|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
I was thinking of an idea for this commentary, and I remembered one of the reasons I think Scotty Cameron and I connected over 10 years ago while we talked at the PGA Show: we both have an appreciation for the older classic clubs. Scotty's father, who helped guide Scotty into golf as in his youth, had a love for the classics. Scotty still has some old persimmons in his studio. I started collecting classic persimmons and irons 30 years ago, and recently resumed buying an occasional persimmon or iron.
If you type in the URL, www.pimpmyputter.com, you'll get to cameron.com. That's one of the things that has separated Scotty from the rest of the pack of putter designers-he's pimped out putters-he's found a way to make them visually very stimulating. The November 28th issue of Golfweek featured an article about the death of MacGregor, detailing some of the history of the company and arguably the one person who brought them to their height of success in the 1950's: Toney Penna. Toney Penna was a tour player who because their chief designer, and basically pimped out MacGregor's club line, adding a visual appeal that really had not existed. Toney designed the famous Eye O Matic insert, he was responsible for copper faces on irons, he took very plain iron heads and added curves and low center of gravity grinds to not only improve the look but the performance of the clubs. He was Scotty, but about 50 years ahead of him.
When Penna left the MacGregor to start his own company in 1967, they entered a period of slow decline. The advent of titanium woods sped up the dying process, and the economic conditions of 2008 and 2009 finally caused the sale of the company name to Golfsmith. MacGregor also made the mistake of trying too hard to build collectable clubs in the late 1980's and early 1990's-clubs made to be collected-not played.
So, who says Scotty won't suffer the same decline, but much faster than MacGregor? I do. First of all, putters tend to have a longer life as collectables than woods and irons. Putter designs that are thought to be collectable really haven't changed in 30 years. Scotty's made them better. Secondly, the core of Scotty's business is on putters that are clearly meant to be played. While he admittedly does make putters that become wall hangers, even something like a Twisty is very functional and could be played quite successfully. Finally, Scotty's not going to do anything that sacrifices quality in his putters. Everything he sells, has to be tour proven.
I thought I'd share a few cool pictures with you. A couple are of some of my classic Penna designs. Notice the shamrock soleplate on the super eye-o-matic, the cool patriotic color scheme on the 1976 Penna Bi-centennial driver, the one-of-a-kind custom "bullet" V top insert in a fairway wood, and the VIP limited iron. Compare that "pimp" appeal to one of my cool handmades-how about a little brushed flange and a dark jewel embedded in the topline as a sitedot. Functional, but pimped out.
I hope this view of Scotty and some history on equipment gives you a better understanding of what Scotty is all about. Go get one of your sticks pimped!
Bill Vogeney
|
|
|
|
;)
;)
;)
;)