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Nestled away off of the North Carolina is an enchanting little place. An island. An island so small and so pristine that the only mode of transportation is by golf cart. A place not too far away from where you live and a place where you can truly live the “island lifestyle”. That island is none other than Bald Head Island.

One of the island’s inhabitants is Claude Pope III who is the owner of golf and coastal lifestyle brand Bald Head Blues. Bald Head Island, NC is where the Pope family has called home for the last 25 years. Bald Head Island is a place where the sea meets sand and where nature and having a sense of casual reign supreme.

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Claude Pope III and the writer. I just happened to be wearing the Clubhouse Quarter Zip Pullover on the final day of the 2019 PGA Show.

Apparel from Bald Head Blues has a motto that they try to live by and strive for. Bald Head Blues (BHB) wants everyone to know that their clothing is “Clothing for Coasting” because it’s just a way of life to coast around on a golf cart. Maybe you’re headed to the beach for a picnic, heading to the surf to do some fly fishing or speaking of surf… Maybe you’ve strapped your surfboard to the top of your golf cart to transport it to the beach to “Hang 10”. This is Bald Head Island and what Bald Head Blues is all about.

Bald Head Blues offers a full range of clothing that covers everything from swimwear, button-down shirts, bottoms, layering pieces, t-shirts, caps, women’s wear, accessories, and even dog collars. This is clothing that when you look at the pics on their website they just look “comfy”. Looking at the colorways it’s also hard not to envision their pieces being by the ocean or a lake. With scintillating pastels (Coral) and dark blues amongst the options.

Through conversations with Vanessa Price of marketing firm Read The Greens I received the opportunity to test and review one of their pieces. After all, I’ve always felt that I belonged on the water and in a life full of stress and worry maybe some “Clothing for Coasting” would be an elixir of sorts. At the time I had shared a few press releases regarding Bald Head Blues and one of the releases was about a layering piece called the Clubhouse Quarter Zip.

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The Clubhouse Quarter Zip is a lightweight, ultra soft 100% Pima cotton pullover. Other features include…

  • front pockets for versatile storage on or off the course
  • an embroidered logo featuring their trademarked surfboard on a golf cart
  • leather zipper pull

The Clubhouse Quarter Zip is designed to be worn anywhere and it travels really well. Are you spending a day on the boat cruising around? It’s perfect for that. A chilly day on the golf course? Slide on this piece. You can wear it anywhere. The Clubhouse Quarter Zip pullover also fits true to size and features some stretch for maximizing your comfort.

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When I received my Clubhouse Quarter Zip pullover for review and opened it I was impressed. right away, I thought that the shade of blue that I asked for was nicer than the pictures on the press release showed. The blue is… vivid maybe? All that I know is that the shade of blue captures the eyes and if I may be so bold… it matches my eye color. I know… Pretty vain right?! I loved the contrasting color of the embroidered “golf cart and board” as they went with coral threadwork here. Again, even though the fabric itself is eye-pleasing and speaks for itself regarding the piece the contrasting pop just adds to the overall flavor of the pullover. Which reminds me… The leather zipper pull is just small attention to detail that further cements the overall aesthetics that make the Clubhouse Quarter Zip pullover a real eye-catcher.

A very good first impression and at this point, I haven’t removed the article of clothing from its plastic. That said, this piece has an amazing hand of fabric. It’s light and soft and quite frankly felt really good in my fingers as I further examined the piece now out of its plastic cocoon. The stitching is of the highest quality and getting back to the feel of the fabric. I immediately put it on after the unwrapping and the first thought that I had was that it felt like I was wearing a soft robe. The sizing I might have screwed up on. I found that it fit big and the shoulder seams didn’t line up accordingly. I likely should have gone with a medium but I thought that I was heavier/bigger than I am. I never really picture me as a size medium when I’ve been XL-XXL for a long time. The sizing choice was definitely my fault and no fault of BHB. 

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Performance. I’ve worn this sweater often and for many purposes. While I haven’t worn it to a beach yet or boating for that matter I have worn the Clubhouse Quarter Zip pullover where it matters most for this testing and review. While golfing. Through several dome sessions or in the backyard the fabric moves well with the body. There definitely is a “bit of stretch” as their literature on the website states. Quite honestly, I felt like I wasn’t wearing a sweater and I loathe wearing jackets and sweaters to play golf.

 

Conclusion

Bald Head Blues won my Top Apparel Teezy Award from the 2019 PGA Show (PGA Merchandise Show). It won the award for several reasons. It has a great back story on why the company is what it is. The comfort level and hand of the fabric is impossible to deny. They pay attention to the small things and when a couple of small things are added up it turns into a big thing. The colors are terrific and this goes for their entire product range. But in one area BHB and this Clubhouse Quarter Zip pullover were able to do one thing in particular during this testing and review period that I’ve never experienced in any apparel that I’ve tested, reviewed or simply worn.

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Bald Head Blues seemingly was able to transport me to the coast, the beach or island. They are “Clothing for Coasting”.

Until The Next Tee!!

#FightAndGrind #SeeUOnTheNextTee

 

 

 

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CAMARILLO, CA, March 19, 2019 – Sacks Parente Golf Company, builders of exceptional putters that defy convention, announces that Angelo Papadourakis has joined the company as Executive Vice President of Sales & Distribution. In his new role, Papadourakis will develop and manage all sales and distribution operations for Sacks Parente.

Papadourakis is a Founder of tech start-up New Spin Golf, the creators of the Swing Smart Swing Analyzer, which was developed to provide instantaneous, accurate, and important swing feedback to allow a golfer to learn about all aspects of their golf game. He has brought his golf industry and technology experience to the Sacks Parente Golf Company where he is building out the sales staff and distributor partners worldwide. He is also working with his team to establish Sacks Parente as the top premium performance putter on the PGA Tour and all other tours worldwide.

A former attorney, Papadourakis specialized in litigation and criminal defense and later transitioned from practicing law to trading stock index futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) where he designed algorithmic arbitrage trading systems for Nikkei 225 futures. He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University.

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Sacks Parente Series 39 Blade at the 2019 PGA Show Demo Day

“I’m thrilled to join the Sacks Parente team,” said Papadourakis. “I was first introduced to the putters by co-founder, Steve Sacks, and was instantly impressed. I’m a passionate golfer who appreciates technology and I believe Sacks Parente is leading the way in design, craftsmanship, and technological advancements. The pure technology that these putters represent is bringing performance to a level that is unmatched in the industry.”

“Angelo’s leadership skills, knowledge of the golf industry, and reputation for developing and maintaining outstanding client relationships make him an incredibly valuable asset to our team,” said Tim Triplett, CEO of Sacks Parente Golf. “We could not be more excited to bring him on board as we continue to expand to meet the needs of our growing business.”

All Sacks Parente putter designs feature the company’s patented Ultra-Low Balance Point (ULBP) technology that lowers the balance point along the shaft between the sole and a point not more than 5 inches above the sole, causing the putter head to square and release at impact, delivering exceptional rollout and accuracy. In addition, all Sacks Parente putters maximize MOI by combining the use of ultra-lightweight alloys and high-density tungsten, to significantly move more weight from the center of the putter to the heel and toe. The company has numerous patents and patents pending in regard to the science associated with these exceptional putters, which are available in both Player and Tour Models.

For more information, visit www.sacksparente.com.

 

 

About Sacks Parente Golf

 

Sacks Parente Golf Company was founded by Steve Sacks and Richard Parente, a legendary duo of golf professionals, who as entrepreneurs have founded, built and grown some of the best names in golf. They have advised, consulted and designed clubs for the who’s who of the industry over a combined 100+years. Sacks Parente Golf is based in Camarillo, California, in a facility that has been constructed with state-of-the-art robotics and analytic instruments to test and prove the science. The company is backed by sophisticated and strategic investors from the USA and Japan. Sacks Parente Golf is an NXV company.

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The legacy of Ben Hogan continues. Since 2015, the golfing world has seen the re-emergence of the Ben Hogan return to where it has always belonged. Up front and center in the golf equipment manufacturing business.

2015 saw the introduction of the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company and their seemingly timeless Ft. Worth irons along with their TK 15 wedge companions. In 2016, the brand brought out the equally (if not) more impressive PTX irons, Ft. Worth HI irons and the VKTR Hybrid which still remains one of the best-performing and best-looking hybrids that I ever made swings with. After a brief quiet time where I hadn’t heard anything from the brand in 2017 (upon reflection it was only a year that seemed longer), 2018 was a flurry of activity. From the introduction of high-end soft goods (backpacks, golf bags etc), their release of the Edge irons, Ft. Worth Black and Ft. Worth White irons (respectively) and ultimately the Equalizer wedges (stay tuned for a review of the latter) it set up a record-breaking year for the impressive independent company.

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Proving that 2018 was no fluke the pride of Fort Worth, Texas has now launched a range of putters. The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has now introduced the golfing world to a premium line of forged putters. Golfers have the choice of four different heads to choose from. I fact, there are three blade models with different neck options (Single Bend, Gooseneck and Plumber’s Neck) and one mallet-style. All of the putters are constructed from 1025 Carbon Steel and range in head weights from 355 grams to 370 grams (BHM01 model). The milling is exquisite and this is a term that I seem to use often when I talk about products from the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company.

I am very proud to share the release as shared below by Jared Minski from Mastro Communications. For more details on these exciting new putters from Ben Hogan Golf please see the press release below.

Until The Next Tee!!

#FightAndGrind #SeeUOnTheNextTee

 

 

Iconic Brand’s First Putter Introduction in Nearly 15 Years; Forging Process Creates Unmatched Feel and Consistency on Putter Face for Ultimate Distance Control and “Trueness” on Every Roll

 

Fort Worth, Texas – March 18, 2019 – Ben Hogan once said, “there are no shortcuts in the quest for perfection.” Today, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company, the brand founded by the legendary golfer in 1953, introduced its first putter line in nearly fifteen years with the release of a Precision Milled FORGED putter line.

The new CNC precision milled putters are crafted from soft, 1020 carbon steel in a multi-step forging process that strengthens and purifies the molecular structure of the metal. True forging refines and tightens the grain structure of the steel and provides for uniform density across the entire face.  This eliminates hot spots, or dead areas,  and results in unparalleled feel, consistent distance control and “trueness” on every roll.

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Complementing the unique design features of the new Ben Hogan Precision Milled FORGED Putters, which are available in four (4) traditional head models with clean, elegant lines, is a proprietary DBM (Diamond Black Metal) finish. The most durable black finish on the market, DBM eliminates glare and generates more contrast with the ball and putting surface to promote better alignment.  Additionally, the face of every Ben Hogan Precision Milled FORGED putter is CNC milled for perfect flatness from heel to toe.

“A 100% forged, CNC precision milled putter is not the least expensive nor the easiest way to make a putter by any means, but at Ben Hogan Golf we believe it is the best way,” said Scott White, CEO, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company. “Serious golfers demand precision and performance on the greens, and the new Ben Hogan Precision Milled Forged putters deliver.  They look great, but perform even better.  ”

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White adds, “What makes this new line even more special is our factory-direct business model, which provides golfers with an ultra-premium forged milled putter at a price far less than many mass-market investment cast putters. In fact, while many of today’s leading putter brands sell their top models at $400 or more through retail channels, we allow allows serious golfers to purchase one of our new Precision Milled FORGED putters for just $250 direct at BenHoganGolf.com.  This is unheard of given the feel, consistency and pure performance attributes of our forged putters, which are synonymous with Ben Hogan’s uncompromising standards.”

The four models in the new line of Ben Hogan Golf Precision Milled FORGED Putters include:

  • Plumber’s Neck Blade
    • 1 shaft offset, 2° loft and 355 gram head weight
    • 43° toe hang to promote an active gate-swing putting stroke
  • Player’s Blade with a double bend shaft
    • 1 full shaft offset, 2° loft  and 355 gram head weight
    • Face balanced for those who putt with a straight-back, straight-through stroke
  • Iconic Player’s Blade with a flowing neck
    • 1 shaft offset, 2° loft and 355 gram head weight
    • 50° of toe hang, ideal for an active open/close stroke
  • Player’s Mallet
    • Single bend shaft and ½ shaft offset, 2° loft and 370 gram head weight
    • Face balanced for those who putt with a straight-back, straight-through stroke

All Ben Hogan Golf equipment … every iron, wedge, hybrid and now putters … is built one-at-a-time, to a golfer’s specifications. Available in right-hand models only, the standard length for all Ben Hogan Precision Milled FORGED Putters is 35.0”, but all can be customized in lengths ranging from 33.5” to 36.5” (in half inch increments). The standard lie on all Ben Hogan Precision Milled FORGED putters is 70 degrees, but lie angles can be adjusted up to +/- 2.0 degrees flat or upright.  Additionally, Ben Hogan Golf has partnered with SuperStroke, the leading putter grip company in the world, to offer golfers a choice of three (3) popular grip styles: Flatso 1.0, MidSlim 2.0, Slim 3.0

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The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company also offers a number of consumer-centric programs, including free domestic shipping on orders over $250.00, flat-rate international shipping, a low or no-cost financing program, and no-charge customization of all clubs. And, recognizing that most golfers want to personally experience equipment before they purchase, Ben Hogan Golf offers a simple, risk-free Demo program, as well as a Trade-UP program where golfers can offset the cost of their purchase by selling used equipment back to the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company. The Company reports that over 70% of people who try Ben Hogan Golf equipment via the Demo Program end up buying equipment.

Ben Hogan Golf’s line-up of Precision Milled FORGED Putters, which sell for $250 each, are available for purchase exclusively atwww.BenHoganGolf.com. Keep up-to-date with all of the latest Ben Hogan Golf news on social media:

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About Ben Hogan Golf Equipment

The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company manufactures premium golf clubs and golf bags, and is committed to continue Ben Hogan’s reputation of innovation, performance and classical designs.  The company is based in Fort Worth, Texas, Ben Hogan’s longtime home and the site of the original Company which opened in 1953.  The Company offers their premium products online at benhogangolf.com   exclusively.  By eliminating the retail “middleman”, the Company’s cost structure is minimized and consumers are able to purchase high-quality golf equipment at factory-direct prices. © 2019 Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company, LLC.