The Latest in Game Improvement, Goodies and Gimmicks You’ll See in 2008
While you were either shivering in the January cold or (hopefully) out chasing around the little white ball in a warmer climate, the golf industry was trying to figure out what you want NEXT, and showing it off to retailers, golf shop owners, and our intrepid reporters at Golfer’s Guide. With more than 10 square miles of show space hosting 1250 different golf-related companies, thousands of people in the golf industry from all over the world visited Orlando in mid-January. Our regional publishers have their Top 11 list of interesting products worth a look:
Clubs
1.) Adjustable shafts
They’re all the rage now with the new USGA ruling allowing you to change shafts between rounds of play. Most of the major clubmakers will be out with some form of adjustable shafts in ’08, the most extreme being TaylorMade’s kit, featuring three shafts, all the weights and tools, and yes, the driver head, goes for $999. www.tmag.com
2.) Jesse Ortiz/Dave Pelz Wedge
Renowned clubmaker Jesse Ortiz and
shortgame guru Dave Pelz have collaborated on what they say is the
first really “new” wedge technology in 50 years. No price info yet, but
more information is available at www.bobbyjonesgolf.com.
 3.) Fybrids
What?
Well, if there’s one hole in the clubmaking market these days, it’s
that stick somewhere between the 3-wood and the hybrids. Tiger hits a
5-wood, but Wilson and Adams are two of the leaders in the “fybrid” or
fairway-hybrid. www.adamsgolf.com ($199), www.wilson.com.
Accessories
4.) Sun Mountain’s ClubGlider
We
all have to travel with our clubs, which are bulky to say the least.
ClubGlider may have hit on the biggest thing in club transportation
since the wheel. Wheels that allow you to steer your clubs around
airports, then fold away. $299.99 www.theclubglider.com
5.) EEZ-Read Putting Aid
This
little dandy won the PGA Show’s Golf Innovation Award. It’s not really
legal in competition, but it’ll help you learn to read putts better. It
works on the same principle as the bubblelevel you use around the
house. Drop it on the green and it’ll read the breaks. $14.95
www.ezz-read.com
6.) 4-Yards More Golf Tee
A new lowfriction
plastic tee barely touches the ball and has been “field tested” in two
different independent tests to go 4 yards further than conventional
tees. $5.99 for a four-pack. www.4yardsmore.com
7.) Smaller Rangefinders
Now
that everyone’s comfortable using them, the optical companies are
making rangefinders smaller and smaller. Bushnell’s new fits-inyour-
palm Tour V2 is the smallest yet. $349 www.bushnellgolf.com
 8.) Adidas LST Lenses
Many
of us don’t wear sun protection because we can’t read the greens with
shades, right? adidas has developed a golf-specific tint that
intensifies the subtle variances of green and white to allow for better
reads on the green. They’ve now got a whole line of sunglasses
featuring the LST lenses. Prices vary. www.adidas.com/Eyewear
Apparel
9.) ProQuip Rain Gear
17
of the last 26 Ryder Cup captains on BOTH sides have used this rain
gear featuring tops that can double as windshirts, yet are also water
repellant. Not cheap, but guaranteed for 3-5 years. www.proquipusa.com
10.) Loudmouth pants
Taking the outrageous pants of the 50s, or the 70s, and going a step
farther. If you want to be the center of attention at your next event,
check these out. $84.95. www.loudmouthgolf.com
11.) IZOD Golf & Tehama
Apparel pioneer and design maven Nancy Haley is the owner of both
Tehama and IZOD G. She was named the recipient of the PGA’s prestigious
2007 Ernie Sabayrac award for lifetime contributions to the golf
industry at the PGA Show.
Both companies introduced a new GREEN
collection for men and ladies, supporting consciousness of body and
health. The collection is comprised of Vitamin C dipped polos, that
actually release nutrients into the wearers skin, and provide SPF30 sun
protection. Clothes made of Bamboo, Cocona Recycled Polyester and
Organic Cotton and Organic Polyester/Cotton are part of the GREEN
collection. CoconaTM was named by Time Magazine as one of the most
amazing inventions of 2005. Cocona/TrapTek’s fiber and yarn is infused
with activated carbon from coconut shells and provides moisture
management, odor management and UV protection (SPF 60). www.izodg.com,
www.tehama.com
For more information, call Strictly
Golf at 713-623-4282
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