September/October 2008 TW Standard E-Tech Report
Items of note before we get down to business...
- TWGT Marketing Collateral is Now Available for Download on the Web.
For your marketing needs, TWGT is now providing high resolution files for download directly from our website. Go to the following page to download product images, TWGT logos, poster art, brochures, etc. via our website: http://www.wishongolf.com/marketing_kit_2008.php Or from the www.wishongolf.com home page, click on "Information", then choose "Marketing Collateral". This download page is replacing the former marketing CDs, so that we can more easily provide you with all the latest information and products for your marketing projects to promote your business and TWGT.
- Don't Miss out on any ETECH Reports or Catalogs!
Always keep your E-mail and mailing address current.
To make changes, email cs@wishongolf.com, telephone us, or login to your account and go to Account Information to edit. All E-tech reports are sent via email!
- Logging in to the TWForum vs the TWGT Store
Admittedly this is a bit confusing, but essentially the Forum runs on a different database than the Wishon Golf Shopping site, and requires a separate registration. We have to keep them separate for many reasons, but there's nothing stopping you from using the same login and password -- though we recommend not doing this. In fact, it's recommended to use a login and password for less sensitive web activities (like web forums) that is distinctly different from a more secure login/password for other web-based conveniences like shopping and banking. For example, an easy (non-critical) password might be "mypassword", but a more complex and secure version would be "MyP4$$w0rd".
In the September/October issue of the TW Standard eTECHreport:
NOTE: the complete September/October TW Standard eTECHreport pdf version is available by clicking here - 3MB (requires Adobe Acrobat 5 or newer )
MOI Matching Makes British Open
Golfers are well aware how difficult it is for a club professional to qualify for a major championship. To be able to compete against the world’s best touring pros if they do qualify, is even more difficult. Peter Appleyard, assistant professional at the Wildernesse Club in Kent, England, not only qualified, but came within a single shot of making the 36-hole cut at the 2008 Open Championship staged at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
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12 Myths Reaches 5th Language
Add Swedish to the list of languages in which TWGT’s educational booklet, 12 Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game, is now available. Thanks to the efforts of Swedish PGA Professionals David Leet and Matz Evensson, golfers in Sweden are now learning the truth about golf clubs and the value of clubfitting in their native language.
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USGA Announces Amendment to the Spring Face Rule
On May 28, 2008, the USGA sent a Notice to Manufacturers regarding a proposed revision to the interpretation of spring features in clubheads. During the past several years, the USGA has evaluated and determined that some submitted clubs did not conform to the Rules of Golf because the USGA considered the designs to include spring features having the intent of, or the effect of, unduly influencing the clubhead’s spring effect.
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Clarification on Upcoming USGA Scoreline Rule Change
TWGT has noted that a lot of clubmakers and golfers are very confused about the effect of the USGA’s recent rule change regarding the scorelines. TWGT wanted to offer this information in an attempt to very simply clarify the points surrounding the USGA’s new scoreline rule.
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TWGT Expands Seminar Tour of Europe in Fall 2008
If five clubfitting seminars in four cities in three countries isn’t enough, add two trade shows to the list and it means TWGT’s Matt Mohi and Tom Wishon are going to be a couple of busy guys this fall, continuing to educate clubmakers and golf professionals in Europe about the benefits of professional clubfitting.
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New TWGT Marketing Poster/Brochures Available
To support your marketing efforts, TWGT has created a new promotional poster and new product promotion brochures.
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Golfers are well aware how difficult it is for a club professional to qualify for a major championship. To be able to compete against the world’s best touring pros if they do qualify, is even more difficult. Peter Appleyard, assistant professional at the Wildernesse Club in Kent, England, not only qualified, but came within a single shot of making the 36-hole cut at the 2008 Open Championship staged at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
With rounds of 76-74-150 in gale force wind and rainy conditions, Appleyard saw bogeys on the 18th hole of both rounds leaving him one shot shy of joining the world’s elite for the final two rounds of the 2008 Open. What made his accomplishment more interesting is the fact that Peter played with a set of fully MOI Matched clubs, custom fit and built by veteran UK clubmaker Richard Kempton.
“Peter Appleyard is clearly one of the best ball strikers in my area,” said Kempton. “When TWGT triggered my interest in the science of MOI matching back in 2003 and I needed a superb quality player to offer feedback, I knew Peter would be the best candidate in my area to help me learn the real application of MOI matching. Peter became so convinced of the value of MOI matching from our work together that he has played this entire season with the clubs I MOI matched for him. As such, Peter credits MOI matching as one of the reasons he was able to qualify for the 2008 Open and come within a single shot of playing the weekend with the world’s best players.”
TWGT wishes to congratulate Richard Kempton for his unfailing commitment to contributing to the awareness of MOI matching golf clubs. “Richard has always been committed to digging deep into new, science based clubfitting technologies when they are introduced,” said TWGT president Tom Wishon. “We all congratulate him for having brought MOI matching to the level of one of the world’s top golf competitions and contributed so much to its understanding.”
Clubmakers who are interested in learning more about MOI matching as a replacement for swingweight matching can read more on TWGT’s web site as well as through past issues of the TWGT E-TECHReport here:
http://www.wishongolf.com/moi.php
http://www.wishongolf.com/etechreport/2007/nov_dec/index_dist.html#art1
12 Myths Being Spoken in its FIFTH Language
Add Swedish to the list of languages in which TWGT’s educational booklet, 12 Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game, is now available. Thanks to the efforts of Swedish PGA Professionals David Leet and Matz Evensson, golfers in Sweden are now learning the truth about golf clubs and the value of clubfitting in their native language. This makes the 5th language in which 12 Myths is available, joining versions available in French, Spanish, Dutch and English.
“TWGT wishes to thank David and Matz for their unfailing commitment to promoting the awareness of clubfitting in Sweden,” said TWGT VP Mary-Ellen Wishon. “Tom and I have known Matz and David to be highly committed to getting the facts about professional clubfitting communicated to as many golfers as possible in Sweden. With 12 Myths now available in Swedish, we’re very pleased that David and Matz will be responsible for continuing to spread the word of the benefits of custom fitting to even more golfers
in Europe.”
This fall will see 12 Myths become available in its 6th different language as the German language version rolls off the press. German PGA professional Mike McFadden and his son Jason operate a full TWGT professional fitting and clubmaking service through the Jakobsberg Golf Club where Mike has served as the head professional for many years.
USGA Announces Amendment to Spring Face Rule
On May 28, 2008, the USGA sent a Notice to Manufacturers regarding a proposed revision to the interpretation of spring features in clubheads. During the past several years, the USGA has evaluated and determined that some submitted clubs did not conform to the Rules of Golf because the USGA considered the designs to include spring features having the intent of, or the effect of, unduly influencing the clubhead’s spring effect.
What this refers to is NOT the usual CT measurement of the center of the face of all clubheads submitted to the USGA for a conformity ruling. No matter what, the USGA’s CT measurement limit of 257 microseconds for the center of the clubface will stand as an ongoing rule. What the USGA has been concerned about are clubheads which attempt to use various design features to increase the COR over other areas of the face than the center. Up to this point, when the USGA has questioned such head design features they have had to use methods of evaluation and judgment which are not specific or quantifiable in terms of a measurement procedure.
To reduce the time needed to make a conformance decision on a club incorporating a spring feature or technology that has the intent of, or the effect of, unduly influencing the clubhead’s spring effect, and to improve the clarity of the decision, the USGA is proposing to replace the current design evaluation decision method with a measurement method. The measurement would be used to determine whether a submitted club incorporates a prohibited spring feature or technology.”
On September 22, 2008, the USGA sent a notice to all golf club manufacturers announcing the following changes in the spring face conformity judgment process:
In addition to the existing CT testing protocol, the USGA will measure clubs for CT in places on the face at locations other than the identified face center.
Those clubs which have CT readings less than or equal to 257 microseconds (239 with an 18 microsecond test tolerance allowed) at locations on the face other than the center will be considered conforming to the USGA Rules of Golf provided that the club meets all other rules currently in effect.
Any clubs which have CT readings greater than 257 microseconds (239 with an 18 test tolerance allowed) at locations on the face other than the center will have no change to the process currently used to determine conformance for clubs that may have features or technology, including, but not limited to separate springs or spring features, that have the intent of, or the effect of, unduly influencing the clubhead’s spring effect. These clubs will be subject to further analysis and evaluation by the USGA, including analysis of the club design to determine if they incorporate the types of design features described above, prior to the USGA issuing a conformance decision.
It is important to note that this additional analysis and evaluation of a submitted club can be extensive. It may take as much as a year or longer for this process to reach a conclusion. Additional detailed information regarding clubhead designs may be requested from the submitter by the USGA so that a decision can be made. Design features of the club, descriptions of the club features, and other kinds of information and analysis will be considered for conformance decisions.
Clarification on Upcoming USGA Scoreline Rule Change
TWGT has noted that a lot of clubmakers and golfers are very confused about the effect of the USGA’s recent rule change regarding the scorelines. TWGT wanted to offer this information in an attempt to very simply clarify the points surrounding the USGA’s new scoreline rule.
1. Every clubhead that has scorelines which conform to the rules of golf before the USGA’s new scoreline rule change was announced this year will remain to be conforming until January 1, 2024. In short, this means every iron or wedge that is made and sold up until December 31, 2009 will be considered to be conforming up until January 1, 2024.
2. Beginning January 1, 2010, all clubs used in playing the US Open, US Women’s Open and US Senior Open will have to subscribe to the new scoreline rules. Beginning January 1, 2014, all clubs used in playing every other USGA national event (US Men’s/Women’s Amateur, US Public Links, US Junior Boys/Girls, etc) will have to subscribe to the new scoreline rules.
3. All NEW clubheads introduced and sold to the market after January 1, 2010 will have to be made with scorelines that subscribe to the new USGA rule. But do remember, that any clubheads made and sold BEFORE January 1, 2010 with the “old scoreline design” will be considered to be conforming.
In short, the scorelines on all TWGT clubheads that are introduced and sold before January 1, 2010 will be conforming for regular play until January 1, 2024. The only exceptions are for golfers using current TWGT designs in national USGA events as described in paragraph #2 above.
Every TWGT clubhead model that is introduced after January 1, 2010 will be designed and manufactured with scorelines that will conform to the new USGA rule. We hope this clears up some of the confusion that surrounded the USGA’s announcement of their new scoreline rule earlier this year.
TWGT Heads Back to Europe for Clubfitting Seminar Tour
If five clubfitting seminars in four cities in three countries isn’t enough, add two trade shows to the list and it means TWGT’s Matt Mohi and Tom Wishon are going to be a couple of busy guys this fall, continuing to educate clubmakers and golf professionals in Europe about the benefits of professional clubfitting.
Tom Wishon’s presentations at the 2007 European PGA Teaching and Coaching Conference and the 2008 World Scientific Congress of Golf brought invitations for Tom and Matt to head back to Europe this fall to speak to groups of clubmakers and golf professionals about the technology and knowledge of custom clubfitting.
Tuesday October 28
Clubmaker Seminar Day, Brighton, England.
Hosted by TWGT’s UK distributor, Diamond Golf International, Tom and Matt will be conducting an all day seminar for all interested UK and European custom clubmakers at the Golf Addiction Golf Centre in Brighton, England. European and UK clubmakers interested in attending the full day event on the south coast of England can sign up to attend and can obtain full information about the seminar by contacting Diamond Golf in the UK by telephone at 01903-726999 or by email at Daren.Treacy@diamondgolf.co.uk.Friday October 31
PGA of Germany Clubfitting Seminar, Jakobsberg, Germany.
Tom and Matt will conduct an all day seminar on clubfitting and golf equipment technology for members of the German PGA on October 31. The event, open only to members of the German PGA, is hosted by clubmaker and German PGA professional Mike McFadden at his Jakobsberg Golf Resort, near Boppard, Germany, 30 miles south of Koblenz, Germany.Sunday November 2
Keynote Speaker, Foremost/Alliance Conference of UK PGA Professionals
One of the largest business associations of golf professionals with 900 member pros, the Foremost/Alliance Group of the UK has asked Tom Wishon to be the keynote speaker for its annual conference and trade show in Harrogate, England. “We’re very excited to have Tom come to our conference and educate our golf professionals about the knowledge and benefits of professional clubfitting,” offered Foremost/Alliance conference organizer Ian James. “A few of our pros heard Tom speak last fall at the European PGA conference in Sweden and insisted our group book him for our Foremost/Alliance 2008 conference.”Thursday November 6
Clubfitting Seminar for the TGI/Tartan Group of UK PGA Professionals
The second largest business association of golf professionals in the UK with 350 members, the TGI/Tartan Group conducts their annual conference and trade show following the Foremost/Alliance conference in the Harrogate Conference Center, north of Leeds, England. TGI has asked Tom to address their member professionals on the topic of custom clubfitting on the morning of November 6 and to be available to speak individually with TGI pros during their trade show.Friday November 7
Clubfitting Seminar for the GolfStore Group of Swedish PGA professionals and the PGA of Sweden.
In an event co-hosted by the GolfStore Group and Swedish PGA, TWGT’s Tom Wishon and Matt Mohi will be offering a full day of information about clubfitting to golf professionals in Sweden. “We’re believe our fellow professionals should be getting more involved in professional clubfitting,” said Swedish PGA professionals David Leet and Matz Evensson, “and there is no one better to help us spread the word about the benefits of custom fitting than Tom Wishon and Matt Mohi.” Wishon and Mohi are expected to work with more than 100 Swedish PGA professionals during the full day conference event to be held in the south of Sweden, in Malmo.
“Matt and I are very honored to have been asked by these groups to come to Europe this fall and share our knowledge about professional clubfitting,” said Tom Wishon. “We’ve found that the clubmakers and golf professionals throughout Europe are very interested in educating their golfers about the benefits of accurate fitting, and we’re quite pleased that they have chosen to allow TWGT to play an important role in continuing to promote quality clubfitting in Europe.”
Watch for a full report of TWGT’s 2008 European clubfitting crusade with photos to come in the future.
New TWGT Marketing Poster/Brochures Available
To support your marketing efforts, TWGT has created a new promotional poster and new product promotion brochures. We ask clubmakers who have invested in one of the TWGT Marketing Kit to contact us so we can verify your marketing kit purchase and send you a new TWGT poster and supply of TWGT promotional brochures for NO CHARGE.
For all advertisements and promotions of TWGT designs and products (TV, radio, print, internet) a "Call/Contact for Pricing" policy is in effect.
TWGT designs and products are not to be sold or advertised on auction sites (eg. Ebay, Yahoo).All and any use of Tom Wishon Golf Technology logos, trademarks and/or images shall be used in a manner consistent as outlined in the style guide Marketing CD.
If you have any questions please contact us at 800-470-0072 or 970-375-0411.
Comments from the Department of Marketing/Web...
If you haven't noticed, we've added a few things to our www.wishongolf.com and www.twgolftech.com web sites. Tom's been doing a few interviews in his effort to promote custom clubmaking and The Search for the Perfect Golf Club. A 25-minute mp3 audio file of Tom's interview with the SF Bay Area's Golf Talk Radio Show is now available for download. Just take a look at the wishongolf.com home page in the upper right hand corner to find this and a link to a written exchange with BigDogEat.com's Donny Coyle.
There's also a new section on the publicity that TWGT has garnered for its design work. While we receive most of the popular rags (Golf Digest, GolfWorld, Golf Tips, Golf For Women), we don't get them all. If you know of any TWGT sightings that we missed, please drop us an email. If at all possible, a scan of the page(s) of concern would be greatly appreciated.
*SPECIALS -- Please call for details: 1-800-470-0072
All advertised specials are only offered for a limited time; prices are subject to change without notice and do not include shipping or taxes (where applicable). Offers are subject to availability, and cannot be combined with any other offer.
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