the PGA Merchandise Show held each January in Orlando, Fla.
To say Chester A. Massey was a golf enthusiast would be like saying the Titanic was a boat. Massey, an insurance executive from Knoxville, had a dream to build one of the finest golf courses in America, right here in east Tennessee. He spent several years and a lot of miles researching the project, country club planning, and management. Massey visited dozens of properties and spoke to many club managers and head professionals before selecting a piece of property west of Knoxville on which to build his dream course and master-planned community.
Renowned golf course architect William Byrd was selected to design and build the course and felt that Fox Den was one of the most beautiful pieces of land he’d ever worked on, with features everything like rolling hills, beautiful wooded areas, and long fairway stretches, all with the Great Smoky Mountains serving as a backdrop. He felt that “It will be one of the most exacting and exciting 18 holes in America.” The first nine holes opened for play on May 15th, 1969.
With the construction of the golf course underway, Massey set out to remodel the old Oliver Kermit Everett farmhouse into the club’s first clubhouse and pro shop; it opened in March of 1969. The second clubhouse – which is now the Fitness Center – opened in May 1971. The clubhouse that you see today was the result of a $4 million construction project approved by the membership in 1994. I guess you could say that Chester Massey’s dreams did come true, Fox Den is truly one of the nicest facilities in the Knoxville area.
In 2004, Bill Bergin completely redesigned the golf course, significantly enhancing an already outstanding layout. During the renovation, Bergin resurfaced all the greens and reshaped most of them, added several new bunkers, updated the drainage system, and installed new cart paths. In 2011, Bergin was back to rebuild all 56 bunkers on the course.
From the back tees, Fox Den plays 7,110 yards with a course rating of 74.7 and a slope of 137. This is where the pros played from for the 21 years the course hosted the Web.com Tour’s Knoxville Open event. From back here, you’ll find a lot more forced carries and more difficult angles into the green. Most members typically play from the White (6,434/71.5/132) or the Green (5,836/68.7/128) tees. Ladies will have an enjoyable time from either the Blue (5,279/71.1/123) or the Silver tees (4,718/68.1/1200). There’s also a “combo” tee on the scorecard called the “Partners” tee. Chose the distance that best suits your game and you’re bound to have a good time. When it doubt, “Play it Forward!”
I recently had an opportunity to play a round of golf at Fox Den. Not being able to find three friends that could play during the week, I was paired with three members and things couldn’t have gone better. One thing that they pointed out was that, other than the par 3’s and a couple of other holes, you can’t see the green from the tee box. The tee shots aren’t necessarily blind, you can usually watch them land, but course knowledge out here is everything. Two of my playing partners have been members for 40 years, the other for 5. I asked them what made membership so special, expecting to hear the standard answer, “the members.” I was pleasantly surprised when each one replied “The golf course, it’s just fantastic.” That’s a hard point to argue.
Just as Willard Byrd promised when he built the course originally, there are plenty of rolling hills and beautiful wooded areas, unless you’re in them. Then they’re not so beautiful. Water comes into play on several holes, but not in areas where you can’t see it. In other words, no blind shots where you could find the water if you didn’t know it was there. Fairway bunkers have been strategically placed and for the most part, are reachable regardless of the tees you’re playing. Most of the fairway bunkers, although on the peripheries of the fairway have large lips and are fairly penal in nature. The Bentgrass greens are moderately fast and roll true with subtle undulations.
Fox Den Country Club has several memorable holes but for me, it all begins with the first three. The first hole is a dogleg right, par 5 that plays 482 yards from the White tees. Tee off from an elevated tee box downhill to a landing area with a large deciduous tree on the right and fairway bunkers left. Longball hitters can most likely carry the tree, allowing themselves to go for the green in two, perhaps jump-starting their round. The green is elevated and well protected with deep-lipped bunkers.
From the White tees, the par 3, 2nd hole plays 162 yards, slightly downhill and over water to an angled green protected by bunkers front left and behind. There’s a bailout area right of the green if you feel the need!
The third hole is a gentle dogleg right that plays 356 yards from the White tees, although because it’s uphill, plays a little longer. Trees guard the right side off the tee with out of bounds on either side. You’ll need to carry your approach shot on to the green because of the positioning of the deep-lipped bunkers around it. Par is a good score here.
Number 18 is an awesome finishing hole. It’s a 556-yard par 5 that doglegs slightly to the right and for most players, will take three of the day’s best shots to get there. There is water to the right of the green as well as in front, making it necessary to carry it on. Two good shots will leave a short pitch over water into the green which features modest undulation.
The Teaching Center is one of the top golf club fitting studios in Tennessee and helps Fox Den members get the most out of their golf game by analyzing and comparing different club heads, shafts, etc. They use the TrackMan 4 video system for custom club fitting and teaching. TrackMan can measure ball speed, clubhead speed, launch angle, club head angle of attack, and path, just to name a few. There are two indoor hitting bays so members can work on their swing year-round.
Fox Den has the practice facilities for golfers to work on every facet of their game. There’s a full-length driving range with multiple target greens. The short game complex has areas for golfers to practice green side and bunker shots and the 10,000 sq. ft. putting green has all the undulations to get you ready for the course. There’s a second putting green adjacent to the first tee which many members use to practice short putts and chip shots.
The golf pro shop is run by PGA Professional Danny Ackerman who stocks a good variety of clubs, clothing, and accessories. You’ll find brands such as FootJoy, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Cutter & Buck, and the latest golf club technology from companies like Titleist, Ping, and Callaway. Both beginner and seasoned golfers will find solace in knowing that the Professional Staff is always there to assist members and their guests and help them work through any problems they may have.
Fox Den Country Club offers several membership options with the most popular being the Full Membership. With a full membership you have access to pretty much everything Fox Den has to offer: The golf course, driving range and practice facilities, the teaching facility and use of the Trackman system, the tennis center, junior Olympic and Children’s swimming pools, fitness center, dining facilities, member events, and ClubBenefits at over 350 country clubs and entertainment venues around the world. A Full Membership applies to everyone in the immediate family 23 years of age and younger. Contact Membership Director Caroline Inman for more information.
If golf isn’t your game, maybe tennis is. Fox Den has five of the best clay courts in Knoxville as well as two hard courts that are lit for night play. Within the club’s Tennis Program there’s a wide variety of leagues and clinics for men, women, juniors, and couples. The Tennis Pro Shop can help with tennis supplies, stringing, and repairs.
Tennis isn’t the only racquet sport at Fox Den, they also play pickleball. It’s the fast-growing sport in the country and is a great way to introduce kids to tennis. It’s also a great workout for adults and speed and quickness are not a necessity. In fact, many tennis players are converting to pickleball because it requires less endurance than tennis.
The fitness center at Fox Den is quite impressive. For starters, there’s a cardio fitness room with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and a cardio theatre. The stretching room has a number of stretching tools and balance balls. There’ a variety of Precor machines and a free weight area with barbells and dumbbells. Shower and changing facilities are available for both men and women with all of the accouterments you’d expect at a private club.
Fox Den wants to be known as a family-friendly country club and offer something for every member of the family. While golf, racquet sports, and the fitness center will most likely be enjoyed by all members of the family, things like Family Pool Activities, Red Foxes Swim Team, and Kid’s Camp attract the younger crowd. Fox Den has a good variety of events and activities for the kids throughout the year. The Casual Care Center is the perfect place to leave the little ones while mom and dad go out and play a few holes or sets.
For more information on Fox Den Country Club or to schedule a visit, go to their website, www.foxdencountryclub.com.
Rounding into late spring and towards Father’s Day, dads are in a fairly happy place. Nearly 80 percent of courses throughout the U.S. are open and the National Golf Foundation projects more than 90 percent will be back and running before June.
And if things go according to plan with the PGA Tour, dad will have golf to watch on TV with the Charles Schwab Challenge held at Colonial Country Club June 11-14 in Fort Worth, Tex. As will he the next weekend, on Father’s Day, with the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C.
All of this is to say, fear not sons, daughters, spouses and significant others – golf gifts are back on the menu for dad in 2020. That stated, may we offer a slightly different approach this year: give dad the gift of walking golf.
Walking has not only emerged as the safest way to playing during the COVID-19 crisis, it is strongly recommended and even required at numerous courses and clubs. This could be the case for the foreseeable future as operators look to maintain social distancing guidelines and are short on golf carts due to single rider requirements.
It’s also the way the game was meant to be played. It’s what makes the game a sport, and even if dad doesn’t play the sport particularly well, he’ll burn between 700 and 1,000 calories hoofing 18 holes.
Here’s a cheat sheet of walking-friendly gear and apparel to keep dad looking good and performing up to his potential.
Walker Trolleys Cape Model
Pushcarts are going to start appearing at courses where you never thought you’d see pushcarts. Not just because of cart restrictions, but due to the suspension of caddie programs at exclusive private clubs and high-end resorts.
Walker Trolleys Cape Model
Walker Trolleys, a walking golf lifestyle company based in Austin, made a huge splash at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show with the introduction of its Cape Model. The Cape draws inspiration from the roadsters and ultra-cool bicycles from the 20s and 30s. Yes, it will turn more than a few heads on the course.
An Integrated, customizable soft good-storage, premium materials and a clean, sleek-yet-classic design make the Cape stand out among a crowded field. The Cape is easily collapsible and fits in the trunk or cargo area of almost any car or SUV. It retails for $399 and is still available for pre-order at the Walker Trolley website.
Southern Tide Driver Brrr Performance Polo and T3 Gulf Shorts
With apologies to south Florida and southern Arizona, it doesn’t get any hotter than playing golf in South Carolina in the summer. If you’ve ever teed it up in the state’s famed Lowcountry on a July afternoon, you know what we mean.
Southern Tide
So leave it to Southern Tide, based in Greenville, S.C., to figure out the perfect hot weather walking shirts and shorts for sultry 18-hole summer loops. Its new T3 Gulf Shorts are made from quick-dry fabric that effortlessly transitions from a morning on the course to an afternoon on the water.
The four-way stretch is ideal for striding down fairways and squatting to read greens. The T3s come in both nine and 10-inch inseams. The former retails for $89.50 and the latter (featuring Brrr technology) retails for $99.50. Know your dad and know how short his shorts should be.
Southern Tide made the Skipjack polo famous, and its new Driver Brrr Polo ($99.50) keeps golfers up to three degrees cooler. Available in four classic striped patterns, it’s is also moisture-wicking and UPF 50-plus rated.
Raleigh, N.C.-based Peter Millar bills its Featherweight Polo as the “lightest shirt you’ll ever own.” You know the threadbare vintage t-shirt you’ve worn every day during the pandemic? Yeah, it’s that light.
Peter Millar
Weighing in at an incredible 2.5 ounces, Featherweight polos pack all the performance punch of your favorite golf polo in patterns and prints that look situation appropriate on and off the course.
These shirts are engineered from super-lightweight performance fabric that stretches four ways for full range of motion, wicks away moisture from the body and resists odor.
They come in a classic fit, designed with a standard sleeve length and opening and are relaxed in the shoulder, chest and waist.
Whether dad prefers a pushcart or to carry his own bag, the Sun Mountain 2.5+ golf bag has plenty of storage while weighing in at only 2.5 pounds – the lightest bag we’ve ever tested. It’s a full-size golf bag that doesn’t look or feel like a full-size golf bag, and retails for $229.99.
With a nine-inch top and four, full-length club dividers, 2.5+ doesn’t skimp on conveniences, either, offering five pockets including a full-length clothing pocket, velour-lined valuables pocket, two accessory pockets and a beverage pouch.
Sun Mountain 2.5+
2.5+ also includes classic Sun Mountain details: a durable top with built-in handle, sturdy bottom with the patented Roller-Bottom leg mechanism for quick and strong leg action, proprietary X-Strap® Dual Strap shoulder strap system, lumbar hip pad with AirFlow System, umbrella attachment, towel holder and a top-mounted leg mechanism for added stability.
It’s impossible, or least remiss, to discuss walking golf without inserting True into the narrative. Founded in 2009 to help golfer #enjoythewalk, True Linkswear golf shoes are created by walkers for walking on the course, and then right off the course into whatever social setting and situation awaits.
True Linkswear OG Feel
Designed with the feel player in mind, The OG Feel is a natural width model built on a zero-drop, flexible rubber sole to really enhance ground feel. Available for pre-order for $139, they’re available in three color patters and 14 sizes.
With golf getting at least a yellow and at best a green-light in nearly every state, traveling to play golf (with all necessary precautions) is also firing back up as the golf season reboots. There’s no better place to (responsibly) celebrate its return than at walker-friendly Pinehurst Resort.
The 11th Hole on Pinehurst No. 4
All 10 (including the par-3 Cradle) courses have remained open and the resort’s hotels are reopening in late May. Starting at $1,208 per person, the Donald Ross golf package is perfect for two to four golfers. It includes resort accommodations for two nights, three rounds of golf, daily three-course dinner and breakfast.
Walking isn’t just allowed at Pinehurst, it is encouraged. Donald Ross’s famed No. 2 Course (restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw) and the reimagined No. 4 Course designed by Gil Hanse are both properly played on foot. Caddies are also available on No. 2, ideal for navigating the rigors of this storied U.S. Open venue.
The No. 1 and No. 3 courses – both designed by Ross, both under 6,100 yards – are two of the best walking tracks in the country. No. 3 was recently restored to its original Sandhills aesthetic by Kyle Franz and is chock-full of trademark Ross design characteristics.
Resort officials encourage future golfer guests to call (855) 235-8507 with any questions about accommodations, dining options and golf course maintenance.
In late 2018, Club Champion opened in Metro Milwaukee, less than 30 minutes from my house. Over the last year, I have heard from countless friends and colleagues claim their fitting changed their game. My 2020, News Years resolution was to get custom fit for a new putter. Why the putter? Well, it is the oldest club in my bag.
Before diving too deep, I think it is important to note that I paid for the putting fitting at Club Champion. This article is not a direct endorsement for Club Champion but more of an explanation or validation on how we got to the conclusion that the Stability Putter Shaft positively effected my putting stroke.
Lets dive in.
The putter fitting starts with rolling putts with my current putter an Odyssey O Works with the Original Stability Shaft (circa 2017). After warming up, I was introduced to the Sam PuttLab a small contraption that consisted of a series of devices, lasers and computer. that measured and analyzed my putting stroke. The process consists of a series of seven putts. After the set, the display outputted data and graphs that calculated my path, strike, face rotation, loft, etc. Over the next hour, I tried a myriad of putters including my current gamer.
At the end, we took the three best performing putters and did another set of putts. Surprisingly, I had the best consistency and numbers with my current putter. My fitter wanted to isolate whether it was the putter or putter/shaft combination. We redid the drills with a similar putter without the stability shaft and with my current putter. Turns out the stability shaft gave me better performance including better tempo, straighter path and nearly perfect impact position.
So what did I do? I did what every golf junkie does. I purchased the latest model putter and installed the new Stability Tour shaft. Its worth it weight in gold!
The following video explains the difference between the two models – Stability Orginal vs Stability Tour.
The Stability Tour was release in the fall of 2019. Below is the press release sharing features and pricing.
Stability Tour shaft is the result of feedback from the best golfers and coaches in the world and offers the same state-of-the-art performance as the Original Stability Shaft
Barney Adams, Breakthrough Golf CEO, states “Introducing a tour model is just a natural progression of the brand. Stability clearly has filled a void in the putter category and now golfers who want to play exactly what the pros play will have that option with Stability Tour”.
Stability Tour Features:
Streamline, slim look which tapers to a 13% reduction in the shaft diameter. Stability Tour also offers a complete blackout appearance to reduce line of sight distraction.
Balance. Stability Tour will balance like a steel shaft which makes it easy to recreate a specific swing weight when re-shafting. Better golfers can replace their steel shaft without appreciably changing the balance of the putter. This allows the most discerning players to achieve precise specifications on their equipment.
Feel. Offers a softer feel. It will match the balance point and flex profile of steel with 30% more carbon fiber for crisp, responsive sound and control preferred by discerning golfers and tour professionals.
The Stability Tour shaft is designed with BGT’s patented Advanced Materials Technology, a scientifically proven platform which delivers the face square at impact. This results in a lower launch for predictable roll and better distance control. Blair Philip, VP R&D says “Testing confirms that both the Original Stability and Stability Tour deliver the groundbreaking performance that BGT has pioneered in our tour-proven putter shaft designs”.
, President and CEO of 
In 2004, Bill Bergin completely redesigned the golf course, significantly enhancing an already outstanding layout. During the renovation, Bergin resurfaced all the greens and reshaped most of them, added several new bunkers, updated the drainage system, and installed new cart paths. In 2011, Bergin was back to rebuild all 56 bunkers on the course.
Fox Den Country Club has several memorable holes but for me, it all begins with the first three. The first hole is a dogleg right, par 5 that plays 482 yards from the White tees. Tee off from an elevated tee box downhill to a landing area with a large deciduous tree on the right and fairway bunkers left. Longball hitters can most likely carry the tree, allowing themselves to go for the green in two, perhaps jump-starting their round. The green is elevated and well protected with deep-lipped bunkers.
The Teaching Center is one of the top golf club fitting studios in Tennessee and helps Fox Den members get the most out of their golf game by analyzing and comparing different club heads, shafts, etc. They use the TrackMan 4 video system for custom club fitting and teaching. TrackMan can measure ball speed, clubhead speed, launch angle, club head angle of attack, and path, just to name a few. There are two indoor hitting bays so members can work on their swing year-round.
If golf isn’t your game, maybe tennis is. Fox Den has five of the best clay courts in Knoxville as well as two hard courts that are lit for night play. Within the club’s Tennis Program there’s a wide variety of leagues and clinics for men, women, juniors, and couples. The Tennis Pro Shop can help with tennis supplies, stringing, and repairs.
