Golf seems to have come through a spell of resolution recently, with people shaking hands and moving forwards, onwards and upwards. This sense of co-operation is all quite refreshing – and just as our Arctic winter relents. Spring is definitely in the air.

Ping and the PGA Tour have come to an agreement relating to Ping’s infamous ‘pre-April-1990-Eye2-irons-and-wedges’, meaning there are no longer any loopholes to allow Phil Mickelson to get around the new groove rules – or anyone else for that matter (it’s not as if Mickelson was the only tour golfer to ignore his moral compass and resort to using the old Eye2 wedges this year, he was just the big name with the Callaway bag).

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.

In part eight of SGB Golf’s exclusive series of country summaries taken from the BGIA’s report on The European Golf Apparel and Footwear market, we focus on the Scandinavian outpost of Iceland

Although Iceland has a population of around 313,000 – equivalent to a mid-sized European city, like Cardiff - golf happens to be the most popular participant sport on this northern Atlantic island. Over 10% of Iceland’s inhabitants play golf – approximately 35,000 regular players - and the claim to fame of Iceland’s Golf Federation is that the country boasts the most golf holes per capita in the world.

The internet hasn’t just brought golfers closer to you. You now have almost instant access to the in-boxes and mobile phones of your club or facility management and owners, and your supplier management and staff.

The battle to communicate and illustrate your value as a PGA professional has never been easier, but how often does the industry hear your success stories?

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

Hi-Tec is launching the new Patriot golf shoe for the UK market this spring, sporting the Scottish Saltire. The Scotland shoe has been created with a view to this year’s 150th anniversary of the Open, to be celebrated at St Andrews on Scotland’s east coast.

“Scots are also always proud to don their national flag, and with the Open being held at St Andrews, visitors from all over the globe will flock to the ‘Home of Golf’,” Keith Dicker, Hi-Tec’s European golf sales manager, tells SGB Golf. “With consumers in this buoyant mood, this gives retailers a pocket of opportunity to pick up incremental business, something they could all do with given the economic climate recently.”

Cleveland promises its new HB3 irons are ‘lighter, faster and longer’ than any previous Cleveland hybrid irons sets. Scheduled for retail delivery from April 1, the new clubs feature a new sole design, with a view to enhancing forgiveness, and Cleveland says the transition from cavity-back irons into hybrids is seamless.

“The HB3 is the ultimate game improvement set of irons,” Ben Davis, Cleveland’s UK/Northern Europe marketing manager, tells SGB Golf. “More and more golfers are realising the benefit of replacing their traditional harder-to-hit irons with hybrids. Put simply, the HB3 irons help make the game easier and more enjoyable for golfers.”

A sense of perspective of the UK’s glove market is provided by Golf Datatech figures. For market share in terms of unit sales, FootJoy accounted for 47% of gloves sold in 2009; the three best selling models in the UK were all FootJoy products, led by the WeatherSof with 15.3% of the market; and just to confirm the gloom for FootJoy’s rivals in the glove category, the nearest rival brand recorded a total market share of 7.6%. In terms of market value FootJoy was even less relenting, with a 49.4% share.

The lingering recession and January’s cold, snowy conditions may have led to a slow start to the year, but there is every reason to believe the 2010 golf season will be a very healthy one – especially in the powered trolley market.

In recent years, sales of motorised trolleys have grown and grown thanks to continued product innovation and excellent product reliability. And the market has also expanded to encompass a much wider, younger demographic than the traditional profile of trolley users.

Not a lot of people know this, but ...

On my first week working at Gleneagles I caddied for Michael Keaton (Batman!). It was just the two of us for 18 holes, which gave me an insight to how the other half live.

How is business at the moment?

Business was nonexistent at the start of the year, with five weeks of course closure. We opened for three days before receiving another dumping of snow. However, January is always quiet and it allows me to prepare for the season ahead. The best tool I have to attract customers is the Foremost Integrated Marketing Programme. This is my only communication with the members who stay away during the winter, so content is very important.

The Golfsmith repairs department receives countless through-bore drivers for re-shafting. This is usually because the pro doesn’t realise how easy the repair really is.

The first step is to remove the existing shaft by using a decent shaft extractor (if you’re looking to save and reuse the shaft) or simply by drilling it out. The new shaft then has to be prepped by removing the paint right down to the graphite. The edge of a Stanley knife blade does the job, and scraping away from you ensures the graphite fibres don’t get damaged. It is essential that the paint be removed from the whole length of the insertion depth, as failure to do this may result in shaft ‘creaking’.

Why was Foremost’s participation in the new Harrogate trade show with the PGA and TGI announced four months after the show itself was launched?

The idea of this show was originally something Foremost voiced to TGI five years ago. At the time TGI were not ready for the idea, and then about a year ago discussions started again. Unfortunately as the announcement approached there were still two or three key issues to resolve, and we ran out of time. We now have confirmation on those key points and we are very happy to agree the partnership and to move forward.

Golf Pride has released three new models for 2010, including a revamped Tour Wrap 2G. The classic Tour Wrap has been a pillar of the Golf Pride range for 20 years, and the company says the updated model will provide improved tackiness and greater softness. The one-piece grip is designed to combine the look and feel of leather with the durability and performance of high-tack rubber, and it is available in Black, Red and White.

Australian leather grip specialist The Grip Master launched its John Daly Range of kangaroo stitchback grips in 2009. Available in swing and putter models, the premium JD Range comes in Mustard, Off Yellow, Green, Hot Red and Blue.

“They are great in all weather as they get stickier if it’s wet, and their durability is incredible,” John Daly tells SGB Golf. “I am hoping I won’t have to change my grips for about eight years, whereas until now I have been changing my grips about once a month.”

The half-cord, dual-compound Pro DC is designed to offer great feel and high performance. The grip is made from an exclusive 4/3 compound with a view to providing both torsional strength in the upper hand, and a softer, velvety feel for the lower hand. The Pro DC comes in Black with one of four colours: Gold, White, Red and Blue, size 0.6 and it weighs 51 grams.

Softspikes has leapt into an entirely new product category by launching the new Black Widow grips for 2010. The range of five all-weather grips has been designed to maintain tackiness when wet, and they are made from rubber compounds that are designed to manage moisture so they do not dry out. The Signature grip (pictured) is made from a dual-compound with a view to providing enhanced feel at the fingertip points. It comes in Black/White, Black/Red and White/Black.

New from Lamkin for 2010, the N-Dur grips are made from Lamkin’s 3Gen proprietary synthetic rubber compound, which combines with a dual surface design. The back of the grip features a hexagon pattern panel which is designed to promote light grip tension while protecting the hands from slipping at impact, while the front of the grip features a ‘comfort’ panel, with a view to reducing fatigue and to promote the ideal grip position.

Introduced last year, the Pro Light is the lightest if the 2Thumb grips, weighing 75 grams, in comparison to the Light grip at 148 grams and the original 2Thumb grip, at 180 grams. The Light grip is perhaps best suited to the better player, or golfers accustomed to playing on very quick greens. The 2Thumb grips are designed for golfers to putt with their hands next to each other and level, which keeps the shoulders straight, with a view to encouraging a straight putting stroke.

The multi-layer Feeltec Putter Grips feature a soft and seamless PU outer layer wrap with a view to providing excellent feel and traction, and low torque. The all-weather grips come in a variety of models, colours and sizes, including Standard Pistol, Standard Paddle, Midsize Pistol, Marble and Hawaiian.

The Purple/Black New Decade Multi-compound grip is an additional colourway for the existing New Decade series, which also comes in White, Red, Sky Blue, Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Green. The New Decade combines rubber for the lower hand, with a view to providing comfort and responsiveness, with Golf Pride’s exclusive ‘Black Velvet’ cord section for the upper hand, designed for moisture management and traction.

The new, tip-balanced Proforce AXIVCore Tour Green is intended to provide a lower ball flight, reduced spin and better shot-making control. The shaft’s centre of gravity is closer to the tip to give golfers a better feel of clubhead position throughout the swing. UST Mamiya says the Green series is made from ‘superior high modulus carbon fibre’ in the butt and mid section, and the shaft is available in multiple weights and flexes.

Nippon Shaft’s new NS Pro WV wedge shaft is one of a number of Nippon models played on tour around the globe. Japanese-owned Nippon Shaft takes great pride in its ‘zero defect’ policy, and according to Nippon, such quality control and consistency has enabled the brand to become the number-one steel shaft in Asia with over 80% of the market, while the company is ranked number two in North America and Europe.

The GS 95 is a lightweight steel shaft designed to offer golfers a high ball flight and ‘graphite feel’. Created for golfers of all abilities, True Temper promises the GS 95 will deliver stability and consistency, and its Speed Step design features a ‘responsive’ tip with a view to increasing launch angle and peak trajectory. The GS 95 is available in parallel irons and tapered irons models, with stiff and regular flexes for each.

The Tour Series was engineered with what KBS calls ‘moment of inertia analysis’, with a view to increasing stability. The mass and radius of each step of the shafts are reduced in equal proportions along the length of the shaft’s centre line, which should result in efficient energy transfer from the hands through to the clubhead. The Tour Series is available in chrome and also with a Black Nickel finish.

The new Project X puts Grafalloy’s Zonal Design Theory into practice. Available as a driver and hybrid shaft, Project X is built with three distinct zones: Hex-Axial Reinforcement in the butt section is intended to provide excellent cross-sectional stability; Constant Taper Design in the mid section should eliminate localised bending; while Elongated Double Wrapped 55MSI Reinforcement should give a firmer tip section. The results should be penetrating launch and low spin.

The Voodoo remains current for Aldila, with a new addition to its range due in 2010. The Voodoo features S-core – or ‘stabilised core’ – which consists of a high-modulus carbon stabilisation rib running the length of the shaft, with a view to bolstering the shaft’s ‘hoop strength’ by 80% over conventional graphite. Aldila says this leads to less ‘ovaling’ during the swing, which gives better energy transfer into the golf ball.

The Attas International Series ISA-1000 is designed to provide excellent feel and energy transfer. UST Mamiya claims these constant-taper graphite shafts are made with ‘world-class quality precision’, and with the collaboration of UST’s Japanese and US engineers. Designed for a mid to high launch and made with a responsive tip, the ISA-1000 features a stiff mid section profile and stabilised butt section.

The ‘SL’ stands for ‘Super Light’, and True Temper says this shaft is 20% lighter than standard steel shafts (it weighs 106 grams, in comparison to the 128-gram Dynamic Gold, with a trimmed weight of under 100 grams). True Temper promises that the tip of the SL has the same strength as the original Dynamic Gold thanks to advances in the company’s proprietary ‘superlite alloy technology’.

A new generation of rangefinder might come as a surprise to those who weren’t sure these devices had been around long enough to complete one generation, let alone be starting on a second.

In fact SkyGolf has been around since 2001. During that time GPS devices have come and GPS devices have gone. But where others have fallen foul of the potential for sexy yet superficial gimmickry offered by a hi-tech, handheld gizmo, a focus on the golfer’s true needs – accuracy, reliability, clarity – has seen SkyCaddie quietly rise to become golf’s most respected GPS brand – and the category’s market leader.

Complementing a line of 13 men’s waterproof jackets, Galvin Green is offering a selection of seven men’s windstoppers for 2010, including the new Bedford half-zip top. Galvin Green promises the top provides complete windproof protection while allowing exceptional freedom of movement. The company recommends this top as a mid or outer layer, and new colours for 2010 include Scuba Blue and Gull Grey.

The Littlestone ‘performance sweater’ from Glenmuir is new for 2010. Made from lightweight cotton, the long-sleeved Littlestone features a lock-down zip, contrast colour panels and it comes in sizes S-XXL. Available colourways are Stone/Blue; Blue/Stone; White/Black; Lilac/White; Paradise/White and White/Paradise.

The Helix sweater features a classic intarsia argyle pattern with a contemporary twist, and it is available in Grey Marl Multi, Black Multi or Smoke Multi. The warm, breathable knitwear is made from a blend of 60% cotton, 30% Nylon and 10% Merino wool. Ping Collection’s Autumn Winter range features bold colours and brings in detailing from Ping’s market-leading i15 range of clubs.

The Grange wind anorak is new from Swedish brand Abacus, and it is made from a bamboo charcoal stretch polyester. The jacket is water repellent, wind resistant and features ‘drycool odour control’. Abacus golf and lifestyle clothing, which offers the ‘silhouette look’, is available in 20 countries worldwide, enjoying particular popularity in northern Europe and Canada.

The Thermal tech half-zip pullover is part of the new clothing line from Wilson Staff, which is intended to offer golfers technical apparel at affordable prices. The lightweight Thermal Tech is made from a polyester-spandex blend to ensure freedom of movement, and it comes in Black or Navy.

The new Performance Softshell jacket from Footjoy is made from a four-way stretch fabric with a view to ensuring excellent freedom of movement on the golf course. Available in a trio of Autumnal colours, the unfussy and breathable, full-zip jacket is lined for added warmth and its sleeves are finished with elasticated cuffs.

Calvin Klein Golf is extending its understated Manhattan colour scheme through to Autumn Winter, incorporating Black, White and Grey. The White label windshirt is made from 100% polyester and it comes with half-zip, long sleeves, elasticated cuffs, and in sizes S-XXL.

Stuburt is concentrating on technical performance apparel for Autumn Winter, with a range featuring lined sweaters, base layers, slim-fitting fleeces and polo shirts. The lined sweater with zip-neck is intended to offer warmth and flexibility, and is available in a plain design or with Stuburt’s diamond pattern.

Oxford Golf is introducing a pair of lined, windproof sweaters for Autumn, the v-neck Cork and the crew-neck Livingston. The Cork is made from 12-gauge gassed Pima cotton for a smooth, soft finish and it is available in seven autumnal colours. The Livingston is made from Merino wool and comes in Black, Navy or Charcoal Heather.

Part of Sunderland’s new Coldwear range, the Bonded Fleece is made from three-layer interlocking fabrics, yet Sunderland promises it is lightweight and breathable. The polyester knit is water repellent, a PU film prevents water penetration, while the fleece lining brings added warmth and moisture wicking properties. The Bonded Fleece comes in Black/Love Red, Black/Reward Blue and Graphite/Reward.

Proquip has launched a new line of water-repellent lambs wool knitwear. With v-neck, crew-neck and slipover models, the sweaters are made from 100% British lambs wool, and finished with a water-repellent finish that Proquip says will result in light rain beading off the surface. The company also says the water repellency will not fade with washing. The line is available in nine colours.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Cutter & Buck’s Autumn Winter collection has been designed entirely by Cork-based Premium Golf Brands and features two primary colour stories: Seattle (Red, Charcoal, Silver, White) and Tacoma (Black, Sky Blue, Khaki, White). The collection features long-sleeved polo shirts, knitwear, winter shirts and outerwear.

Designed to be worn in temperatures below 13°C, the Long-sleeve Mock is made from a double-sided knit fabric that is intended to transport moisture away from the body, while a brushed inner face keeps in body heat. The four-way stretch fabric enables the mock to provide a compression fit, which boosts blood circulation and helps to delay muscle fatigue.

Intended to combine function with fashion, and at the premium end of the price range, Peak Performance is introducing the Kings Course V-Neck for Autumn Winter 2010. This is a new version of the classic argyle golfing v-neck, made in what the brand describes as ‘soft, comfortable’ cotton.

As worn in a bygone era by the likes of Seve Ballesteros and James Bond, the Lambs Wool V-Neck from Slazenger Heritage takes the classic v-neck from the 1970s and 1980s and gives it a contemporary, slim fit. The brand was launched in January, with the intention of selling the range through high-end fashion retailers and prestigious golf venues.

Trouser specialist Dwyers & Co says its Force 6 trouser delivers six essential benefits to the golfer: they are waterproof (one); seam sealed (two); windproof (three); breathable (four); lightweight (five) and easy care (six). Designed to offer the comfort and appearance of a normal trouser, Force 6 leads a range that also features a tartan plus-four model with matching Navy socks.