Puetz Golf - IN THE BAG

PRODUCT REVIEWS AND EQUIPMENT NEWS YOU CAN USE

Late summer releases to swing, drive, wear and wow your playing partners

BY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

Summer is a curious time for major manufacturers to be introducing significant new product lines. The odd club here and there is common enough, or maybe an accessory or two. But entire families of clubs is unusual.

In this issue, however, we are excited to highlight new lines from TaylorMade, Titleist and new ladies products from Ping. The golf equipment industry is always evolving, and we are here to bring you the latest.

Anyway, how’s your summer going? Putting any decent rounds together? By now, we hope you’ve rounded into good form, are hitting the ball sweetly, and really are enjoying the greatest of games. If you’re new to golf, you’re no doubt discovering just how great summer tee times are, especially those early in the morning when the course comes to life, or during the evening’s golden hour when the sun is going down and casting glorious shadows across the fairways.

We hope that golfers who have played in any of the Cascade Golfer events that have happened so far this year enjoyed the experience, and that those just home from the Corona Premier Shootout at Gamble Sands had as good a time as we did.

Wherever your game’s at though, and whatever the time of year, you know that Puetz Golf has everything you need to play better, more enjoyable golf. See PuetzGolf.com for current prices on these products,

1 • PING

G Le3 Driver & Irons

PUETZ GOLF PRICE Driver $489.99 Per iron $169.99

It’s almost four years since Ping introduced its G Le2 clubs that helped female golfers to hit longer, higher shots with a combination of lighter components, lower Centers of Gravity (CG), and higher Moments of Inertia (MOI). The new G Le3 uses some of the technology found in the company’s successful G430 clubs and, in place of the G Le2’s garnet accents, has a unisex Hydropearl chrome look. The G Le3 family comprises an adjustable driver, four fairway woods, four hybrids, irons, and four putters. The 460-cc titanium driver has 11.5 degrees of loft and a high MOI making it extremely forgiving. It’s optimized for golfers whose driver swing speed is 80 mph or slower. The clubface is forged which gives the club great feel, and there is a weight positioned toward the back in the sole which lowers the CG helping you launch the ball easily off the ground. Ping’s famous Turbulators and Vortec Cavity improve the aerodynamics of the club helping you to swing it a little faster. The Trajectory Tuning Hosel 2.0 allows you to adjust the loft by 1.5 degrees either way. As with the G Le2, the irons set is an irons/ hybrid combo. Heel and toe weights in the irons make them extra forgiving. The multi-material PurFlex cavity badge provides great sound and feel while helping the clubface to flex a little more ultimately resulting in more distance. The sand wedge benefits from EYE2 technology but with a slimmer hosel, wider sole, machined grooves and a more contemporary look.

2 • SUNDAY GOLF

Loma, Loma XL & El Camino

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $129.99, $169.99, $189.00

Sunday Golf was founded by Ronan Galvin in San Diego three years ago and quickly developed a large and enthusiastic following of golfers who prefer the more casual side of the game — a swift nine holes, an unscheduled stop at the driving range, or quiet, Sunday stroll with nothing on the line. Last December, the company signed a six-year-old golfer to play with its thin, ultra-light carry bags, emphasizing that, for most of us, golf is meant to be recreational and relaxed and fun and not to be taken too seriously, which is to say it’s supposed to be serious fun. Galvin took up golf later than most, on a par 3 course where a full set of clubs wasn’t necessary. The company makes three main styles — the Loma, El Camino, and Ryder, which is a standard-sized bag. The Loma was the company’s first product and weighs under two pounds. It can hold half a dozen clubs comfortably, has a built-in stand, and a cushioned shoulder-strap. The insulated drink pouch keeps your beverage at just the right temperature, while the velour-lined pocket holds your keys, phone, wallet, etc. There’s ample room for tees and balls, and it’s available in 14 different colors. The XL version weighs 3.4 pounds, has a double shoulder strap, can hold two or three more clubs, and is available in eight colorways. The El Camino is made from PU leather and water-resistant. It weighs 3.9 pounds, can hold up to 10 clubs, and is also available in eight colorways.

3 • GARMIN

S70 & S70s Golf Watch

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $649.99, 699.99

Just when you thought tech companies couldn’t possibly cram more features into their devices, Garmin shows up with its S70 GPS-enabled watch which makes you shake your head while simultaneously stealing the show…er, for now. You’d expect the GPS feature to provide quick and accurate yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green. That goes without saying nowadays. But it does so on a bright, 1.4-inch AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) touchscreen display. The 43,000 preloaded courses really comes as no surprise anymore either. Scorekeeping and stats measuring — of course. But the S70’s Virtual Caddie has been improved to not only give you club suggestions based on wind, elevation, your swing data and more, but also hazards that might be in play given your choice of club. The enhanced PlaysLike feature gives you effective yardages that consider elevation and environmental conditions. Green Contour shows you how the green breaks. It monitors your pulse, heartrate, hydrations level, stress level, every level and monitors your sleep. It can create workouts and training plans based on your health stats and estimate if your body is older or younger than you are — incredible. You can download your playlists and read your emails or texts when paired with your smartphone. It comes in three standard colors though there are 48 different color/style wristbands available so you can choose your favorite look. The 42-millimeter version gives 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 15 hours in GPS mode (47-millimeter — 16 days/20 hours).

4 • MGI

Zip Navigator AI

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $1,899.99

Having been a near-constant feature on the fairways of Britain and Ireland, Continental Europe, and Australia and New Zealand for several years, the powered trolley — a cart with a battery that you don’t need to push or pull (Manual Mode does allow the user to walk behind the caddy like a traditional pushcart without the need of a battery) — is slowly catching on in the U.S. And Australian firm MGI, founded in 1993, has created a number of the most popular models available today. We’ve featured several MGI products before but nothing as technology-laden as the Zip Navigator AI which has an integrated GPS system built into a highly responsive, high-resolution 4-inch full color, all-weather touchscreen display, which will connect you to over 40,000 courses worldwide. There’s a USB charging port. The AI can be operated via a remote control from up to 110 yards away, but the Topbox allows you to control the speed of the cart without the need for a remote control. Patented Gyroscope Straight Tracker technology keeps the caddy on track across any terrain. The quick-fold, five-wheel design incorporates an adjustable, ergonomic T-bar handle and bag support. The Advanced Click & Go Lithium battery system and quick-release rear wheels make setting up the trolley and disassembling it easy. The AI’s dimensions when open are 45.6 x 22.6 x 39.3 (inches), and when folded 24.4 x 18.1 x 15.3. Without the lithium battery (good for 36 holes), it weighs 33.3 pounds. With the battery, it’s 39 pounds.

5 • SUN MOUNTAIN

C-130 Cart Bag & 4.5LS Stand Bag

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $249.99 — $269.99

Sun Mountain, founded in California in 1981, but since 1986 based in Missoula, Mont., (1986’s Eclipse was the first lightweight bag with a collapsible stand) continues to earn countless five-star reviews for basically everything it makes — bags (cart, stand, travel), outerwear, carts (trolleys) and luggage. The C-130, the company’s best-selling cart bag, has been updated for 2023. Players love the reverse-orientation top (driver furthest from you, putter closest as you stand facing the bag from behind the cart) with three utility handles, cart bumpers, the Smart-Strap System, and a convenient, roomy, velour-lined rangefinder pocket with a magnetic-closure, have been joined by an additional velour-lined pocket, and the top has been streamlined. Meanwhile, the 4.5LS Stand Bag, likewise a popular item since first being introduced in 2016, has also been updated for this year. The 4.5LS was built for carrying but has numerous cart-friendly features such as the cart strap passthrough slot which runs behind the clothing pocket so the bag can be secured to a cart without hindering access to the pockets. The leg-lock system and cart-friendly bottom really make it the complete package. New features include a thermoformed pocket face on the valuables pocket which provides extra protection for your phone and an upgraded range finder pocket with magnetic opening. What sets the Puetz-only C-130 and 4.5LS bags apart are designs that will strike a chord with Pacific Northwesterners and Seattleites in particular — Kraken, Music City, Yeti and Pacific Trail.

6 • PING

Hoofer: Standard, Lite, 14 & Craz-E-Lite 6

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $244.99, $274.99, $279.99, $289.99

Unlike the limited group of famous clubs and balls that have achieved iconic status, we can only think of one bag that has risen to such levels — the Ping Hoofer. Though many think it was its collapsible legs that made the bag famous (they had been around for a while — first patented in 1952 and re-introduced by Sun Mountain in the mid-1980s) it was actually the angled bottom that allowed the bag to sit squarely on the ground when the legs were activated that separated it from other stand bags. There have been numerous upgrades, additions and rebirths over the last 30-something years, but the basic shape remains the same. The 2023 Hoofer has an innovative bottom on the inside that keeps all your clubs from meeting at the base, thus making it easier to remove the club you need when you need it. There’s also a new slimmer, stacked pocket configuration for easier access, a larger ball pocket that prevents balls from spilling out (16 total pockets) and available in nine colorways. The Hoofer Lite likewise has the segregated bottom. There’s also a stacked pocket configuration, expanded ball pocket and comes in 14 colorways. The new Hoofer 14 (14-way divider at the top) also the reconfigured bottom, fresh new styling, an elevated access pocket, a slimmer stacked pocket configuration, and a total of 17 pockets — with seven colorways. Lastly, the Craz-E-Lite weighs only 3.25 pounds but remains extremely durable with a high-tensile-strength fabric. It has seven pockets and five new colorways.

7 • CALLAWAY

CG Wedge

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $159.99

Callaway has made some successful wedges in recent years with its Mack-Daddy, Jaws, Sure Out, PM Grind and Big Bertha clubs. Its latest model, like the Big Bertha, is aimed at game-improvers and features a sizeable cavity to mitigate off-center strikes. The CB Wedge has a relatively high toe — an effective feature when opening the blade on high flop shots. It is available in 48- through 60-degree models. The 54-, 56-, 58- and 60-degree clubs feature full-face grooves which helps you impart a lot of spin on lofted, greenside shots. The head is slightly larger than it is on Callaway’s other wedges and the top line is slightly thicker which gives the higher handicapper a little more confidence. Callaway’s urethane microspheres improve the feel of impact, and Jaws grooves help you put some serious bite on the ball. The Tri-Sole not only helps you avoid digging into the turf but also makes the club versatile from a number of different types of lie. The CB Wedge is fitted with either the Elevate 95-gram steel shaft or Project X Catalyst 65-gram graphite shaft. The club comes with 10, 12 or 14 degrees of bounce which, again, prevents the leading edge from digging into the turf resulting in the ‘fat’ shot that plagues newer-golfers’ short games. It also helps you get the ball out of sand that much easier. The word ‘help’ appears frequently in this text for a reason — the CB Wedge will help you turn three shots into two around the green more often.

8 • TAYLORMADE

TP Reserve Putters

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $399.99

Milled putters really are the aristocracy, the nobility, of the putter market — beautifully-crafted, drilled to perfection with a bit that accurately shaves off tiny amounts of metal, and invariably a little bit pricey (though the TP Reserve is noticeably less expensive than the competition). Surprisingly, TaylorMade hasn’t produced a milled putter since 2010, and its return to the category probably has much to do with the success of its Spider Mallet over the years, as well as a desire to encroach a little on Scotty Cameron’s dominance. Regardless of why the Carlsbad-based company has chosen now to reappear though, the first thing you should know about the TP Reserve putters is that they are extremely good-looking and will attract several envious glances from covetous playing partners. They have their own logo — a small green ‘R’, heel/toe weights that allow you to dial in your preferred swingweight, and grooves cut to a depth that creates a delightfully soft but crisp sound at impact. There are nine putters in all — three blades (or what passes for blades nowadays) and three mallets. They are named after the head-shape — B1, B2, and B3, M2, M3, and M4, and further identified by a second number which specifies the neck type — 1 for plumbers-neck, 3 for short-slant, 7 for spud-neck and 9 for flow-neck. Hence B11, B13, B29, B31, M27, M33, M37 and M47. The putters are fitted with a KBS 120 Chrome Stepless shaft and have a Black Lamkin DeepEtched Pistol Grip. These will be a surefire summer hit.

9 • TITLEIST

T100, T150, T200, T350 & U505

PUETZ GOLF PRICE Driver $489.99 Per iron $169.99

The T-Series, first introduced in 2019, gets its latest update with the arrival of the new T100, T150, T200 and T350 (and the U505), and it’s not too much of a stretch to suggest golfers from Seattle to Miami are eagerly awaiting their arrival. The T100, labeled the ‘Modern Tour Iron’, will likely continue to win club counts around the world. Fully forged with a dual cavity, milled face, D18 tungsten weights, an improved variable bounce sole, and relocated CG, the new version is designed to feel better, sound sweeter, move through the turf cleaner and enable skilled golfers to play with even greater precision. The T150 is likewise fully forged but designed to be faster and longer. Stronger lofts (2 degrees) and a refined Muscle Channel mean more distance while a larger clubhead and tungsten weights result in greater forgiveness. The T200, whose internal construction has been reengineered to create a stiffer clubhead, is a player’s distance iron that Titleist describes as the “do everything iron for the golfer who wants the best in distance and forgiveness plus enhanced look and feel.” T200 custom long irons (Utility-Build) combine speed with precision and enhanced forgiveness. The T350, meanwhile, is a forged, hollow body ‘Player’s Improvement Iron’ that looks remarkably like a player’s club and is designed to launch the ball easily and high for golfers with slower clubhead speed. The shallower-faced, lower CG U505, is described as an “extremely versatile, high-launching utility iron that now looks and feels dramatically better.”

10 • PUETZ GOLF

Clubfitting

PUETZ GOLF PRICE Static is Free, Dynamic $49.99 or free with club purchase

You’ve seen enough now to know that having your clubs custom built will likely have a dramatic impact on how well you swing them, how well you hit the ball, how well you score and how much fun you have playing golf. A six-foot 25-year-old who swings a driver at 110 mph will need very different clubs than the average septuagenarian who swings out of his shoes to reach 80 mph. The flex, weight and length of the shaft will need to reflect each golfer’s respective size and level of athleticism as will the clubs’ lie angle and loft. The set will probably need to be composed differently — driving irons instead of hybrids, four wedges instead of three or two, maybe blades rather than game-improvement irons. You can learn a certain amount during a static clubfitting in which the fitter will measure your height, the distance from the tip of your middle finger to the ground and the size of your hands, and assess your current clubs’ lie angles. Puetz offers these static fittings free of charge. You and your award-winning Puetz Golf fitter will learn significantly more during a dynamic fitting with a launch monitor in which you hit balls, however. Results from a dynamic fitting at any of Puetz Golf’s four locations (Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Tukwila) will help your fitter pinpoint exactly what clubs will help you shoot lower scores. It costs $49.99 — waived with club purchase.