In the Bag

Known for its remarkable drivers that have won six Re-Max World Long Drive Championship titles, Alpha Golf has proven its designers can craft a club that delivers maximum distance to those who play it.

Can they do the same for the short game?

As inventories of expensive golf equipment pile up like unused fruitcakes at Christmas, major golf retailers and golf equipment manufacturers have come together in Cum baya fashion to move unsold items to the golfing public at discounted rates.

A recent article from CNBC.com said of the industry struggles, "Fewer golfers are playing, and they're spending less money on everything from new clubs to travel. Golf equipment makers, hit with declining sales, have been forced to lower prices."

Callaway Golf Company announced that it has extended its relationship with Phil Mickelson. Mickelson, currently the No. 2 player in the world, will play a full complement of Callaway Golf equipment. Terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

“Phil has been an integral member of the Callaway Golf family for several years and together we’ve achieved great success,” said George Fellows, president and CEO, Callaway Golf. “He’s clearly one of the most talented golfers ever to play the game and we’re proud to have our equipment in his hands as he continues towards the World Golf Hall of Fame.”

TaylorMade Golf Company has announced that global golf icon Greg Norman has joined its Tour Staff. Norman, 54, will play TaylorMade clubs, a TaylorMade TP golf ball, use a TaylorMade staff bag and display the TaylorMade logo on the side of his headwear.

Norman chose on his own accord to play TaylorMade's TP Red golf ball with Low Drag Performance (LDP) Technology during his remarkable run at last year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where he held a two-stroke lead going into the final round and finished tied for third. It was his 30th career top 10 finish in a major. Soon after a conversation began between Norman and TaylorMade that resulted in their new relationship.

If it's not at the very top of the list, TaylorMade's new R9 Driver is certainly among a small group of the most anticipated equipment offerings of 2009.

Called the most advanced and finest performing driver in the history of golf club design by TaylorMade, the R9 will feature full adjustability in that it will combine three moveable weights with the company's newest technology - Flight Control Technology (FCT). 

The latest offering from Cobra Golf in the fairway metal family is the S9-1, a club that employs the latest technology to create easy-to-hit fairway metals that bring any green within reach.

Integral in the club's design is Cobra's "Hotter 9 Points" technology which promotes more COR (coefficient of restitution) across the entire clubface. In Leman's terms, COR refers to the "spring like effect" of modern clubfaces. This measures how efficiently energy is transferred from the face of your club to the ball. 

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Cleveland Golf/Srixon is pleased to announce the introduction of their Launcher Driver Ultralite Edition and Launcher Irons.

The Launcher Driver Ultralite Edition has been designed to give more distance for slower swingspeed players, while still possessing the attributes of the standard Launcher driver. The new Ultralite Edition has a 30 gram lighter overall clubweight and a 12 degree high-lofted head. With an ultralite 40 gram Graphite Design shaft that is also an inch longer (46.5") than the standard model and a lightweight (38 gram) Winn Grip, this club is specifically designed to maximize distance for players with swingspeeds under 85mph. The Launcher Driver Ultralite Edition will carry a street price of $299 and begin shipping March 1, 2009. 

Callaway Golf Company presented its 2009 new product lineup at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. The 2009 lineup includes three new drivers (FT-iQ, FT-9 and Big Bertha Diablo), X-22 irons, the latest edition in Callaway's X-Series, two new Odyssey 2-Ball putters and several new high-performance golf balls, including Callaway's Big Bertha Diablo ball and Top-Flite's new and improved D2 balls.

"Golfers of all abilities will be excited by our new equipment," said George Fellows, president and CEO, Callaway Golf. "There is something new from each of our brands and for every skill level. There's a club or a ball that will help everyone's game." 

Fifty years ago today, the first PING® putter was shipped from the Redwood City, California garage of Karsten and Louise Solheim. The PING 1A™ putter shipped that day represented the beginning of a revolution in golf club design and manufacturing that would see Karsten's company grow into a brand world-renowned for innovation and unequalled quality.

The engineering theory behind the first putter, termed heel-toe balance because most of the weight was concentrated in the heel and toe, set the standard for modern club design. Karsten, with his family at his side, went on to pioneer custom fitting and bring new processes to the manufacturing of golf clubs, including investment casting and heat treating.

Rife Putters has introduced three new models to their Island Series of putters for 2009. The first two Island Series putters, the Antigua and Barbados, were introduced early in 2008 and immediately caught on at the retail level.

Record breaking sales of these putters have led to the introduction of the next three models in the Series: the Abaco, Bimini, and Cayman. Rife has started shipping and these great new models are available at selected retailers throughout the U.S.