Equipment

Club Champion acquires TXG

Published

2 years ago

Jan 11, 2022

Club Champion has today announced the acquisition of Canadian fitter and builder Tour Experience Golf (TXG), bringing the two most prominent custom club fitters on the continent together.

This integration marks the first time that Club Champion will bring their club fitting services beyond USA borders.

Speaking on the merge, Nick Sherburne, co-founder of Club Champion, said

“We are incredibly excited to bring Ian and his crew into the Club Champion family. We’re looking forward to bringing the best of both our capabilities together to serve every golfer.”

According to the press release, the intent behind the merger is “to further expand custom club fitting services across the Canadian golf market and to bring some crossover to the fitting content available for all golfers from both brands.”

On the acquisition, Ian Fraser, TXG’s founder, stated

“There has always been a mutual admiration between TXG and Club Champion. We share a similar belief that every golfer deserves the best possible equipment for their game, and now we get to work together to further that message.”

Club Champion currently has an in-house studio and production crew, while Fraser and his team at TXG have built a digital platform through social channels, including YouTube. TXG has amassed millions of views across the digital board, with 175K subscribers on YouTube alone at the time of publication.

Per the release, TXG’s existing content strategy will lend itself well to Club Champion’s growing presence, and both brands plan to lean on each other to produce quality content for golfers of all levels.

“We’ve got a podcast, they’ve got a podcast. They’ve got awesome video content and we’ve only just started dipping our toes into that lake. This partnership is about so much more than just the masterful club fitting and building services we both offer. It’s about bringing two of the most prominent names in the golf equipment industry together to promote the best possible clubs, the best possible experience, and the best possible service you can find this side of a Tour card.” – Adam Levy, CEO of Club Champion

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

26 Comments

Tom

Jan 13, 2022 at 12:02 pm

That sucks .. fitting off mats and hitting into a net sucks anyway!

Reply Report comment
B

Jan 13, 2022 at 11:16 am

So TXG no longer associated with True Spec who was building clubs for them

Reply Report comment
Golf Mikey

Jan 13, 2022 at 5:04 am

I wonder if the original owner of Tour Experience Golf in the UK that allegedly got “shafted” by IF some time ago is shedding any tears?

Reply Report comment
Paul Runyan

Jan 12, 2022 at 9:02 pm

All about the Benjamin’s!

I won’t be watching anything or buying anything from Club Champion.

And that fake Scottish accent! Won’t have to listen to that anymore…

Best of Luck to Matty!!

Reply Report comment
BB

Jan 12, 2022 at 11:15 am

In principal, this is like the Saudi government trying to launder their reputation by shelling out big bucks to those golfers with good reputations.

Reply Report comment
gdb99

Jan 12, 2022 at 10:07 am

I had a Club Champion fitting a year ago. I was not happy.
I was hoping to get a TXG fitting, because I think they have a different approach to the fitting process. TXG came across as listening to the player more, whether that be budget, feels, etc.
I think this merger is bad for TXG, it kind of eliminates a competitor to CC in the fitting world.

Reply Report comment
- hoganben
  
  Jun 7, 2023 at 10:02 pm
  
  why would u then go get another fitting for gosh sake? All the guys i talk to on the range who have custom fitted clubs still suck and they would still suck after another fitting.grow some cajoles and dig it out of the dirt..
  
  Reply Report comment
Vas

Jan 12, 2022 at 9:58 am

Home run for Club Champion for sure. Whatever it cost to buy an inside path into the Canadian market and bolster your horrendous reputation with TXG’s impeccable reputation was worth it.

Reply Report comment
Skip

Jan 11, 2022 at 11:32 pm

Sorry boys, but Matt’s gone and he was never a business part of the channel. Only creative and production. Likely Ian’s investors wanted out, and this was his best course of action. CC gets a smooth path to expansion into Canada

Reply Report comment
Justin

Jan 11, 2022 at 9:19 pm

This is a shame. Don’t fault Ian for cashing in, but Ian and Matt were what led to TXG’s growth and online presence. Sad it’s over.

Reply Report comment
SMU

Jan 11, 2022 at 8:47 pm

Young Matty Boy, just got a hard street lesson on Capitalism, Ownership, Equity, and Contracts, which is my specialty! Fortunately, he is young and very bright so he will only be better for it.

As far as Club Champion goes, they do NOT have a sustainable business model. For example, here in San Diego, our Del Mar Club Champion thinks because they have the component parts and can assemble your desired shaft / head combo, that they get to charge 3 X MSRP from the manufacturer. It’s utterly absurd. Use Club Champion for the value they truly offer, pay $150 to go test out shaft / head combos, and then order direct from the manufacturer and save yourself from being gouged to the tune of thousands.

Reply Report comment
SMUgamer

Jan 11, 2022 at 8:22 pm

Young Matty Boy, just got a hard street lesson on Capitalism, Ownership, Equity, and Contracts, which is my specialty! Fortunately, he is young and very bright so he will only be better for it.

As far as Club Champion goes, they do NOT have a sustainable business model. For example, here in San Diego, our Del Mar Club Champion thinks because they have the component parts and can assemble your desired shaft / head combo, that they get to charge 2 X MSRP from the manufacturer. It’s utterly absurd. Use Club Champion for the value they truly offer, pay $150 to go test out shaft / head combos, and then order direct from the manufacturer and save yourself from being gouged to the tune of thousands. Like I said, as the public becomes more educated (along with tech advancement), Club Champion will either pivot or die. Sure hope Ian checked out and documented his escape hatches (or better yet, got cash up front) if Club Champion files BK.

Reply Report comment
SMUgamer

Jan 11, 2022 at 8:12 pm

Young Matty Boy, just got a hard street lesson on Capitalism, Ownership, Equity, and Contracts, which is my specialty! Fortunately, he is young and very bright so he will only be better for it.

As far as Club Champion goes, they do NOT have a sustainable business model. For example, here in San Diego, our Del Mar Club Champion thinks because they have the component parts and can assemble your desired shaft / head combo, that they get to charge 2 X MSRP from the manufacturer. It’s utterly absurd. Use Club Champion for the value they truly offer, pay $150 to go test out shaft / head combos, and then order direct from the manufacturer and save yourself from being gouged to the tune of thousands. Like I said, as the public becomes more educated (along with tech advancement), Club Champion will either pivot or die. Sure hope Ian checked out and documented his escape hatches (or better yet, got cash up front) if Club Champion files BK.

Reply Report comment
Brandon

Jan 11, 2022 at 7:10 pm

Hope Ian got a big payday and Matt as well.

Reply Report comment
Allen Parsons

Jan 11, 2022 at 6:13 pm

Don’t you mean PXG?

Reply Report comment
- Tony Johnson
  
  Jan 11, 2022 at 6:58 pm
  
  Wow, I would have thought PXG with all it’s money from Bob Parsons wouldn’t have to sell out like this?!!!!! I was just starting to like where the company was heading, shame on you PXG, and I wish complete shame on you Ian Fraser and that weirdo Matt on youtube!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Pat Perez' bestie drumpf
  
  Jan 12, 2022 at 9:24 am
  
  Maybe read up on things before saying stupid things…
  
  Reply Report comment
Jake

Jan 11, 2022 at 3:21 pm

Club Champion obviously has some counterfeit paper behind it that keeps them alive to prey on better companies. I’ve never heard a good thing about their workmanship.

Reply Report comment
- Jack Nash
  
  Jan 12, 2022 at 12:58 pm
  
  If their paper is counterfeit then they fooled Jordan Speith as he’s signed a multi year deal with them.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ryan Mextorf

Jan 11, 2022 at 12:19 pm

Very sad to hear this news. Ian deserves all the success in the world but unfortunately it comes at the cost of losing Matty and being sold to a company that prides itself on charging customers beyond top dollar for half baked fittings. I imagine the YouTube channel will tank without Matty but club champ will get everything it wants out of this deal.

Reply Report comment
- Joey5Picks
  
  Jan 11, 2022 at 1:23 pm
  
  Who says Matty is going anywhere? Cynical speculation, or do you know something?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ryan Mextorf
    
    Jan 11, 2022 at 2:01 pm
    
    He posted on his Instagram he was stepping away from TXG.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - E
      
      Jan 11, 2022 at 3:54 pm
      
      or rather stepping away from Club Champion from the sounds of it
      
      Reply Report comment
- bossofthemoss07
  
  Jan 12, 2022 at 2:22 pm
  
  Such a shame, TXG’s channel was my favorite for golf and will definitely decline now. Mike is ok but the shows were nowhere near as good when Matt was out for a few weeks. I understand why they did it but it sucks they sold out like that
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mark
    
    Jan 17, 2022 at 9:09 am
    
    I respect Mike but he is just so annoying. Just hates on munis and is a CC snob. “I only play private clubs” He needs a good ass whooping
    
    Reply Report comment
- Justblewbyyou
  
  Jun 7, 2023 at 9:41 pm
  
  oops..somehow cli cked on report comment and it wont let me.fix it..oops
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

11 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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