Equipment
10 awesome photos from Bettinardi’s Summer Social
Bettinardi’s Summer Social, the company’s annual putter bonanza, was open to the public for the first time in 2015. Top collectors from around the country gathered at Bettinardi headquarters in Tinley Park, Ill., for the event that showcased the company’s finest collectible putters, as well as tour models and other one-offs. In addition to the rare putters, Bettinardi also created a variety of accessories including clothing, ball markers, divot tools, cigar trays, belt buckles, and head covers for the event.
Most guests arrived at Bettinardi HQ at 6 p.m. to meet the other collectors, chat about their favorite golf gear and fuel up with food and drink before the doors to Studio B opened at 7 p.m. They then began the mad dash to find the perfect putter (or in some cases putters) for their collections.
Nothing was off limits at the Summer Social, according to Sam Bettinardi, Bettinardi’s vice president of sales and marketing. Attendees were given free reign to wander the facility, and the company ran a night shift so guests could tour the manufacturing facility and see how products were created in Bettinardi’s recently renovated 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility.
Enjoy these 10 photos from the Summer Social, and learn more about Bettinardi’s Summer Social on the company’s website.
The calm before the storm
Bob Bettinardi gave a speech to attendees (and protected the entrance to Studio B) before the doors opened 7 p.m.
My collection needs a mallet!
Nearly every item available for purchase at the Summer Social was a one-off prototype, including this mallet with an R&D sole engraving.
A very special BB Zero
With a “Brook Trout” design and adjustable pocket weight.
Holy Mother of (Pearl)
Because why wouldn’t you want mother of pearl inserts on your putter… or a welded, custom-engraved neck for that matter. For the golfer who has everything, mother of pearl belt buckles, divot tools and ball makers were also available.
If you’re going to buy a rare putter…
It better fit your stroke! Attendees of the Summer Social were able to get fit for their putters at no extra cost with purchase.
So much cooler than lead tape
This variable-weight BB Zero putter allows golfers to adjust head weight through a pocket weight. And those snow stampings…
A BB6 with a twist
Few custom tweaks are more eye-catching than a welded, twisty neck. This putter also has Bettinardi’s F.I.T. Face, a face-milling process that removes material from the face for an extremely soft feel without an insert.
Patchwork Head Covers
Bettinardi’s new “patchworks” head covers sold out almost immediately. They combine different materials and designs for a truly one-off look.
In case you weren’t hungry…
Now you are. What’s a better snack on hot summer day than a Chicago-style dog and some Kool-Aid to wash it down? Representing Chicago proudly!
Holding down the R&D department
When a belt buckle is so much more than a belt buckle. Only gear heads will understand.
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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Benny
Jun 18, 2015 at 8:45 pm
I think its awesome they did this. Showing some true value to their fans and giving them access to all models. So many Pros play Betti’s and the amount of Tour wins shows they know what they are doing. Especially in a market ruled by SC. I would much rather have a handmade Betti or Machine dor 1/3 the price and make just as many if not more putts.
Josh
Jun 17, 2015 at 11:32 am
Thanks for telling us about this AFTER it happened. I missed their facebook post about it even though I follow their page… Ah well. Keeping this in mind for next year.
putter fanatic
Jun 17, 2015 at 11:32 am
Honest question here: did Bettinardi start the Summer Social before or after the Cameron ICC event which has become Pins and Playtime?
ooffa
Jun 16, 2015 at 11:12 am
I commend Bettinardi for his genius. It takes skill, talent and hard work to market a very average putter for such an exorbitant price.
Jeff
Jun 15, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Those covers are absolutely sick! As a chicagoan who has relocated I would die to get any one of those covers. When do they go on sale?
Josh
Jun 17, 2015 at 11:34 am
Jeff, you can find them here: http://tourstockputters.com/collections/bettinardi-headcovers
BOB
Jun 15, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Free putter fitting wow so generous after selling $4 of metal for $2k
Toby
Jun 15, 2015 at 9:33 pm
You do realize you don’t have to buy the $2k (actually I don’t think any of them reached that price). You can just attend the event, socialize, etc.
Just wondering what do you think should come free with a $2k putter? A happy ending 🙂
Chris
Jun 15, 2015 at 7:25 pm
How do i go? I work at golfsmith lol