Equipment

10 awesome photos from Bettinardi’s Summer Social

Published

9 years ago

Jun 15, 2015

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

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

12 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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