Barney Adams may not be one of the more well known names in the golf industry. My first impression was: Who is this guy? Quickly I realized that he is "that Adams guy". As in Adams Golf. Barney Adams has one of the most impressive stories of succeeding through passion and determination. The WOW Factor reads as a combination of both the story behind one of the most successful brands in the game and also a guide for all entrepreneurs to read before jumping into business.

Adams Golf wasn’t founded overnight, nor were they an overnight success. Barney Adams spent an entire career working as an engineer and management before he got his start in golf. In the late 1970’s, he became friends with Dave Pelz. Together, they tried to make Pelz Golf a success. Barney and Dave struggled through about five years of up and down sales before they were eventually forced to close for good.

Barney saw this as an opportunity to buy all of the assets left behind and to start his own company. Adam Golf was born. The best idea he ever had was to focus on one club rather than trying to make an entire line. Barney set to work trying to design the best club he could. He took a look at his own swing and the swings around him, and decided he needed to create an easy to hit fairway wood. The club that Barney designed was the Adams Tight Lies fairway wood. 

 This all sounds very good, but the biggest struggle Barney found was getting the capital to run a company. All of Adams Golf was being financed by one of the best games of credit card roulette I have ever heard. It was the Tight Lies and the WOW Factor that saved the day. We have all experienced the WOW Factor. Imagine hitting your favorite golf club for the first time. What is your reaction to that first shot you kill down the middle? WOW! This is the principle that Adams Golf was founded on.

The WOW Factor is a great book for more than equipment junkies. It is filled with insight for entrepreneurs and golfers alike. Barney doesn’t pull any punches in telling the story of Adams Golf. He tells of the failures and successes throughout his career. Adams Golf has over 30 years in the making, and they are always striving to create better and better products.  

Anyone that wants a behind the scenes look at the industry and what it takes to succeed should read The WOW Factor. The WOW Factor is available at www.skyhorsepublishing.com/details.php . It is definitely recommended reading.