The magic number for Northern Ireland's MD Golf at the year's end was 117, as the company has announced that forward sales for 2009 were up 117% on the pre-2008 mark.

Petron, the Essex-based golf company, is closing down. Partner Keith Dicker remains owner of the Petron, Stix and Nitro brands, although he has not confirmed that the brands will continue. Kasco, Bite shoes and Conte of Florence, all brands that Petron distributed, are re-organising their UK operations.

TaylorMade has launched an entire new range of equipment for 2009, spearheaded by the R9 and  R9 TP drivers. The other new  clubs are the R9 fairway woods, Rescue 2009 hybrids and the Burner 09 irons.

Jon Camp, Ashworth Europe managing director, has left the company. His January departure follows last year's TaylorMade-adidas takeover of Ashworth, the Californian clothing brand, and TaylorMade-adidas Europe's managing director Ben Sharpe has taken direct control. Camp had been with the company since 2000.

Srixon, already established as the UK's number one two-piece golf ball brand, has launched its attack on the three-piece market with the Z-Star and Z-Star X.

Cleveland Golf has launched the HiBORE Monster XLS driver, and the CG7 and CG7 Tour irons for 2009.

Cobra has launched a new family of drivers for 2009, the King Cobra S9-1.

UK sales of the Bionic golf glove in 2008 were an astonishing 173% better than in 2007. In 2007, 9,700 Bionic units were sold in the UK, but since GM Golf Brands took over distribution at the beginning of last year, sales rocketed to 26,500.

As of January 1, 2009, the company formerly known as UK Golf Services became Worldwide Golf Brands. It is a new name and new premises for the company run by Graeme Stevens, as the old UK Golf Services offices in Uxbridge are being replaced by a new purpose-built facility in Trafford Park, Manchester.

A word of advice for the pro: If you have any sales reps who are just occasional order takers and nothing more, ring up the distributor or supplier, let them know you will phone or mail your orders in from now on, and that the rep is no longer required. Make sure you point out you are making a salary and cost of call saving for the supplier, and that you'll be looking for an appropriate, additional discount. If the supplier tells you there's no salary saving because the rep still has to call on other retailers, then point out that the other retailers should be paying for it, not you.

The 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls, what Titleist calls the ‘next generation', were played on Tour for the first time at the PGA Tour's season opener, the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii, January 8-11.

Glenmuir is adding 10 new shirts to its Spring-Summer 2009 range: three short-sleeved polos to the Men's Performance Collection, and seven new Performance polos for women.

Is it an anagram? Is it a top-secret code to the secret of golf? No, it's the name of Nike's new family of drivers: SQ DYMO STR8-FIT (the last bit is pronounced ‘straight fit', so it sounds better than it reads).

FlightScope, the ball-flight and launch monitor and 3D tracking radar, has released its Version 5.5.1 software, which will be available to partners worldwide in February. The updated software offers improvements to the FlightScope's data on a club's angle of attack, grouping radius comparisons and print screen data, among other areas.

GolfBuddy handheld GPS systems are joining the European rangefinder market this year.

May Day for London Golf Show

The 2009 London Golf Show will be staged at the Docklands' ExCel Centre from May 1-3.

Golf is now a massive global business that employs more than three million people, including some 450,000 in Europe. For any industry of this size, good recruitment practice is essential to ensure that the right people are employed in the right jobs.

Following the success of the Classic Bionic glove in 2008, as distributed in the UK by GM Golf Brands, the Bionic Pro will become available to retail from March 1, and in the process it will establish a new retail price point for gloves: £24.99.

Murcia is now firmly established as the PGAs of Europe's ‘winter home', and thanks to the support of the Calidona group, Roda Golf & Beach Resort and Glenmuir, the Annual Congress, ITC and Awards Dinner proved to be a memorable climax to 2008.

Bridgestone Golf, known for its industry-changing Bridgestone Challenge ball-fitting program, has launched three new Tour level balls. The new B330-RX, a ball unlike any other product on the market, and the newly enhanced 4-piece versions of the award-winning TOUR B330 and TOUR B330-S series of balls are set to hit retailers' shelves in March 2009.

It was a period of rapid re-shuffle and retreat at Greg Norman Collection and parent company MacGregor in 2008. In the summer, John Ennis, president of MacGregor Golf Europe for the best part of 20 years, parted company with the troubled manufacturer. Greg Norman Collection's European boss Tony Wilkinson was appointed European general manager for both MacGregor and Greg Norman Collection in July, but no sooner had the ink dried on Wilkinson's signature that MacGregor's European operations were scrapped altogether, with the exception of the isolated German market.

Danish shoemaker ECCO is defying the global economy by boldly forging ahead into unchartered territory, with a range of premium golf shoes for 2009 that is broader than ever before: 10 men's styles and 30 women's, with the new Ultra Performance shoe at the forefront. The ECCO philosophy is ‘never aim to be the biggest, but always to be the best', and David Learmonth (pictured), promoted in the New Year to become ECCO UK's commercial director, spoke to Robin Barwick about how ECCO will match expectations in 2009

Durable yet lightweight at 1.8kg, Nike's Xtreme Element is made from a fibreglass stand and comes with seven well-placed pockets. The oval bag top has a six-way divider system and the double strap is made with ‘woven air' technology for excellent cushioning. Xtreme Element comes in Silver/ Black/Citron, Black/Silver/Victory Red and Light Graphite/Silver/Blue Spark.

The new S-Series trolley bag features an anti-twist base  that is designed to keep the bag firmly locked into place when on a trolley. The bag has 14 full-length club dividers as well exterior holders for umbrellas and putters, and a spacious array of pockets. The S-Series comes in Red, Green and Blue, in keeping with Motocaddy's S-Series trolley range.

Bridgestone's Stand bag is made from durable 420 denier nylon and has a six-way bag top with full-length dividers. The bag comes with six pockets and an umbrella sleeve, and a double aluminium leg stand. It is available in Black/Gold and Black/Black.

PING's new Moon-Lite II weighs in at just under two pounds. The bag is built with three pockets and a three-way divider at the top, and a hinged internal stay allows the bag to be folded in half for easy storage. It comes in Black/Silver, Navy/Silver, Red/Royal and Royal/Green.

The Air Stand bag from Benross weighs less than four pounds, and comes with a bag top divided eight ways. The bag has a range of six pockets, a putter well, dual shoulder strap and a strap for securing the bag to trolleys.

New for 2009, GO's light and compact Slim Jim has a six-way, full-length divider, dual shoulder strap, towel clip, umbrella holder and a variety of pockets. Slim Jim has a sister bag called Thin Lizzy, that comes with yellow trim and a five-way divider.

If you have not seen this ORKA bag on Tour yet, you probably will in 2009. ORKA's Tour bag has a six-way divider, seven pockets of varying dimensions, an umbrella holder, glove holder and a single strap.

The Superstrong has a 13-way divider and a putter well, and the body of the bag is designed so that all pocket zips face the front of the bag. It comes in Yellow/Black, Navy/Black, Black/Black and Pink/Black.

Sun Mountain has added even more features to its best-selling stand bag. The Superlight comes with a patented Roller Bottom and recessed Y-spring leg activator, an E-Z Fit dual strap system, full range of pockets and triangular non-slip foot pads at the end of the stand legs. Made one inch shorter than the men's version so it is a better fit for women's clubs, the Superlight comes in Storm Grey/Pink, Jewel Blue/White, Red/Black and White/Silver.

New for 2009, the Nicklaus Stand Bag comes with a full complement of pockets, full-length dividers and a dual strap. The bag comes in two colour options: Black/White/ Voltage and Black/White/Silver.

Built with Tour golf in mind, the Black and White Snake Eyes Staff Bag is divided six ways at the top and comes with a rugged saddle carry strap. It is also made with the full range of spacious pockets to cater for the golfer who needs to be prepared for anything.

Ram claims its new SDX is one of the best value-for-money cart bags in golf. The lightweight cart bag has a 13-way top, a comprehensive selection of pockets and an external putter holder. The SDX comes in Navy/White/Red, Black/White/Blue and Black/Black/Silver.

Wilson's ground-breaking Eco Carry stand bag is made almost entirely from recycled materials. The primary material used is Greenplus polyester, which itself is made from recycled plastic bottles, which generates 70% less CO2 than regular polyester during production. For every Eco Carry that Wilson makes, 10 large plastic bottles are saved from landfill, and it only weighs 3.7 pounds.

Izzo claims its new Pilot "has it all". 14 is the magic number with the Pilot, as the bag boasts a 14-way club divider and an array of 14 pockets, including two full-length apparel pockets. The water-repellent bag comes with an elastic towel holder, an umbrella holder and putter well, and it is also designed to hold the SWAMI 1500 GPS unit. The Pilot comes in Black, Red, Green, Grey and Blue.

Made from carbon-fibre-wet PU and synthetic leather, TaylorMade's TMX Staff Bag is not for the every day golfer. The 9.5-inch top has a six-way, full-length divider and the bag has seven pockets of various dimensions. An umbrella holder is integrated to the body of the bag and the hardware comes with a gunmetal finish.

Mizuno's Weekender is a mini-stand bag designed to hold a full set of clubs, geared towards compact travel. It is fitted with a dual shoulder strap, QuikSnap rainhood and a HydroSleeve for a water bottle. The Weekender comes in Platinum, Sky, Staff (blue), Orange, Pink and Fire (red).

Our biggest problem is with currency," reveals Sunderland's sales and marketing manager Brian Mair. "Almost everything we buy is in dollars, and with the pound weakening against the dollar it's made it much more expensive to create product. Our production costs have gone up by about 25-30% in the last three months."

Peter Millar aims to mix contemporary lifestyle clothing with classic golf designs, and this is evident in its 100% cashmere sweaters. The Fall 2009 Collection also features sweaters made from fine Italian Merino and a new lambs wool-cashmere blend, knit golf shirts in both long and short sleeves and a new brushed-cotton fleece.

The Lybster Windstopper illustrates how Abacus is combining hi-tech function with a classic look in Autumn 2009. The Collection as a whole centres on knits and tweeds, together with soft shells and waterproofs, with ‘mature' colour stories to befit the season. The womenswear has an ‘afternoon tea' feel in two colour stories, one of which features various nuances of Grey, Black, White and Bright Pink Lipstick (pictured).

Oscar Jacobson has a distinct look that combines bright colours with sophisticated and classic designs. Autumn-Winter 2009 will be true to character, as the Lined Half Zip sweater confirms. Made from a 50/50 blend of wool and polycryl, the sweater comes in Antracite (dark grey), Silver, Navy, Anemone (pictured), Black and Ruby Red, and it also forms part of Oscar Jacobson's 2010 Ryder Cup branded collection.

The X-TEX is a compression top designed to support the upper body muscles in action. The compression support eases aches and pains, delays fatigue and quickens recovery times. It is also designed to regulate body temperature by wicking perspiration away from the body. The X-TEX comes in Black, White and Navy.

The Companeros trousers are new from Brand Fusion in the UK. Made from Elastane to ensure the trousers move with the body in motion before returning to their original shape, they come in a range of 10 styles and four waist sizes, from 32" to 38", with short, regular and long leg sizes.

The ML50 polo shirts from Greg Norman Collection are not new to the market, but European licensee Severn Under believes they have enduring appeal. The shirts feature 50+ UV protection and GNC claims they are 30% lighter than traditional polo shirts. They are ‘easy-care, easy-wear,' with moisture wicking ability.

Dawson is one of three sweaters made from INSULA by Galvin Green in 2009, designed to provide excellent thermal insulation and breathability. The zip-neck sweater is intended to be an intermediate layer in Galvin Green's multi-layer concept and it comes in four colour options: Fog/Black/Chilli Red; Green/Black/White; Ultra Marine/Black/White; Chilli Red/Black/White.

The Long Sleeve Turtle Neck in a ‘Quick Dry' paisley print is one of the colourful highlights of Daily Sports' Autumn-Winter range. The zip-neck top is breathable and designed to provide excellent moisture absorption. The garment is colourfast, non-fade and easy-care, and comes in four colour stories: Cappuccino, River, Charcoal and Aubergine (pictured).

The UV Trousers form part of Sunderland's UV Range, which has been designed in collaboration with skin experts to provide UV +50 protection. Shirts and trousers in the range all include Cocona fabric, which is derived from coconut shells. The trousers come in six waist sizes from 32" to 42", with lengths from 31" to 33", and in Black or Light Grey.

Glenmuir's Windstretch Pro has been retained for Autumn 2009, but with new colour options. Now coming in Silver/Black, Navy/Winter White and Black/Graphite, the Windstretch Pro is made from Teflon-coated Storm Bloc, which is 96% polyester and 4% elastane, and a breathable stretch microfibre outer fabric covers a lightweight stretch lining.

Stromberg's Costa Esuri trousers, made from 100% cotton and with a cinz stripe, reflect the sophisticated and fashionable range for 2009. Stromberg has Funky and Classic lines, and all items are available in a wide range of sizes.

Mizuno's thermal fabric is designed to act as an unrestrictive body layer for winter conditions. Mizuno says exothermic properties can absorb moisture from the body and convert it into heat. The Virtual Body Mock is a compression top made with contoured panelling to support golfing motions.

The Flavor Collection for 2009 uses predominantly muted colours to suit a contemporary collection inspired by classic lines, as shown by the Flavor Pant for women. The fabrics used for the Flavor Line are cotton, wool and silk, and contrasts with the brand's more technical Pure line.

The Caves is one of Ashworth's new collections to complement the men's core range, incorporating warm and earthy shades such as Port and Clay. Also new for Autumn will be The Forest, which will centre on Ivy Green and Grey tones.

Mashie is a windtop made from ‘ultra' lightweight Micro Plain fabric. The Mashie is windproof and water-resistant and comes with an adjustable collar. It is also available in short and long sleeves, and in a range of colours for men, women and juniors.

Callaway's XCore range, which features the C TECH cotton/polyester blend, is returning for Autumn, but with two new colour stories for men, Metro and Icon. Bold colour blocks and classic stripes come to the fore, in modern tones such as Allure, Spruce, Stratosphere and Nine Iron, complementing the more traditional Navy, White and Black.

The ClimaProof Storm Full-Zip Soft Shell Jacket is more than just a really long name. Made from 100% polyester and carrying on from Spring, the dual-layer, laminate jacket is available in Khaki and Black colour schemes for Autumn 2009, and comes with zip pockets, open hem and a bungee draw cord.

Made from 100% Merino wool, the Tenby Windstopper from Sunice features a check print and full zip, and forms part of an Autumn range that centres on new colours Platinum and Shadow, with a view to creating a sophisticated and seasonal look.

I've seen players' bags with a sorry assortment of grips in various conditions, wear and sizes, so how can they achieve a consistent feel if each club requires a different hold?