Golf Blog by The Orlando Golf Blogger

How would you like to win your choice of either a Callaway Diablo Edge, Callaway FT-Tour or a Callaway FT-iZ Driver?

Starting today, golfers who purchase one of these three 2010 Callaway Drivers from a Golfsmith retail store across the country will have the purchase price of the Callaway driver fully refunded if Phil Mickleson wins the 2010 Masters at Augusta.

This applies to the Callway Diablo Edge, Callaway FT-Tour and the Callaway FT-iZ drivers and the check will be mailed to you within eight to ten weeks after the verification of your purchase.

See below press release..

FOR RELEASE March 12, 2010

Golfsmith to Give Away New Callaway Drivers if Phil Mickelson Wins The Masters

MARCH 12, 2010, AUSTIN, TX — As all eyes turn towards The Masters golf tournament with golfer Phil Mickelson the favorite to win, one golf retailer is offering a way for fans to win free golf clubs if Lefty captures his third green jacket.

Golfsmith is teaming up with Callaway Golf to give golfers an opportunity to get new drivers, free of charge, if Phil Mickelson is victorious this April in Augusta.  The chances for golfers of getting a free driver, much like the Callaway driver that Phil uses, have never been better as Phil Mickelson is the odds-on favorite to win the 2010 Masters.

Starting today and ending April 7, golfers who purchase one of three new drivers – the Callaway Diablo Edge, Callaway FT-Tour or Callaway FT-iZ™ – at any Golfsmith store across the country will have the purchase price of their Callaway driver fully refunded if Phil wins the 2010 Masters at Augusta, April 8-11.

“We’re kicking off the season with the first major of the year and the best player in the field,” said Marty Hanaka, president and CEO of Golfsmith.  “Phil Mickelson is the hottest player on tour and Callaway’s new drivers are better than ever before.  There is pent up demand from golfers for new clubs, and with this promotion exclusively at our stores, it’s a great way to inspire golfers everywhere to root for Phil Mickelson at this year’s Masters.”

“Our 2010 Callaway drivers are generating an unprecedented amount of excitement, and Phil’s popularity is at an all-time high” said Brian Groves, Vice President, Marketing, Callaway Golf.  “We’re thrilled to partner with Golfsmith on this promotion and looking forward to placing the best performing drivers on the market into the hands of consumers.”

Estimates are that thousands of people will take advantage of the promotion, which is available through more than seventy stores from coast to coast.  To learn more about the promotion with Callaway Golf, stop by any Golfsmith store or visit Win With Phil. This promotion is available only in U.S. store locations.  No purchase necessary.

This promotion is only sponsored by Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. and Callaway Golf and is not sponsored by or endorsed by, and there is no affiliation with Augusta National, Inc. or any other entity.

You can also participate without purchasing one of the three Callaway drivers by going into your local retail location and asking for an official “Win With Phil” entry form. Fill out the form and mail it to the address indicated before April 7th and you’re in!

You also have the opportunity to win a chance to play a round of golf with Phil Mickelson and two of your playing partners by filling out the entry form online.

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a new driver this year, might be a good idea to hit these clubs and see if one feels right, you might be able to get it for free!

That’s a lot of freebies floating around, think it’s going to be a profitable venture?

Our good friend John Duval from over at IntoTheGrain.com created a 4 minute video on Regripping Golf Clubs.

Check it out.

Regripping Golf Clubs

How often you should regrip your golf clubs depends on how often you play and the type of grips you use. Golf Pride recommends once a year or every 40 rounds.  The price for per club is $7 for labor plus the grip, so if you do all your clubs every year, you’re looking at around $100 bucks per year.

That’s a couple rounds of golf, a new club, a new bag, some new digs, golf balls, etc..

I’m not a very big DIY guy, but John makes it look easy enough, that I think even I could do it without screwing it up. Of Course, if you watch any master of a particular craft, they ALWAYS make it look easy. I was obsessed with those wood carving shows for a while, the guys would build an entire entertainment center in an hour and NEVER make a mistake and I have trouble putting together a book case using the instructions without screwing up!

If you don’t have any of the supplies for regripping golf clubs, Golfsmith will sell the entire kit (minus the vice) for $39.99.

GOLFSMITH Regripping Supply Kit Golfsmith Regripping Supply Kit : The Golfsmith Regripping Supply Kit has all of the essential tools and supplies you need to regrip your clubs. Kit Includes: Golfsmith All In One Gauge (#8989) Golfsmith Grip Solvent 1 Quart (#916A) Golfsmith 2 Grip Tape (#902B) Golfsmith Utility Knife (#853) Golfsmith Grip Installer Tool (#1819) Golfsmith Manual Grip Tape Remover (#8228)

I can’t confirm this, but one of the reviews on the website said the kit also comes with a vice clamp, which isn’t listed in the description.

Do you regrip your own clubs? If so, what other tips or pointers do you have?

What other “do it yourself” golf activities do you engage in?

Last month the 2010 Golf Digest Hot List was released and not at all surprising the 2009 TaylorMade Burner Irons took home a gold rating.

TECH TALK: Dropping overall club weight to increase swing speed was the design goal with this iron. To achieve that, TaylorMade employed lightweight (yet longer) shafts and grips. Progressive-thickness faces (thinner in the long irons, thicker in short irons) provide more springlike effect on longer shots.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
(L) “The pure feeling channels through the grip to your hands and on up into your arms and elbows. This one exudes power.”
(M) “More fun than recess at school. These are ridiculously long.”
(M) “I wouldn’t be afraid to call these clubs ‘honey’ because they are so sweet. If I missed the sweet spot, I couldn’t tell.”

HOT: The real highlight of this club is the sole, which is beveled in the back to give it the workability of a much thinner design. Also, the recessed heel and toe areas will help prevent less-skilled players from laying the sod over the ball.
NOT: The lack of a hybrid doesn’t help hackers. For a company that was at the forefront of the movement, that’s totally mystifying.

I’ve been playing the TaylorMade Burner Irons for about six months now and I’ve been very satisfied with their performance.

Regarding the 2010 Golf Digest Hot List, I’ve read a few different sources who like to kick dirt on it and accuse it of favoring certain manufacturers based on their affiliation with the publication. This may or may not be true, but speaking from my own experiences, the Golf Digest Hot List has been pretty accurate with it’s recommendations.

If you’re in the market for some new golf clubs, I think checking out the Golf Digest Hot List would be a great place to start, it’ll help narrow down the selections. This year they began with 403 and narrowed it down to 94 golf products that they assigned either a gold or silver rating to.

The 2010 Golf Digest Hot List panel consists of 32 judges from various backgrounds and handicaps who give their unbiased opinion of the products they’re testing.

I wouldn’t recommend basing your purchasing decision solely on the Hot List, but get a couple of recommendations from the site and then follow up that up with some online reviews of the products and finally, head to your local golf retailer and knock em around and see what feels best for you.

What’s your opinion on the Golf Digest Hot List? Do you go there for club recommendations?

Sumi-G was the recipient of five different “Best of 2009″ awards, so naturally I needed to visit the booth during the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show (Well that and my blogger buddy Tony Korologos was manning the booth ).

I met up with Tony and decided to interview him blogger ‘a blogger and get the low down on Sumi-G

OGB: So, Tony, tell me about Sumi-G.
Sumi-G: My first exposure to Sumi-G was at the 2009 Pga Merchandise Show when I met the owner of the company, Marius Kvinge. He’s a Norwegian guy with a very dry sense of humor.

I had had an appointment with these guys last year to talk to them and I blew them off to play golf.  So on the way out of the show, I saw the booth and thought  “oh man, I’ve gotta go see these guys.” So, I stopped by and started talking to them and it turns out they had launched the entire product line at the show. The company didn’t exist six months prior.

During the conversation, I asked Marius where he was from and he said “Salt Lake City.” To which I said “I’m from Salt Lake City.”  I mentioned that he and I should play golf together sometime and asked him where he played and he said “I play Bonneville every Thursday.” To which I responded “I play Bonneville every Thursday, when is your tee time?” He said “8:30am.” Well, I play 9:16am and I was shocked that we’ve been playing the same course on the same day only 46 minutes apart and we’ve never met each other.

So he got me some products and I blogged about it and I became a big supporter of their product line because it’s so cool. Over the last year, the owner and I became golf buddies and eventually he said why don’t you just join the company… so I did!

OGB:Where did the idea from the headcovers come from?
Sumi-G: The headcovers came as a result of the frustration of dealing with crappy head covers. You have the sock kind and the big fat 460cc driver and you try to get the sock over it and you cant, you put the driver between your legs and try to pull it over and it doesn’t work. Then you have the pom pom ones that go through and come out the other side leaving a big hole and there’s a lot of klunky, bulky, ugly headcover designs, so these came as a result of wanting to have a better, easier to use headcover.

Neat thing about this is that it’s a one handed operation, you scoop it up and put it on with one hand and you don’t have to go through the hassle that you do with other headcovers.

OGB: Are there different models of headcovers?
Sumi-G: No, not exactly, there are headcovers for drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, this year we’re introducing a white version of the headcover whereas last year we only offered the black.

OGB: I noticed there’s different logos on the headcovers, what’s the story with that?
Sumi-G: One of our big initiatives for 2010 is custom logoing on our head covers for higher end golf courses, country clubs and other green grass establishments. Minimum order will be 30.

OGB: What other Sumi-G products are there?
Sumi-G: There’s our fine leather scorecard wallet with the custom logoing, there’s our forged stainless steel divot tool with a magnetic ball marker that’s interchangeable with the belts. Back to the custom logoing, you can get your logo put on the ball marker and since it’s interchangeable, all of the sudden you have a logo belt and divot tool. There’s also the Sumi-G money clip with custom logoing.

We have a line of Sumi-G shoe, shag and hold-all bags. There’s also a Sumi-G club brush that’s similar to a nautical choke cleat that you can affix to your towel when you’re not using it and the Sumi-G logo hat.

OGB: Anything big happening this year regarding new products coming out?
Sumi-G: Well, when we got here and started setting up, Wednesday night at about 5pm, we drove to the airport to pick up a shipment of the new belts, all of these belts are new as of two days ago. None of them have ever been offered before, they’re all brand new.

OGB: Could I purchase one of the belts now?
Sumi-G: We’re taking orders now and shipping in about six weeks, some of these are still prototypes and we’re in the process of tweaking a few of the designs.

OGB: Lastly, what does Sumi-G stand for?
Sumi-G: Well, Sumi-E is Japanese Romanji for for East Asian Ink and Wash Painting. Sumi-E is associated with Zen practice and is considered some of the highest quality art where the goal is to capture the essence or soul of the object. We dropped the E and replaced it with G. The name is meant to convey the quality of our products.

Tony Korologos writes HookedOnGolfBlog and was a participant in the 2010 Battle of the Golf Blogs

PGA Tour Pro Robert Garrigus taking the TaylorMade R9 SuperTri out for a test drive. According to PGATour.com, his average driving distance is 289.5 and in the video he was cranking it over 300 yards.

I’m a pretty big fan of the company, they make quality golf products. Currently in my bag I have the 2009 TaylorMade Burner Irons and the TaylorMade Penta TP Golf Ball. A new TaylorMade Driver sure would round out the golf bag nicely!

This driver looks pretty sweet, see below press release for more info.

TaylorMade Introduces R9 SuperTri and R9® SuperTri TP Drivers

First Drivers to Incorporate Movable Weight Technology and Flight Control Technology in a 460cc Club head

Carlsbad, Calif. (January 13, 2010) – First came the R9 driver, which combined Flight Control Technolog (FCT) and Movable Weight Technology™ (MWT®) with three movable weights in a 420cc head. Next came the R9 460 driver with FCT alone, only in a larger and more forgiving 460cc head. “Those two drivers were created because TaylorMade didn’t yet have the ability to combine both FCT and MWT in a 460cc head,” said Todd Beach, TaylorMade’s senior director of metalwood development. “A year later, we do.”

Introducing the R9 SuperTri driver, which combines FCT and MWT with three movable weights in a 460cc head, marking the ultimate unification of TaylorMade’s major driver technologies with maximum size to deliver massive distance and forgiveness.

The R9 SuperTri was made possible by two crucial developments by TaylorMade engineers that saved enough weight to allow FCT and MWT to coexist in a 460cc head. The first is better, more widespread use of TaylorMade’s Ultra-Thin Wall technology throughout the clubhead. The second is a new, lighter FCT sleeve that does everything the former one did while weighing three grams less.

FCT + MWT + 460cc = Supreme Adjustability, Distance and Forgiveness

The impact of incorporating FCT and MWT into a 460cc head is enormous. The larger head is more forgiving, and its CG is two millimeters farther back in the head than the R9 driver, making it easier to launch the ball higher and with more spin, helping players gain more distance. At the same time, the inclusion of MWT with three weights promotes a side-to-side trajectory change of up to 75 yards.

Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) is also a crucial piece of the R9 SuperTri’s makeup. Though it’s milled onto the back of the clubface where it’s out of sight, ICT plays a critical role by dramatically increasing the area of the clubface that delivers fast ball speed, promoting more distance on off-center hits.

R9 SuperTri Features Reshaped Crown, Lighter Shaft

The R9 SuperTri’s clubhead is sleeker than previous R9 driver heads, thanks to a reshaped crown that reduces wind resistance. Though the shape is more aerodynamic, the face is the deepest (62mm) TaylorMade has ever incorporated into a driver with MWT, and is deeper than most other competitive drivers currently on the market. Visually, the R9 SuperTri clubhead is a killer, thanks to its new shape and its black-on-black color scheme, including a black PVD clubface last seen in the r7 SuperQuad.

The R9 SuperTri is equipped with a Fujikura Motore 60-gram shaft, which is five grams lighter than the Motore 65 used in the R9 driver. In addition to being lighter, the Motore 60 makes it easier to launch the ball on a higher launch angle and at a higher spin-rate, which helps many players achieve longer carry for increased distance.

R9 SuperTri: The Most Advanced TaylorMade Driver Ever

The R9 SuperTri unites four viable performance technologies: FCT, MWT, UTW and ICT. Never before have four such impactful, performance-enhancing technologies been combined so effectively in a single driver. Plus, there’s the superior aerodynamics of the new crown shape.

The R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP are the most advanced, highest-performing drivers TaylorMade has ever developed. The distance-producing power and shot-straightening abilities created by their combined clubhead size, clubhead design, performance technologies and shaft specifications make them clubs that no golfer should be without.

The R9 SuperTri includes three weights – 16-gram, 1-gram, 1-gram – and an FCT torque wrench. It’s available in four lofts — 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 – and five shaft flexes — L, M, R, S, X. Street price is $399. The R9 SuperTri TP features the same head as the R9 SuperTri but with a choice of ten premium shafts including the Aldila Voodoo, Mitsubishi Fubuki and Matrix Ozik. Choosing a custom TP shaft adds an additional $100 to the cost of the club. It becomes available starting on February 19, 2010.

At the 2010 PGA Merchandise show, Golf Gators,  unveiled their 2010 Spackler Line of Golf Flip Flops.

Golf Gators Improves Comfort and Ergonomics with 2010 Spackler Line of Golf Flip Flops

“World’s First Golf Flop” more comfortable than ever

Golf Gators’ Spackler flip flops are the comfortable, durable and affordable golf sandals that are as fun to

wear as they are to play in. Ergonomically designed from space age anti-microbial materials, the 2010 Spackler line-up from Golf Gators offers the support, stability, and traction required to get around even the toughest course with ease, style and laid-back swagger.

The Spackler is a super comfortable flip flop that features a unique toe bumper and the exclusive Golf Gators Steady Outsole designed provide lateral support and stability for even the biggest hitter. Since golfers tend to play their best when their relaxed, the 2010 Spackler features:

o An updated footbed that improves ergonomics, stability and comfort

o New colors combinations including hot pink and checkered

o A new spike design that integrates Champ Stinger spikes for better control and grip on the course.

The 2010 Spackler still has the patented Golf Tee Rocket Launcher in the heel. Soft nylon straps are comfortable and add to that “laid-back” look. Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, the Spackler comes in a variety of color schemes, including, Hot Pink, Black and White Checkered, Medium Brown, and Midnight Black.

These must-have shoes come with a one-year unconditional replacement guarantee and an MSRP of $49.99

“While we may be the ultra-causal golf shoe company, we’re extremely serious when it comes to building quality, comfortable and stylish shoes.” said Michael Ray, managing partner of Golf Gators, LLC. “The innovations to the 2010 Spackler line were a direct result of feedback we received from the legion of passionate Golf Gators fans.”

I’ve request a pair of the brown golf gators to review and I should have them soon. To be completely honest, I’m not  sold on the idea of golf flip flops or golf sandals for that matter, but I’m willing to step outside of my comfort zone and give them a shot.

Geographically, they’d be a perfect fit, because Orlando golf in the summer can be brutal and there’s nothing worse than hot, sweaty, stinky(not mine ofcourse.. ),  wrinkly feet after a round. What concerns me most about wearing golf flip flops is stability and support. I’m no expert, so perhaps one of you footwear studs could chime in, but seems to me that a soft nylon strap in place of a solid piece of sturdy material, could have some negative effects.

I would love to hear your comments on this!

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-Dave

I thought the days of discrimination were over…

Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz going on about the 2010 Bridgestone J38 Irons. I spoke to quite a few folks who had hit them out at demo day during the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show, and not a single person was disappointed. Most said they were probably one of the best sets of 2010.  They released two sets in the J38 series. Both are designed for mid handicap to professional golfers.

Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back Irons

• Midsize premium forged 1020 carbon steel

• Magnesium composite enhances perimiter weighting for more forgiveness on off-center hits and dampens vibration for better feel

• Tapered sole design for versatility in shot making

• Trailing and Leading edge relief for better performance from a variety of lies

• Project X™ flighted shaft

• Golf Pride® Tour Velvet® Grip

• Available Right Hand Only: 3, 4-PW

I was extremely interested in trying out the dual cavity backs, they’re a bit more forgiving than the standard cavity backs, but they still retain that forged workability & shot shaping.

Bridgestone J38 Dual Cavity Back Irons

• Midsize premium forged 1020 carbon steel

• Dual Pocket cavity benefits:

• Removes discretionary weight to the perimeter for more forgiveness

• Provides more mass directly behind the hitting area for better feel

• Tapered sole design for versatility in shot making

• Trailing and Leading edge relief for better performance from a variety of lies

• Project X™ flighted shaft

• Golf Pride® Tour Velvet® Grip

• Available Right Hand Only: 3, 4-PW

Imagine my disappointment when I went to Bridgestone’s website to learn more about the J38’s only to find that they’re right handed only! Really? Can you believe that?

Left handed golfers (like myself) only make up a small percentage (modified due to lack of specific %’s) of the total golf market. It seems to me that although it’s not the majority, it is still a good chunk of potential consumers. To alienate them all by refusing to make clubs they can hit seems dumb.

Now, I know I’m slightly biased, in that I’m in the offended party, but I would think that if I were a club manufacturer like Bridgestone, meaning that I’m not one of the top dog club makers out there, I would want to do everything possible to get new and recurring customers, including making clubs for both sides of the ball.

It’s not only the irons, they did an all around F-you Lefties, the Bridgestone J38 Drivers and the Bridgestone J38 Fairway Woods are also right hand only…

Ah well.. That’s enough of my ranting, me and my fellow lefties need to need to catch a ride sitting in the back of the bus and drink from our segregated water fountains…..

There’s still plenty of other companies who “swing” both ways, I still love the 2009 TaylorMade Burner Irons!

Have a great weekend!

-Dave

A while back I had the opportunity to review the TaylorMade Penta TP and I loved it.

Just received word yesterday that Golfsmith now has them available on their website. Before, you could only find them in select retail stores in the sunbelt.

They’re supposed to be release on March 1st, 2010, glad to see they were able to get them out sooner.

I was checking out some of the affiliate programs I’m a part of and I found this.

Extra 10% Off Single Item – Golfsmith Winter Sale & Clearance. Use Code: TENFST

I was able to apply it to the TaylorMade Penta TP’s and it discounted it 10%.

The discount is only good until 1/31/2010, so if you’re looking to try them out, now’s a good time to do so!

If you recall, last week, I received two Bettinardi Golf Putters, the BB1 and the CC  from their 2010 line to try out and review. Here’s the original post – 2010 Bettinardi Putters.

I made my way out to Winderemere Country Club last Saturday and gave the BB1 a good workout. Now, if you’re local, you’ll know that Saturday was one of the coldest days Orlando has experienced in quite some time. To make matters worse, it was raining for the first 1/2 of the round. But despite all of that, I still played because I knew you, my loyal readership, were waiting with bated breath for this review!

About Robert J, Bettinardi and Bettinardi Golf..

Robert Bettinardi has a history of  quality metal crafting. It began when he was 12, working in his father’s machining facility, his father who is a master miller taught his son the craft from the ground up. He received his degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and later opened his own milling facility, called X-Cel Technologies. The company specialized in producing parts for the medical and defense industries.

His metal crafting expertise, combined with his love of golf, lead him to begin crafting one-piece putters in the early 90’s and eventually founding Bettinardi Golf in 1998. Not to long after the company opened it’s doors did Bettinardi gain a reputation of precision, innovation and quality within the golf industry. Bettinardi Golf is credited with being the first company to ever create a one piece technology putter.

There’s been some pretty big names in the golf industry who have wielded a Bettinardi Putter. Guys like Nick Price, Bill Andrade, Lee Janzen, Bob Tway, Charles Howell, Rocco Mediate, Olin Browne, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Luke Donald and Phil Mickelson… to name a few. Jesper Parnevik was instrumental in Bettinardi making a name for themselves. One week after opening their doors, he asked if he could use one of their putters and then proceeded to win the 1999 Greensboro by 23 strokes. He only had 99 putts over four rounds. If you round that up, it’s 25 putts per round..

In addition to his own line, Robert Bettinardi has made putters for Ben Hogan and Mizuno and he is considered one of the worlds hottest putter designers.

Bettinardi’s whole concept on putters is based on looks. He says you’ve got to be able to pick up a putter and say “wow, I could hole some putts with this.” He believes that too many of us select putters based on the technology behind the putter. Only to put it down behind the ball and get no confidence from it. He feels that with Bettinardi Putters, you will get the technology you want and not compromise on style.

On to the putter…

The 2010 Bettinardi BB1 Putter is a traditional heel-toe weighted design and has a more rounded shape punctuated with soft edges throughout. This reoccurring heel and toe cavity back design has more wins on tour than any other putter in golf, and has now been perfected by applying “honeycomb” face milling and “one piece technology” to insure accuracy and perfect feel.

The honeycomb pattern on the face comes from the unique way the putter’s face is milled. Bettinardi discovered that running the mill horizontally across the face caused a little bit of a concaveness, a dishing effect. So they played around with alternative milling techniques, eventually applying the cutting mill ends vertically from above like a sewing machine needle and made the face flat to within .001 of an inch, a 200% improvement on existing putters. The honeycomb pattern is actually a by-product of the milling process and wasn’t an intentional design, but it really worked out!

The putter comes in two sizes, 35″ Length & 332 grams and 34″ 348 grams and has a three degree loft.

My impressions..

My first thought when I saw the putter was “awesome,” and after playing with it, I’ve solidified that comment and turned it into fact.

The putter looks great, I love the sleek one piece black nickel finish putter head,with the (unintentional ) honeycombing on the face. It’s milled with a single sight-line near the pocket and I’ve always liked the simplicity of that. The pistol style grip took a little getting used to, I still prefer a little fatter grip, but it has a nice feel. The putter also comes with a black Bettinardi head cover. I strongly suggest you use the head cover, I didn’t and I already scratched up the heel of the club. My current putter is quite a few years old and I lost the head cover quite a while ago, so it’s been my habit to just throw it in the bag and move on to the next hole. Well, old habits are hard to break and I did that with the BB1 and by the 18th hole, there was some visible wear on the heel from where the other clubs had rubbed up against it. That was a little disappointing, but that’s why they give you a head cover..

Putting with the Bettinardi BB1 is pretty solid. You can really tell the difference between putting with a one piece vs a two (or more) piece. You get a lot more feel and touch out of the putter. The ball came of the face with a click like you’d hear watching a tour event where they’ve mic’d the green (or however they get that clear crisp click) and it felt really good, pretty soft without being squishy.

I’m enjoying this putter and presently, it’s moved to first string whereas the old Ping putter is riding the pine… (or cheap trunk carpet..)

Now for some really good news.. you can win a Bettinardi BB1 or a Bettinardi BB8 Putter! Fellow golf blogger John Duval is giving them away. Click the link below for details.

Bettinardi (2010) Putter Giveaway

Bettinardi Putters are only going to be sold in green grass facilities, like your local pro shop and selected club fitters, so you can’t hope to pick one of these up at a big box retailer. I’m assuming this also means that they won’t flood ebay and other ecommerce sites like many of the other manufacturers.

I’m curious, what are your thoughts on this move? Good Idea? Bad Idea?

Talk about a late Christmas present! I get home from a hard days work to find my favorite thing waiting for me by the door, a long rectangular box. I’m sure some of you have had a similar experience; you see the box and immediately your pulse starts racing and you get that little flutter of excitement in your stomach.

I take the box in the house, calmly set it to the side and proceed with all my daily required fatherly & husbandly duties and finally when everyone’s settled in, I  focus my attention on the box. I’m a believer in delayed gratification and I didn’t want the experienced tarnished by constant interruptions, so I retired to the golf man cave and and put up the “do not disturb” sign. 

The contents of the box -  two 2010 series Bettinardi Putters, a Bettinardi BB1 and the Bettinardi CC Series putter.

Initial impression – “awesome”

*UPDATE: Bettinardi BB1 Putter review is up, here’s the link.

Bettinardi BB1 Putter Review

Here’s some images of the two.

Needless to say, I’m very excited to head out to the course and give these bad boys a workout!

Stay tuned, a full review will be coming in a few days.. In the meantime, see below press release regarding the Bettinardi 2010 Line.

CRAFTMANSHIP AND CUSTOMIZATION AT CENTER OF BETTINARDI’S 2010 PRODUCT LINEUP

New Country Club Putter Series headlines newest offerings

Tinley Park, IL, December 1, 2009 – Bettinardi Golf, maker of the highest quality milled putters in the world, has unveiled its 2010 new putter lineup. Months after returning as a independent “boutique golf company” Bettinardi is introducing a new Country Club (CC) Series putter line in addition to its 2010 BB Series.

“We are eager to re-establish our brand presence and provide an authentic golf experience with unmatched products fully made in the U.S.A. and we’re equally committed to catering to the golfer and customer who wants the best of the best,” stated Bob Bettinardi.

The first-ever CC series model is a classic heel-toe designed putter finished in luxurious Satin Nickel that offers a customization component, an emblazoned, skillfully placed logo on the sole of the putter to showcase the pride and history of a club, association or school. In addition, any CC putter created for a Club recognized as a “Top 100” will receive special engraving and a “Top 100” headcover. Suggested retail 325.00

The 2010 BB Series includes five putter models, all plated with a luxurious Black Nickel finish that guarantee the highest level of durability. Each model in the series is milled with a single sightline to aid with alignment and has a three degree loft. Every BB putter has a pistol style grip and a patented Black Bettinardi Head cover. The BB putter series (suggested retail 275.00) includes:

§ BB1: A traditional heel-toe weighted design has a rounded shape punctuated with soft edges throughout. A perennial favorite for the professional and amateur golfer.

§ BB8: A sharper more sleek appearance with a neck that is milled in a heel basis position to promote additional toe hang. A popular model in many Tour players’ bags.

§ BB25: A modern blade style, the BB25 is a fresh take on a classic design with a slightly tapered body and a single flange further enhancing the 100% CNC milled flow neck.

§ BB26: This center shafted heel-toe weighted design incorporates elements from the BB1 but with a center shafted zero offset. The BB26 design is slightly thicker in appearance at address. A spud style neck provides a smooth transition from shaft to putter head.

§ BB32: A face balanced mallet, this modern design has a classic pear shaped profile at address. The unique flange achieves maximum perimeter weighting for optimum performance. Its spud neck has a double bend shaft. Available in left and right hand.

Bettinardi putters are sold in green grass only and selected club fitters.

BETTINARDI GOLF WILL BE AT THIS YEAR’S PGA SHOW. PLEASE VISIT US AT DEMO DAY OR STOP BY BOOTH #901.

ABOUT BETTINARDI GOLF: Bettinardi Golf is a privately owned Corporation. Known for the highest quality 100% CNC putters in the golf industry, Bettinardi Golf also has a golf accessory line that includes precision milled belt buckles under the same exacting standards as Bettinardi putters. Bettinardi is based in Tinley Park, IL. Visit www.bettinardigolf.com