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.
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!
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.
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.
