Big Box In Golf In A Big Way

By ED TRAVIS  A report from Longitudes Group on the “Sporting Goods Channel” Golf Market was recently released and reveals some interesting data. For those questioning what a Sporting Goods Channel is, it is what everyday people call “big box” stores selling sports equipment from badminton to wake boarding. According to Longitudes sporting goods stores account for 17% of golf industry sales. In addition the 10 largest sporting goods chains in the U.S. have more than 2,100 retail locations, over twice the number of traditional off-course golf retailers. Coraopolis, Penn. based Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) sells to 9.8 million golfers or about 40% of all U.S. players. They also own Golf Galaxy outlets and as of last June had 523 stores. Sports Authority with 450 stores serves 43% of the U.S. total golf retail market value with its individual stores covering over $2.2 billion worth of the total golf retail market. Dick's is making up ground though narrowing a $500M gap in golf sales in 2011 to just over $200M this year. The opening of 72 new Dick’s stores in parts of the country with more playable days for golf is a prime factor. Sports Chalet has the highest number of golfers per store at 28,136 presumably due to its strength in densely-populated urban Southwest locations. Academy has the 2nd largest growth in golfers served since 2011 with a 34% increase in stores for a current total of 168 stores. It now has the ability to serve 1.6M golfers within a 15 minute trade area. The product categories with the most dollar value in sales sold in the Sporting Goods channel are golf apparel with $240M in sales followed by woods (drivers, fairways) at $193M. In one way this recitation of research data shows little that is new and merely highlights a continuation of the switch away from green grass and small off course retailers. However in terms of golf course operations it shows the further eroding of an important revenue stream, one that every golf course depends on, in some cases to merely keep the doors open and the bulldozers off the fairways.   ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated

Mizuno JPX EZ Forged Irons

By ED TRAVIS Mizuno Golf first announced new iron designs for players with handicaps up to 12 and those with handicaps up to 4 and now is showing their new JPX EZ Forged irons for the rest of us. Designed specifically for 10 and up handicappers, the new JPX are a “game improvement” design made by forging, the process usually thought of as being reserved for pure blade irons used by professionals. "During ideation, development and creation of the JPX EZ Forged iron we knew it would be in a class all by itself, which, in the golf industry, is difficult to claim and something we are extremely proud of," said Dick Lyons, Vice President and General Manager, Mizuno USA, Inc. "The distance and forgiveness screams game-improvement, but we've been able to channel those characteristics in a grain flow forged iron that'll change the way golfers look, think and feel over the golf ball. We're excited to receive consumer feedback as we believe the new EZ Forged appeals to a wide breadth of golfers." Specifically JPX EZ Forged irons offer a face with a higher coefficient of restitution, i.e., more flex and rebound at impact, for added distance. Mizuno also uses their Harmonic Impact Technology (H.I.T.) to make the frame of the back cavity stronger and that, says the company, allows them to make the face thinner and more reactive. An eight iron set (4-GW) with steel shafts carries a suggested retail price of $899.99 and with Fujikura Orochi graphite shafts $1,099.99. Street prices are $700 and $900 respectively.   ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated

Ten Rounds With The SLDR

By ED TRAVIS Taylor Made Golf’s new driver, the SLDR, has been in use on the PGA Tour and European Tour for over almost three months and in my hands for just over three weeks. On the tours several of the professionals who endorse TaylorMade like the driver and are using it consistently. My test SLDR was 9.5 degree loft with a 58-gram Fujikura Speeder 57 stiff shaft and the stock TaylorMade grip. On the swing weight scale it is a D4. In other words a stock model, one could expect to find in his local golf shop or big box sporting goods store. For comparison, up until the SLDR arrived I had been using with a RocketBallz Stage 2 (9.5 degree, Fuji Rocketfuel 50 shaft, D6) alternating with a Titleist 913 D3 model with a Aldila RIP 60 shaft even though the clubhead of the 913 is somewhat smaller than the 460cc head on the RocketBallz. My procedure for testing any new club but particularly a new driver is to take it to the course—not the range. The reason is simple. On the range conditions don’t vary particularly the wind and the landing zone is always flat which can give a false impression of both carry distance and roll. Besides, distance comparisons on the course are a lot easier than on the range. After all, drivers are about distance first and with accuracy a fairly distant second. First I went to a hole with no out of bounds, water, trees and fairway bunkers that I usually can carry and hit six balls with each driver as a warm up but also to see if there were any noticeable differences between the three. There was. Though I like the RocketBallz Stage 2 I have never been a fan of the sound at impact and that was why, at least in part, I have been switching back and forth with the Titleist. The impact sound of the SLDR was much more to my liking. Solid, is the word that comes to mind, like the sound of the door closing on my father’s ’62 Buick Roadmaster. The ball flight of the SLDR was much flatter that either the RocketBallz or 913 so on the way back to the first tee I adjusted the loft up one-half a degree to 10 degrees. This first round, on every tee I hit three balls; one each with the SLDR, the 913 and the RocketBallz. This gave me a very good distance comparison to go with what I had found in my 18 ball warm up. There was no question increasing the loft of the SLDR helped its carry distance and trajectory with total distance somewhat longer. Compared to the RocketBallz Stage 2 and the Titleist 913 D3 the distance off the SLDR was slightly better, in the range of 5-yards so I made the decision to put it in the bag for the next nine rounds for a longer evaluation. After the 10 round trial I came to two strong conclusions. I continue to like the SLDR’s sound which is definitely confidence inspiring, a really big deal for players of any skill level. The SLDR is very controllable once you have the sliding weight set in the proper position for your swing. It took me a while to get it to just the right position. However, the adjustment was much easier once I increased the loft to 10.5 degrees which of course closes the face slightly and moved the weight one position towards the toe to promote a slight fade. So the question is, is the SLDR an improvement over other TMaG drivers or simply a difference? The short answer is yes. Because of the ease and simplicity of adjustment (the sliding weight and shaft collar), the solid feel and sound (perhaps the SLDR’s best feature) and what I think (non-scientifically to be sure) is better distance; the SLDR is on that short list of really, really good drivers. ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated

TaylorMade Ghost Tour Putters

By ED TRAVIS Taylor Made Golf has released to shops the new Ghost Tour Series putters. You will have your choice of seven shapes: three blade-style putters (Daytona 12, Daytona 62 and Sebring 62) and four mallets (Maranello 81, Fontana 72, Monte Carlo 12 and Corza 72). According to Brian Bazzel, TMaG’s director of iron, wedge and putter development, “We spent a full year perfecting every detail on our Ghost Tour putters, making each one a thing of beauty, elegance and excellence. Golfers will be blown away when they set each of these putters down for the first time, and again when they experience the performance.” Each model has black ion plating on the sole and a white crown meant for contrast with green grass. Alignment lines consist of heavy black parallels perpendicular to the face on the trailing edge. The combined visual effect is very strong and creates a confidence at address that the putter is on the desired line. Taylor Made also included their 8020 PureRoll insert (80% Surlyn/20% aluminum) which is a very nice feature usually not found in putters at this price point.  Ghost Tour Series putters carry a $149 price in 33”, 34” and 35” lengths. All are in stores now except for the Corza 72 model which will be Nov.1. ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated

Major Championship at Crystal Springs - Results

   

International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) Presents

Major Championship at Crystal Springs

Hamburg, N.J.

Sunday, September 8, 201

Kim Wins First Major at Crystal Springs

Parsells Holds On in Girls Division

MCAFEE, N.J. – The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) held the first Major Event of their season the weekend of Sept. 7-8. Hosted by Crystal Springs’s Great Gorge Country Club, a field of 56 players representing six states and three countries took their best stabs at the course. The tournament featured junior players ages 10-19 competing for national rankings, as well as double IJGT Merit Points. Played on Great Gorge’s nine-hole Quarryside and Railside Courses, the two combined to play as a par 70, with each nine-hole course featuring its own unique layout. Carved into the remnants of an old quarry, the Quarryside course marked the tighter of the two, while Railside, featuring artifacts of an old rail line, was more open but also more hilly. Located on a mountainside, swirling winds added an extra element of difficulty for the field. In the Boys 15-19 Division, Kwanwoo Kim of Tenafly, N.J., was victorious, taking home his first IJGT Major Championship. Kim entered the final round two strokes back of first round leader, and KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Award winner, Bobby Firth of Jenkintown, N.J., after carding an opening round 77. Entering the final round, Kim was part of a group of 10 players all within four strokes of the lead. As part of the final group Sunday, Kim played alongside Firth, Thomas Kaczan of Clark, N.J., and Gerry Mackedon of Port Jefferson, N.Y. Unlike his partners, Kim was able to avoid any big mistakes. While Kim made pars, and two birdies on holes Nos. 13 and 15, his opponents fell victim to Great Gorge’s elements. Firth was the first to succumb, posting a nine on the fifth hole. Mackedon came next, as triple-bogeys on holes Nos. 7 and 9 pushed him too far back. Kaczan bogeyed holes Nos. 6 and 7 and never regained his confidence, while struggling on Railside (playing as the back nine.) Kim continued with his pars on the difficult course and by the 16th hole held a comfortable lead. He managed a par-save from the sand on the par-5 16th, and then drained a 10-footer for par on hole No. 17. With one hole separating Kim for a Major victory, he did not let the pressure get to him, instead blasting a 300-plus yard drive right down the middle of the fairway on the closing hole. His approach stopped 20 feet from the cup, and he was able to comfortably two-putt to take home the championship. He finished the day with a 5-over-par, 75, to shoot 152 over the two days and was four strokes clear of Isaac Gorenstein of Nyack, N.Y., who finished second. Mike Bliss of Newtown, Pa., finished third with a tournament total of 157. Kim said the hardest part of the course was, “The 7th, 8th and 9th,” but noted his, “putting,” allowed him to stay in the lead. Paul Terminello of White Plains, N.Y., shot the low round in the final round to win the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award with a 1-over, 71. It was also the lowest round of the tournament by any age group. Like the Boys, the Girls Division featured a handful of players clustered at the top. After Saturday, Frida Henningsson, from Rye, N.Y., Christina Parsells, from Bernardsville, N.J., and Linda Wang, from Fresh Meadows, N.Y., were tied at the top of the leaderboard with 79. Yeji Shin of Norwood, N.J., and Megan McLean of Lebanon, N.J., lurked within striking distance. It was Parsells, however, who ended the tournament on top of the leaderboard. Henningsson, Parsells, and Wang all earned the KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Award for their performance in the first round. Wang was the first to find trouble. Her tee shot on the par-3 12th (Girls Division teed off on hole No.10) landed unluckily in the middle of a bunker containing the stands of an old train rail, which played as an integral part of the course. She was forced to chip sideways in the bunker, before chipping out Wang finished with a double-bogey on the hole and lost all momentum. With their fellow competitors faltering, Henningsson and Parsells were neck-and-neck, with each golfer playing their first nine at 2-over-par. In the group ahead of them, Shin was putting together her own impressive round, trying to make a comeback victory for the second week in a row. With many sloped greens, making birdie was no easy task, and she had to settle for multiple pars on her way to a 2-over-par 72 and 153 tournament total. That could have been good enough to lead her to victory, but Parsells did not give her the chance. While Henningsson struggled on the second nine, Parsells shot an even-par to match Shin with a 2-over-par 72 and finished at 151 for the tournament to earn the championship and double Merit Points. When asked what the key to victory for her, Parsells quickly noted her driver, mentioning, “I only missed two fairways all week.” Eun Won Park of Tenafly, N.J., quietly put together a 4-over-par, 74 on Sunday to crawl back into contention. Her strong showing in the final round was enough to finish in third place with a 156. Parsells and Shin tied for the low round in the Girls Division with their 72s on the final day to win the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award. The Boys 14 & Under Division could not match the drama of the other divisions, but still featured strong play.   Joe Parrini of York, Pa., jumped out to a comfortable lead after firing a 79 in the first round. Luke Sample of New York, N.Y., was Parrini’s closest competitor at 11 strokes back. Parrini was not as strong on Sunday, but the lead he built the day before allowed him to play more relaxed. He shot a round of 87, which included eight pars and a birdie to finish at 166 for the tournament en route to his Major Championship. Parrini said he “plans to play at Jeffersonville,” as his next tournament and build off the confidence from a Major victory. Sample shot an 88 on Sunday to finish at 178 for the championship, and earned second place. Matthew Bastian of Media, Pa. rounded out the top three. The IJGT Northeast tour will be back at it the weekend of Sept. 14-15 in Jeffersonville, Pa., for the IJGT Philly Open. The tournament will be played at Jeffersonville Golf Club. To sign up for this Event, or others, visit www.IJGT.com/info or call 888.936.5327. About the IJGT The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game.  As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events.   Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19.  Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Kiawah Island Resort, and Harbour Town Golf Links.  Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Sundog Eyewear, Golfweek morodZ, PURE Grips, and the International Junior Golf Academy. To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com/info or call 888.936.5327. MCAFEE, N.J. – Final-round results of the IJGT Major Championship at Crystal Springs conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed September 8, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Blue Tees – 6,590 yards, Par 70 (72.5/135) Boys 14 & Under Division: Green Tees – 6,049 yards, Par 70 (69.6/130) Girls Division: White Tees – 5,709 yards, Par 70 (74.1/133) Weather:           Saturday: Sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s with 5-10 mph winds Sunday: Sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s with 5-10 mph winds International Junior Golf Tour
Major Championship at Crystal Springs
McAfee, N.J.
September 7-8, 2013
Great Gorge Golf Club (Quarry/Rail)
Boys 15-19 Division - Blue Tees, 6,590 yards, Par 70
1. Kwanwoo Kim, Tenafly, NJ *77-75--152
2. Isaac Gorenstein, Nyack, NY *79-77--156
3. Mike Bliss, Newtown, PA *79-78--157
4. Matthew Bastian, Media, PA *85-73--158
5. Ryan Skae, Old Tappan, NJ *84-75--159
5. Eric Terminello, White Plains, NY *79-80--159
5. Bobby Firth, Jenkintown, PA *75-84--159
8. Paul Terminello, White Plains, NY *89-71--160
8. Thomas Urciuoli, Short Hills, NJ *85-75--160
10. Dominic Pizzurro-Gomez, White Plains, NY *89-72--161
10. Vinay Ramesh, Newtown, PA *79-82--161
10. Nicholas Infanti, Clarksburg, MD *80-81--161
10. Dominick Mancinelli, Moosic, PA *78-83--161
10. Nate Menon, Wyomissing, PA *79-82--161
15. Sam Goldenring, Florham Park, NJ *82-80--162
15. Thomas Kaczan, Clark, NJ *76-86--162
15. Gerry Mackedon, Port Jefferson, NY *77-85--162
18. Nick Geiman, York, PA *81-82--163
18. Daniel Melcher, New York, NY *82-81--163
18. Bobby Piluso, Ridgewood, NJ *79-84--163
21. Jonny Slater, Old Tappan, NJ *84-81--165
21. Christopher Chiminski, Penns Park, PA *82-83--165
23. Justin Murray, Burlington, NJ *85-81--166
23. Asher Greenberg, Weston, CT *82-84--166
25. Brendon Kim, Rivervale, NJ *84-83--167
26. Jonny Emmerman, Scarsdale, NY *84-85--169
27. Hunter Lee, Great Neck, NY *87-83--170
28. Ross Rabin, Woodcliff Lake, NJ *85-88--173
29. Leonard Lee, Wyckoff, NJ *85-90--175
30. Angelo Mancinelli, Moosic, PA *85-93--178
31. Robert Shaner, Fort Lee, NJ *92-87--179
32. Matthew Quigley, West Milford, NJ *93-88--181
33. Cameron Hsieh, New York, NY *93-89--182
34. Cristian Cerza, Greenwich, CT *98-90--188
35. Peter Beckwermert, Wayne, NJ *101-93--194
36. Daniel Makarevich, Great Meadows, NJ *107-92--199
  DID NOT FINISH  
Zackary Potten, Wharton, NJ *90-DQ (Rule 6-3a)
Jack Faraci, Port Jefferson Station, NY *86-JWD   Boys 14 & Under Division - Green Tees, 6,049yards, Par 70
1. Joe Parrini, York, PA *79-87--166
2. Luke Sample, New York, NY *90-88--178
3. Daniel Bastian, Media, PA *92-89--181  
Girls Division - White Tees, 5,709 yards, Par 70
1. Christina Parsells, Bernardsville, NY *79-72--151
2. Yeji Shin, Norwood, NJ *81-72--153
3. Eun Won Park, Tenafly, NJ *85-74--159
4. Frida Henningsson, Rye, NY *79-81--160
5. Linda Wang, Fresh Meadows, NY *79-86--165
6. Allyson Wentworth, Stewartsville, NJ *84-82--166
7. Megan McLean, Lebanon, NJ *81-86--167
8. Katie Lee, Ringoes, NJ *85-83--168
9. Riley Smyth, Old Tappan, NJ *85-84--169
10. Raphaella Kang, Bayside, NY *84-86--170
11. Madison Braman, Loudonville, NY *86-86--172
12. Summer Kitahara, Greenwich, CT *87-87--174
13. Jasmine Kitahara, Greenwich, CT *96-95--191
14. Kate Weiss, Greenwich, CT *97-96--193
DID NOT FINISH
Zora Moore, Milford, NJ *JWD
 

SpeedBlades Latest From TMaG

SpeedBlades Latest From TMaG By ED TRAVIS It’s the season for new club introductions and the world’s largest golf equipment company TaylorMade Golf has followed up the announcement of the SLDR driver in July with the SpeedBlade irons. Due to hit retail outlets Oct. 4, SpeedBlades replace last year’s RocketBladez. The two share several design features most notably the slot cut in the sole behind the clubface to allow the clubface additional flex at impact for more distance. This “Speed Pocket” in the SpeedBlades 3-iron through 7-iron is slightly longer than the one in the RocketBladez plus there is are little “handle bars” on either end. Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s director of iron, wedge and putters development, “Our research indicates that 72% of shots by 5-25 handicap golfers are impacted below the center of the face. That typically results in low-launching shots of inconsistent distance. The Speed Pocket helps you launch those low-impact shots on a consistently higher, longer carrying and softer-landing flight.” So enter the idea of a slot behind the clubface which in combination with locating the center gravity low in the clubhead help give a high launch and more ball speed from the flexing face. In other words more distance compared to other irons in TaylorMade testing. Taylor Made also revealed the replacement cycle for irons among core golfers averages 4.9 years based on data from the National Golf Foundation, which says that the typical golfer will see lots of difference in the SpeedBlades compared to what they are playing. The company said the SpeedBlade 6-iron traveled almost ten yards farther with a 4% higher peak trajectory than TaylorMade’s popular Tour Burner iron, a model from 2009. SpeedBlade iron sets of 4-AW will have a price of $799 with steel shafts or $899 for graphite shafts.  ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated GolfFashionWeekly.com |Golf Fashion Friday

Titleist 714 Irons

By ED TRAVIS _______________________________ Fall is the time for companies to announce new clubs and fans of Titleist irons will not be disappointed when they see the 714 line which will hit stores in November. According to the company the new 714s (AP1, AP2, CB, MB) build on the companies history for quality and performance. ________________________________ The AP1s, Titleist’s cast clubhead game-improvement iron, have long and mid irons with a dual cavity and tungsten weight to lower the center of gravity which helps the ball get airborne. The center of gravity moves higher in the blade as lofts increase to help produce a flatter trajectory in the short irons. A somewhat thinner topline for a cleaner look at address is matched with a thinner face another feature for added distance. There no question the 714 AP1s will appeal to anyone looking for irons in this category. ________________________________ “When it comes to iron play, distance without the ability to stop your shot is meaningless. You have to hit the ball far enough to reach the green, but also have the proper ball flight to stop it near the hole,” said Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs. “What our R&D team has accomplished with the new AP1 and AP2 models is impressive, effectively taking each individual ________________________________ iron as its own design and optimizing its performance to provide longer distance, more consistent distance and stopping control, even when you don’t hit a shot perfectly.” ________________________________ AP2s also have a pair of rear cavities with the upper being 25 percent thinner. As with the AP1s there is tungsten weighting and an additional tungsten weight near the heel, forged during the clubhead making process (called “co-forging,” a technique pioneered by Titleist). This type of weighting gives the AP2s, which are targeted at low handicap players, better launch conditions. It also builds in lots of forgiveness while allowing a consistent length of blade from iron to iron that better players like. _______________________________ The short irons in both AP1 (#7-W) and AP2 (#6-W) are stronger by 1° for a slightly lower ball launch. Since, in the AP1s this makes for a 44° pitching wedge, Titleist added a 52º gap wedge in addition to the regular 48° gap wedge. AP1s and AP2s also have a “pre-worn” leading edge along with more sole camber to help avert digging at impact and make a shallower divot. _______________________________ The 714 AP1 and 714 AP2 have been in the hands of touring professionals since June and users have already posted a couple of notable wins. Then 19-year old Jordan Spieth shot three consecutive rounds of 65 with his AP2s on his way to winning the John Deere Classic in July and in August Jason Duffner won his first major, the PGA Championship, at what proved to be a very difficult Oak Hill Country Club East Course with a set of AP2s. ______________________________ Pricing for a 10-iron set (3-W2) of the 714 Titleist AP1s will be $1000 (steel shaft) and $1250 (graphite). A 9-iron set of AP2s (3-W) will be $1238 in steel and $1449 in graphite. The 714 CBs and MBs are very similar to their predecessors of the 712 series models…on purpose. These beauties are aimed specifically at touring professionals and elite amateurs, the soon-to-be professionals. Titleist wanted to improve the performance of both models but not change the look or feel that the pros depend upon. “When we ask tour players what we can do to improve the CB or MB irons, their immediate reaction is always the same: Don’t do anything. It’s a welcomed challenge for our R&D team,” said Pelisek. From early indications they succeeded. Both are forged from 1025 carbon steel and the CBs have a shallow cavity with an inner cavity muscle bar behind the center of the clubface to improve feel. The MBs retain their classic muscle back design with slight adjustments to the weighting. The look at address has been tweaked too with a somewhat straighter leading edge and a smoother hosel-to-leading edge transition that minimizes the look of any offset. “The type of player that plays CB or MB does not want to see any offset,” said Marni Ines, Director of Titleist Irons Development. “We’ve been able to reduce the appearance of that offset in the new models by better blending that transition from the hosel to the clubface. “We’ve really taken our designs to a new level using CAD technology, by creating formulas that drive the shapes and proportions we want to achieve. As a result, we have more consistent shapes and more consistent performance through each set.” Also available in November an 8-iron set (3-P) of either the 714 CB or MB irons will be $1000 with steel shafts and $1200 with graphite. ___________________________________________ ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion Golf Illustrated GolfFashionWeekly.com |Golf Fashion Friday

PGA News and Current Information

Duo Cart

By ED TRAVIS

Alphard Golf based in Hong Kong has been making pushcarts for almost 15 years but chances are you haven’t heard of them because they were making them for other companies in the pushcart business. That’s changed with the introduction of their Duo Cart and this is one you should take a serious look at if thinking about purchasing a new “trolley.”

The Duo Cart is both a golf bag and a pushcart with four wheels that fold up compactly in two simple steps to go into a car trunk. How compact? It’s the same size as a cart bag. When folded the dimensions are 13” wide by 46” high by 18½” deep. Also as you can see from the pictures the wheels are nice and large so rough terrain is no problem—this cart is very stable. And should you need it, the squeeze operating brake is on the handle.

The bag is made of durable material with a 9½″ top, 14 club dividers and nine pockets, one being velour lined for watch and wallet and another a really roomy apparel pocket running the entire length of the bag.

Lots of very nice touches are standard in the Duo Golf Cart such as a 6-drink cooler pocket with a drain in the bottom and a handle that’s adjustable for height and angle plus there are accessories such as an umbrella clip and drink holder. Alphard tells me a GPS holder and cart seat will soon be available.

However, I’ve saved what I think is the best feature of the Duo Golf Cart for last. The wheels pop off in about 10 seconds converting it into a cart bag so you can walk or ride as the situation requires.

For now the Duo Cart gives you a choice of three colors, black, red or navy those more colors should be on the market soon. The price is a value as well at $279.95 on AlphardGolf.com.

ED TRAVIS | Golf News & Opinion

Golf Illustrated

GolfFashionWeekly.com |Golf Fashion Friday