NWGG at the PGA Merchandise Show - Equipment Recap

The second half of our recap will be focused on the equipment we saw and liked at the PGA Merchandise Show last weekend. We decided to stay fairly broad in this department, and for the most part, we won't touch on the major brands. The R11 from Taylor Made was sexy, and the Oddysey putters were as great as ever, but we are going to focus more on a few local companies, as well as training aids and a fun game to be played on the course.

C. Carnahan Golf (www.carnahangolf.com) - C. Carnahan Wedges and putters have been available in green grass shops in the Northwest for over a year now, but they made their national debut at the PGA Show this year. Founded by former Duck and Canadian tour player Chris Carnahan and based in Wilsonville, OR, these sticks are beautiful. The Insignia line offers five different putters, each named after a Portland bridge. The Vintage Forged wedges come in three lofts, 52, 56 and 60 degrees.

Tour Striker (www.tourstriker.com) - Invented by Martin Chuck, the Director of Golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, OR, the Tour Striker is really making a name for itself. You have probably seen the commercial for the Tour Striker on the Golf Channel. The Tour Striker is essentially an iron with the sole cut off. This leaves a small impact zone that forces you to hit down on the golf ball. If you don't hit down, you will not be able to hit this club. It's a very interesting tool, and I can't wait to try on out myself.

Swinkey (www.swinkey.com) - It is probably easier to answer what the Swinkey doesn't do than what it does do. In short, it is a Stretching Pole, Fitness Bar, Alignment Tool, Adjustable Weight Swing Club, Driver Protector, Putting Trainer, Camera Monopod, Target, Walking Stick, and more... It's no wonder they call it the "Golfer's Toolkit".

Vegas Golf (www.vegasgolfthegame.com) - A chip game for on course games and wagering. Vegas Golf comes in two flavors, Original and High Roller editions. The original comes with 8 chips (2 positive, 5 negative and a Wild Card) and the High Roller comes with 14 (5 positive, 8 negative and a Wild Card). You determine the stakes pre-round, and the chips trade throughout your 18. There are chips for 1 putts, Water, OOB and more.

Heavy Putter (www.boccierigolf.com) - The Heavy Putter by Boccieri Golf is a top weighted putter, and it was easy to see how this could make a difference in your game. Available in a Heavy-Weight, Mid-Weight, and Lite-Weight (although even the Lite-Weight is heavier than your traditional putter), I was draining putts on the practice green. It did take some getting used to, but in a world where many of us change putters, grip and stances almost weekly, its a welcome change from the norm. Boccierri also released a line of Heavy Irons and a Heavy Driver at the show.

Dancin' Dogg Optishot Simulator (www.dancindogg.com) - Dancin' Dogg offers an affordable in-home Golf Simulator. What makes Dancin' Dogg unique is that you can use set it up on any home computer. You can hit real golf balls or foam. Their booth included two setups, a full setup with a projector and shot creen, as well as a living room setup working on a home entertainment system. The Dancin' Dogg system looks like a great in-home option for those not looking to spend a fortune, but who want to work on their game indoors.

Club Glove (www.clubglove.com) - Simply said, Club Glove had the finest luggage and bags we saw at the show. Club Glove started as a club cover, and quickly grew to one of the largest bag companies in the industry. In fact, they made the golf bags for the most recent Ryder Cup teams, and these bags were on full display. Their line of woven golf towels is second to none, and has spawned many imitators, but has yet to be duplicated. Club Glove also owns Scheyden Precision Eyewear, a great looking line of sunglasses built with comfort in mind.

There you have it. A quick review of some of the equipment that caught our eye at the PGA Merchandise Show. Stay tuned from more in depth analysis of some of the products above, as well as some we did not hit. We also have some more great video to share. With over 1000 companies at the PGA Merchandise Show, there was a lot of ground to cover!

VIDEO: NWGolfGuys with Ryan Moore and Rob Rigg of TRUE Linkswear

NWGG at the PGA Merchandise Show - Apparel Recap

What a great three days in Orlando! We knew the PGA Merchandise Show was going to be huge, but that was just ridiculous. Over 1000 companies represented their products at the PGA Merchandise Show, and we have selected some of our favorites. We will begin with the offerings in apparel.

TRUE Linkswear (www.truelinkswear.com) - The TRUE team was out in full force, including Ryan Moore, and they did not disappoint. TRUE had their four standard color options on display, and had the next color to be launched on display (White/Brown). In addition they were showing off a few custom colors for this years Majors (for example the Masters shoe will be all white with a green sole. They will be releasing these for purchase soon in VERY limited quantities). Finally, they had their next shoe on display, the TRUE Stealth. They have announced them on their website, we recommend you give them a look. TRUE was perhaps the most buzzed about item of the event.

Kikkor Golf (www.kikkorgolf.com) - Another strong presence in the shoe department was Kikkor Golf out of Vancouver, BC. Founded by former NCAA Division 1 Champion and University of Washington graduate James Lepp, Kikkor offers an alternative style of footwear to the golf world. Kikkor is targeted at younger golfers looking for a change from the usual golf shoe. The booth itself was styled after a bar, and was as innovative as the brand they represent. It was a popular spot on the floor for sure.

Travis Mathew (www.travismathew.com) - If they gave out an award for coolest booth at the show, Travis Mathew would have won hands down. With a decked out, Travis Mathew inspired VW Bus, ping-pong table and music blaring, the Travis Mathew booth was the place to be. The Southern California brand, inspired by the surf industry as much as the golf industry is taking the golf world by storm. It didn't hurt that Bubba Watson was on his way to winning the Farmers during the weekend. For a local connection, Lake Oswego's Mike McKennon of McKennon Golf Bags was on hand with a collection of bags he made specifically for Travis Mathew. Look for Travis Mathew in your pro shop, the line is about as cool as they come.

Quagmire Golf (www.quagmiregolf.com) - Whats old is new again. Growing up in the early 90's, Hyper Color shirts were all the rage, and Canadian based Quagmire Golf has recently released a line of Color Fusion shirts that change color with heat that will make you say "Giggity." Just about everybody goes straight to placing their hands on the shirt. This shirt really brings back memories. Quagmire also offers a line of reversible shirts. Who doesn't like a 2-for-1?

Sligo Wear (www.sligowear.com) - Yet another Canadian based company, Sligo Wear offers a bold line for those with a flair for the dramatic. Worn by PGA Tour Player Brian Gay (who made an appearance at the Sligo booth), the Sligo line offers bright colors and great looking designs on their polos, sweaters and pants.

Puma Golf (www. pumagolf.com) - Probably my favorite of the national brands, the Puma line is coming on strong ever since they bought Cobra last year. The line is fresh and exciting, and is challenging the biggest brands in the industry. Most famously worn by Rickie Fowler on tour the line is trending towards the younger players. Look out for some great things from Puma this year!

Kentwool Socks (kentwool.com) - No lie, the most comfortable socks you will ever buy. Kentwool makes golf specific socks that do wonders for your feet. I had the opportunity to give a pair a test run on the second day of the show, and even after three days on my feet, they felt great! Once you try a pair, you will have a hard time going back to a standard sock. They are THAT comfortable!

While there were many other great options, these are the ones that caught our eye. They tended to be smaller companies offering something we had not seen before, and many of the lines we liked happen to be Canadian based companies. They have plenty of great things coming from up North! Check back soon for some of the exciting equipment we saw at the show!

Unwrapping the TRUE linkswear tours!

I had a few fresh pairs of TRUE linkswear shoes waiting for me when I got home today! We will have a review soon, (hopefully we can get these out on the course sooner than later, depending on the Portland weather) but in the meantime, here is what you can expect when you order your TRUE tours! I can tell you that I am wearing them around the house right now, and they are incredibly comfortable! Now I need to decide on the white laces or the black (Yes, the TRUE's come with options!)






Thanks to Rob and the team at TRUE linkwsear! To order your TRUE tours, visit http://www.truelinkswear.com/.

Sunriver Meadows - Under Snow!

Check out these pictures of the Meadows Course at Sunriver Resort. Taken during the 2011 New Year's weekend, it goes to show how impressive a feat it is that the Sunriver Resort boasts such an impressive set of golf courses during the Summer months.