British shoemaker Royal Albartross, which specialises in the flamboyant and extravagant, is launching its first range of women’s golf shoes for 2012. Retailing at £335 per pair, six women’s shoes are available initially, in UK sizes 4 to 8, and they are available at the Wentworth Club and online, with further prestige golf stockists set to be confirmed soon.

Motocaddy is launching the S3 Pro electric trolley for 2012, and the company promises it will be ready for retail delivery in March.

Record year from Stewart Golf

Stewart Golf has reported a 57% increase in sales for 2011. Managing director Mark Stewart says the key to the progress has been expanding the product range and reducing the RRP of the X-Series remote controlled trolleys from £1,200 to £999, which comes with a lithium battery as standard.

Never can more scrutiny have gone into selecting waterproofs for team golf, than for the 2011 US Solheim Cup team. The debacle of the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, at which the US team’s Sun Mountain waterproofs could not have failed in more dramatic circumstances, is yet to fade from the memory of the players, officials, spectators (and media) alike.

Golf and Sports Supplies Ltd (GSS), the Bolton-based distributor owned by Ian Waddicar, is being bought in part by Austrian business GolfTech Golfartikelvertriebs GmbH. Final details of the agreement are yet to be confirmed, but SGB Golf understands that GSS will cease to trade under its existing name, to become GolfTech GolfTrading Ltd, with Waddicar remaining as managing director.

Victory in the US PGA Championship was not only a first major triumph for rookie Keegan Bradley, it was also the first time a golfer has won a Major playing a Srixon golf ball. After his incredible recovery at the end of the final round, to win the 2011 US PGA Championship, Keegan Bradley said he had always been a golfer who had “kind of flown under the radar”.

Scottish manufacturer John Letters has resurrected its once famous Master Model series for the better player. John Letters Master Model irons first came to prominence after the Second World War, when 1947 Open champion Fred Daly had the clubs in his bag. The Master Model dynasty grew through the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, with golfers such as Dai Rees, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Bernard Gallacher and Sam Torrance all playing the irons.

Druh Belts and Buckles has been appointed the official belt supplier for the 2011 Solheim Cup, which takes place at Killeen Castle, near Dublin, from September 23-25. The company founded by former European Tour golfer Simon Hurd is providing both the European and US teams with their own bespoke belts and buckles (pictured) for the week.

Unfortunately for Tiger Woods, his golf shoes were more impressive than his game over the all-important fortnight in August that saw him return to competitive golf. At the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio – the final World Golf Championships event of the year - Woods petered out to a tie for 37th, before missing the cut at the US PGA Championship for the first time in his career.

Former world number one Annika Sorenstam has renewed her representation agreement with IMG. Sorenstam’s business interests will continue to be led by her husband Mike McGee, which include Annika Academy, Annika Course Design, Annika Financial Group and Annika Collection wines, clothing and fragrances.

Golfbreaks.com, the UK’s largest golf travel company, has launched its 2012 Pro-Am Series. The programme features three events, each with prize funds of £10,000, and golfers are invited to compete at San Lorenzo and Pinheiros Altos in Portugal (January 12-15), Valderrama, La Reserva and Almenara in Sotogrande, Spain (February 9-12), and at Spain’s PGA Catalunya Resort (March 8-11).

Fletcher Leisure Group, the Montreal-based company that owns the Sunice apparel brand, has reached an agreement to produce and market Tommy Hilfiger golf apparel for men and women in the American, Canadian and European markets. SGB Golf understands the agreement is for a five-year term, beginning with the Spring 2012 Collection.

Adidas is promising “all-terrain versatility” through its new flagship shoe, the Tour360 ATV. New forefoot flexibility and zonal traction elements should give golfers enhanced grip and stability throughout the swing on all lies.

Ladies’ golf brand Green Lamb has launched its Spring Summer 2012 collection.

Nike Golf launched a limited edition version of the Lunar Control shoe for the Open Championship, which was worn by all its staff professionals competing at Royal St. George’s. Nike claims its Lunar Control is the lightest performance golf shoe on Tour, and the Open version has design details inspired by English tailoring, such as an upper with tumbled leather and a Herringbone tweed collar.

Finland is something of an enigma in relation to most European markets: it is remote, lodged in the north-east corner of Europe, its climate allows for no golf during winter months and the Finnish language is quite unlike any other western European languages. However, golf as a sport is relatively popular.

Following the success of its IQ three-wheeled push trolley in 2010, Big Max has launched the Smart Cart. Retaining many features of the IQ, such as a fold-down size that should fit into any car boot, the Smart Cart has a ‘one shake’ opening mechanism, adjustable bag brackets, handbrake, organiser panel and it comes with a five-year warranty.

We conducted a survey with the members of one really good PGA professional: 82% of his members did NOT know that he gave, as standard, a FREE 40-minute custom fitting session with each set of irons purchased from him. Less than 2% knew that he also gave a FREE 20-minute lesson once the new irons were ready, to make sure all was well with the new equipment.

Swedish apparel brand Abacus has revealed many of the designs for the European Solheim Cup team uniforms, which will be worn by Europe’s finest women’s players when they play in the bi-annual team event against the United States in Ireland in September.

Golf Europe 2011 is off. The official line from Messe München, released on May 25, was that the event has been “postponed”, although “cancelled” would have been nearer the point, as there are no plans for the event to be staged at any point in 2011.

GMS into Heather & Links

London-based Heather and Links, manufacturers of premium scorecard holders, has appointed golf marketing specialist GMS to handle its launch public relations. The family-owned business lists the Wentworth Club and Harrods as its first stockists.

www.heatherandlinks.com

Ecco, the Danish shoe company, has extended its sponsorship agreement with American golfer Fred Couples, although the length on the agreement has not been disclosed.

“I am thrilled to be continuing my relationship with ECCO,” says Couples. “They are a fabulous company making some of the world’s most comfortable golf shoes. ECCO is also a leader in creating unique styles, like the Golf Street shoes that I can wear all day, on and off the golf course.”

Now under the ownership of Adams Golf, and with a new manufacturing process in place, putter specialist Yes! Golf has launched a new line of eight putters for 2011.

“The idea is that we have to ensure we are making full use of the latest manufacturing and finishing technology before the markets ask why we aren’t doing so already,” says Peter Allison, Yes! Golf (UK) managing director. “Being market leader in terms of custom-fitting and weighting technology is certainly important but we must ensure we continue to get the basics right, because without that any innovation is kind of diminished.”

PowerPlay Golf is set to receive international recognition in 2011, with the launch of a series of professional events. Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie have already committed to the concept, with dates, venues, and further participants set to be announced this month. Each three-hour tournament will involve 12 golfers and the organisers are promising international broadcasting of the events.

TaylorMade has launched a new series of Ghost putters for 2011. A trio of new ‘golf ball white’ models follow last year’s introduction of the Corza Ghost mallet.

The new models are the TM-110 blade, TM-770 small mallet and TM-880 mid-mallet, and each model features 4° of loft and come with a Pure Roll titallium face insert (no, not titanium).

The Golf Foundation has announced that its next president will be Colin Montgomerie.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Colin Montgomerie as our new President,” says Charles Harrison, Golf Foundation chairman. “Given his standing in the game and his knowledge and passion for golf, I am quite sure he will be able to contribute hugely as we grow as an organisation.

PowaKaddy has launched the PK Sport electric trolley for 2011, which it claims is the most user-friendly, high-performance trolley it has ever made. The PK Sport is replacing the Freeway II in the PowaKaddy range.

The PK Sport features a new ergonomic, soft-grip handle with a built-in, ambidextrous speed control roller, combined with an LCD display screen. The PK Sport is powered by a ‘whisper quiet’ 200-watt motor and it has a three-way ‘no-fuss’ folding mechanism, with added benefits including a battery-life monitor, the choice between lithium or lead acid batteries and an aluminium frame that comes in White, Black or Graphite.

FootJoy gloves strengthen grip

Golf Datatech figures show that nearly half of all gloves sold in the UK last year were FootJoy, with a brand share of 47.4%. This represents a rise from 2009, while FootJoy’s nearest competitor took 7.8% market share. The UK’s three top-selling gloves were all FootJoy, led by the WeatherSof with 15.1% market share by itself.

www.footjoy.co.uk

Under Armour is staking its claim in the outerware market with the launch of the ArmourStorm ColdGear Pro Rain Suit for Autumn 2011.

Under Armour promises the new rain suit, as worn on Tour by Ross Fisher, provides golfers with waterproof breathability and ‘warmth without weight’. The suit is made from four-stretch fabric to aid flexibility, and brushed tricot lining should give a soft feel and added warmth.

To capitalise on the early success of its two new white drivers, the R11 and Burner Superfast 2.0, TaylorMade is embarking on ‘The Driver Tour’ to 650 golf courses around Europe.

The Driver Tour will consist of consumer fitting sessions in conjunction with approved TaylorMade retailers. Each event will be attended by the company’s technicians, using Flightscope Kudu Launch monitors to provide golfers with free fittings.

The drawn out saga of the Callaway ball patents and the Titleist Pro V1 continues. This time it is Titleist owner Acushnet on the offensive, as the company has released a statement claming victory as the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has affirmed the patent examiner’s decision that Callaway Golf’s claims relating to four patents are invalid.

Nike introduces 20XI

It has not been one of golf’s best-kept secrets that Nike has been working on a major ball development, and while the details are as yet incomplete, the American brand has revealed that a new premium ball ‘franchise’ will be called 20XI (pronounced ‘twenty-X-I’). The big technical story with 20XI is that instead of rubber, the core will consist of a resin, which Nike promises will boost shot distance and control. Two initial models will be the 20XI-X (Tour distance) and 20XI-S (Tour spin), but delivery dates and retail prices are yet to be confirmed.

www.nikegolfeurope.com

The trend for bringing white golf equipment to market is continuing with trolley specialist Hill Billy, which has introduced White wheels to its top-selling Terrain electric trolley for 2011.

FootJoy’s dominance of the UK golf footwear market continued unabated in 2010, according to a retail audit carried out by Golf Datatech. The audit shows FootJoy to have increased its overall volume market share as a brand to 56.3% – so more than all other brands combined – and FootJoy also occupied the top four places in a ranking of shoe sales by model.

Trading places

It’s like an old Benny Hill sketch on Tour at the moment. No sooner had Graeme McDowell jumped from Callaway to Srixon-Cleveland for his equipment contract for 2011, and to Ecco for shoes, than American Jim Furyk departed Srixon to join the Tour staff at TaylorMade-adidas. Former Cobra Tour pro Camilo Villegas is another new member of the TaylorMade-adidas team for this year.

Tour operator Golfbreaks.com is encouraging club professionals to supplement their winter income by taking groups of club members away on escorted golf holidays.

Despite December pro shop footfall dropping dramatically across the UK, Foremost has reported that over 100 of its member professionals found respite during the pre-Christmas freeze thanks to a Titleist offer to personalise balls free of charge. The participating pros promoted the offer via an e-newsletter to their customers – a service provided by Foremost in its elite marketing programme.

The PGA of America has announced that outerwear specialist Sunice will be an official licensed product partner for the PGA Championship in 2011 and 2012, and also for the 2012 Ryder Cup.

The new endorsement for Sunice, which is distributed by The Golf Business in the UK, follows its agreement with the LPGA to provide waterproof outerwear for the US Solheim Cup teams in 2011 and 2013.

The European Solheim Cup team will wear Abacus apparel for the matches in 2011, continuing a relationship that started with the 2007 Solheim Cup in Sweden. Abacus will dress the players, caddies and others associated with the team when the tournament is held at Killeen Castle in Ireland in September next year. The agreement adds an element of kudos to what has already been an excellent year for the Swedish brand.

American company Dixon Golf has brought is ‘100% eco-friendly’ golf balls to the UK market. The two-piece Dixon Earth ‘performance’ ball and Dixon Wind ‘distance’ ball are not only made from 100% recycled materials using a proprietary manufacturing process, but they are also 100% recyclable themselves.

Directors at electric trolley company Motocaddy have acquired a majority stake in the company from founder and outgoing managing director Rod Brown.

Tony Webb, who has been a company director and shareholder since 2007, has increased his shareholding and has stepped up to the role of managing director, while chairman David Wells and sales director Neil Parker have also increased their stakes. Brown will remain involved in the business as a consultant and minority shareholder.

SGB Golf’s series of country summaries taken from the BGIA’s report on The European Golf Apparel and Footwear market continues in Norway

Norway is home to a relatively small golf retail market, particularly as the country’s golfing population does not tend to take specific golfing apparel seriously. There are around 90 pro shops in Norway, from a total of around 125 golf courses, which dominate approximately 70% of the Norwegian golf retail sector.

Footjoy reaches base level

Working towards Footjoy’s goal of ‘making every day playable’, the footwear and apparel brand has entered the growing base-layer sector by launching the FJ ProDry Performance Base Layer as part of a three-tiered Layering System designed specifically for golf. With an RRP of £39.99, the Base Layer is due for retail delivery from mid-October, having made its Tour debut at the Open in July, when American Steve Stricker wore it in the inclement conditions at St Andrews.

www.footjoy.co.uk

Alexis Thompson, 15, who has just become the youngest woman golfer to turn professional, has signed up with Cobra-Puma Golf for her equipment, footwear and apparel. She becomes the first professional golfer to take both brands onto the golf course.

Callaway has launched the X-24 Hot irons, which the company claims to be the longest and most accurate irons they have produced for the X-Series. They are scheduled for UK retail delivery on August 1.

Designed to cope with the toughest yet playable winter conditions that ‘committed’ golfers can find, FootJoy has launched the simply named FJ Boot.

Cleveland Golf has launched a summer promotion that looks set to seriously tempt golfers, while also boosting pro shop sales. The company is promising to give golfers £50 of store credit if they buy a Launcher DST driver, or £100 of credit if they purchase a new set of Cleveland irons, in a promotion the company says it is funding itself entirely.

Energy snacks company SSP has appointed four new European distributors: KDC in the Republic and Northern Ireland; Golf Global in Germany and Austria; Lantz Golf in Sweden and Norway; and Fitness Sport in Iceland.

Under Armour has launched a new line of performance socks. The company promises its four sock styles will provide golfers with ‘strategic cushioning’, arch support and ‘reliable comfort’.

Continuing SGB Golf’s exclusive series of country summaries taken from the BGIA’s report on The European Golf Apparel and Foot

In the decade prior to the recent recession, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland combined had established itself as one of the most important golf markets in Europe, but the global economic crisis has hit the Emerald Isle hard.

wear market, part 11 turns to Ireland

Spanish football giant FC Barcelona has agreed for Premier Licensing to launch a range of official Barcelona golf accessories. Premier Licensing now has 20 professional football and rugby clubs in its portfolio, having entered the market in 2006.

www.premier-licensing.com

With the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales just weeks away, Golf Pride has launched a pair of new putter grips in the colours of the United States and Europe, to give golfers the opportunity to stake their allegiance to their flag.

There is no holding back Ping Collection, which has already launched its new range of golf apparel for Spring Summer 2011.

Glenmuir, the Scottish apparel brand, has appointed a Canadian distributor, Brisson Sports Marketing.

The rising popularity of golf in the Netherlands in recent years has gained such momentum that the global economic downturn did not effect the sport as much as in neighbouring countries. More that 2% of the Dutch people now play golf – around 300,000 - making it the third largest participant sport in the Netherlands behind football and tennis. However, as far as golf retailing is concerned, many of the Nertherlands’ golfers are casual players, unconcerned about wearing specific golf shoes and apparel.

Spherical Blade, the putter company that specialises in ‘curved face’ technology, has released six new models for 2010.

Each of the new putters is made from stainless steel with a milled clubface and gunmetal finish, and they come with the Spherical Blade eye-shaped logo positioned on the sweetspot.

Designed for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness for off-centre strikes, the twin-pronged BlackEye 2010 is one of the new models. It is made with a ‘bear claw’ design, with a view to providing increased lateral balance and weight distribution, and the 400-gram putter is fitted with an offset steel shaft.

The British Golf Industry Association’s Grow Golf initiative has awarded a grant of £120,000 to the Golf Foundation, to be provided in three £40,000 instalments over three years.

The grant will be utilised by the Golf Foundation’s Golf Roots programme in particular, which is working towards establishing golf development programmes in every county in the form of community projects, festivals and Golf Roots Centres. The Golf Foundation has a set a target to reach one million children a year by 2013.

The epic lawsuit being contested between Titleist and Callaway over golf ball patents continues to trundle along, with the latest court decision being made in favour of Acushnet-owned Titleist. Acushnet has won a jury verdict in the US District Court for the District of Delaware, which decided that Callaway’s claim - that Acushnet infringed four patents in manufacturing a past generation of the ProV1 – is invalid.

“We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision, and we hope that this finally brings this long standing dispute to a close,” said Joe Nauman, executive vice president of Corporate and Legal for Acushnet. “We have explained throughout this process that Acushnet independently developed the technology in question.

Global sports brand Puma – best known for its football heritage – has taken a giant leap into the golf market by agreeing to acquire 100% of Cobra Golf from Acushnet for an undisclosed sum. The deal is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, with completion expected early in the second quarter of 2010.

Puma has established a strong presence in golf in recent years with its slim-fitting, fashionable apparel and footwear, but the acquisition of Cobra takes Puma’s commitment to golf to an entirely new level.

Odyssey has introduced a new and ground-breaking series of Backstryke putters, that look set to be the focal point of the putter market over the coming months.

For the new trio of Backstryke putters, Odyssey engineers have moved the shaft further back on the clubhead, so the axis of the shaft point is as close as possible to the putter head’s centre of gravity. Odyssey claims this repositioning produces ‘Stroke Balance’ – a fluid and stable stroke path for improved control.

Rife’s new Island Series of putters is due for retail delivery in April. The series features five putters, including the Aruba heel-shafted blade that Ian Poulter used in winning the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Arguably most visually striking from the new collection is the Deep Blue, which has been designed with a focus on pushing the weight of the putter head as far back as possible. With a face insert made of very light 6061 aluminium – which is roughly a third of the weight of steel – and with hollowed-out side rails, the thickest masses of steel in the putter are in the rear corners of the putter head. Rife promises this putter to be extremely stable at the point of contact with the ball as a result.

Ping has launched a new cart bag, the Pioneer LC. Weighing less than seven pounds, the new design features a 14-way divider top, eyewear and beverage pockets among an array of pockets, external moulded putter tube and individual club dividers. With an RRP of £125, the Pioneer LC comes in six colour options.

Srixon has introduced the Z-Star Tour Yellow, which is the same as the existing Z-Star ball except that Srixon claims its yellow colour makes it easier to see. Srixon claims that studies have shown yellow to be the most visible colour in the visual spectrum, and that yellow golf balls are easier to spot from distance than white. Srixon also says that psychological studies have shown that yellow or green colours can have a stress-relieving effect on people, and so the Z-Star Tour Yellow, which is being trialled on Tour by Tim Clark, comes with a greenish tint.

Stuburt has launched the Helium Comfort golf shoe, which the company promises to be the most cushioned and comfortable golf shoe it has produced.

The cushioning starts with a lightweight EVA/rubber outsole and continues with a ‘premium sockliner with shock absorbing heelpad’, and a phylon midsole. The shoes are made with full-grain leather uppers, they come fitted with Champ Q-Lok Stinger cleats and also with a 12-month waterproof guarantee.

KPMG opens online community

KPMG has launched an online Golf Business Community website, featuring golf market intelligence, analysis and news. The site will run video interviews and it will also give the trade access to KPMG’s market reports.

www.golfbusinesscommunity.com

Ping Collection has launched its Autumn Winter 2010 range of performance golf attire, featuring the most extensive portfolio of waterproofs the brand has ever brought to market.

Ping Collection has continued to draw from the designs of Ping hardware, by incorporating the colours, logos and detailing from Ping’s enormously successful G15 and i15 ranges. The range includes knitwear, polo shirts, trousers and accessories for men, women and children, but the line is spearheaded by brand new waterproof designs such as the Tour Impact suit, which Ping Collection created after collaboration with Ping’s stable of tour pros.

Innovative Australian clothing company Skins has launched its first range of base layer clothing designed specifically for golf.

Due for retail delivery by the end of March, Skins’ G400 range features seven garments with ‘dynamic gradient compression’, which provides specific areas of muscle support with a view to increasing blood flow, which enhances oxygen delivery to the muscles, which in turn leads to greater endurance and faster recovery.

Not very much of 2010 had taken place before TaylorMade set out its stall for the season ahead, launching in mid-January the Burner SuperFast driver and fairway woods, and the R9 SuperTri and R9 SuperTri TP drivers.

The Burner SuperFast driver is so named because it weighs a feather-light 284 grams, which is 14 grams lighter than both its immediate predecessor the Burner 09, and TaylorMade’s best-selling driver ever, the Burner 07. That 14 grams has been taken away from the grip, thanks to the new Winn Lite grip balancing the scales at a mere 30 grams.

Philip Gazeley, managing director and designer of 2Thumb Grip, is looking forward to a strong 2010, after the successes of 2009 thanks to the introduction of the 70-gram 2Thumb Pro-Light. “The 2Thumb Wrist Brake training aid is also proving a great success with PGA coaches worldwide,” Gazeley tells SGB Golf. “2Thumb received constant media interest throughout last year, highlighted by Nick Dougherty winning the BMW German Open using the 2Thumb putter grip.”

A new golf instruction guide designed for use on the golf course is being stocked by golf retailers in 2010. Instructacard Pocket Golf Professional is due to appear in American Golf and Nevada Bobs outlets from this month. The pocket book guide displays fault and fix diagrams for golfers’ most common faults.

In the seventh part of SGB Golf’s exclusive series of country summaries taken from the BGIA’s newly completed report, The European Golf Apparel and Footwear Market, we consider the market conditions in Sweden

Sweden is an enormously important golf market within the European spectrum as the country has a very high percentage of registered golfers. In keeping with the Swedish way of life in general, golf here is egalitarian, resulting in an estimated 6% of the population being registered golfers – which equates to over 570,000 golfers – although the registration numbers have declined since peaking in 2005.

New Golf Roots ambassadors

The Golf Foundation has announced that former Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis, and Ken Brown, the BBC commentator and former Ryder Cup golfer, have agreed to become ambassadors for the Golf Roots programme. Golf Roots aims to reach one million children by 2013.

www.golf-foundation.org

American manufacturer Nickent is reported to be heading for liquidation, but a spokesperson for the company’s UK operation has assured SGB Golf that “the UK is unaffected”.

Sole distributorship for Nickent in the UK and Ireland has been held by County Kildare-based Phoenix Brands since Spring 2009, and while it is reportedly business-as-usual on this side of the Atlantic, US title Golf Week has quoted Nickent president John Hoeflich as saying: “Our bank has refused to fund any future operations of the company … All of a sudden, 60 jobs are gone and who knows when they’ll come back.”

Ecco is taking the production of exclusive golf shoes to a new level with the introduction of a genuine limited edition shoe, the Premium 109.

The new shoe is the focal point of a crocodile leather product ensemble, which is retailing at £2,000.00. And yes, the decimal point is in the right place. In the UK, the Premium 109 will only be available at the Wentworth Club in Surrey.

This may be a late entry into the Spring Summer 2010 golf fashion market from Oscar Jacobson, but the popular Swedish brand has undergone a major overhaul behind the scenes during the latter stages of 2009. The brand has a new owner – Valedo Partners Fund – and a re-structured management team.

“[With] a new owner and a new management team, it is our ambition to establish Oscar Jacobson as the first choice in men’s fashion and golf wear in Scandinavia,” proclaims Roger Tjernberg, Oscar Jacobson’s CEO. “It is wonderful to see cool guys who base their style of clothes on self-distance and humour. They are not always looking to fit in, but instead like to determine the terms by which they are perceived. [This is] exactly the feeling we wish to reflect, [which is] wholly in line with our core values – style, personality and our heritage.”

Having spent much of 2009 serving as a house brand for the Direct Golf chain, Adams Golf has returned to the marketplace with the appointment of newly formed distributor UK Golf Distribution. Adams was distributed by Brand Fusion in the UK until February 2009, after which Direct Golf was left as the sole UK outlet for the Texas-based brand. Adams now joins the Hotblade and Jaxx Junior brands in the UK Golf Distribution stable, the Manchester-based company recently started up by Phil Aitken.

Orlando Virgin offer

Virgin Atlantic is collaborating with tour operator Destination Golf to offer the trade a flights-and-nights package for the PGA Show in Orlando. Prices start from £609 per person for return flights and four nights at the five-star Rosen Shingle Creek resort, from January 27-30. Call 02380 248 248 or email: michael@destinationgolf.co.uk.

There was a boom of golf course development in France in the late 1980s and early 1990s: in 1980 there were 128 golf courses in France; in 1990 there were 378 and by the end of 2008 there were 567. The number of French golfers rose accordingly, to 400,000 registered players last year, but this still represents only 0.62% of the population (whereas 44.8% of French people undertake cycling in some form). However, thanks to successful recruitment by the French Golf Federation, women golfers make up 30% of the indigenous golfing population, which bolsters the domestic apparel market.

One of the highlights of the PGAs of Europe’s Annual Congress, held in Murcia, Spain from November 10-13, was its Professional Golf Forum, which featured presentations on a broad range of subjects from the European Tour, the European Golf Association – representing Europe’s amateur federations – and the PGAs of Europe.

So how was it for you? Always assuming you were at Golf Europe in Munich in September, of course! Now the dust has settled following the change of venue, what seems to have been the reaction from industry? Pretty good, it appears. The strange thing is that despite a drop in attendance of around 12% from 2008, none of the exhibitors seemed to mind. Of course, an exhibition organiser’s line is always “quality, not quantity” when the figures fall, but this time the claim seems to have been warranted. Just on 4,000 visitors from 48 countries came to the MOC this year, with increases from Italy, Spain, the UK – yes, at last more pros turned up! – and the USA.

Early demand for Ping's new G15 and i15 ranges - which is so far out-stripping the G10 line that was introduced two years ago - has meant the company's European headquarters in Gainsborough has employed 24 new staff to work on assembly and shipping.

Srixon has launched a new range of clubs - Z-TX -, which features driver, fairway woods and irons. The Japanese-owned brand, which joined forces with Cleveland Golf last year, has also launched a new hybrid to complete a busy month, as Srixon introduced the improved AD 333 golf ball at the beginning of September.

The hardware offering from Mizuno for 2010 is led by a pair of new MP irons, the MP-68 and MP-58.

The MP-68s are classic Mizuno blades but with what the company describes as "enhanced feel". They are designed for professional players and elite amateurs, while the MP-58s are muscle-back blades, and Mizuno promises the clubs will offer greater forgiveness.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. In part five of SGB Golf's exclusive series of country summaries from the report we cover Greece.

Danish shoemaker Ecco has launched the Ultra Performance Hydromax for Spring Summer 2010, following on from the success of its original Ultra Performance this year.

Specialist battery distributor Manbat is offering the Numax Golf range. The batteries come with maintenance-free ‘sealed' technology and Manbat says they offer superb performance. The batteries are designed to operate through a far greater number of charging cycles than standard batteries.

Open invite from 2Thumb

Philip Gazeley, inventor of the 2Thumb putter grip, is offering all PGA professionals and trade distributors a free 2Thumb demo at the company HQ, at The Bedford Golf Club. Call 01908 585 232 to arrange a visit.

www.2thumbgrip.com

Srixon says it has made its AD333 - the UK's best-selling two-piece golf ball - even better for Autumn 2009.

Key to the advance is that Srixon has enlarged the Energetic Gradient Growth Core of the AD333 to give the ball a higher initial velocity, leading to greater distance.

Worldwide Golf Brands and Ram have made a major mutual commitment, in the form of a lengthy nine-year extension to Worldwide's Ram license in the UK and Europe.

Worldwide Golf Brands is the Manchester-based company formally known as UK Golf Services, which owns the Stuburt footwear and waterproofs brand.

Dubai-based Scorpio Golf has launched a range of golf shirts on a theme of national flags, as worn on Tour by Germany's Lisl Esterl.

"Ian Poulter has touched on this idea and Annika [Sorenstam] wore the Swedish blue and gold on her last appearance in Dubai in December 2008," explains Neil Webb, Scorpio's business development manager. "But nobody has yet devised a line of clothing that takes advantage of full production facilities and combined that with the ability to make items highly personal with initials and personal logos. People are proud of their origin and also their name."

TaylorMade has launched the Penta TP, the first five-layer golf ball designed for Tour pros. TaylorMade claims the new ball combines the benefits of its TP Red and TP Black into one ball, so while it is engineered for the world's best players, the ball is supposed to benefit all golfers.

Best known for its trolleys and golf bags, Bag Boy has introduced its range of golf bag travel cases to the UK market.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. In part four of SGB Golf's exclusive series of country summaries from the report we cover Italy.

SkyCaddie has launched the SG2.5 Lite, which features the same GPS technology as SkyCaddie's top-of-the-range SG5, but without the colour screen or level of functionality.

Nike has launched the Zoom Bandon, which it claims is the ultimate all-weather golf shoe. The American company goes so far as to say that the boot-style Bandon "laughs in the face of water and kicks mud in the face of, well, mud".

Club professionals are fine golfers, they are usually excellent teachers, and many of them have fantastic knowledge and understanding of some quite complex equipment and products, but knowing how to layout a pro shop is a craft much harder to acquire. Well, for those in need of inspiration, Paul Sanders is speaking on ‘Shop Design - make the most of your Golf Shop' at Golf Europe. Paul has designed golf shops for 20 years and has also worked with department stores, so he will certainly be armed with some innovative ideas.

Brian Conors House of Golf at Manchester GC is providing living proof of how investment in a custom-fitting service incorporating leading-edge technology can convert into profit.

Following success in cricket, running and Formula 1, UK eyewear specialist Sunwise is launching its ‘low price, high quality' sunglasses into the golf market.

Ping fits in at Solheim Cup

As a primary sponsor, Ping was kept busy on the range at Rich Harvest Farms during the week of the Solheim Cup, as Golf Week reported that Ping's custom-fitting team completed over 700 fittings of its new G15 and i15 lines, with a further 350 people completing individual club tests.

www.ping.com

Greg Norman was at Penny Hill Park in Surrey on July 20 to launch the Greg Norman Collection range for Spring Summer 2010 to assembled retailers and media.

Puma is releasing a new range of golf shoes for 2010, led by the striking Cell Fusion.

Surrey-based distributor The Golf Business (TGB) has taken on three new brands: American ladies' apparel brand EP Pro and a pair of belt labels: Druh and Canadian brand Canterbury.

Wilson Golf has launched the Wilson Staff FG Tour forged irons, which are designed to combine classic looks with the latest cavity technology for the better player.

The success of the ProStance training aid continues, as the innovative product has been well received recently in Asian markets, while Welsh golfer Becky Brewerton (pictured) has rekindled winning form on the Ladies European Tour since working with ProStance.

The PGAs of Europe has announced that its new Training Academy in Murcia is set to open early in 2010.

Pink Ribbon Golf has announced that 10% of the RRP of all goods sold will be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a UK charity dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer. Pink Ribbon has committed to a minimum donation of £20,000 over 12 months.

Brand Fusion International distributes many of the most famous brands in golf, including Sun Mountain, Go Classic, Softspikes, Lamkin and 2Thumb, and a new addition to the Brand Fusion portfolio this year has been the range of practice products and accessories by American company SKLZ.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. In part three of SGB Golf's exclusive series of country summaries from the report we cover Spain.

Bruce Clark is back

Bruce Clark rainwear is being re-launched into the UK and Ireland, with plans for a pan-European roll-out. Brand founder and owner, Bob Clark, has spent the past eight years developing the Callaway and Ashworth outerware ranges.

bob.clark@garvieclark.com

I have written before that at SGB Golf we are always looking to move forward and keep our offering varied and pertinent, and with that in mind, we are delighted to welcome Paul Trow to our editorial team. The former editor of Pro Shop Europe, and of the dearly departed Golf Weekly a decade or so before that, Paul brings with him a wealth of experience, expertise and expostulation, which will sit very well within these pages.

Callaway Golf Company has announced it will pay second quarter dividends of $0.01 per share on July 15, which is a cut of six cents per share compared to the first quarter this year.

The MD Golf brand is continuing to establish footholds in golf markets across the globe, with New Zealand the latest territory to give MD Golf a strong retail presence.

Andy Bough, who was until recently marketing director of apparel company Glenmuir, has joined Cork-based Premium Golf Brands. Bough is starting with PGB in July, in a role that SGB Golf understands is predominantly sales related. At the time of going to press, confirmation from PGB was not available.

Swedish clothing brand Peak Performance is making a concerted effort to establish itself as a premium, specialist golf brand in the UK.

Gel Golf has launched a network of custom-fit putting centres in the UK. Gel putter designer Dr Paul Hurrion has developed a unique fitting procedure for Gel, which he has personally instructed to a team of six PGA professionals, with a further seven pros to be inducted this summer.

TGI Golf, the European buying group for golf pros, has launched a new online marketing tool that enables its members to personalise shop marketing material. The Online Print System provides pros with a variety of templates including vouchers and posters for events and products.

Alchemy was the medieval forerunner of what we know today as chemistry, and stories have been passed down through the centuries of alchemists who could transform base metals into gold or silver.

I have a confession to make - I don't play golf. However, I've had lessons from pros - usually as part of a conference thingy - and found the moment when you make that perfect sweet connection between iron and ball to be quite exhilarating (although without that same pure delight of the perfectly-timed extra cover drive, of course). Putting still strikes me as very irritating, though.

Following the success of Oscar Jacobson's WPS jacket (Weather Protective System) this year, the Swedish company has confirmed it will continue the jacket through Autumn/Winter 2009/10.

While increasing numbers of hardware manufacturers are investing in their custom-fit offering, eyewear specialist Oakley is introducing a Custom Programme of its own. Golfers can choose between 28 styles of sunglasses and two styles of goggles, with a wide range of colour and lens options across all styles. Customers can also include personalised lens etchings in creating their bespoke shades.

With UK average temperatures rising year on year, staying safe in the sun has never been so important.

Dougherty gets a grip

Nick Dougherty has found the form of his career putting with a 2-Thumb grip. The 29-year-old Englishman notched his third career win at the BMW International Open in Munich last month, averaging 26.7 putter per round over four days.

www.2thumbgrip.com

While it is clear that Nike is making the biggest reduction in staff numbers in company history, with approximately 1,750 people losing their jobs, the sportswear giant has not confirmed how its golf operations will be affected specifically.

There is no doubt that some retailers are experiencing some of the toughest trading conditions in living memory. We are seeing businesses slashing prices to attract whatever trade they can and there are empty shop units everywhere.

The uncertainty surrounding MacGregor Golf seems to have come to an end, as the American company has been sold to Texas-based Golfsmith International.

Adidas, the German sportswear company and arch rival to Nike, has announced an astonishing 97% drop in its pre-tax profits from the first quarter of 2009 to £4.43 million, although the group's TaylorMade-Adidas golf business is apparently still growing, in Europe at least.

PowaKaddy has extended its range of accessories for its new Freeway II electric trolley by offering golfers a holder designed specifically for the SkyCaddie GPS rangefinder.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. SGB Golf is publishing an exclusive series of country summaries from the report, the second of which, here, covers Portugal.

Assessing the cost-effectiveness of participation at trade shows is a difficult exercise, especially when orders can turn up months, even years, after the show. Nevertheless, if there's an opportunity to shave something off the initial costs, a slightly warmer feeling comes over the exhibitor when the time comes for that assessment.

King of the tee

T-King Golf, which claims to be Europe's largest supplier of printed tees, has reported year on year growth despite the economic downturn. "In 2008 [we invested] heavily in print technology and plant, enabling us to offer better service and unique printed tee products such as Zero Friction," says director Glen Witheford. "We also launched to the rest of Europe at Munich in October and have added many customers since then ... [we have] the flexibility to supply 1,000 or 1 million tees. Our emphasis, as always, is on customer service, quality and reliability."

www.t-kinggolf.com

Callaway Golf has announced that Perry Ellis International is to design, manufacture and distribute Callaway golf and sports apparel in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

American equipment brand Nickent has launched into the UK and Ireland, and Phoenix Brands, a County Kildare-based company, has been appointed sole distributor. Nickent has brought in John Hoeflich to design some of the brand's hardware. Hoeflich has previously worked with Tommy Armour, Titleist and TaylorMade, and Nickent has particularly high hopes for its new, Hoeflichdesigned 5DX Ironwood, which sports wings on the back of the clubhead.

Bridgestone Golf, which had pinned its hopes of resurgence on the success of its B330 Series of golf balls, has reported rapid growth in the UK for the first quarter of 2009. Sales for the quarter were up 507% on the same time last year - although the brand's market presence for the first quarter of 2008 was negligible - but the company also claims to be 25% ahead of target.

Snake Eyes Custom has launched the Viper XT driver for Spring 2009.

Our industry is as competitive as any other retail sector, where the ever more sophisticated consumer shops in a buyers' market. The odds appear to be heavily stacked in favour of the huge retail chains or volume on-line retailers.

With the British and Irish Lions rugby union squad heading to South Africa for a highly anticipated test series this summer, Premier Licensing has launched a line of Lions golf accessories.

Clothing brand Fairway and Greene has been added to the exclusive stable of brands to be stocked at the ‘Home of Golf' by the St Andrews Links Trust's retail shops, The Old Course Shop and in the St Andrews Links Clubhouse.

Golfsmith has brought the Vector X ball monitor to the European market.

The BGIA has published an extensive study on the golf apparel and footwear market in Europe, split into three volumes: Southern Europe; Northern Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe. SGB Golf is publishing an exclusive series of country summaries from the report, the first of which covers the emerging golf market in Romania:

While Romania remains an enigma to many in the British golf industry at present, the country has a population of at least 21.6 million, which is the second biggest in Eastern Europe after Poland, and it is beginning to attract investment from major sports retailers such as Decathlon and Intersport.

The organisers of Golf Europe - probably Europe's leading trade fair for the industry - met representatives of leading UK companies recently to discuss the move of this year's show to the MOC, the venue in Munich where Golf Europe started. The MOC is a fine steel and glass facility in the north of Munich, on the airport road and five minutes from Kiefengarten on the U6 subway, which goes straight into town. Several major brands have permanent showrooms here already, so there is an element of taking the show to the industry. The move was received well in the meeting, since Golf Europe is a better event if the major brands are present - this encourages the smaller companies to attend too.

Wilson Staff takes custom fitting online

Wilson Staff has launched the Dyna-Fit Online fitting tool. The company claims that through a simple question-and-answer session it can accurately fit up to 12 clubs for a golfer, excluding driver and putter.

www.wilsonstaff.com

Greg Norman and TaylorMade have been in discussions about the Australian golfer playing TaylorMade clubs on his return to the Masters, April 9-12.

Just in time for Spring 2009, Cobra Golf has introduced the King Cobra SZ irons, or ‘Sweet Zone' irons, to give them their full name. The clubheads have been given a sleek, low profile and a shortened hosel to push the centre of gravity deep and further back, while the wide sole and heel-toe weighting are designed to maximise the clubs' moment of inertia.

PowaKaddy has launched a new trolley bag line for 2009, the Deluxe II.

Since its inception in 2001, TGI Golf's annual Suppliers Survey - the results of which have recently been published - has become an eagerly anticipated event and a useful benchmarking exercise for the golf retail industry.

Perhaps the difference needed for Retief Goosen to win on the PGA Tour for the first time in four years was the fact he wore a golf shirt made partly from bamboo charcoal.

Bushnell Outdoor Products, a company best known in golf for its laser rangefinders, has entered the GPS market with the launch of the Yardage Pro.

PrideSports, the manufacturer of Softspikes cleats, has launched the ClubGrip, a ‘grip wrap' for golf clubs made in the style of a racket grip.

Sonocaddie has launched the V100 GPS, to complement its existing, larger V300 handheld system.

If you look in Chambers Dictionary - the one all genuine crossword-solvers should use - you will find its definition of a recession is, "a slight temporary decline in a country's trade", whereas a depression is, "a condition of reduced trade activity and prosperity". Not a lot to worry about then, is there? It'll all be over quite soon.

For Autumn/Winter 2009, Ping Collection is introducing a completely new range of waterproofs for men and women.

The Golf Foundation, which operates in England, Scotland and Wales to grow the sport in schools, clubs and communities, enjoyed a record year of growth in 2008. For the first time the golf charity trained more than 1,000 volunteers and 3,000 teachers in England alone.

The PGA's Teacher of the Year Martin Hall has installed the Explanar Golf Training System at his academy at the Ibis Golf and Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Performance coach Jamie Edwards - and SGB Golf contributor - has published his first book, Mental Ketchup: the source of peak performance. The book is available at the Trained Brain website and at www.amazon.co.uk, and it contains bare-knuckle thought provokers such as: "Excuses are the crutches of the untalented".

Cleatskins are compression moulded rubber shells that instantly convert golf shoes into street shoes, and they are coming to Europe.

Brand Fusion helps Duchess of York

Brand Fusion has donated Go Junior Web clubs to a children's charitable programme led by the Duchess of York. Over 200 children have been given the opportunity to try golf as part of ‘From the Heart with Fergie'.