Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Studio Store 2008 Holiday Release




Rating: 6 points
Pros: Great release with something for everyone.
Cons: Extremely limited amounts.

2008 has come and is now gone with concern to Studio Store releases. In a year with not-so-arguably the best headcover releases ever, we also got a few surprises with the Holiday Release. This year's release consisted of a headcover, three pivot tool ornaments, three ball markers, a clip tool and a long sleeved t-shirt.

A well known marketing tactic is to use the "best of best" when implementing new products and offers... Scotty goes after this with the headcover release this year. In a departure from his traditionally Christmas/Holiday themed headcovers (which have been the norm since the initial 2004 release of the holiday Scotty Dogs), Scotty went with a champaign colored headcover with a mix of this year's headcover themes. The cover includes icons from the Hula, US Open, St. Patrick's Day, Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, Las Vegas, British Open, Masters and Halloween headcover releases. There is a lot crammed into one headcover, but Scotty has done a great job combining them.


Second on the list are the pivot tool snowflakes. There was some discussion leading up to this release regarding a few of these sculptures that found their way to eBay. Commanding a large premium on those auctions, the sculptures released from the studio have had a precedent set as very valuable collectible items. There were three colors released, Gold, Green and Red.

Next are the ball markers or "Cameron Coins" as they're being called. We saw these coins a few months ago after the Japan M&G Event... this time around they are complimented by a video on Scotty's website showcasing how they are made. There are three desings, Peace, Luck and the Circle T... all three matching the bag tags which were released in November. Interestingly enough, the same stainless steel bar stock that is used to make the Studio Select weights, is used to produce these unique ball markers.


Rounding out the release is the My Girl Clip Tool and the Art of Putters T-Shirt. Since the long sleeved t-shirt is a re-release of a popular shirt from last year, there isn't too much to say. However the My Girl tool... wow. Scotty has not been shy on the Clip Tool releases this year, and this release was no exception. The vibrant pink (named "Celestial Cotton Candy") tools are laser engraved with "My Girl of Carlsbad" and will be very popular among women and men collectors alike. Typically My Girl releases are very limited, and these tools are purported to be limited to 250 pieces.

Rating this release was a little tough... the only reasons it is not the full 7 point crown are that the snowflakes seemed to be extremly limited (rumors have them at 50 pieces each, which isn't necessarirly a bad thing) and the headcover is a little too out of the ordinary to be considered a "home run" cover. I also would have loved to see the headcover in white instead of champaign, especailly since Scotty had GREAT success with white headcovers this year.

Thanks for another great year of Studio Store releases, Scotty!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Driver, Fairway & Utility Headcovers



Rating: 5 points
Pros: Can be used as boxing gloves.
Cons: Not a substitute for real boxing gloves.

I waited to pass judgment on these new Studio Store offerings until they arrived... I received them earlier this week and I am impressed, but not extraordinarily. Seeing the Black/Gold and Black/Orange/Green both in person, I have to say the Black/Orange/Green looks a lot better than the Black/Gold... the thing that really stands out to me on the nylon Japan versions is the color contrast (Red/Blue for instance)... and the Black/Orange/Green captures some of that.

I rated these 5 points above due to only a few minor gripes. I would have liked the driver cover to be a little larger, but AM&E has been making these for years (and with 460cc drivers being around for a while), so there's probably a good reason why they are not larger. I would also have like to see cheaper prices for the fairway wood and utility covers as they are substantially smaller than the driver cover (although they probably require the same labor to produce). I'm also not sold on the canvas material... but I am splitting hairs on obviously a very cool item.

Seeing them in person is a lot more impressive than I thought they would be... now I guess I have to get a fairway wood in my bag since I've been playing Driver/19* hybrid for the past 3 years. Also, I find it very hard to resist the urge to put the cover on my hand and use it as a punching mitt.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Damascus 009


Rating: 7 points
Pros: The finest folded steel, milled into the finest head design.
Cons: Swirls make you dizzy.

Damascus steel has the distinct privilege of being considered the highest grade of steel. Scotty Cameron brings this elite metal to a putter design long considered to be the best among his followers, the 009.

Debuting in 2005 with the Billet Block Copper (BBC) putters, the 009 design has been used sparingly for Tour only putters. Joining the BBC, Cameron & Co German Stanless Steel (GSS) and 009 Carbon Steel is this new iteration using the same design.

The Damascus Steel 009 (D009) was released last week with great fanfare at the 2008 Japan Musem & Gallery Event at the Hamamatsu Seaside Golf Club in Shizuoka, Japan. Complete with costumed presenters and strobe lights, these putters were first shown to those in attendance and later detailed in a slideshow at ScottyCameron.com.


At $15,000, these putters are aimed at the extreme high end Scotty Cameron collectors. There will be only 27 made, numbering 0 through 27 (omitting the bad luck number 4). Two of which have been confirmed as sold (#1 and #7), one belonging to Fukuda-san (#0) and unconfirmed rumors circulating that #27 and two others have been sold or spoken for in the short time they have been available.

Damascus steel has only been seen twice before in the putter market, once last year in a special release by Odyssey of 15 pieces, and several years ago by putter maker Tad Moore. The difference with these putters, of course not only being made by master putter maker, Scotty Cameron, are the folded steel patterns visible in the face, and the beautiful gold-color finish applied to them.


Additionally, the D009's have distinct retro-style stamping, typically reserved for putters of this caliber. The significance of the 27 piece quantity has yet to be seen, but there are indications that the amount was limited only by the Damascus steel Scotty was able to purchase.

Present indications are that only 10 have been made to this point, and none have alignment aides or beaches (sound slots). The D009's have also been released with extremly rare leather headcovers and crocodile grips with baseball stitching. Although expected, it remains to be seen if the entire line will be produced this way.


In summation, this is the Scotty Cameron release of the year, if not the decade. These putters will be saught after well into the future.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Friut Loops Headcover



Rating: 5 points
Pros: New CS limited headcover!... Fruit Loops!
Cons: Toucan Sam conspicuously absent.

Almost two years ago during the last week of October 2006, we were introduced to the Peel Out Purple limited headcover which could be purchased along with any Custom Shop order through the end of the year. Last year we had access to the Limited Release Custom Shop Gold headcover. In both cases the headcovers became highly sought after and this year should prove to be no different with the release of the Fruit Loops full grain leather headcover.



The term Fruit Loops was coined, oddly enough, around the same time as the Purple headcover was released, while discussion centered on A006736 as I described it's multi colored circle snow. Since then that snow has become known as Fruit Loops (note the COA above does not call them Fruit Loops). This headcover follows that theme and naming convention with a leather upgrade. The price on these is $116 with any CS order or $91 with full restoration... although there is a loophole inthat you may order one of the Fruit Loops headcovers as your CS order and only pay the $116 plus shipping and taxes... as long as you send your putter to the Custom Shop.

This new release brings to mind the Black and Red Yen covers from 2004-2005 that were released through Japanese distributors, however the layout of the Fruit Loops compared to those yen covers seems to be a little spartan:


With this release we also get a redux of the Custom Shop Purple as well as the Black/Gold Winn grips that were very popular along with the limited headcover releases of years past.

Now to the exciting part... there are early rumors circulating regarding a possible white version of the Fruit Loops cover, and potentially a CT version as well. These covers will no doubt command a premium in the secondary market, but are going to be very hard to obtain in the first place... possibly only being included with G&G putters.

Overall a great looking cover that is sure to be a hit as a gamer and collectible.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Headcovers & Integrity


In the month of September I was able to add four amazing headcovers to my collection. None of which would have been possible without great friends and the integrity we share as collectors. As I near 4 years pursuing this hobby, friends do come and go, however many of the 'good guys' stick around... and that leads me to tell you how I acquired each of these:

Butch Harmon has issued 10 Las Vegas headcovers starting with the first Light Blue cover released in July 2006. Following light blue was dark blue, red, burgundy, carbon fiber, salmon, yellow, gold, chocolate and now the newest iteration, lime green. I am lucky enough to have a contact in the Las Vegas area who has picked up a Harmon cover for me for every release since the salmon.... he's not a Cameron collector, and has no interest in the headcovers other than making sure I get one. He could very easily get top dollar for these on eBay, but through our arrangement, I pay him a fair market price... the fact that he does not pick up extra covers just to flip them and offers me the one cover he gets is a good definition of integrity in my book.

The two Auburn covers are next. Wow. Collegiate Cameron covers bring a mint at auction, and I've been more than lucky enough to work out a few trades with someone who had access to these. The contingency was that these will not end up on eBay. I could very easily make a lot of money, but that's obviously not worth the relationship I have with this person... and he could very easily have charged me $1,000 apiece for them. Again integrity comes to the forefront and I have two amazing headcovers to go along with my Jason Dufner (PGA Tour Pro and Auburn Alum) tour putter.

The final headcover is something I can't even begin to assess in value, intrinsic or otherwise. Two of my friends spoke to Jason Gore at the Barclays back in August and learned he was very interested in acquiring one of my highly saught after putters. We were able to reach an agreement, but as an added surprise, Jason was able to get a Circle L headcover from the Studio and signed it for me. Both of those collector friends and Jason went above and beyond anything I could expect from people in our community, and again bring one word to mind, integrity.

I'm happy to share these with my readers and hope anyone who stumbles upon this post will realize how much integrity plays a role in collecting Scotty Cameron putters and accessories.


Friday, June 13, 2008

Old & New



Rating: 7 points
Pros: First Production Putter, Latest Limited Headcover.
Cons: I only have one of each.

Two new acquisitions this week... a Fry's Pity Putter and the new U.S. Open limited headcover. As a purist collector, I do not specifically prefer older style putters, but I do respect them. This is the holy grail as far as OTR putters go, and it's the only one I recall seeing publicly for sale in the past three years (this particular one has traded hands a few times in the past couple months, but it will be staying with me indefinitely). The headcover was released on Tuesday afternoon along with several other Cameron accessories at the Studio Store, and commemorates the 2008 U.S. Open in sunny San Diego at Torrey Pines.

There is a lot of talk about this headcover. Firstly, there are four versions circulating at this time, that's right FOUR. The picture above is the most common, showing 12 smiling suns on a white background. The second version we learned of shortly after the release is a similarly stitched version on a black background, there are 100 of pieces of these randomly distributed to Studio Store customers. The third version also came to light shortly after the release, showing again the suns on a white background, but altered stitching including a Circle T in place inside one of the suns. The fourth and yet to be discovered version is a 1/10 limited piece, like the black cover, randomly distributed to buyers.

This headcover appears to be the biggest hit since the '07 Masters cover... white headcovers generally tend to be more popular, and this one has a great design to go along with that. Values on this cover are almost certain to rise... the black and Circle T versions will probably settle in the $500 and $2,000 respectively. The yet to be identified 1/10 cover could be the most available and sought after cover in recent memory, the value could certainly top that of the Circle T version. One can only imagine how many of us will be scouring eBay auctions to see the subtle difference and find the proverbial diamond in the rough.

As for the Fry's putter, for those who may be unfamiliar with the story, these were made in 1991 for Fry's Sports in San Francisco, CA. Since the total order was for only 700 pieces (extremely low for a production run), this is commonly referred to as Fry's Pity Putter. The piece above is numbered 464... and is one of only a dozen or so in the registry. Luckily when this putter was released, Japanese collectors familiar with Scott Cameron handmades were quick to buy them up, so many remain safe in collectors hands to this day. Unfortunately, for the same reason, many of these will remain unavailable to other collectors.

As Cameron collecting continues to grow, many new collectors gravitate towards new designs with little regard for these old gems. Although it's extremely easy to fork over a few thousand dollars to buy a new 009 or Cameron & Co... the real thrill for me is the hunt. I have been more than lucky to come across almost a half dozen rare pre-Titleist putters in the past six months... something I am unsure I will be able to repeat as more collectors realize the importance of these pieces.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Private Reserve 2



Rating: 7 points
Pros: All original
Cons: Baby cow gave his life

In 1992 Scotty Cameron released 500 putters to the Japanese market under the name Private Reserve. Each putter was initially released with it's own certificate of authenticity (hand signed by Scotty), a hardwood display box made from red oak and it's own "Private Reserve" Milled Putters headcover. Only 10 of the original 500 have been sent to the Studio for authentication.

There were four models in the Private Reserve release each consisting of 125 pieces. It is not uncommon among Cameron putter releases for there to be four different models, however, the putters were numbered 1-4, which has never been done since. Early in his career, Scotty did not realize the number 4 held a negative connotation in Asian culture, due to it's pronunciation which is very similar to the word "death" in both Japanese and Chinese. The Private Reserve putter pictured above is the model 2, which along with the number 4 are the two models with milled cavities.

Each Private Reserve putter originally had a Neumann calf leather grip. Recently all the rage has been in exotic leather grips (ostrich, emu, barramundi, and there are even rumors of stingray), but back in 1992, calf leather is just about as extravagant a grip material as you could find. The shape of the grip was also unique to the period. Common on Acushnet and 8802 putters, the "D" shape is more rounded than today's more common pistol grips. The leather on the grip is still tacky to this day, although most of the gold embossing is worn from mine.


An interesting insight into the development of the Private Reserves comes from a few pieces of history that still reside at the Studio: In the earliest days of limited mass production, Scotty did not have the ability to G-Code putters from scratch, so template putters were made by hand to scan and input into the CNC machines to produce the final product. The 4 original handmade Private Reserve putters are stashed safely away at the studio.

The shape of my Private Reserve 2 is nothing like any other Cameron I have seen before. I continue to find putters in the Pre-Titleist era that amaze me... this is absolutely one of them. The toe to heel shape is the most noticeable departure from other Camerons to my eye. Forming a complete crescent, the line is very easy on the eye and when combined with the milled cavity, it frames the ball extremely well at address.



The look and feel of a Private Reserve putter is something that I wish every collector could appreciate. I may be a long way from completing the set, but I'm pretty sure a number 4 is next on my list.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Studio Select Newport 2.6




Rating: 5 points
Pros: Potentially a new OTR model this year!
Cons: It isn't a Notchback.

We have seen straight shafted Tour versions of Studio Select putters with welded spuds ever since they hit the Tour late last year. This variation on that theme seems a lot more "production friendly" with the heel alignment dot and one piece (non-weld) design. The reason the design has gotten this far is probably because it has been requested so much on Tour.

With a standard 1/4 toe hang, this putter lends itself to the arc stroke that nearly every Touring Professional and many amateur golfers have adopted after realizing the straight back and through path is a myth. Since human physiology and a non-perpendicular lie angle (a perpendicular shaft would be illegal) force some arc into every putting stroke; this straight shafted putter will fit the bill for many golfers who like how a no-offset putter sets up.

This putter is a departure from center shafted Camerons of the past in that it (as above) will not be face balanced. The neck spud is closer to the heel of the putter as well than with CS putters. Those previous CS Studio Stainless putters were all prototypes, however, and this Studio Select version seems to have a lot of momentum towards becoming an OTR. That momentum comes not only from Tour player and collector support, but from a very logistically sound design that could easily be converted to a belly putter with heavier sole weights.

Although I have never been a true fan of straight shafted putters, this one has me excited. All Scotty needs to do now is make a Notchback version.

As a side note, there are already rumors of a Newport 2.7 model which would most likely be a heel shafted double bend version of the Newport 2.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Classic I

Rating: 6 Points
Pros: Won the '93 Masters and launched Scotty's career.
Cons: It hasn't launched my career, yet.

Wow. I finally picked up a Classic I this week after over 3 years of collecting. The market for these putters has remained fairly consistent over that period of time. With most newer collectors favoring 009's, it has left room for the purist collectors to obtain great pre-Titleist pieces at reasonable prices.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the lack of stamping/engraving. Call me crazy, but the blank cavity is a great look... as is the absence of an alignment aid. Classic I is engraved on two lines on the toe end of the sole, Cameron vertically on the neck, and Scotty Cameron in a distinctive pattern on the heel end of the face. The heel-face engraving is one of the most identifiable marks among pre-Titleist collectors, occasionally we see it reproduced via hand-stamping on modern Tour putters.

Classic I's have a shape closely related to Newports and 009's, but distinctive on it's own. Lining them up is akin to watching the body style change on the Ford Mustang through the years. The bumpers seem wider and lack the radius seen in today's Studio Select model. The neck has crisp lines and an angular plumber's neck, a few generations away from what you might see on 009's. The topline is rounded, and the cavity has dog ears... a great combination in my eyes while looking at the putter from the cavity side.

Putts roll off the face extremely soft and true, the sweet spot is fairly small, so mis-hits are more than evident. This is a player's putter. Bernhard Langer won the Masters 15 years ago, in no small part, due to the accuracy of this putter. The putter in my collection has the original Scotty Cameron pebble grain grip which is also very utilitarian, not soft, yet providing feedback straight from the putter head. As a package, this putter has everything a golfer needs to sink putts and improve their game.

I'm happy to add this putter to my collection in a month when Scotty is celebrating 15 years since his first Master's win, and his 8th Masters victory in that short span.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Studio Select Custom Shop Options



Rating: 7 points
Pros: Great new options.
Cons: You still have to pay.

When the custom shop opened on April 1st, 2005, there were far fewer options than there were even yesterday. This new batch of options opens up the door for us to customize new and exciting creations. Many of us collectors have been around to see new color options, stamps, grips and headcovers released... some of which in limited quantities (gold and purple headcovers). Never before, however, has there been a release of options directly suited to one line of putters.

First and foremost is the option to stamp any one of the four custom shop stamps inside the Studio Select cherry dots in the cavity. We have seen tour stamps inside cherry dots before, but until now, this has been unavailable on an OTR putter. The translucent epoxy/paint used to fill the dots after the stamp has been applied is quite stunning eye candy.

Next are the Studio Select Custom Shop headcovers. Wow. There have been varying opinions on the OTR headcover, but these new offerings (with dots in Sublime Lime, Turbo Blue and Red Racer) have to be the coolest custom shop headcovers ever released. My only complaint here is that there aren't 1/500 versions of these covers, which had been typical of new color releases.

Frequent CS customers know that stamping on the bumpers was possible as long as it was properly requested, however this was not a public option. The new option of stamping your first and last name (or nickname) on the bumpers (on certain models) is sure to spurn a plethora of new orders being sent to the custom shop. The quoted wait time for CS orders has held steady at 15 days, and I'm thinking they will be prepared for the inevitable spike in orders.

Also available are the new weight adjustments for Studio Select putters. A full range of 330g to 380g putter heads is now available to suit any swingweight (including belly putters) using stainless, copper and tungsten weights. Dialing-in the weight had previously meant aftermarket modification using lead tape or other, less swingweight friendly, options (e.g. lead powder or in-hosel weights). The Studio Select was designed from the ground up to be adaptable to different weight configurations, and having these available for a fraction of the cost of weight kits that are available for other clubmakers, makes this an appealing option for golfers desiring quirky swingweights.

These new options for the all new Studio Select putters make customization a dream come true. The Custom Shop pricing remains fair for the amount of work involved in these modifications. All in all I'm happy to give the new Custom Shop options a full 7 out of 7 rating.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

2008 Masters Cover



Rating: 5 points
Pros: Yellow Fur!
Cons: Flowers are for girls.

Scotty stuck with tradition this week in releasing a limited headcover during a major week. Azaleas are the perfect representation for a Masters specific headcover, and I almost wonder why they weren't done before. This is easily, in my opinion, the second best Masters cover Scotty has ever released.

There are rumors circulating about a one-off white version of this headcover, to replace at random one lucky customer's headcover order. The potential of this is quite exciting, leading many of us to wonder just what we might do if we were the lucky "winner" of said cover. Last year's 1/100 bulldog version of the Masters cover was quite popular, bringing a smile to many collectors who received one. I can only imagine the thrill of opening that box and finding a white cover. Questions on whether to sell or keep such a cover quickly were asked... with many collectors suggesting they would flip it for a few (okay, several thousand) quick dollars. As a recipient of a very special cover in the past, I think I would want to keep this one in my collection, but there are bigger headcover collectors out there than me who would appreciate it more than I would.

This cover has the potential of becoming very popular as a gift to SWMBO's and daughters... much like the Camico of 2006. I think there's just as much potential for this cover to make it as a gamer in the bags of any collector due specifically to the yellow fur. Red and green fur headcovers have become very popular as gamers in the past two years since they've shown up... I can't imagine things would change drastically for the worse. Most people will appreciate the connection between the azaleas, Scotty Cameron putters, and the Masters.


Again, this is a great release in the tradition of many great major headcovers, I hope Scotty follows up with an equally thoughtful, nuanced and popular design for the US Open at Torrey Pines in June.

Friday, April 4, 2008

SCM Mizuno Prototype



Rating: 3 points (for obvious reasons)
Pros: Thin flange, full toe hang.
Cons: Pre-Mizuno or Pre-Titleist?

I've been lucky enough to have three SCM Mizuno Prototypes in my collection at some point. These are great collection pieces as well as seriously accurate putters. The latter holds true due to the sweet spot being easier to find than a Classic III or Bullseye style putter, and the full toe hang makes for a smooth gate style stroke. Not many of these show up for acquisition... only two or three last year on eBay or classifieds, and anyone with one in their collection should count themselves lucky.

The name "Mizuno Prototype" may suggest to some these were made before Scotty worked with Mizuno. However these were probably made in '94 from leftover Mizuno Pro-Am heads (contrary to the COA verbiage stating they were made from leftover M-100 heads). Less than 100 are believed to exist, though with many of them in Japan, that number may never be substantiated. Conflict with the COA wording aside, these are great Pre-Titleist pieces.

The SCM is engraved (not hand stamped), as the head was CNC milled... although one can't help but get a handmade "feel" when they see or putt with one. Scott Hoch was believed to use one of these on Tour in the early 90's, and I believe a good percentage of the less than 100 made were sent to players on Tour. This was at a time when Scotty was still making handmades regularly for Tour players and the shape of this putter is strongly influenced by those designs.

The other component to these putters is the "Cartier Script" on the face, which Scotty was experimenting with at the time... obviously this did not catch on, but for that reason, this putter is a great glimpse into Scotty's fairly early design days.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Estancia Club



Rating: 0 points
Pros: It's a Cameron
Cons: No clue beyond that

I bid and won an auction on this putter a few weeks ago, assuming it was at least a Special Event TeI3 putter. The insert is definitely not TeI3 (unless it's plated and buffed) and it appears it actually may be Sterling Silver. The engraving on the bottom reads "Made Exclusively for the Estancia Club 1999 Men's Invitational". From word of mouth, the Estancia Club is fairly high-end, which would make the case for a high-end (silver inserted) putter to be produced by Scotty on their behalf. Production numbers are anyone's guess... but the Estancia Club currently has a 325 member limit, so I'm sure the number is less than that. Given that Special Event putters are hard to come by in the first place (see the Las Vegas TPC Interclub, Desert Mountain, or Glenwild Golf Club & Spa putters)... the possibility of the insert being Sterling may just be an added bonus.

The only major reservation I have about calling this Sterling Silver is the elastomer ring around the insert. All known Sterling Silver limited edition putters were produced without the ring. Additionally, I haven't been able to get a good feel for the putter as it has been cut down to 33" and re-gripped, so I'm not comfortable saying it feels any softer or firmer than a TeI3. The only route to go at this point is to send the putter in for a COA. I'm hoping the studio will come back with the material and quantity produced, but that may be a tall order for such a limited piece. I'm also interested to learn if there was a headcover produced in combination with this putter (gut feeling and history on SE putters suggests this is the case).

So for now, this is a zero point putter... but it's got a lot of potential.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Studio Select FTUO Cover



Rating: 5 points
Pros: It's a new For Tour Use Only Headcover!
Cons: Scotty still hasn't released a Red Circa FTUO

After a considerably long drought without an OTR related FTUO headcover, Scotty comes through in a big way with this new headcover spotted on tour. The last iteration of an OTR FTUO cover was the vertical Titleist Circa '62 cover in early 2007, so this is a welcome sight for many FTUO headcover collectors. In the past, the FTUO had only been emblazoned on the side of the headcover, with the remaining graphics being identical to the OTR version. On this new Studio Select FTUO cover, the Circle T is prominently displayed inside one of the red dots on the top of the cover, a departure from the former configuration.

This is the only FTUO headcover to have two Circle T's... very cool when you think about it. The wording on the side of the headcover now reads "Tour Only", opposed to the "For Tour Use Only" usually reserved for these covers. The last few FTUO versions of limited headcovers have used this verbiage as well. It begs to question if we should start calling these "TO" covers instead.

I'm happy to see a new version of an OTR FTUO cover, but I'm still a little down about the Red Circa '62 cover never having a FTUO counterpart. I'm still not giving up hope!

Custom Shop Hoodie




Rating: 6 points
Pros: Looks cool, feels and fits nice, easy to wash.
Cons: Makes you look like a bum.

While all the attention on March 17th of this year was centered on the new Clover Headcover, a gem in the Scotty Cameron outerwear collection snuck into many members' shopping carts. There hadn't been a hoodie released since the 2007 Diamond Head, and it was well worth the wait. I remember seeing a few friends wearing the previous hoodie last year, and kicking myself for not ordering one. The new one looks better with upgraded and more Cameron specific graphics, you will have people ask you where you got this hoodie.

I waiver on sizing on most of my Cameron outerwear purchases, as I can never figure out if I'm XL or L. Standing 6'4" and 225lbs, I should be XL, but I swim in some articles that size (F&G polo's especially). I rolled the dice and purchased the XL version of this hoodie and it's easily the best fitting article of clothing I've ever bought from the Studio Store.

The hoodie is 100% pre-shrunk cotton, which feels great on the inside. It's the perfect lightweight jacket to wear over a short sleeve shirt on an early spring morning. Washing this hoodie is too easy it might make you want to actually do a load of laundry. Toss it in the washer with some jeans and socks and tumble dry, it doesn't get much easier, and the cotton (as expected) feels even nicer after it's been through the laundry with fabric softener.

I hope more people pick up this great addition to the outerwear line, I'll be getting a second one for my Dad. They're still available as of today in the Studio Store, and they are all over eBay and the classifieds section at competitive prices.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Inspired by Adam Scott




Rating: 5 points
Pros: Cool gamer makes for a cool Limited Edition
Cons: Scott's from Oz.

Scotty Cameron recently announced that he will be creating what should become a new "Inspired By" limited edition putter, modeled after Adam Scott. As a fan of Scott and Scotty, I can't help but be excited. The design potential has everyone on edge... it'll most certainly be a mid slant... but what type of head shape? Will it be an 009/BBC/Cameron&Co shape? Will it be closer to a Studio Select Newport? Only time will tell... but the lack of a Mid Slant version of the Newport in the Studio Select line (there is a MS NP2) may suggest there's room for this combination as the IBAS LE putter.

Inspired By Limited Editions have run anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 pieces... and with the recent success and limited availability of the 4,014 piece T10 LE, I wouldn't be surprised to see the IBAS putter at that 5,000 piece threshold. With Adam Scott's popularity not only among Cameron Collectors but among the general golfing public, this putter will be hard to come by, even if it's produced in large, albeit limited numbers.

The finish and material for the IBAS putter will be something to watch out for as well. Only the Inspired By Brad Faxon has had a finish other than stainless steel and with Adam Scott's current gamer being GSS with a Charcoal Mist finish, the stainless seems to be the most likely candidate. Any other finish may relegate a large quantity of the limited set to become wall-hangers. Stainless will give almost everyone the confidence to roll a few putts on Sunday with the IBAS.

There is also the IB "curse" to consider as well... even the more successful Sergio Garcia has seen his world golf ranking decline in the years since his LE hit the shelves. I don't doubt that Adam Scott will remain a Titleist staffer for years to come, and that his competitiveness on tour will remain strong... I'm counting on him to reverse this trend.

As a gamer, I'm hesitant to think this will make it in anyone's bag long-term. Not many Cameron Collectors use the Mid Slant neck... however there does appear to be some demand since the aforementioned MS NP2 is making an appearance in the Studio Select lineup. Still... the Plumber's Neck and 1.5 designs have held strong and I would expect many of the IBAS' to be on the display rack within 6 months of it's release.

With limited distribution expected through Titleist representatives across the country, this putter will move fast and increase in value immediately as almost all LE putters do... but to stand the test of time and remain desirable for years to come, Adam Scott must remain strong on the PGA Tour and this putter will have to be appreciated as a gamer and a wall hanger by all Cameron Collectors.