Cleveland Golf Blog

Readers,

You may remember The Ultimate Foursome Experience Sweepstakes that we ran earlier this spring.  The Sweepstakes gave away a weekend for four in San Francisco to experience the U.S. Open, as well as a round of golf at Green Hills Country Club.  This truly was the Ultimate Foursome Experience, a dream weekend that any golfer would love to be a part of.

Well, as you know, we just wrapped up U.S. Open weekend, so the winners were able to cash in with a weekend in San Francisco.  Cleveland Golf was honored to host Tony Black, Craig Black, Rob Mauro and Paul Palmer.  The foursome, who all live in New York, flew in on Friday morning and headed straight to Green Hills Country Club.  The foursome enjoyed the course thoroughly, Tony claimed “the course was immaculate!”  In addition to that, Tony (who won the actual sweepstakes) was thrilled to have his Dad along for Fathers Day weekend.  “To come to the U.S. Open is one thing, but to do it with you father…. That is special.”

Saturday meant heading out to the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club.  If you have not been to San Francisco you may not know this, but the entire city is built on a series of hills.  Needless to say, The Olympic Club is not the easiest course to navigate on foot!  It is an incredibly scenic course, however, and  every hole adds a new wrinkle of difficulty from the previous hole.

Sunday added some extra drama.  Graeme McDowell was tied for the lead heading into the final day of the Championship.  Our four winners were ecstatic to see a Cleveland Golf/Srixon Staffer atop the leader board.  Ultimately, GMac finished T2nd after a drama filled late run and a 25 footer that couldn’t find the hole on the 72nd hole.

Overall it was a great week!  We were very happy to share this experience with a great group of guys.

How did you spend your U.S. Open weekend?

Happy Memorial Day, readers!

To kick off the holiday weekend, we wanted to let you know about a couple of big changes to My Custom Wedge.
The MCW program has been a tremendous success so far, but we’re always looking for ways to improve. So, today, we’re proud to unveil some substantial improvements to the My Custom Wedge website. An updated Image Gallery gives you a better look at options for every wedge, and some cool new custom shaft options are now available, including the sleek KBS Tour Custom Series (available in Black, White and Silver).

Along with the updated website, we’re happy to introduce a new skin to our collection – Digi Camo! This Military-inspired wedge is sure to be a fan favorite this summer, so get yours quick! And, look for other special skins to be released periodically this year.

What do you think of the Digi Camo skin and the new Image Gallery?

Raise your hand if you hold a world record. Now keep your hand raised if that world record is in a game that’s centuries old and has been the livelihood of some of the most famous athletes of the last 100 years. Now keep your hand raised if you own the world record for Best Round of Golf Ever Played.

If your hand is raised, your name is Rhein Gibson, and you just shot a new World Record score of 55 on a par-71 golf course in Edmond, Oklahoma. You heard me right, a 16-under par round of 55, shot at River Oaks Golf Club, which plays 6,698 yards. Unthinkable, right? Unimaginable, you say? Nope, just a near-perfect round that featured two eagles, 12 birdies and four pars last Saturday, May 12.

Rhein took time to chat with me on the phone this afternoon from Nebraska, where he’s competing in a National Professional Tour event. Here’s what he had to say:

Cleveland Golf: First of all, congratulations on the round, what an amazing story! Before we get into round details, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Rhein Gibson: I was born in Australia and moved to the States in 2004 when I accepted an offer to play at Oklahoma Christian University. Coach (David) Lynn recruited me and I played for him all four years, graduating in 2008. Since graduation, I’ve been playing mini tours and some international tours. I played the One Asia Tour, and a bit in Australia. Right now, I’m playing the National Professional Tour.

CG: So how does it feel knowing you just set the World Record?

RG: It’s pretty surreal, to be honest with you. The first couple days it didn’t really set in at all. Today the story has gone pretty viral online and my phone has been blowing up, so it has set in a bit. But yeah, it’s just completely surreal.

CG: At what point in the round did you know you had something special?

RG: First of all, I was making every putt I looked at. I could not miss, seriously. When I made the turn at 26 I thought about it for the first time. We played the back nine first, so I made a good birdie on 18 and realized I had shot 26 and just thought ‘Wow, this is unbelievable.’ I knew I needed to make a few more birdies to get into the 50s so I just kept thinking, Don’t screw this up (laughs)! Then the fourth hole (his 13th) is a par 3, uphill. I knocked it really, really close, I thought it was in. It turns out it was 2 inches behind the hole, but still, I knew at that point I just had it going that day.

CG: What was your mindset coming down the stretch?

RG: I wasn’t really nervous to be honest. I play hole-by-hole, so I wasn’t thinking about my score too much. Then, the last two holes are both birdie holes for me, I usually score well on them. I thought if I birdied in I would shot 56, but I was actually wrong. I had miscounted my score and ended up one better than I thought.

CG: Did you make any mistakes or leave any strokes on the course?

RG: Tough to complain (laughs), but if there was one spot it was on the par-5 sixth hole. I hit a Mashie M2 off the tee and had about 220 to the hole. I had a little mud on my ball, and it went way right of where I was aimed. I thought it was out of bounds, actually. I hit a provisional. Well, turns out it was in bounds and I was able to make par. But, it was the only 5 on my scorecard, so maybe it’s a little disappointing.

CG: Tell us about the driver you had in the bag.

RG: Funny story, I had never hit a shot with that driver in my life. I had been playing the (Launcher Ultralite) TL310 and had just got the Classic 290 in the mail the day before. However, it was raining so hard the day before that I hadn’t taken it to the range, and the range was still closed in the morning when I got to the course. So it was a completely new driver to me. It’s amazing, it’s never leaving my bag! I used to say that about the TL310, also, but now the Classic is never leaving my bag!

CG: When you look back, will there be a defining moment in this round?

RG: Probably when I was in the bar after the round. I was sitting there, enjoying it, and my friend’s dad came in and announced to the whole bar and said something like ‘You just shot the best round of all time. In the history of the game, nobody has played any better.’ At that point, I was floored. It was awesome.

So, readers, there you have it. Rhein Gibson becomes the World Record holder for the lowest score ever shot.

In his bag was:

Classic Driver, 9.5* with Miyazaki Kusala Black 66 X
Launcher Ultralite FL 3W, 15*
Mashie M2
588 Forged Irons: CB 3-5, MB 6-9
588 Forged Wedges: 48*, 54* and 58*
Never Compromise Connoisseur Perfecto

I’ve been coming to Augusta National Golf Club as a Cleveland Golf/Srixon representative for seven years now. With all of the rich history and the course’s unmatched condition and beauty, Masters week is flat-out special. We are very lucky to have the opportunity to come here for a few days in April year after year.

With past champions having a lifetime invitation, our staff list for Masters week was a cool mix of Masters legends and current stars. We have five former champions playing our Srixon golf ball this week: Vijay Singh, Larry Mize, Craig Stadler, Ben Crenshaw and Sandy Lyle. We also have Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell, David Toms, and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in this prestigious field.

We were able to get a few thoughts from Crenshaw on his 41st Masters appearance:

Cleveland Golf/Srixon: Welcome back to Augusta. How does it feel to be back?

Ben Crenshaw: By virtue of the fact that I won the Masters, I always look forward to coming here in the spring. It really is different than any other tournament. You watch springtime unfold and it’s just beautiful.

CGS: The old saying is you learn something new every time you play this course. Is that still the case for you after all these years?

BC: I still do, absolutely. I’ve played this tournament over 40 times. It’s just an amazing piece of land. It has something to do with the undulation and change of elevation on the holes. You can still get fooled going uphill or downhill.

CGS: You’re regarded as one of the best putters in history. Do you change anything in your putting when you come here?

BC: Well, you still have to putt the ball. Like I said before, the greens fool you, as everyone here knows. You have to have a great respect for these greens or they’ll get you.

With our staffers spending the majority of their preparation time playing the course and practicing, there wasn’t much club work done this week. We made fresh 588 Forged Wedges for Keegan Bradley early in the week — complete with the colors of his alma mater, St. John’s University — and checked the lofts and lies on his irons. On Tuesday, we cut down David Toms’s Never Compromise Limited Dinero Tycoon putter a half-inch to allow for a little more arm hang at address. Otherwise, he’s really happy with his gear.

One of the cooler moments of the week was when Keegan had his mother, Kaye, caddy for him in the annual Par 3 contest. She was fired up and even got to hit a shot (with a Mashie hybrid, I might add). So neat for them to be able to share that moment!

‘Til next week…

It was a busy few days for us in Orlando, Fla. While the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational was gearing up on Monday and Tuesday at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, some of the best players in the world were competing just down the road at Lake Nona Golf Club for the annual Tavistock Cup.

The Tavistock Cup is a match between four high-end private clubs in Florida and the marquee tour players that represent them. Besides featuring amazing golf, it has raised more than $7 million for charity in its brief history. Cleveland Golf/Srixon had three players in this exclusive event: Graeme McDowell, Soren Kjeldsen, and Robert Allenby. One of our tour representatives was fortunate to snag a really tough ticket and was there for the festivities. Check out some of his photos on Facebook.
Back over at Bay Hill, it was business as usual for the rest of our staff. With only two weeks remaining until the Masters, guys who know they’ll be playing at Augusta National start to think ahead just a little bit. Some will start to experiment with lower-bounce wedges for Augusta’s super tight fairways, others will have an “Augusta Driver” built that might fly a bit higher and be easier to turn right-to-left since the course calls for that shot quite often. Those little “projects” are always fun.

Bay Hill is in immaculate condition. It’s greener than I’ve ever seen it, and the thick rough will definitely play a factor. Most work this week was normal maintenance aside from some of the Augusta prep work for McDowell and Vijay Singh. GMac got off to a slow start Thursday with an even-par 72, but bounced back with a 9-under 63 Friday to put himself in the thick of the title hunt.

We have some guys really feeling good about their games at the moment, so we’re looking forward to watching some good golf this week! Next week we head West for the Shell Houston Open, the final tune-up before the Masters.

‘Til next week…

Cleveland Golf is pleased to announce the introduction of the 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge, an extension of its highly-successful 588 Forged wedge line that was released in the fall of 2011. The 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of Cleveland Golf’s original 588 wedge while offering the same technological breakthroughs featured on the 588 Forged line of wedges. It also boasts Cleveland Golf’s highly-popular Black Pearl finish, which helps reduce glare to make it easier to frame the ball at address.

Precision Forged from 1025 carbon steel, the 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge offers golfers an incredibly soft yet solid feel, as well as the highest level of manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. The 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge’s Tour Zip Grooves and Laser Milled technology help to maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. The 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge comes with a Tour Concept Wedge steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.

“Our latest introduction of the 588 Forged line of wedges has been a huge success for us,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland Golf/Srixon – U.S.A. “With Black Pearl historically being our most popular finish in past wedge lines, we’re really excited to bring the unique look and performance of the 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge to golfers.”

To learn more about the 588 Forged Black Pearl, click here.  To shop for the 588 Forged Black Pearl, click here.

What do you think of the new 588 Forged Black Pearl wedge?  Will you be putting one in your bag?

George McNeill only needed to make par on the 72nd hole to secure a win at the 2012 Puerto Rico Open over the weekend, but instead decided to add some style points with a closing birdie en route to his second-career PGA Tour victory. McNeill, who finished the day with three consecutive birdies, won the tournament with rounds of 66-70-67-69 for a four-day score of -18, 272.

McNeill, who won previously at the 2007 Frys.com Open during his rookie year, was the 54-hole leader at Trump International Golf Club in Puerto Rico but still needed to make a Sunday charge since the leaderboard was filled with low scores.

“I was really nervous, but I knew what I had to do, and basically I just had to bear down and get it done,” said McNeill, a 36-year-old Florida State alum. “If not, then somebody else was going to win. I was trying to basically have control of myself, and that’s all I was looking for.”

He earned $630,000 for the triumph, along with 250 FedEx Cup points.

McNeill’s story really is that of a journeyman. He turned professional in 1998 and tried to make a name for himself on the Nationwide Tour and mini-tours. After a few years with varying results, McNeill gave up playing competitive golf completely and returned to Florida to work as a teaching professional. After nine months of working at two different golf courses, McNeill had had enough and made the decision to get back to what he loved – playing golf at the highest level.

In 145 career PGA Tour starts, McNeill now has two wins, six runner-ups and two playoff losses. He’s learned a lot since his first victory.

“I think I was a little dumb, for lack of a better word, in 2007,” McNeill said. “I really didn’t know any better.

“It’s not easy to be the best even if it’s only for one week, and that’s why it’s tough. And you got to take in golf what you can and move on.”

In his bag this week was:

Driver: Launcher Ultralite TL310, 9.5*

Irons: 588 Forged MB, 3-PW

Wedges: 588 Forged 54* & 60*

Ball: Srixon Z-STAR XV

We love these multiple-event weeks on the PGA Tour. It’s an opportunity for some Cleveland Golf/Srixon staffers to compete against the very best at Doral, while others can earn some valuable World Ranking and FedEx Cup points in Puerto Rico.

World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship

This event, reserved for 75 of the best players in the world, takes place at the famous Doral Resort in Miami, Fla. The resort was recently purchased by real estate mogul Donald Trump, who showed up on site this week.
They don’t call this course the Blue Monster for nothing. Weather is almost always a factor at this lengthy, bunker-laden track, and winds have been gusting all week – sometimes up to 30mph. With weather like this, our staffers spent most of their time dialing in their short games and putting, since it’s hard to get much out of full-swing practice in these conditions. As is usually the case at these top-tier events, equipment work was relegated to the normal maintenance of lofts and lies and a few re-grips – this way, players can focus more on practice instead of club-building.

These WGC events also allow us to see some of our European staffers we don’t normally have much time with in the States. This week, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is back in the U.S. after he was in Arizona a few weeks ago for the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Gonzo, as he is called, is a terrific talent and really interesting guy. We always enjoy our time with him and hope he continues to climb the Official World Golf Rankings so everyone will have the opportunity to see more of him (he’s currently 50th).

Check out some photos of Gonzo here.

Puerto Rico Open

As mentioned before, this event is a great opportunity for our staffers to make a big move up the money list. Every dollar is important as players try to position themselves before the next reshuffle. We have some players in the field that have gotten off to solid starts this season and want to continue that momentum, and others that really need to ignite their year.

No real club work is done down in Puerto Rico, since logistically it can’t really happen. However, we did have to tackle one equipment emergency.

At least a few times a year, an airline baggage handler will manage to take out some aggression on one of our staffers’ travel bags – leaving us to put the pieces back together. This week, Ted Potter, Jr. was the unlucky victim. The airline broke his Launcher Ultralite TL310 driver, but we were able to send him a replacement the next day from our tour department in Huntington Beach.

There are always some cool stories that come out of Monday Qualifying for PGA Tour events. This week, two of our CG/Srixon tour players – developmental staffer Derek Tolan and Nationwide Tour member Andy Matthews – both played their way into the field. We certainly wish them the best this week as they look to make their stamp on the PGA Tour.

Next week we are off to the iconic Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

‘Til next week…

This week we’re at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the beginning of the PGA Tour’s Florida swing. Many of the world’s best players are in the Honda Classic field, and whenever they show up, it creates a special environment.

The story this week is really about holes 15-17 at PGA National, affectionately known as “The Bear Trap” after course designer Jack Nicklaus. This is certainly one of, if not the most difficult trio of holes on any course all year. It was really fun listening to Cleveland Golf/Srixon staffers discuss their various plans of attack for that stretch. Be sure to watch how they perform there, as the holes will get a ton of television coverage (look for our new commercials on both NBC and Golf Channel).

This week is a home game for some of our staffers, such as Keegan Bradley and Robert Allenby, who live in nearby Jupiter and West Palm Beach, respectively. It makes for a fun week for them since they get to hang out with all of their family and friends.

Equipment-wise, we couldn’t be more excited about the start to our year. The Classic driver has been adopted more quickly by our PGA Tour players than any other driver I can remember. It’s received a great deal of attention for its good looks, but it performs as well as anything I have seen. The overwhelming majority of Cleveland wedges in bags now are the new 588 Forged. The most common comment has been, “They just feel better than everything else.” That feel combined with the classic 588 shape has made them a home run on Tour to this point. We’re having more fun working with this current product line than any I can remember.

Check out a quick gallery of pictures from this week’s Honda Classic.

Final Notes:

Again, be sure to tune in to this week’s coverage. Check out our staffers playing this week and our new commercials that will be airing over this weekend.

Also, there is a nice article in this week’s Golf World about Jason Kokrak, his prodigious length, and his Classic driver. It’s a great read. Jason put a Miyazaki Kusala Black 83X shaft in his 15-degree Launcher FL fairway wood this week, and it will be interesting to see how it performs for the bomber.

Srixon staffer Robert Allenby is coming off of a tough finish at last week’s Mayakoba Classic in Mexico, losing in an eight-hole playoff. Allenby is in good spirits this week, and at No. 60 in the Official World Golf Rankings, he’s looking to contend more on the Florida Swing so he can crack the top 50 and earn an invite to the Masters in April.

‘Til next week…

Readers,

We continue our blog series on the 588 Forged Wedge with a closer look at the shaft that makes it all possible.  The Tour Concept Shaft, co-designed and engineered with True Temper is known around the office as “the shaft with more spin.”  True Temper is the industry leader in steel shafts, so co-engineering a shaft with them was a no-brainer for Cleveland Golf, and putting it in our industry leading wedges was another no-brainer.  The Tour Concept Shaft sets itself apart from the competition for a variety of reasons:

A Unique Stiffness Profile:

The Tour Concept has been designed with a less active shaft tip and a higher kick-point than a traditional wedge shaft.  This stiffness profile decreases the launch angle for more control and increased spin from all yardages.

Steeper Attack Angle:

The advanced construction of the Tour Concept encourages a slightly steeper angle of attack into the ball.  This also enhances spin and stopping power on the green.

Tour-Proven Performance:

True Temper has been the No. 1 steel shaft on the PGA Tour for more than 70 years.  Professionals rely upon the high quality and consistent feel that have made the brand a staple for players of all skill levels.  Quality and feel are also at the core of the Tour Concept.

Variable Wall Thickness:

Variable Wall Thickness is unique from True Temper.  With this technology, it allows the shaft’s wall to vary in thickness (as the name would suggest) throughout the shaft.  The exterior of the shaft will look normal, but the inside walls of the shaft will vary to allow for a stiffer tip, while maintaining feel.

Along with the Tour Concept Shaft, we are now offering Collegiate Shafts.  Chose from over 50 of your favorite colleges, and show off your team spirit no matter where you play golf!