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KZG – The BEST OEM you may have never heard of
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KZG just may be the BEST OEM that you have never heard of. Actually, one could argue that they rival Titleist, Taylor Made, Mizuno and Ping. KZG is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) you say?
Absolutely, and their Gemini drivers just may be the best big stick you can buy. Bar none. Their forged irons are top notch as well. Personally, I have never driven the ball better before putting my KZG Gemini driver into play. The extremely high quality of their offerings and the lack of print media visibility via an adverstising campaign was perplexing to me. KZG follows a different marketing strategy and it just may be quite intelligent on their part. I interviewed KZG’s President, Jennifer King, and she offered some valuable insight into this niche market top notch, OEM golf company. Read on for the interview…
I know about the Orlimar fairway woods and their early success. Was this the beginning of KZG?
Not really. We started way back in 1994. We had this phenomenal technology which was ceramicized zirconium…we used it as a face insert in the club heads…I must tell you, the COR must have been .980…the energy off the
face was so great. But the cost was equally great…our cost per iron head was $44….so, it was not that commercially feasible. Tom Crow, then President of COBRA, absolutely loved it … as did many of the other OEMs, but it was just too costly.
We then started doing other technologies which we did sell to other OEMs. We then came across the brazing technique which was the basis of our KZG Maraging Power Drivers, Fairway Woods and Irons. It was pretty phenomenal. We tried to sell it to other OEMS and they loved it also. We finally convinced Orlimar to give it a try…in fact, we paid for the testing at Gene Parente’s testing facility…they were blown away, and the rest is history. We ended up selling to Orlimar 1.75 million clubs in 1998 and 1999! We also owned 1/3 of Orlimar Japan.
How did you (Jennifer King) get involved with a golf company? I would guess that you are an avid golfer, right?
I started KZG with my husband in 1994. Shaggy dog story…my cousin told me about this great club. 6 months later he shows up at my law office still raving about the club. We hit it and were amazed…I flew to Taiwan to meet the inventor and bought some clubs and tried to sell them, but alas, as set forth above, limited success due to the cost. No, I am not an avid golfer; in fact I am not very good at all. My dad, my husband and my daughter are all avid golfers. I am an entrepreneur and deal maker. I have been instrumental in starting many companies as I was a lawyer for 22 years…including Guess? Jeans. My role is to put all the pieces together…like a movie producer…who hires the actors, the director, gets the script, etc. And that is what I do here. I find the technologies, I hire the best experts in the field, and I even do a lot of the designing believe it or not. I think it helps when someone is thinking "out of the box".
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If so, what happened to Orlimar? How/when did KZG golf come about?
Sadly Orlimar failed. Not surprisingly though. The three running Orlimar really wanted to do a stock play and were less interested in operating a real golf company. We were offered $5/share in July 1998, but they turned it down; $7/share in September 1998 and they turned that down too. It was on over load, but he problem was that started not honoring their rebate program. Then they lowered the price in Dec. 1998 for the holidays; I remember having a huge argument with them that they would never get the price back up again; they ignored me. In 1999 they dropped the price 5 times…all to boost sales for a "pump and dump" stock play. Well, if you recall, they went public…Adams came out at $16 and within hours was down to $4/share. Orlimar tried to go out, but they could never get the price they wanted after that.Wall Street finally realized that the golf
business is small potatoes. They never had any more offers and could not get it sold.
In 2000 they sold it to Howard Lester (owner of Williams Sonoma) I think he and his friends bought it for very little…they got control of the company I believe for less than $1/share (Howard invested $10 million and his friends
invested $13 million). They moved the company down to San Diego and got real smart. They stopped buying from me. They started putting out their own product which did not catch the fancy of the public and they died a slow death.
Around 2002 the entire company was sold for less that $0.25 a share to Knight Golf…which has historically sold boxed clubs…very low price point. And it too died a slow death. 3 years ago Golf Digest gave them their "Hot List" endorsement and it totally flopped. Its now just dead.
As stated in #1, KZG started in 1994. KZG changed its focus and devoted 100% of its efforts to Custom Fit and Custom Built clubs in 1998….it has grown steadily over the years.
4. What is your business strategy to combat that you are not considered an OEM club by the uninformed masses? What I mean is, the small group of hard core golfers not only know their own personal equipment, but they are really knowledgeable about equipment that they choose not to use. I believe that this small core group of golfers knows KZG’s quality. I am speaking of the middle group, those that play often and might be looking to buy a good set of clubs, ala PING, Titleist, Taylor Made, etc….
We are pretty realistic here. We will never be a Nike, Callaway or TaylorMade…never. We don’t advertise. I doubt we ever will. Think about it, all the big boys are spending $100 million plus a year on media and the tour, given there are at least 10 of them, that means over $1 billion a year. Even if I had $1 million to spend, no one would see it.
(Now I understand why spending a ton of cash on advertising is not really a smart business strategy for KZG.)
We have set out to produce products that are demonstrably better and they definitely are. We have also chosen to work only with true Professional Fitters because when our product is fitted properly, it simply cannot be beat. Our advertising is the old fashioned way…happy golfers telling their friends.
We are definitely an "OEM" – Original Equipment Manufacturer. We use the top designers in the industry and work with the same manufacturing plants that the big boys use in China. The big boys cannot afford to use our
manufacturers in Japan…
Sadly I watch as the major brands are saying that they are custom fitting, when in fact they are really offering optional shafts and guessing at what might be right for a player. IPAC (international Professional Association of Clubfitters) has formed to try to educate the public on where to go for a real fitting, see www.ipacgolf.com.
Slowly we are growing and gaining ground with the middle handicappers and even the high handicappers. When we started out, we only made equipment for the low handicappers, but if you check out our website, you can see that we offer clubs for every conceivable skill level as well as budget.
And of course, we are hoping that writers like you will educate the public about KZG and about proper fitting.
I have realized how getting PROPERLY fitted for a driver can really help one’s game. Since getting fitted for my Gemini driver, I am driving the ball better than at anytime in the last 15 years!
I like the fact that KZG golf clubs are only offered through qualified clubfitters and not in the big box stores. However, I am perplexed by the lack of national advertising. Does KZG not want to be the next Mizuno, etc..and is KZG OK being just a high quality "niche" golf company?
Again, we just don’t have a $10-$100 million dollar advertising budget. For now, we have to stick with editors and writers like yourself and the great publicity we get from our loyal KZG golfers…and they really are loyal and supportive. We would love to be next to Mizuno and we are…in those facilities that have a real Professional Fitter on staff.
Do you have any restrictions on what your KZG clubfitters/sellers can sell in the same store? For example, can they sell all the bogus, low quality "knock offs" as well?
We are very particular about our Dealers. We try not to sell to anyone that sells clones or knock-offs…or low quality "home shop" components. Most all of our Dealers take pride in their professionalism and would not tarnish their reputation with stolen designs and brands and junk.
Do you think that having KZG clubs being sold alongside knock offs hurts your reputation? (I know it’s no different at Golf Galaxy, they sell the average Maltby stuff as well as the top of the line OEM products. All that stuff is fine for the guy who plays not all so often, or hits that stuff well and actually likes it).
In my opinion, knock offs are stolen designs, stolen brands, stolen ideas. I abhor knock-offs and we try to steer clear of anyone that sells them.
Do you feel that "KZG" is a brand name in the golf world as a whole? I know when I worked at the range one summer for one of my asst. pro buddies a few years ago I would watch all the high school golfers hitting their
drivers. I would hand them my Gemini, ask them NOT to look at the sole and have them hit it. I would say that most of these kids hit my club farther and more accurately than any of their OEM products. However, I never saw any of them rushing out to buy a KZG.
I know, its amazing. We have people in front of a launch monitor who can actually see that they are getting a tighter dispersion and greater distance, and still feel more comfortable with the well-advertised brand name. But most of our Dealers do get the respect of their customers and usually sell them KZG.
Why not attack the amateur/junior/NCAA golf market instead of the professional tours and such? Maybe a program where college and high school golf coaches can make player purchases cheaper through KZG.
We are on every tour, in every category of equipment, save putters. Phil Mickelson played my blades for 9 months (without pay of course…cute story, he paid full retail and tipped the fitter $200), Nick Price plays our ZO clubs; Padraig Harrington played our RBT Driver; the list goes on and on…Michelle Wie plays our stuff, the #1 girl in Australia plays our stuff, everyone who is anyone has played our equipment. But let’s face it, when Nike comes along and offers you millions, you would be crazy not to take it. So no, I don’t chase the tours, they chase us and when they hit it big, we wish them well as they get the big endorsement.
I don’t think it would be fair to compare (I am not speaking about quality here, YOU GUYS ARE UP TO SNUFF on that!) KZG to Ping, Callaway, Titleist or Taylor Made, as they pump out huge numbers of stuff. I know that Mizuno does not spend as much (or pay as many) paying top pros to play their stuff as these other big companies do. Have you ever thought of paying annyone to play KZG? Would it be worth the advertising if you paid say one Nationwide Tour Pro or one LPGA/PGA Tour Pro? Obviously you have completed a cost analysis to see if it is worth the hassles associated with it. Have any pros independently approached KZG and said that they wanted to play your driver and/or irons (obviously not for free)? If so, you don’t have to say any names just whether or not it has occurred. (That would be a great validation of your products)?
Trust me, I have thought about this over and over. In fact, I even discussed this very issue this morning as one of the shaft reps on Tour wants to use our heads on all of his shafts for testing…which is great. But would I pay someone…very doubtful. You either need a very top name (which is millions) or you need a whole bunch of smaller guys (which also adds up when you consider they are paying these guys $3,500 per week just to hit a particular driver off the first tee). How much would it be worth if #285 on the Nationwide Tour was playing KZG? Who is it by the way? See, it just doesn’t add up. And then say that #285 actually won a major tournament….it still would cost you $250,000 to advertise that fact!
I get frustrated, as I am sure KZG does as well, when many of the major golf magazines ignore KZG products in all of their tests (I think the Gemini driver finally made the Golf Digest hot list last year, I think). Is this because KZG does not purchase advertising from them? (I know it was like that in the bicycle racing world where I used to write). These equipment tests are so biased and I really don’t let them make up my mind about golf equipment.
You are right. We don’t advertise and they don’t write about us. Its simple, but it is practical. Always follow the money. The reason that Golf Digest gave us the Hot List Award for the Gemini (1 1/2 years after it was launched) was because they were at a party of mine during the PGA Show, and I basically told them that everyone was laughing at them and cancelling their subscriptions for having given the Hot List award to the new Orlimar from Knight Golf…it really was a joke. I think the next season that is why they gave us the honor and named the Gemini as the best driver.
I would put a KZG Gemini up against ANY driver on the market, it is too bad the major golf publications are so biased towards the giant companies with the mass-marketing dollars. Until you see ALL the players, it will never be a true test.
Why not a small ad promoting the Golf Test USA test showing how the Gemini beat all of the "other guys"? Surely this would be cost effective in the long run.
We will be doing that, but we have been so busy, we put that on the back burner…but we will do something with that.
Where are the KZG Driver heads and irons made? China and or Japan? In the same factories as the OEM manufacturer’s stuff?
China makes virtually every club head in the world. Japan makes very few forgings…ours, and the tour versions of some of the major OEMs, and Miura…not even Mizuno can afford 100% Japanese made.
Do all KZG products have a "lifetime" warranty?
No. We have a 2 year written warranty. But frankly we do usually give a lifetime warranty. There was a recent incident however that makes that difficult, as there were counterfeit ones out there, which I took in even though they were not mine…and that proved disastrous.
Does KZG test any of their own products in house? If so, have you tested your competitor’s equipment as well? If so, what did you discover?
We do informal tests of our products against other products using our launch monitors here. We also hire Golf Laboratories owned by Gene Parente…he is an independent testing facility. We found that our product is the best…and the 2nd best is Titleist.
In what areas of the country or world are KZG products "most popular"?
There are sections where are products are actively marketed by our Dealers. We are very popular in Northern California, New Jersey, Virginia, some portions of Texas. We are huge in Europe.
If you are seeking some new golf clubs, you really should locate your local KZG dealer and see what they have to offer, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. You just may skip the Mizunos the next time around. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Cincinnati’s BEST clubfitter and local KZG dealer, Kirby Bolen…
THANK YOU Jennifer for taking time out of your very busy schedule to answer my questions for the many members of golfwrx.com, the internet’s BEST golf forum!
For more information on KZG products please visit www.kzgolf.com
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Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.
Check out what GolfWRXers are saying about Cleveland’s new CBX 4 ZipCore wedges after putting them through their paces.
We have five GolfWRX members testing Cleveland’s CBX 4 ZipCore wedges.
Cleveland on CBX 4 ZipCore wedges
“New CBX 4 ZipCore wedges bring premium versatility and elite forgiveness together in a highly refined, sharp-looking design that blends perfectly in the bag with modern cavity back or hollow iron sets. And now, these CBX series wedges get all of Cleveland Golf’s latest tour caliber technologies to create our finest cavity back wedge yet.”
How we choose our testers
GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.
Member testers
- @mikes919
- @ALTSean
- @awtryau89
- @vsabre
- @rbilramz
Review themes
- Forgiveness
- Ease of use out of bunkers
- Easy to play from a square position
- Surprisingly compact given the amount of cavity technology
- Impressive spin
Member review highlights
@mikes919
“Initial impression is that these wedges are very clean and high quality in appearance. They have a durable-looking satin finish, and the cavity back insert blends nicely with the steel; you barely notice that it’s an insert. Shafts and ferrules are pristine. The stock Lamkin Crossline grips are more rubbery than the tour velvets I’m used to, but the tread pattern gives a nice locked-in feel. The face milling is very pronounced, and the grooves feel ridiculously sharp. They are quite chunky from the back. The soles are big and wide, with a lot of leading and trailing edge relief. If you’re a digger with wedges, you are going to love these things. Comparing the soles and overall profile to my Vokeys, the difference is most obvious on the 54*. The CBX4 sole is much wider than anything I’ve played in this loft range before. While they’re both S-grinds, the CBX4 grind is much more pronounced on both the leading and trailing edge.”
“Flip the wedges over to the normal address position and it’s a totally different story. You would never know there’s so much sole and tech behind this club! While the topline is slightly thicker on the CBX4, I was pleasantly surprised that the appearance is much more “player” oriented than I would have thought. They don’t feel nearly as big here. The only thing I notice at address is that the CBX4 leading edge sits a little higher, because of that leading edge relief…”
“The other thing you’ll notice at address is the milling and groove pattern of the wedges. The HydraZip face technology is really cool to see and feel. Just rubbing your fingers across the face of the wedge, you know these are going to shred some ball covers! Zooming in on the grooves themselves is even more impressive, with a slightly different pattern between the low and high lofts:
…”My practice areas are sandy and the balls are hard as a rock, but I haven’t noticed any wear whatsoever on the wedge faces yet. Still spinning great, they really grab the ball.
…”These wedges like to be played square. Just line it up, focus on making reasonably clean contact, and you’ll be rewarded with a consistent flight and great spin.”
…”Today I put the Cleveland’s back in the bag for a rainy round. It started off drizzling and was just absolutely pouring by about the 5th hole. I was extremely impressed with the amount of spin I was able to generate with the CBX4’s. I found myself needing to adjust and fire at the pin much more than with my Vokeys; I was getting one hop stops, even in a heavy downpour.”
@ALTSean
“I got the wedges out for another round this morning. It’s been raining and warm here in NOVA so the conditions are on the softer side at the moment and the forgiveness of the soles shines in these kind of conditions. We don’t ever really get super firm or fast conditions so the extra bounce and size of the soles probably will work well here year round.”
@awtryau89
“As you can see, these wedges have some serious grinds. The pre-worn leading edge is on the 54 & 60. Even though these are larger than my Vokeys, they can be manipulated to hit any shot you like.”
“Looks are subjective but these look great. No real offset and not too rounded. They are on the larger side but unless you put them next to a smaller wedge, you’d never know they are a bit on the large side.”
“Feel is really good for cast and cavity back. They have a sharp click and aren’t muted but feel solid. The shafts are KBS Hi Rev 2.0. I play KBS C Taper Lite 110s in my irons so these mesh very well. Overall the pairing of the shafts and heads work very well. You won’t mistake them for soft forgings but overall they are softer feeling than my SM 9 KBS Tour 130 wedges.”
“Spin is exceptional. My Vokeys aren’t old but these definitely have much more bite than the SM9s. The hydro treatment is real. We played very soggy fairways and the spin I saw was crazy. One hop and stop pitches from short distances were the norm. It will be interesting to see what they offer when our course drys out.”
“Forgiveness is what these wedges are all about. I didn’t have any bad misses today that the wedges saved me strokes but I did notice some shots that weren’t perfect ended up being a good bit closer to pin high than expected.”
“Played again today and basically learned these wedges are a cheat code out of bunkers. So easy to hit any shot. I hit it close 2-3 times green side but my best shot may have been from a fairway bunker 127 out, up against a lip, with the 50 degree. Hit it to about 12 feet and promptly 3 putted. Oh well.”
“These wedges have stayed in my bag. Having played Vokeys for so long, I had to convince myself to commit for a while and put the ego aside. One big thing that has stood out to me is full shots and the better results I have seen there. These wedges offer so much more forgiveness that I have to be careful. I’ve had to adjust my yardages since they just play longer. I even took them to have the lofts checked because I thought they were strong and they were spot on so its just helping the ball go farther on those slight misses around the face.”
“I’ve stated they are just so easy out of the sand. I have hit some great shots and even holed out a few times from bunkers. I have to be careful on wet sand with the larger surface area on the soles but overall they just make the game easier.”
“Chipping is also so easy. I go against the grain so many times playing on Bermuda and the pre-worn leading edge just helps the wedge from sticking. I work very hard on shaft lean and keeping the hands ahead while chipping. The leading edge helps me play square face shots this way but you can also open them up.”
“I’ve had playing partners comment on my short game a few times the last few weeks and then ask to look at my wedges. Every one of them are surprised. I play to a 7 but one of my buddies who is a 1 has had some chipping issues lately and he started playing out of my bag one round. He plays ZipCores and probably won’t let his ego buy some but he had to admit he hit some of his best chips and shots with them. Great wedges for the common man.”
@vsabre
“Wedges arrived well packaged and perfect to the requested spec…super clean look and very appealing over the ball.”
“Performance – Range 3/4 Swings…Our practice range turf is slightly sandy from continuous repair with tight lies that are not forgiving for either chunky or blade swings. A really good wedge test and the CBX4s did not disappoint. For not having touched a club for two weeks the CBX4s were incredibly easy to hit. Like cheat code easy to hit as someone else mentioned.”
“Over to the practice green and hit a variety of shots with each wedge and honestly it’s nearly impossible to chunk one (which I can do from time to time). Soft feel coming off the club and I had forgotten what great wedges Cleveland makes, and of course, having a consistent fit spec through the entire iron set makes a huge difference. I will say we’ll see how they fare on tighter, firmer lies around the greens as we approach summer.”
“They will be staying in the bag and I’m sure I’ll be adding a 60 in the next few weeks with the same specs.”
@rbilramz
“My first impression upon receiving the CBX4 was how much cleaner they looked than the previous version. The lack of black plastic badging really makes them look more like players’ irons. I don’t have the CBX3 to compare them with, but I think the footprint is smaller than the previous generation.”
“The comparison to my RTX6 is interesting as well. The CBX4 clearly has a much larger and more rounded sole and bounce. However, from the address, the size difference is pretty minimal. They both frame the ball nicely without looking oversized. I can also manipulate CBX4 in my hand really easily; the sole doesn’t cause any issues with the turf.”
“I am lucky to have a simulator in my basement (Foresight GCQuad) and a putting/chipping green in my backyard. This is where my first round of testing occurred. I started at the putting green, rotating between each club. I do 90% of my chipping with my 54, but I hit a few with all of them. There was an immediate improvement with the CBX4, as poor turf interaction was not punished as much. My putting green isn’t very large (not enough space for any pitches), so I quickly made my way to the basement.”
“After getting warmed up, I compared each club against my current gamer with 12 full-swing shots. I would throw away the worst 2 and then average the remaining. The results here kind of surprised me. Despite identical specs, the CBX4 was consistently 2-3 yards (or more) further than the RTX6. I was expecting more forgiveness and consistency but not additional distance. I should add that I am not looking for any additional distance either, I like my current gapping. I am guessing the distance is due to increased forgiveness as I rarely hit the ball in the exact center of the face.”
“Spin numbers were basically identical. There wasn’t enough difference between the two for any conclusion to be made. The lowest ones were around 8,000rpm with the 48 degree and consistently around 10,000rpm with the 54 and 60 degrees. The UtilZip grooves and face milling really work great. I wouldn’t have any problem stopping and even backing shots up with these wedges.”
“The dispersion of the CBX4s was a little tighter, but not drastically. On good strikes, they were probably identical. The only noticeable difference came on really bad strikes, where the additional stability of the CBX4 became obvious. It won’t save you from a bad strike, but the CBX4 stayed a little straighter and went farther when I put a bad swing on them. I was slightly surprised by this, as I expected the difference to be larger. I guess the shorter distances of wedges make the forgiveness less obvious.”
“Distance/spin/dispersion aside, it would be impossible to ignore the difference in feel between the RTX6 and CBX4. On good strikes, the RTX6 simply feels amazing. It’s very solid while equally soft. I think that’s the feeling that people love about traditional wedges. I don’t have a problem with the feeling of the CBX4, but it’s just not as pure. It is clearly a cavity-back feeling. Feel isn’t overly important to me, so I wouldn’t have a problem with that. I just want to point it out.”
“My next test was taking them to the course and getting real-world impressions. Before playing, I put the wedges through a pretty decent warm-up that included full swing, pitches, chips, and a bunch of sand shots. This is where the CBX4 shined for me. Off of imperfect lies and out of the sand, the more forgiving sole was impossible to ignore. I headed to the Par 3 course at Green Valley Ranch to put them both into action. I didn’t keep score because I wanted to hit basically every shot with both clubs, and putting shouldn’t matter. The par 3 course at GVR is short, but it is NOT easy. By starting every hole with two balls, and then hitting every subsequent shot with each wedge, I was able to get a pretty good comparison between the two. In the end, the CBX4 simply performed better for me. And by the last few holes, I was noticeably more confident over the ball with the CBX4. That may be the largest benefit for me. I simply approached tough angles or bad lies with less apprehension. I was less afraid of hitting it fat or blading a chip.”
“Long story short, I may be the ideal player for the CBX4 wedges. The 54 and 60 degree clubs are securely in my bag. I am going to stick with the ZX5 A wedge over the CBX4 48, but that’s mostly due to my preference to have my gap wedge match my irons. I almost always use it for full-swing shots, so I like them to match. The cavity back design adds some forgiveness (and distance?) on full-swing shots, but the real difference for me comes around the green. The sole design is simply easier to work with. No question about it. I truly recommend the CBX4 to anyone who struggles with their short game. At least for me, my biggest inclination to use them historically has been based on pride. The improved looks make that easier to get past, but the improved playability makes it impossible to ignore. I am deeply on team CBX for now.”
Bonus comment
“We played this afternoon after getting about 4 inches of rain yesterday and late night. It was soggy. These wedges are forgiving and the tagline “chunk a little less” is real. Today was a good day to have more forgiving wedges.” – @awtryau89
More about GolfWRX member testing
Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.
For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.
You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.
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GolfWRX is on site this week at TPC Twin Cities for the 2024 3M Open for the penultimate event of the PGA Tour’s regular season.
The photos are flying in from Blaine, Minnesota. We’ve already assembled general galleries and a fresh Tony Finau WITB.
Check back throughout the week for more photos!
General Albums
- 2024 3M Open – Monday #1
- 2024 3M Open – Monday #2
- 2024 3M Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 3M Open – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Tobias Jonsson – WITB – 3M Open
- Keith Mitchell – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Tony Finau – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Maverick McNealy – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Tom Hoge – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Mac Meissner – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Robert Streb – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Santiago de la Fuente – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Billy Horschel – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 3M Open
- Roger Sloan – WITB – 2024 3M Open
Pullout Albums
- Ping putters – #1 – 3M Open
- Ping Putters – #2 – 3M Open
- TaylorMade Spider Tour S broomstick putter – 3M Open
- Odyssey Broomstick #7 putter – 3M Open
- Bettinardi putters – 2024 3M Open
- New EyeLine training aid – 2024 3M Open
- Sam Ryder’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 3M Open
- Odyssey putters – 2024 3M Open
- L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 3M Open
- Tyler Duncan’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 3M Open
- Zac Blair’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 3M Open
- Paul Barjon – PXG putter – 2024 3M Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Another Open Championship has come and gone and links golf was once again in the spotlight at Royal Troon! For those who have never played a links course (like myself), it sparks a desire to fly across the pond to experience it for ourselves. While a golf trip to the UK or Ireland is a bucket-list item, most people look to play the big-name courses (Old Course, Carnoustie, Lahinch, Royal Portrush,etc.), but don’t realize they can get a similar experience by traveling to some of the lesser known destinations where you will find some of the purest links courses in the world. With this in mind, here are our picks for the best hidden gem links courses you should play when you book a UK or Ireland trip:
IRELAND
We start our list off with a 36-hole club in the Northwest of Ireland, a remote area of the Emerald Isle that is known for its rugged terrain and spectacular scenery. Bordering the Wild Atlantic Way, Ballyliffin is relatively newer (est. 1947) but offers golfers one of the purest links golf experiences anywhere in the country. While not easy to get to, the two courses onsite (Old and Glashedy) are well worth the travel with large dunes shaping the fairways that overlook the North Atlantic Ocean and a myriad of pot bunkers everywhere you look. Even Rory McIlroy believes that “Ballyliffin’s two courses are a must play on any golf trip to Ireland.” and we tend to agree.
How to incorporate Ballyliffin in a golf trip:
Stay:Ballyliffin Lodge, Hotel & Spa
Play: Old Links & Glashedy Links at Ballyliffin, and Old Tom Morris Links or Sandy Hills Course at Rosapenna
The next course on the list is in the Sligo area of the Northwest where we find Enniscrone, roughly 3 hours (by car) south of Ballyliffin. Like many links courses, Enniscrone was originally a 9-hole course when it was opened in 1918 before an additional 9 holes were added 12 years later. In 1970, Eddie Hackett was tasked with redesigning the course to help the two 9-hole courses flow effortlessly into one 18 hole layout. A big feature that can be seen throughout your round here are the towering dunes that shape the course and protect some holes from the ocean winds. Built right out of the landscape of the dunes bordering the sea, the course has a lot of undulation in the fairways and greens with some elevated tee boxes providing unreal views of the natural land.
How to incorporate Enniscrone in a golf trip:
Stay: The Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo
Play: Enniscrone, County Sligo, and Donegal
Additional Courses: Strandhill, Carne, and Narin & Portnoo
Another fantastic gem on the Northwest coast of Ireland is the NEW (2020) St. Patricks Links at Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Links. The land was purchased back in 2012 which was already a 36-hole facility and Tom Doak was brought in to reimagine the property to the layout it currently is today. Large sand dunes shape the front 9 holes before heading back through some more subtle dunes back towards the clubhouse. The course offers elevation changes with some tee boxes sitting atop the dunes offering spectacular views of Sheephaven Bay and beyond. With two other courses and a fantastic hotel on property, this destination is all you could ever ask for.
How to incorporate St. Patricks in a golf trip:
Stay: Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Links
Play: St. Patrick’s Links, Sandy Hills Course , and Old Tom Morris Links (all at Rosapenna)
For our last hidden gem in Ireland, we head 30 minutes north of the country’s capital, Dublin, to The Island Club. Built along rugged terrain and the highest sand dunes on the east coast of Ireland, the Island Club is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by water on three sides providing a difficult challenge, especially with the winds. Founded in 1890, the Island Club continues to be ranked in the Top 10 courses in Ireland and has held some Amateur Championships and Open Championship Regional Qualifiers.
How to incorporate The Island Club in a golf trip:
Stay: The Grand Hotel, Malahide
Play: Island Club, Portmarnock Old, County Louth
Additional Courses: Royal Dublin
SCOTLAND
Located along “Scotland’s Golf Coast” of East Lothian is where we find the classic links of Dunbar. Opened in 1856 with only 15 holes, this is one of the many courses in Scotland that Old Tom Morris had a hand in crafting. Laid out along rocky and rocky terrain, the course is only 6500 yards long and while not long by modern standards, the course requires shot making and proper club selection to play well. The course has held many national and international tournaments including a few rounds of The Open Final Qualifying.
How to incorporate Dunbar in a golf trip:
Stay: No. 12 Hotel & Bistro
Play: Dunbar, Gullane (No.1), North Berwick
Additional Courses: Craigielaw, Kilspindie, Gullane (No.2, No. 3)
The next course on our list brings us to the Scottish Highlands, one of the lesser traveled destinations in Scotland, but still home to some amazing links courses including Cruden Bay! Located 25 miles north of Aberdeen on the east coast of the Highlands, Cruden Bay was opened in 1899, although history would indicate golf has been played at the property since 1791. Another Old Tom Morris design, the course is consistently ranked in the Top 25 of courses in Scotland and it is easy to see why. At only 6600 yards, it is relatively short, but the natural lay of the land provides elevation changes, punchbowl greens, and some large, 3-story high dunes that offer spectacular views for a classic links experience.
How to incorporate Cruden Bay in a golf trip:
Stay: Leonardo Hotel Aberdeen
Play: Cruden Bay, Trump International Links, Royal Aberdeen
Additional Courses: Murcar
We head back to the Highlands just north of Dornoch to where we find Brora Golf Club. Similar to a lot of links courses, Brora opened as only 9 holes in 1891, but that only lasted for 9 years before an additional 9 was added in 1900 before a James Braid redesign in 1924. At just over 6200 yards, this is one of those courses that will make you appreciate links golf in Scotland with cattle and sheep roaming freely around the property. The course is a typical links routing with the front 9 going out and the back 9 coming back to the clubhouse. The defense of the course is the wind (naturally), but the greens are relatively small with pot bunkers standing guard to catch errant approach shots.
How to incorporate Brora in a golf trip:
Stay: Royal Golf Hotel, Dornoch
Play: Brora, Royal Dornoch – Struie & Championship
Additional Courses: Golspie, Tain
Staying in the Scottish Highlands, the last Scotland links gem on the list is just outside of Inverness at The Nairn Golf Club. The narrow fairways are fast and firm leading to decent sized, tricky greens that roll true, but are guarded by devious pot bunkers. The first seven holes play right along the water and with not a ton of elevation changes, spectacular views across the Moray Firth can be seen throughout the course. With fantastic course conditions throughout the season, this fantastic links is an absolute must-play when visiting the Highlands.
How to incorporate Nairn in a golf trip:
Stay: Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
Play: Nairn, Castle Stuart (Cabot Highlands), Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Additional Courses: Nairn Dunbar, Moray
Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR highly recommends you start planning your trip across the pond AT LEAST 12-18 months in advance in order to secure tee times and hotel rooms over the dates you desire. With more and more people taking up the game of golf, these bucket list trips have already become extremely popular and will continue to gain interest so make sure to start planning early!
RELATED: Open Championship courses you can play (and when the best time to book is)
Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission.
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jim
Mar 20, 2014 at 11:18 pm
I have and old KZG 5 wood that I hit so nice that I can’t believe it. It has a wizard shaft (dark green) and I’ve been trying to find a 7-9-3 wood like it. It says Osborne Presission Golf on the shaft. power maraging-on the bottom of the head–can anyone tell me where I can find some more of these clubs–[email protected]
Burton R. Smith
Sep 20, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Once upon a time I had a photo of a RH KZG forged 5 iron, and a LH KZG forged 5 iron. There was no comparison. The RH iron looked great, but the LH one….not so much. Different numbers of scoring lines, and face profiles made a disappointing impression.
No LH ZOs either.
I do not know what KZG model irons Phil Mickelson used, but am pretty sure it wasn’t the LH model I compared that day.
SliceAddict
Feb 6, 2012 at 8:26 am
Like many of you, this strikes me as an “ad”, nothing more or less. This is not informational, but is designed to sell us on these clubs. Please label it as an “ad”.
Ron
Jan 5, 2012 at 11:50 am
I bought my first set of KZG Forged yesterday with Custom shafts and fitting. Right from the first club hit I was in shock. The feel and playability were absolutely amazing. You have a lifer here.
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Jeff
Oct 14, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I too feel they have some of the best forgings. I played mp32 for a few yrs then mp60’s and then tried these KZG evo tours. I must say they are soft like butter with a feel hard to describe. I was a 2.8 index now I am at 1.5. I even have a set of the j36 Bridgestones and they do not have the feel these do. Try them and see for yourself. I have had guys say what are those K-Mart clubs. I laugh and take there money at the 19th hole.
Mike Kamei
Aug 13, 2009 at 9:39 pm
If you haven’t hit forged irons, you haven’t played the best feeling clubs, and KZG has it! You owe it to yourself to try them, I have my whole bag KZG from Driver, three- wood, forged irons, wedges and putter. They are all great feeling clubs, my putter is probably my best feeling club in the bag and has made so much difference. I have a great club-fitter in Hawaii, Jim Cosper (Precision Golf of Hawaii) he has worked with me and fitted all my clubs. I refer all my friends to him because of his professionlism, workmanship and friendliness. I was referred to Jim by a good friend of mine, Head Professional at Barbers Point GC (HI) Don Wilburn (Senior Long Drive Champion/ Hawaii regional) who happens to play with KZG’s himself. I now understand what forged irons are and to be fitted by a professional club-fitter, I am a happy camper! Thank You
Randy Loyd
Mar 30, 2009 at 4:07 pm
KZG believer. I was going to get a new set of irons. I had used the Titleist DII irons for years and thought it was time to get new ones. I was chking out the Nike and Titleist when a club fitter asked me if I’d ever heard of KZG’s. I said “A What?” He went on to tell me that the Manufacturer made clubs for the amateurs like the Pro Lines made for the big boys. I asked if he had a set to hit and of course he did not. Only made for the individual. I like to stay with a popular brand name, because If Tiger or Phil hits them then I have to. Well, I went home that afternoon and played and I realized that I never looked to see what “brandname” I was selecting but I was selecting an iron to hit the shot needed. Just the number of the iron was important. So, I went back and asked “will these clubs really help me?” Answer he said, YES. He even guaranteed me my money back if I didn’t improve right away. Long story short…I was a 11.7 handicap. I bought the KZGs and I started shooting in the 70s immediately. I kid you not! I was so excited and my buddies started complaining. I shot in the 70s more times in one season than my whole career. That was 2 1/2 seasons ago. I go to the course expecting to shoot in the 70s everytime now. I am 57 yrs old and now a 5.2 handicap. The best I’ve ever been. I hope to be a 3 at the end of this yr. (my goal) It made such a difference I could not believe it. Don’t get caught up in a brand name. I did that for yrs and never improved that much. I talked my brother in law into a set and he is now shooting btr scores. Try it and I’ll bet you are shooting better scores immediately. They’ll fit you and nobody else. Someone else tries to hit them and they will get no results. This is not a commercial…I’m living it and loving it..
Bud Streeter
Feb 9, 2009 at 11:34 am
Your interview with Dr. King was very enlightening. I had the good fortunate several months ago to hit a fellow golfer’s KZG driver (I assured him that I wouldn’t buy one and play against him for money)! Just got a KZG GF driver with the two weight ports….the difference between my OEM driver and this baby is a challenge to put into words. Yesterday, I crumbled and bought the KZG 3+ fairway wood. These products have taken my game to a much higher level. Don’t be fooled by Golf Digest and some of the other “in it for the money” rags……KZG is the best. If anyone, including KZG, is looking for an outstanding putter try the Reeso putter! Since I put it in my bag three years ago I have never had more than 31 putts in a round.
Ted C
Nov 30, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I have been playing KZG’s for about two years. I started with the irons and now have a full bag. I currently carry a high 3 handicap. My teacher made various models and let me pick based on feel. He built everyone one of the clubs in my bag. I have a Gemini II driver/three wood and KZG blades. The blades have Rifle shafts. I used to swear by Vokey wedges, but I switched to the KZG’s. They aren’t nearly as heavy and that has helped my short game.
I don’t know what the heck makes a good club. I have played Square Two, Titleist and Mizuno irons; Callaway, Ping and Titleist woods/drivers. The KZG’s play as well as any club I have ever held. Can anyone tell me how to determine the quality of a club and how it effect’s ones’ game.
I am frustrated it is not easier to find a trained club fitter. I do know this, a qualified fitter is going to give you a much better product than one that comes out of a factory.
My teacher has moved on. I have no idea what I am gonna do when I need new clubs. My PW is really starting to show it’s age. I really wish I had someone to guide me.
James
Nov 30, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I tested about 10 different wedges over this weekend – and it was the kzg that felt the best. I’d never heard of them before I went in and the pro wasnt trying to push any of them – they were the softest along with miura and scratch but had slighty less spin and felt a little heavier and ok they were a much “fairer” price (ie. the Mrs wouldnt kill me!
If you can find somewhere to try and hit them then you’ll be converted – trust me!
Rob McKay
Jul 26, 2008 at 7:25 am
I will NEVER buy off the shelf clubs again – I had a set of G2 Pings – couldn’t believe how out of wack they were when my club fitter measured them. Not to mention my wood with regular shalf which was in fact extra stiff!
I had a total refit – spent 3 weeks with demo 6 iron and wood and then went back into the lab for another fitting session – I now have a full set of HB KZG irons and GF 460 wood – shot 78 last week off an 11 handicap (in winter). Why would you get an “off the rack” set of clubs when for around the same price you can get clubs custom made for your game!
I recommend KZG to everybody.
Bob Pegram
May 31, 2008 at 2:15 am
I use the precursor irons to the zero offsets. They are identical other than the name stampings. In 1994 Roger Dunn, a big golf retailer in California had them made for his staff. I was fortunate to be able to buy a set a year later. The next year they quit making them and sold the Bullet name which ended up being owned by Northwestern Golf. They were never made again – until KZG started using the head. They are the best irons I have ever hit. I can shape my shots and the comments about the tight shot dispersion are true. All of the Northwestern clubs are beautiful and show great workmanship which explains the results people get with them.
I had heard through the grapevine about Phil Mickelson using their clubs. It doesn’t surprise me.
greg beaugez
Mar 30, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I have played the KZG forged cavity backs for about 3 yrs now. I was intrtoduced to them by a local club fitter here in Ft Myers. I’ve have played or at least hit every OEM forging that I can get my hands on attempting to find one of the big boy forgings that compares. Mizuno is the only thing I have found that is even close. If you have not tried these irons, then any criticism of the above article is ridiculous. They are simply as good if not better than anything else out there for less money. Anyone that evaluates these with an open mind without regard for the name on the bottom of the clubhead will easily draw the same conclusion. These things are really good!
Ray
Feb 7, 2008 at 7:18 am
I am now playing with a gemini driver and 3 and 5 woods along with a 3 and 4 hybred and 5 thru pitching wedge – all from KZG. I play to a 7 handicap and play 3 to 4 times a week. By far the best clubs i have ever owned. All fitted by Kirby Bolen in Cincinnatti. I am now about to buy the RSS wedges. Cannot tell you how these clubs have changed my game. I now have so much confidence when i draw the club back that it will go where i want and how i want it to get there. The irons are incredible. I recommend them to all my friends and one fellow that just bought a Gemini driver has increased his distance almost 30 yards and his control is so much better now. If you can’t play better with these clubs you need to give up golf and take up fishing.
If you are anywhere close to Cincinnatti call Kirby – you won’t be disappointed. To my knowledge he only uses KZG products or at least they are the only clubs he recommends.
The one thing i would like to know is when you are coming out with putters?
Ken
Jan 15, 2008 at 8:46 am
I think the Gemini 460 I have is the best driver I´ve ever had. I´ve also looked at KZG irons but I´m really hesitating to buy/pay as much for a set with – I must say – such poor looks/finish on the clubface (hitting area). Everything else is up to (or under) par but (I´m sedsish so I don´t know the word for the method used to treat the clubface. However I play Hogan´s now and they look a lot of $ better there. Hogan, Titleist, TM, Mizuno etc. forgings all have similar finish on the clubface. So, why don´t KZG, if they want to be as good, better or the best??
Chris
Oct 6, 2007 at 4:35 pm
To Ty C, Moveable weights were not Taylor Made’s idea, the R7 came 3 years after. Everyone offers a moveable weight driver. So who stole who’s idea…we’ll never know for sure
Lets not kid ourselves, Money drives the equipment choice of pros on all the tours. Phil switched to Callaway ’cause of a huge gambling debt that he needed to pay off and they picked up the tab. Big John will play with anybody’s clubs if they pay him. Even Tiger switched to Nike over $
Golfsmith used to pay Scott Verplank to play but shortly after he won the Canadian open (with golfsmith forged irons), he wanted too much money, got a better offer, so they dropped him. Bruce Leitzke used Golfsmith products until he too got a better offer.
In an attempt to get customers over the shock of the ugliest club ever to hit the market, The callaway Ft was awarded the “best looking” driver for 2007!! That square piece of junk looks like the fender off of one of Tiger’s Buicks. Someone had to pay off the judge on that decision.
Most amateur golfers are suckers for advertising in the quest for a better game and the OEM’s abuse this fact, but if we knew more about the equipment the pros actually use we’d be quite surprised. Sure Tiger hits a Nike SQ, but it’s been shafted with a Mitsubishi Diamana Blue shaft and they dont pay him a dime. That’s one of a zillion examples. Dont be fooled by the logo on anyone’s hat.
Most pro’s on all tours will sneak clubs of any brand into their bag and KZG’s are in plenty of golf pro bags in one form or another.
At the time of his death, Payne was playing with clubs built for him by Tom Wishon (TWG Golf, former head designer of Golfsmith).
Those of you out there who’ve never been fitted for clubs don’t know what you are missing, and KZG’s are the best forgings in the world as awarded by Golf test USA, the ING Indusrty awards, and Rankmark reviews, all independent reviewers.
I am a professional Class “A” clubmaker and can tell you that some of the worst clubs to come across my bench are bearing the big OEM names. Thousand dollar iron sets that have inconsistant lofts, lies and swingweights are a dime a dozen.
Good on ya Jennifer, save your money and let the clubs do the work!
Mel
Feb 27, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Hi, this is probably a really old posting but I feel a need to put in my two cents. My friends and I have played every single club out there, from Titleist AP2, 695cb, 755 Mizuno MP32,30,60,67, Honma Beres, Yamaha Inpres etc etc and the KZGs (with the exception of the PFT or what ever that was) are deemed to be incredible irons. I’ve owned 3 sets and just sold my AP2 710 to play my Forged Blades. Super soft and some what forgiving for a blade. Also I would like to point out that golf ideas come and go. Taylormade didn’t invent the moveable weight thing, other companies did that before TM came into being. I bought some 70-90s golf mags from my Value Village and they had wood heads with moveable weights, offset and open closed faces and also adjustable swingweights (using coins) Pinseeker had the springface concept and Wilson had the slot behind the face of their irons way back in the day when THEY were the big guy (have a set of 1978 Tour Grinds and a set of 89 Goosenecks). Any way, golf is marketing and I’ll admit that some of the stuff is great for performance (460cc heads, graphite shafts, hot faces, improved sole grinds YES! Fancy colours, nice but pure marketing) Nikes new Convent? Other than the adjustable head, the rest of the concept looks like the Integra Flying V. Thanks, hope somebody reads this.
Topspin
Sep 12, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I thought GolfWrx was strictly OEM. If you are now supporting “component companies” lets hear from some of the other great companies out there – Infiniti, Wishon, Alpha, Bang…..If only ONE of these articles is posted – it does look suspiciously like a phony “blog”
M. Page
Sep 12, 2007 at 1:34 am
I wish this interview would have focused more on the forged irons instead of woods. If you haven’t hit KZG forgings, I put KZG up there with Miura in terms of feel (feel is different than miura, but wouldn’t say better or worse), followed closely by Mizuno, and then a big gap to the other forged clubs put out by OEMs. Can’t say anything about their woods, so I can understand some of the criticism of the article, but I do think KZG should be proud of their irons.
Ty C.
Sep 11, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Wow, I like how KZG says that some of these cheap companies steal ideas, but the new KZG Driver has four removable weights…sound like the R7?…..
M.Smith
Sep 11, 2007 at 11:39 am
Sounds Like a KZG has found a place to advertise here!!!!!! I agree with the marketing $ being a big part of OEM’s but if there product was that awesome all the tour players would be on it. After all at the Tour level $ is not everything, winning is more important to most of the players.
P Matle
Sep 6, 2007 at 2:19 am
This is nothing more than a fluff piece. “We found that our product is the best…and the 2nd best is Titleist.” OHHHHHH! PLEEEEEEEASE!
K Vakamudi
Sep 5, 2007 at 10:17 pm
How does this article differ from any of the other OEM interviews GolfWRX has done? Talk with ANY OEM representative and they’re going to present things to place their company in the best light possible – you are free to take the information in whatever light you will.
However, The stance KZG has taken is no different from others who don’t have the limitless budgets of the large OEM’s. Just because their business model and advertising strategy may not appear valid to you, doesn’t mean it can’t be successful.
J. D. Edwards
Sep 5, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I read through this “article” twice. Call me cynical, but it sounds a heck of a lot less like an “interview” and more like a carefully crafted “advertisement.”
Players want results. If KZG was as highly regarded as the article would like for us to believe, we would see more players using the clubs, professionally fitted or not. Ms. King’s rationale for not advertising makes little sense in any of the permutations described. Up and coming players on any of the lesser tours would leap at an equipment contract, even if it meant getting clubs only. Why not an infomercial on the Golf Channel?
For every golfer that studies Golf Digest, Golf Week, Golf, Golf for Women or any of the other specialty equipment magazines; for every one who grills his or her club pro; for every one who is looking for that extra edge or the next big thing, surely someone — especially in the equipment- (some would say “gimmick-“) happy world that is golf — would have something good to say about these clubs even if the major mags didn’t try to sell KZG ad space. And certainly not as quid pro quo for trashing Orlimar and Knight Golf.
There is a kind of “sour grapes” attitude pervasive in this story that just doesn’t read right. If I was considering a lesser known brand like KZG for a new set of clubs, this piece would send me right back into the arms of the “big boys.”
Rich Hetzel
Sep 2, 2007 at 6:48 am
Dear Ken,
My intention for this interview was aimed more at why KZG does NOT advertise….Try golftestusa.com for info on the Gemini or the driver review section on golfwrx.com. For the ZO blades you can visit the KZG website or even look in the club review section on golfwrx.com
Ken Bullivant
Sep 1, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Please supply information on KZG Gemini Driver and ZO Irons please