Equipment

8 Revealing Photos from the 2016 Bettinardi Summer Social

Published

10 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.

Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover

Published

3 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules

Whats in the Bag

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Equipment

Game improvement iron as a driving iron? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

5 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user is sharing details of a recent round in which his playing partner was gaming an…unconventional driving iron.

@AbSWFPGA explained:

“Played with a kid the other day who was a good player and he used a TaylorMade qi max hl 4 iron as a driving iron. He hit it off a lot of tees and it was pretty money. I looked up the 4 iron in that set and it’s 18.5 degrees so that would make for a good driving iron in terms of loft. Has anyone done this and could share some feedback? Thanks”

Our members have been sharing their own perspectives and experiences with unique driving irons in the forum.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

Dave33: “I just got a new set of irons, Ping I540’s, and the 4 iron is 19 degrees. That’s basically as strong as the 2 iron in my 30 yr old custom set its replacing and I used to hit that 2 iron off the tee all the time. The I540 4 iron off the tee is an awesome club. ”
Santiago Golf: “I have tried this a few times and they always went too high … Never really the stinger height I was looking for. I got a IDEA Pro style hybrid and it was the perfect mid launching club I was looking for.”
DircaDelta: “I basically do this with a JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro 4iron (19 degrees). I tried a few driving irons but honestly this probably fits me best due to the shorter length, but it’s still hot and still has a wide sole which is nice. Great off the tee, turf, and punchy shots to lay-up on par 5s or get out of trouble. It has the same shaft as my irons (Modus 120X) so I could probably get more out of it from a different shaft, but it fits what I need in terms of gapping from my 5 iron (JPX Forged) and gapping and launch from my short 5 wood. I think it’s a good (and often cheaper) route so long as you can find one that suits your eye and gapping needs. I don’t like offset so the HMP’s help in the optics department over a “more typical” game improvement iron.”

Entire Thread: “Game Improvement Iron as a Driving Iron?”

If you’re not already a member, join is in the GolfWRX forums today!