Equipment
Toulon Design to launch 5 new putters in 2017
Callaway’s new high-end putter brand, Toulon Design, is adding five new putters to its lineup in 2017, including four fully milled head shapes and one that’s off the track, you might say.
Toulon Design was launched in 2015 by golf industry veteran Sean Toulon, now Senior Vice President of Callaway Golf and General Manager of Odyssey Golf. The company carved its niche in the industry with premium milled putters that have a distinct face-milling pattern and interchangeable sole plates for improved customization.
Related: Our review of Toulon’s 2016 putters
In 2016, Toulon Design released five fully milled models (San Diego, San Francisco, Rochester, Madison and Memphis) that have found their way into the bags of PGA Tour players and golfers around the world. The 2017 release continues down that path, but adds a high-MOI putter that ventures from the norm. It’s called “Indianapolis,” and was inspired by Toulon’s work with Chip Ganassi and his racing team while in Indianapolis.
Learning from Ganassi’s insight on multi-material constructions, Toulon constructed the uniquely-shaped mallet putter with 6061 aluminum on the face, 303 stainless steel on the sole, carbon composite on the crown and about 65 grams of weight on the putter’s “back wings.” The combination of materials and overall head shape makes for a forgiving putter that has an MOI of 5,400 g/cm² (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness).
For better alignment, the putter also has 10 different alignment lines that are either parallel or perpendicular to the target, making it “almost impossible to misalign,” according to Toulon.
The other four models in the lineup — Austin, Columbus, Long Island and Latrobe — take after much more classic putter designs. Each of the four putters are milled from 303 stainless steel, and the faces have a diamond cut mill pattern that’s made to improve acoustics and get the golf ball rolling faster on the green.
The special pattern at the center of the face — the company calls it a “contact patch” — has crosshatch grooves to channel vibrations from impact for improved sound and feel. Much like Toulon putters from the past, the 2017 putters also have interchangeable sole plates made from aluminum, stainless steel or tungsten to create different head weights and counter-balanced options.
Like the 2016 lineup and the new “Indianapolis,” all Toulon Putters are named after cities that have influenced either him, his family or the game of golf in general.
Columbus
Toulon calls Columbus, Ohio, the “most golf-crazed city in America,” which is home to 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus. The Columbus putter is Toulon’s first longer neck design; it has about 20 degrees of toe hang, a notchback and “acts like a mallet” due to its stability.
Austin
Also, Toulon calls Austin a “great golf city,” where many Tour players were born and/or currently live. With an Anser-influence, the putter has a wider cavity, taller bumpers and “taller shoulders.”
Long Island
Long Island, New York, is home to some of the country’s greatest golf courses. The Long Island putter has a high-sweeping toe and a flowing neck that results in 60 degrees of toe hang. Toulon says the putter was designed “with Patrick Reed in mind.”
Latrobe
The Latrobe, named after Arnold “The King” Palmer’s birthplace in Pennsylvania, is influenced by the ever-popular Wilson 8802 putter and had design input from Callaway design gurus Austie Rollinson and Roger Cleveland. Toulon stresses how difficult it is to mill this style of putter well and get the hosel bend correct.
“We’ve done an incredible job,” he says.
The diamond cut milling on this putter, which has a shorter blade length than others in the line, is spread across the entire face. Toulon calls it “magnificently beautiful,” and we tend to agree based on the company’s Instagram photo, pictured above.
The five new models for 2017 will be available on March 31, and prices start at $399.99.
We also spotted a previously unseen Toulon putter called “Atlanta” on the range at the CareerBuilder Challenge, although the company has not confirmed if it will hit retail.
Join the discussion about Toulon Design putters here.
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Whats in the Bag
Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)
- Chesson Hadley what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)
Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5
- The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!
3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X
Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
View this post on Instagram
I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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Travis
Apr 21, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Also love how it’s April 21st and none of these are available yet…
Travis
Apr 21, 2017 at 7:24 pm
I guess they totally abandoned the Latrobe model? Sad, that’s the only one I wanted…
joepz
Jan 29, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Didn’t PING and/or Nike have a putter that looked like the Indianapolis? Must admit, it looks interesting.
JThunder
Jan 26, 2017 at 9:55 pm
Internet comments sections;
“everyone is entitled to my own opinion”
tlmck
Jan 24, 2017 at 9:23 pm
That Indianapolis would be cool without the big X thing on the back. Just a straight simple blade with double bend shaft. Looks like it is detachable, but that would probably mess up the weighting.
Drew
Jan 24, 2017 at 4:18 pm
I second the above comment. I’d like to know if Latrobe or Long Island available in left handed!?
Mad-Mex
Jan 22, 2017 at 6:35 pm
$400 with zero customizing ?!? Really like the Latrobe but Ill wait a year and pick one up along with an Epic driver for less than $300 for both,,,,
DB
Jan 21, 2017 at 9:20 pm
I see the usual haters in the comments section. Haha
Great looking stuff here from Toulon. I’m sure more pics will be coming after the PGA show.
rymail00
Jan 21, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Was really hoping to see a few pics of each putter. Like the Austin, Latrobe, and Long Islandl the view to see is from the back so you can see the details of the design, not the face view.
JMHO
Big Mike
Jan 20, 2017 at 11:54 pm
Loving my Memphis. Best feeling and sounding putter I have owned. Scotty who?
S Hitter
Jan 20, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Hate the names. Ugh.
BM
Jan 20, 2017 at 7:55 pm
6061 aluminum is way too soft to be using on the face. Should have used 7075. it is not that much more difficult to machine, but is much harder and more durable.
BallBuster
Jan 20, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Exciting new styles (yawn)… However, I was intrigued by the Indy picture that had all those jazzy green flow lines and saw the claim “For better alignment, the putter also has 10 different alignment lines that are either parallel or perpendicular to the target, making it “almost impossible to misalign””, but fail to see any but the square face. No lines at all. But I’m just an aerospace engineer who works in aerodynamics I guess!! No imagination. Good marketing hype tho… to some I’m sure.
$400 = insanity to me… I did think it also insane I spent $100 for a Cameron Red X in early 2000’s but that proved to be very worthwhile for over a dozen years. I feel totally confident in it, still love it in every way, and by my own statistical measurements and gut feeling, works quite well for me. I doubt these new models could elevate my game or replace my favorite that has beaten back all other challengers to date! Mine also has a square face plus 2 lines that seem to work well for alignment purposes!!
Dj
Jan 20, 2017 at 11:32 am
Not one of these is appealing.
bogeypro
Jan 20, 2017 at 9:08 am
more putters named after cities… how original.
Michael
Jan 20, 2017 at 7:45 am
Any of the upcoming models available to us lefties? I’m crossing everything that Latrobe does.