Solheim Applies for Golf Handicap Patent

(PHOENIX) – PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim announced today he’s applied for a patent that uses an equipment rating formula as a factor in calculating a golfer’s handicap. The pursuit of the patent, according to Solheim, is to ensure amateur golfers who want more options in playing the game have another choice allowing them to do so in a globally available format.

“The tone coming from the USGA and R&A in recent years suggests another significant equipment rollback may not be far away,” said Solheim, who applied for the patent in June of 2011. “We’ve already seen it with the groove rule and the proposed rule banning anchoring. We continue to hear whispers of more changes.  But as we’re also reading on the proposed anchoring ban, many directly involved in the game favor more equipment options, not fewer. I’m looking for ways to keep the game enjoyable for every level of golfer.”

The patent application details numerous scenarios in which equipment could be rated (balls that go varying distances, for example) and are also factored in with current variables, such as the challenge presented by each individual course. Solheim suggests the expanded equipment options could be approved as “Conditions of Competition” so the new method of handicapping could exist within the current set of rules.

“One of the goals of this concept is to get people thinking outside the “traditional” box that seems to have been built around golf – due primarily to the influence of the professional game,” said Solheim. “This alternative approach to handicapping gives golfers the options to play and enjoy the game with the goal of keeping one set of rules. All of us who are part of this industry need to be looking forward to ensure the game grows in both appeal and participation. This is just one example of things we should be considering.”

The patent application is expected to be published December 20 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov).

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

AHEAD Launches Corporate Division

(New Bedford, MA) – AHEAD, the highly regarded headwear, accessories and apparel manufacturer, is launching a new corporate division this month under the direction of Jeff Waller, senior director of global business development and a 20-plus year headwear industry veteran.

Known for its quality products and superior ornamentation, AHEAD’s corporate offerings will consist of headwear and accessories featured on a dedicated web site (www.Aheadcorporate.com).  The corporate division will maintain its own inventory and customer service team.

“We are excited to bring the AHEAD brand of headwear to the corporate marketplace,” said Anne Broholm, CEO of AHEAD.  “This market presents an opportunity to expand the reach of the already well-known AHEAD brand of headwear.  I’m confident that Jeff’s long-term knowledge of the industry will position AHEAD to be competitive and desirable to a broad cross section of new corporate clients.”

Additionally, Waller will tap the resources of sister company Cutter & Buck, whose full sales team will represent the AHEAD brand starting in first quarter 2013.

“The ability to align with such an experienced sales force who is well known in the corporate marketplace will help ensure that the AHEAD launch is a successful one,” Waller commented. “Corporate clients who are accustomed to enjoying AHEAD headwear at fine resorts, pro shops, and major golf events nationwide will now be able to tap into the unique AHEAD combination of great product and creativity for their corporate needs.”

AHEAD was acquired by Sweden based New Wave Group AB (NEWAb.ST), the parent company of Cutter & Buck, in the summer of 2011.

AHEAD is best known for its premier headwear collections that feature original approaches to logo embroidery options.  The company has been able to capitalize on the golf industry’s desire for high-quality graphics on headwear and an array of garments.  AHEAD operates four distinct business units: Men’s Apparel, AHEAD Headgear, the “Heavy Metal” line of golf accessories and the “Kate Lord Collection” of women’s hats, apparel and accessories.

For additional information access the web site at www.Aheadweb.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

Miura Golf Expands Dealer Network throughout North America

John Duffy - Duffy Golf Studio in Belleair Bluffs, Fla.

Sales Rise Nearly 50 Percent Fiscal Year to Date

(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) - While preserving the personal service and attention to detail that Miura club fitters have become famous for, Miura Golf, the Japanese maker of premium forged irons, wedges, putters and other high quality golf clubs, has greatly expanded its dealer network in 2011. Sales of the forged products have risen nearly 50 percent fiscal year to date.

At the beginning of 2011, 85 Miura dealers were located throughout the United States and Canada. Since then, Miura has opened 56 new dealers throughout the two countries, plus Bermuda and Barbados, which are now home to their first-ever Miura dealers. The company has added seven top-50 U.S. metropolitan areas to its network with this new expansion: Los Angeles (No. 2 metro area in U.S. by population); Houston (6); Atlanta (9); Columbus, Ohio (32); Austin, Texas (35); Providence, R.I. (37), and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (49).

"When I joined the company about a year ago, we decided that we needed to make Miura more available to enthusiastic golfers around the world, but especially in North America," said Adam Barr, president of Miura.

"Thanks to a lot of teamwork, careful planning and aggressive execution, we have been able to open up 56 highly qualified new dealers so far in 2011 - each one a veteran club fitter dedicated to quality craftsmanship.  We have been able to do it while remaining loyal to the network of existing dealers who helped us to get to this point. We're much better distributed geographically, and the dealers who were already with us are finding they're doing even better now that the network is expanding and the word about Miura is getting out," Barr states.

"As a result of the expansion program and a number of other creative sales and marketing efforts, sales are up nearly 50 percent fiscal YTD," said Barr. "In California alone, we opened a dozen new dealers, and five in Florida. And we're just getting started. Our goal is to continue to make Miura better-known and more available to all golfers while maintaining the high standards in our products and in the dealers who carry them."

Miura Golf products are not generally available off the rack. A certified Miura fitter is necessary for exact swing analysis in order to create finely personal specifications for each set for every golfer. Clubs are forged, custom assembled and often go through a second fit with the golfer before leaving the dealer's showroom. The results speak for themselves in very high-end quality equipment that is ultra customized for the golfer. Miura's following of customers grows each year as people realize that this exacting process results in the purest and most perfect fitting clubs in the world.

To find Miura dealers all over the world, please visit www.miuragolf.com/dealermap.asp.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

New Wave Group Acquires Paris Glove of Canada

(SEATTLE) – New Wave Group AB, headquartered in Sweden but with significant interests in the United States, has acquired Paris Glove of Canada Ltd.

The addition of Paris Glove (www.parisglove.com) enhances the New Wave Group corporate portfolio, which is the parent company of Cutter & Buck, Ahead, Clique, Craft, Orrefors and Kosta Boda, among other brands.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. New Wave purchased 100 percent of the ownership of Paris Glove. Paris Glove’s 90 employees and the current ownership, with operations in both Canada and New York, have become employees of New Wave.

“We view Paris Glove as a complement to our other apparel lines and global markets,” said Torsten Jansson, Managing Director and CEO of New Wave Group. “The company provides an established base of entry to Canada’s retail markets for other New Wave products with Paris Glove’s established customer base.”

Paris has been entirely family-owned since its inception in 1945, when founders Felix and Lily Monk brought their glove knowledge from the old country to Canada. It is one of the oldest and most respected glove companies in North America and has earned an enviable reputation in the glove world as a premium brand synonymous with quality, style and performance.

Paris Glove is the only glove company delivering products to all markets – sports, fashion, and industrial gloves for men and women, adults and children. The company also sells a line of men and women’s scarves and headwear, and distributes a limited selection of other products to its customer base on behalf of other brands.

The Paris Glove companies are:
Laurentide: Supplier of gloves, protective clothing and rainwear to industry.
Gloves International Incorporated: Supplier of private label gloves to chains and department stores in the United States.
The Paris fashion division: Supplies men's, women’s and children's gloves to over 3,000 retailers in Canada.
Auclair Sport division: Supplies and serves sporting goods stores and specialty shops with high performance ski, snowboard and cycling gloves.
The Paris Sport division is the supplier of Dynaflite Softball Equipment and baseball equipment to Canada's team sport dealers.

Auclair is the premium sport and outdoor division of Paris Glove. It is also the official supplier to practically every Canadian team on snow and ice including Alpine, Snowboarding, Freestyle, Speed Skating, Nordic Combined, Biathlon, Telemark, Speed Skiing and, of course, Cross Country. The brand was prominent at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics where most of Canada’s athletes wore Auclair gloves and the USA Olympic squad featured six gold medalists wearing Auclair.

“Auclair and Paris enjoy one of the longest sponsor-team relationships in all of sport with a 30-plus year history with the Canadian Cross Country ski team,” said Peter Monk, president and CEO, who took over operations from his parents in 1973. “We envision the opportunity for expansion into the European and Asian markets with the strength of New Wave’s reach.”

Paris Gloves sells to virtually every retailer in Canada, many major retailers in the USA, produces many private brand gloves for retailers, and licenses a number of non-proprietary brands such as Kodiak, Simon Chang, Izod, Joseph Abboud, and Etienne AIGNER.

The Collins Group Inc. of Montreal and Stockholm acted as financial advisor to Paris Glove in its sale to New Wave.

New Wave Group AB is engaged in the design, acquisition, and development of brands and products within the promotion, sports, gift and interior design sectors. It operates through three business areas:

The corporate promotions business area is engaged in the supply of promotional products in both Europe and the United States.

The sports and leisure business area is engaged in the marketing of such sportswear brands, as Cutter & Buck, Craft, Seger and Speedo in both the Nordic countries and the United States.

The gifts and home furnishings business area markets such brands as Orrefors, Kosta Boda and Sagaform, as well as other brands in 17 countries.

New Wave Group AB sales divisions are currently active in 20 countries throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

For additional information, access the New Wave website at www.nwg.se.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com