Golf Blog

Archive for February, 2009

Titleist, the golf ball technology leader wherever competitive golf is played, announces the introduction of the New 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x.  Committed to exceeding the requirements of most of the world’s best professional tour players, as well as discerning amateur and aspiring golfers globally, Titleist once again raises the bar for high quality and performance by making the most played and best-selling golf balls even better.  The product improvements to its flagship models have been engineered to deliver longer distance and enhanced Drop-and-Stop scoring performance with improved cover durability.

“Pro V1 loyalists, and golfers ranging from the world’s most accomplished players to those aspiring to optimise their games, will experience longer distance with improved scoring performance on Pro V1, as well as longer distance on New Pro V1x, with the added benefit of more durable covers on both models,” said George Sine, Vice President Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, Acushnet Company Worldwide.  “At the onset of the New Pro V1 and Pro V1x development process, we engaged in comprehensive research with Tour Played golf ball consumers toward determining which attributes were most important and beneficial to their games.  Our findings were extensive and the resulting improvements address the expectations cited by the target audience as being vital toward optimisation of their game and important to their golf ball selection.’’

NEW PRO V1:  Longer Distance.  Improved Scoring Performance.  More Durable.

Since taking the golf industry by storm in the fall of 2000, the three-piece multi-layer Pro V1 continues to serve as the high performance standard by which all other golf balls are compared and measured.  The New 2009 Pro V1 maximises distance, durability and performance, and benefits a wide range of golfers with varying launch conditions.

“By reformulating and increasing the size of the core, we have increased ball speed, making the New Pro V1 even longer than its predecessor,” said Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Golf Ball Research and Development, Acushnet Company.  “In addition, a new high performance Urethane Elastomer cover formulation improves cover durability.  The new cover, new core, and redesigned thinner Ionomeric casing layer, improve Pro V1’s legendary Drop-and-Stop scoring performance.”

Titleist’s Tour-proven, high-coverage 392 dimple design with Staggered Wave parting line contributes to consistent ball flight.  The New Pro V1 will remain the most suited and game optimising technology within the Pro V1 family for the majority of amateur golfers looking to lower their scores with the proper golf ball selection.

NEW PRO V1: Summary of Features and Benefits

•    Newly reformulated and larger core provides soft feel, while contributing to longer distance.
•    Redesigned thinner, Ionomeric casing layer contributes to improved Drop-and-Stop scoring performance.
•    A new, high performance Urethane Elastomer formulation offers improved cover durability on all shots.
•    Tour-proven high coverage 392 multi-dimple design with Staggered Wave parting line for consistent ball flight.

NEW PRO V1x:  Longer Distance.  More Durable.

“The New 2009 Pro V1x is the ultimate performance companion to the New Pro V1,” said Morgan.  “A four-piece, dual core design featuring a redesigned Ionomeric casing layer, controls the spin rate on full iron shots into and around the green, in addition to providing increased distance off the driver.”

An improved high performance Urethane Elastomer cover delivers improved cover durability, while its Tour-proven high coverage 332 dimple design with Staggered Wave parting line generates penetrating trajectory and consistent ball flight.  Utilising Titleist’s industry-leading multi-component technology and manufacturing process excellence, the New Pro V1x is designed to optimise ball flight and increase driver distance.  The spin control and flight characteristics have made Pro V1x the ball of choice for many of the game’s longest players and the New Pro V1x will surpass its predecessor.

NEW PRO V1x: Summary of Features and Benefits
•    Soft centre, high energy 1.550’’ dual core delivers low spin and increased velocity.
•    New, speed enhancing Ionomeric casing layer controls driver spin for longer distance.
•    Low spin can provide greater control and green-holding ability with full iron and wedge shots.
•    A new, high performance Urethane Elastomer formulation offers improved cover durability on all shots.
•    Tour-proven high coverage 332 multi-dimple design with Staggered Wave parting line for consistent ball flight.

“As we have successfully employed throughout our near 75-year history of golf ball technology leadership, the New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x improve upon current models and deliver superior performance, quality, distance, consistency and durability than our prior benchmark products,” said Sine.  “We have advanced Pro V1 and Pro V1x with the goal of not merely meeting, but exceeding golfers’ expectations.  Professionals and amateurs alike have accompanied us every step along the way by providing insight, feedback and validation that has resulted in our best effort to make every shot count for Pro V1 loyalists and current players of Tour Played products seeking to advance their games.”

TOUR UPDATE:  The New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x golf balls have found instant acceptance and success on the 2009 PGA Tour, as Pat Perez captured the first PGA Tour win with a New 2009 Pro V1x golf ball at the Bob Hope Classic.  It was the first career win for Perez, who fired a 33-under 327 at the 90-hole event.  A total of 44 players trusted the New 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x at the Bob Hope Classic.  In fact, the New 2009 Pro V1x was the most played ball at the event with 23 players, followed by the New 2009 Pro V1 with 21 players.

At the season-opening limited field, winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, Davis Love III tied for second playing the New Pro V1x, as half of the 20 Titleist golf ball players in the field made the switch to the new 2009 models the first week it was available.  “I shot 4-under the first day I put the New 2009 Pro V1x into competition at Kapalua.  When I made the first putt I hit from 10 feet, I knew it was going to be a good ball.  I drove it great, and the little shots under the wind worked real well.  The hard wind at Kapalua is a tough place to put a new ball into play for the first time, but I practiced with it a few rounds, played with it in the Pro-Am, and then to get it in under the gun with 4-under was a great start for me and the new golf ball,” commented Love.

At the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full-field tournament of the year, 41 players switched to the New Pro V1 or Pro V1x, and were the most played models at the event.  Titleist Brand Ambassador Adam Scott and Titleist golf ball loyalist David Toms tied for 2nd playing the New Pro V1. Commenting on switching to the new ball, Scott said, “I put the New 2009 Pro V1 in play straight away.  I was really excited about this ball coming out when we were testing it last fall.  I just really like the feel I get off it, especially around the greens.  I can even feel it with the longer clubs and the driver.  It just feels more workable.  I certainly like that aspect of the ball.”

First Minister Alex Salmond is at loggerheads with the world’s most prestigious golf club after urging it to break more than 250 years of tradition and accept its first female member.

The First Minister said St Andrews’ Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) should address its failure so far to invite Dr Louise Richardson to join.

Dr Richardson, an award-winning political scientist, became St Andrews University’s first female principal almost a month ago.

But she had yet to be offered the gift of membership to the club, an honour that has been bestowed on her two immediate predecessors in the post.

Unlike Mr Salmond, Dr Richardson is not thought to be a keen golfer, but he argued the R&A should treat her equally by giving her the opportunity to join.

The First Minister, said: “The Royal and Ancient Golf Club should follow their long-standing practice of offering membership to the Principal of St Andrews University, and I am sure that after due consideration they will continue with that honourable tradition.”

A native of Ireland, Dr Richardson has taught and written extensively on terrorism, international relations and foreign and defence policy.

When she was appointed last June, the question was raised whether the R&A would admit its first female member since the club was formed in 1754.

One of the last all-male bastions in sport, the club had extended honorary membership to the two previous incumbents, Dr Brian Lang and Prof Struther Arnott.

The R&A said at the time it would “continue to consider such invitations in the future”. A club spokesman said no decision has been made since and declined to comment further.

Claire Baker, a Labour MSP for Fife, said: “The Principal of St Andrew’s University is at the top of her profession and should be accorded the same courtesy and privileges as her male predecessors.

“It’s more than 500 years since Mary Queen of Scots become the first woman to tee off at the home of golf, but it seems that the Royal and Ancient is still stuck in the middle ages.

“It is high time the fuddy-duddies who run the club put their chauvinist attitudes to one side and joined the 21st century.”

What are your thoughts on this?  Are some rules unbreakable, or would you like to see a female member join the R&A?

Titleist Ambassador Rory McIlroy tasted victory for the first time as a professional in his short career on the European Tour at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. The Northern Irish teenage sensation has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame since turning professional in September 2007 and his maiden victory in the prestigious Dubai Desert Classic underlined his credentials as one of the hottest properties in world golf, and propelled him to 16th in the Official World Golf Rankings. McIlroy posted a 2 under par 70 on the final day to record a 19 under par total of 269 and a one shot victory.

McIlroy trusted Titleist product from tee to green for his maiden professional victory and his equipment included the Pro V1x golf ball, 909D2 driver, 909F2 and 906F2 fairway metals, ZM forged irons, Vokey Spin Milled pitching, sand and lob wedges and Scotty Cameron Studio Select putter.

Titleist ambassadors Robert Karlsson and Martin Kaymer also trusted the precise playability of Titleist to help them to a tie for fourth on 16 under par respectively. McIlroy, Karlsson and Kaymer were joined on the leaderboard by three fellow Titleist ball players as six of the top 10 and ties placed their trust in the performance of the Pro V1 or Pro V1x. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Dubai Desert Classic with 68 players (54% of the field), compared to 25 for the nearest competitor.

On the US PGA Tour Pro V1 loyalist Kenny Perry won a play-off against full-line Titleist ambassador Charley Hoffman, to claim the FBR Open. A birdie at the third extra hole was enough to give Perry his first win of 2009 having shot a final round 69 for a 14 under par total of 270. Perry’s win at the FBR Open continued Titleist’s perfect run of four victories in the first four events of the 2009 PGA Tour season, and ensured Titleist occupied the top four positions on the leaderboard in Arizona with Kevin Na (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, AP2 irons, Vokey Design sand wedge, Vokey Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Newport SS putter) and David Toms (Pro V1) finishing third and tied fourth respectively. Of the 11 players who finished tied for tenth place or better at the FBR Open, 8 trusted Titleist for their success.

Elsewhere, further victories on the Australasian and South African Tours for Ashley Hall and Darren Fichardt respectively, boosted Titleist’s worldwide win count to 15 for the 2009 season, compared to just four for the nearest competitor.

A milestone first professional title for full-line Titleist player Rory McIlroy, as well as continued success on world tours for the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, prove once again that the game’s elite continue to opt for the matchless performance of Titleist.

Cobra fans be prepared to empty your bank accounts because the company has just thrown the covers off the cool-as-you-like Cobra S9-1 driver range.

The new Tour version of the Cobra S9 driver has already shown the best of the best the way in the hands of new Mercedes Benz Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy and in just a few weeks time it could be yours!

The more traditional-shaped drivers features a large face and sits beautifully behind the ball, bucking the recent trend of trying to create bigger and bigger headed models.

The Cobra S9-1 driver range is headed up by the Cobra S9-1 Pro S and Pro D. The Pro S driver. It is  tuned to give extreme-ball-speed players high launch, low spin and added workability to optimise their distance and accuracy.

The Cobra S9-1 Pro D, used by Ogilvy to claim the Mercedes Benz on its first outing, has been designed for very accomplished players who need exacting tools to fully maximize their high level of skill. The S9-1 Pro D features a deep face design that generates high launch and low spin and looks much smaller to the eye, giving top players the ability to really work the ball.

The Cobra S9-1 F is next in line, designed to optimise fast-ball-speed players’ distance and accuracy by providing a slight draw-bias ball flight, high launch
and low-to-mid spin.

The S9-1 range is then completed by the Cobra S-91 M Driver, tuned to give moderate-ball-speed players unmatched distance and forgiveness, via maximum-draw-bias head design and lighter shafts, promoting extra-high launch and mid spin.

As some of you may (or may not) have noticed, we’ve got an epic range of Nike golf shoes in stock for the 2009 season.

There are 12 ranges with over 40 styles to choose from, so what are you waiting for?

Choose from Nike Air Zoom Vapor golf shoes which are packed with technology to make you feel like you’re walking on air whilst still benefiting from the support you would expect from a Tour performance golf shoe, Nike Air Zoom Elite World golf shoes which have the blend of Nike Air Technology with Nike Power Platform technology that provides unsurpassed comfort in every step, or one of the many other ranges currently available from Golfbuyitonline.