In the Bag

adidas Golf is launching a globetrotting "Wear In The World" golf adventure at some of the world's most extreme golf courses to test apparel in the most extreme conditions. Canadian Lindsay Knowlton (handicap of 3) and American Josh Sullivan (handicap of 1) will play courses in Death Valley, Bolivia, Argentina, South Africa and Australia.

While in each region, Knowlton and Sullivan will also play a round of golf with adidas Tour Professionals such as Andres Romero and Nathan Green. They'll also experience local cultures, teach golf to aborigines and participate in thrill-seeking adventures such as cage diving with sharks in South Africa and mountain biking through Bolivia's "Death Road."

As part of its new product line for 2010, Winn is introducing the WinnLite Grip Technology, an advanced injection molding process that significantly reduces grip weight to increase club swing speed and generate greater distance and accuracy.

A typical rubber grip weighs around 50 grams. WinnLite Grip Technology produces a grip that weighs as little as 25 grams - about half the weight of a conventional grip. By lightening the grip, you will be able to feel the increased swing weight immediately.

PGA Golf Exhibitions and Cleveland Golf/Srixon announced that the company will exhibit at the upcoming 57th annual PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 28-30, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.

Cleveland Golf/Srixon will return to the Outdoor Demo Day, Indoor Demo Days and host an exhibit on the Show floor to introduce its newest equipment, apparel and the Cleveland Golf Scoring Clinics, a new short game program designed for PGA Professionals and golf retailers to utilize for their students and customers at their facilities.

First Five-Layer Tour Ball Delivers a Superior Balance of Performance in Five Key Shot Categories

TaylorMade Golf has introduced the Penta TP, a new Tour ball designed to deliver a superior balance of performance in five key shot categories, the result of three years of research and development. 

"We spend a lot of time with tour pros asking questions," said Dean Snell, head of TaylorMade golf ball Research & Development. "Most think the ball they play is lacking somewhere. Some say their ball performs great in the short game but costs them distance, while other players said the opposite about their ball. Some feel their ball performs great off the middle and short irons but isn't long enough off the tee and doesn't spin enough on short shots.

In response to the imminent new groove regulations designed by the USGA and R&A in an attempt to limit the effectiveness of shots from the rough, Titleist has introduced the newest line of its successful Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges.

The new wedges are appropriately titled C-C wedges, with the initials standing for “Condition of Competition,” a reference to the USGA and R&A adopting a policy that prohibits PGA Tour and top-level amateur players from playing non-conforming irons and wedges after the new regulations take effect on Jan. 1, 2010.

Titleist has announced plans to participate in the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show to be held in Orlando, Florida, from Jan. 28-30. Titleist also will participate in the Outdoor Demo Day at the Orange County National Golf Center on Jan. 27.

"The PGA Merchandise Show continues to evolve in a positive direction by shifting the show's emphasis to a more educational platform for its membership," said Jerry Bellis, President, Titleist Golf Balls Worldwide. "We plan to build upon the success we enjoyed last year, where we were able to connect with and strengthen our relationship with our dedicated staff members and golf shop partners."

Cobra Golf has unveiled the company's most innovative, highest-performing driver ever, the ZL, which is designed to help all golfers achieve more distance. ZL stands for Zero Limits; which speaks to the mindset Cobra engineers had when they set out to design the longest driver in Cobra's 36-year history.

The club's Advanced Multi-Material Construction and Adjustable Flight Technology are complete game-changers. The superior performance of the ZL driver is supported by the fact that Cobra PGA staff players Geoff Ogilvy, J.B. Holmes and Jason Gore have already put the new driver in play.

PGA Golf Exhibitions and Callaway Golf announced the 27th consecutive year of Callaway Golf's participation in the annual PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 28-30, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. Callaway Golf, a PGA of America Platinum Partner, will return to the global industry's 57th annual gathering to showcase its newest equipment, apparel, footwear and numerous accessory lines at the Outdoor Demo Day, Indoor Demo Days and within multiple locations on the Show floor.

"Callaway Golf's goal each year is to introduce products that feature performance engineering to help golfers of all skill levels break through," said Joe Urzetta, senior vice president of U.S. sales, Callaway Golf. "We feel The PGA Merchandise Show will provide a terrific platform to meet with industry professionals and showcase what we feel is the best and most complete product line Callaway has ever developed."

When winter nears its end in March next year, and most golfers are thinking that spring can't come fast enough, a new and exciting Nike Golf introduction will provide all the speed a golfer needs to put velocity into the golf season. The new SQ Machspeed driver will use the power of aerodynamics to help golfers hit the ball farther and straighter - all due to speed.

While consumers will have to wait for the official introduction at retail on March 1, 2010, Nike Tour athlete Justin Leonard can't get it in his bag fast enough. After successfully testing the new SQ Machspeed driver, Leonard likely will be using the Nike SQ Machspeed for the first time in competition at The Presidents Cup from Oct. 8-11, 2009. 

Unblemished in his final amateur appearance, Rickie Fowler lead the United States to a victory in the Walker Cup competition at Merion Golf Club outside of Philadelphia. Following the event, Fowler turned professional. Now the former Oklahoma State Cowboy and top-ranked amateur golfer in the world has signed a multi-year endorsement contract with Titleist.

Fowler will play Titleist golf balls and golf clubs, wear a Titleist glove and carry a Titleist golf bag. The Titleist Pro V1 script will also be on the side of his headwear. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.