Equipment

8 Revealing Photos from the 2016 Bettinardi Summer Social

Published

8 years ago

Jun 9, 2016

For a gear head who loves Tour, one-off and custom equipment, it’s difficult to think of a better event than Bettinardi’s yearly Summer Social, now in its 8th year. The event invites putter collectors and aficionados to browse and buy Bettinardi prototypes before they become available to the world.

This year, 35-40 guests traveled to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, to take part in the affair, where the event-goers played golf, picked the brain of Bob Bettinardi, toured the facility, Mr. Rich’s car collection, and of course, tested and purchased putters.

More than 100 putters were on display, along with staff bags, stand bags, ball marker divot tool sets, custom knives, head covers, belt buckles and more. There were also two golf simulators, an indoor putting green (rolling at 13 on the stimp meter) and a bunker/chipping green guests could practice on.

Check out some of the awesome photos from the event below. And if you’re interested in purchasing custom putters from Bettinardi, make sure to check out tourstockputters.com

Groovy, baby

While Sam Bettinardi assured us that his father, Bob Bettinardi, is “not a hippy,” this putter definitely has vibes of “love and peace” from the ’60s and ’70s. This BB Zero putter has a tie-dye PVD finish, and is milled from the company’s Double-Aged Stainless Steel (DASS).

These necks will make your head spin

This BB Zero putter ($3500) has a insert made of 0.999 pure silver, and flame “slinky” neck.

This left-handed BB Zero has a welded, flame-industrial neck, Bettinardi’s familiar skull-and-crossbones stamping and a black-oxide finish.

This “JAM” putter model, similar to the Queen B6, has a high toe and a slinky neck. It also has an aluminum, bronze and gold insert.

The wrapped hosels are what Bettinardi calls “slinky necks,” and while they don’t serve much of a purpose other than looking cool, they certainly do their jobs.

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid

A putter that Sam Bettinardi calls “maybe his favorite,” this BB Zero has a flame twisty neck and intricate face engravings of the Kool-Aid man.

The Kool-Aid man has become a popular design among Bettinardi putter collectors, engraved on putter faces, soles and collector headcovers. GolfWRXers, can you figure out the significance of the Kool-Aid man to Bettinardi putters and its collectors?

A slice of elegance

New to the collection this year, Bettinardi designed knives made from aluminum and stainless steel. What’s special about this knife is that it has glow-in-the-dark paint applied to the blade, so you can see where it is… even in the dark. They sell for $350, so it’s a good thing you won’t lose them in the night.

Kids in a candy store

I guess the comparison is unnecessary, as “putter collectors at the Bettinardi Summer Social” would have sufficed.

Ashes to ashes

Are these the coolest cigar ashtrays ever? Milled from aluminum with custom Bettinardi logos in the center, they’re difficult to argue against.

What time is it?

Time to play some golf. Guests at the event had the honor of playing a round at Rich Harvest Farm, a top-100 ranked course in America.

Builder’s bonus

Thanks to Bettinardi, bonus photos above give us a peek behind-the-scenes during the building and customization process. Incredible stuff from a leader in high-end, custom putters.

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Whats in the Bag

Michael S. Kim WITB 2024 (April)

Published

1 day ago

Apr 5, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Michael S. Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 8 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 95 X (3), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52-12F), SM10 (56-14F), WedgeWorks Proto (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

Putter: L.A.B. Link.1
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P 17

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

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Equipment

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper: Leveraging 90s nostalgia

Published

1 day ago

Apr 5, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

TaylorMade is leaning in even further to the retro vibes with the 2024 edition of its BRNR Mini Driver.

Patterned after the Carlsbad-based company’s iconic late 1990s Burner driver design, the 2024 BRNR Mini features similar copper styling and a retro version of the TaylorMade logo.

Featuring the same technology as its 2023 BRNR Mini Driver, the 2024 edition continues to play the hits that saw the unique club land in the bag of tour pros, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp.

Why play a mini driver?

In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.

Tommy Fleetwood’s endorsement of playing a mini driver

“For me, if I HAD to hit a fairway, I’m more comfortable hitting a driver than a 3-wood. I would tee the driver down, and I would hit a little cut, or a neck-y cut in the fairway. The 3-wood isn’t for that. The 3-wood, generally, is a pretty hot club that I’ll hit from 270 or 280 in the fairway on a par 5. You get some courses where a 3-wood is not always necessary. [With the BRNR] you put a normal swing on it, and I’m more comfortable hitting it straight. It’s a replacement for a 3-wood, basically.”

Pricing, specs, availability

TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper clubs will sell for $449.99 in 11.5 (RH/LH) and 13.5 (RH) degree options, and they will be available for custom orders.

See more in-hand photos and read what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/5/24): I think I ‘Blacked Out’ trying to love these irons

Published

1 day ago

Apr 5, 2024

Gianni Magliocco

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of blacked out P770 irons

From the seller: (@hammertime1515): “Just one single iron set up for grabs today. Got these right before they quote selling them at the end of February. Only played 3 full rounds with them and a couple short range sessions. 7 iron shows the most wear and 8 iron has a sandy mark on the toe (ball striking out of winter wasn’t the strong suit) Just not right for me no matter how much I wanted them to be. Price is shipped and OBO……

P770 Black Out irons. 4-PW. —New Tour Velvet Align Midsize Grips —1/2” over TM standard —2 degrees upright —Standard Lofts —Dynamic Gold 105 X100 shafts —PW has never been hit, most of them have been hit sparingly. Tried to capture the wear on the 7 iron and the toe mark on the 8 iron the best I could. Soles have virtually no scratching from use and no bag chatter. -If more pics are needed just ask ——PRICE: $1000 OBO” & Shipped

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Blacked out P770 irons

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules