Sights and Sounds from the 2017 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Course

If you ever get the chance to visit Hilton Head for the RBC Heritage, do it.  It's not a golf tournament with a party going on, it's more like a party with a golf tournament going on. 

 

The course is gorgeous, the play is exciting, and the overall vibe is 100-percent feel good.  Here are a few sights and sounds from the week. 

RBC Heritage Giveaway: Signed Wesley Bryan Callaway Golf Ball, Harbour Town Lighthouse Divot Tool, and Poker Chip/Ball Marker

PGA Tour rookie and trick shot artist Wesley Bryan won the first tournament of his career last week at the RBC Heritage, and to celebrate I'm giving away a Harbour Town Lighthouse divot tool, Harbour Town poker chip/ball  marker, and of course a Callaway golf ball signed by RBC Champion Wesley Bryan. 

 

Bryan is one of those guys you just want to root for.  He's genuine, he's humble, and he's quite a character to boot.  When reminded after his victory that he wasn't even on Tour 15 months ago, Bryan replied, "Well that escalated quickly." 

Cobra Golf and Bryson DeChambeau Going Retro: Heritage Collection Preview

COBRA PUMA GOLF has announced their new Heritage Collection, including a Limited Edition Wood Grain KING F7 driver, a sophisticated chestnut herringbone pattern Driver Cap, along with stylish apparel and footwear. 

 

The collection is designed to celebrate the rich history of golf and a nod to its icons. To bring the collection to life, COBRA PUMA GOLF is teaming up with Bryson DeChambeau for this tribute to the game and its bygone era with “throwback” style and equipment. 

Masters Hangover Giveaway: 4 Pack of Swing Oil Golf Performance Drinks and 1 Year Subscription to Golf Digest or Golf Magazine

The Masters hangover is real.  We all know that.  And so I'm doing my part to help you with the cure. 

 

I'm giving away a 4 pack of Swing Oil Golf Performance Drink and a 1-year subscription to Golf Digest or Golf Magazine (your choice).  We'll have three winners for this one. 

Swing Oil Golf Performance Drink Review

My first experience with Swing Oil was back in January at the PGA Merchandise Show.  If you followed my daily coverage you know I was running around like a cheetah during the Show, and spent all day at Demo Day hitting clubs.  I didn’t crack any ribs testing new gear like Rory, but there was no denying my body felt fatigued. 

 

Well I drank one pack of Swing Oil on the second day of the Show and within an hour that stiff, aching feeling in my muscles was basically gone.  Another one that evening before I went to sleep and the next morning I didn’t feel any delayed muscle soreness like I did the first two days. 

CRU Golf 2017 Major Collection The Masters Headcovers Review

It's the pinnacle of American golf.  A worldwide obsession where players must shut out the noise and focus on the task at hand.  It's The Masters.  It's Augusta National.  And CRU Golf's limited edition Masters Headcovers capture its hypnotic allure with compelling reverence and admiration. 

 

The Masters. Just two words, but thousands of emotions.  Admiring CRU's Masters headcovers right out of the box I started to nostalgically drift off, and could almost smell the aroma of pine straw, see the explosions of azaleas.  I even imagined driving up Magnolia Lane with legends of Masters past recounting stories of Amen Corner, Butler Cabin, and of course the iconic green jacket. 

Srixon Z-Star XV, Z-Star, and Q-Star Tour Golf Balls Review

Golf season hasn’t quite started up here in Ohio, but a few nice days last week gave me the perfect opportunity to put in some extensive time with the new Srixon Z-Star XV, Z-Star, and Q-Star Tour balls. 

 

To compare how each ball performed relative to the other, I hit multiple shots from the same spots on the course using driver, a 7 iron, and a 56* wedge, and did this on a variety of holes.  A friend came with me and did the same thing so we could compare impressions. 

Titleist Releases Limited Edition 716 AP1 Smoke Irons

The maximum distance and maximum forgiveness of Titleist 716 AP1 irons can now be experienced in a sleek new finish: Limited Edition Smoke. 

 

The Smoke finish is a test run because many golfers have been asking for it.  There's been a gravitation to darker finishes in the Vokey SM6 wedges, and the smoke finish in the 716 AP1 irons will make the club look smaller at address. 

Sights and Sounds from the WGC Dell Match Play & Bill Haas Signed Titleist Pro V1 Ball Giveaway

My first tournament of the season finds me in Texas for the Dell WGC Match Play this week.  Surprising upsets, dazzling performances, and the glorious hill country of Austin Country Club have made this a fun one. 

 

Here are a few pictures and videos from the week capturing some of the action. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Best of Show

More than 13,000 words, 1,900 pictures and videos, and thousands of swings later, recaps from Demo Day and the PGA Show are done.  Which means it's time for my Best of Show. 

 

In some categories the difference between winners and honorable mention was razor thin, almost like making a putt versus having one lip out on you. But distinctions have to be made. No participation ribbons in my Best of Show. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 3 Recap (Part 3): Titleist, Vokey Wedges, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Adidas, Ping, and Tear Down

No matter how you measure your game, you're going to need more than great technique to play your best and shoot your lowest scores.  The right tools always matter. 

 

So let's sink our teeth into the latest gear from Titleist, Vokey, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Adidas, and Ping in this final section of PGA Show recaps. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 3 Recap (Part 2): Antigua Sportswear, Wilson Golf, SeeMore Putters, Cobra Golf, and Puma Golf

This would be the section of my recaps I might call "You Win Some, You Win Some."  That's because something from every company in this section found it's way to my Best of Show wrap up. 

 

Let's take a closer look at new products from Antigua Sportswear, Wilson Golf, SeeMore Putters, Cobra Golf, and Puma Golf. 

Antigua Sportswear - 2017 PGA Show Spotlight

Antigua's understanding of, and dedication to the unique needs of the golfer is the reason why they've earned their reputation as a leading designer in the industry. 

 

Each year Antigua collections are the garments of choice for many golfers, with seasonal offerings consisting of core pieces using the finest knits, in fantastic new styles usually centered on a color story. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 3 Recap (Part 1): Callaway Golf, Odyssey Golf, Edel Golf, FootJoy, and Carnoustie Sport

Things definitely are more mellow on the final day of the Show, but for me the whirlwind was only getting stronger.  I still had a lot to cover, and in some instances even circle back to. 

 

In this section we take a look at a smorgasbord of new gems from Callaway Golf, Odyssey Golf, Edel Golf, Carnoustie Sportswear, and FootJoy. 

The Artistry of Carnoustie Sportswear - 2017 PGA Show Spotlight

If you're familiar with Carnoustie Sportswear you know the name is synonymous with elegant styles that are as timeless as the game itself.  I'm not talking sober, unadventurous golf dad styles.  I'm talking about fire over flash, good taste and refinement, where integrity of design meets integrity of experience. 

 

Luxurious and uncompromising fabrics make their outerwear and polos the heroes of any wardrobe.  And the distinctive, indulgent feel to their collections makes you feel downright pampered, as if Carnoustie is a family member who genuinely cares about your well being. 

Did Edel Golf Just Reinvent Single Length Irons? 2017 PGA Show Spotlight

We all know that Edel Golf designed the single length irons Bryson DeChambeau used to win the U.S. Amatuer title in 2015.  And now Edel has actually improved the way single length irons perform in a way that's notably different from anything the industry has ever seen. 

 

I spent a good amount of time speaking with Edel's Andrew Graw about the common problems with single length irons, as well as what Edel did to address those issues, and it was extremely educating and equally fascinating. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 2 Recap (Part 2): Cleveland Golf, Srixon Golf, Oakley Golf, Swing Oil, Nippon Shafts, Volvik, and Piretti Golf

Can you tell I was having entirely too much fun this year?  Many of you asked how I covered so much, and the answer's simple really. Every time I saw a new company booth my eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.  My excitement and energy all week was overflowing, and I think I might even have dual residency now in Ohio and Florida. 

 

Let's take a look at new products from Cleveland Golf, Srixon Golf, Oakley Golf, Swing Oil, Nippon Shafts, Volvik, and Piretti Golf. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 2 Recap (Part 1): Tour Edge, Honma Golf, Bettinardi, Callaway Apparel, Oban Shafts, and New Balance

You heard a lot of my impressions about the new 2017 gear in my Demo Day recaps and during daily coverage.  Now we're going to look at all of them again, and I'm going to start hinting at what clubs found a place in my Best of Show. 

 

In this section we'll take a look at Tour Edge, Honma Golf, Bettinardi, Callaway Apparel, Oban Shafts, and New Balance. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 1 Recap (Part 5): Evnroll, Zero Friction, SuperStroke, Daphne's Headcovers, Winn Grips, 18 Birdies, and John Daly

We wrap up the Day 1 coverage with a look at Evnroll, Zero Friction, SuperStroke, Daphne's Headcovers, Winn Grips, 18 Birdies, and some John Daly. 

 

Looking ahead to Day 2, we'll have more apparel coverage, but the focus moves heavily on new equipment, and I'll bring you more than you'll know what to do with. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 1 Recap (Part 4): CRU Golf, Travis Mathew, OGIO, Bushnell Golf, Golf Pride, ECCO Golf, and Miura Golf

Ask anyone who's ever been to a PGA Show, and they'll all tell you there's a point each day where they inevitably start to run out of gas.  It was late afternoon  now, I'd already seen an abundance of new products, and that downward spiral into daydreams of a marvelously comfortable bed back at the hotel seemed inevitable. 

 

Then I checked out CRU Golf, Travis Mathew, OGIO, Bushnell Golf, Golf Pride, ECCO Golf, and Miura Golf.  And it seriously felt like a high-dose adrenaline infusion.