Feel Golf Announces Significant Quarterly Sales Increase

Feel Golf Company, a private company owned & operated by PGA Professionals, announced today that it’s year over year quarterly revenue comparison for the 1^st Quarter 2008 increased by over 43 percent(%).  “We are very pleased to have achieved a significant gain for the past quarter – especially considering the challenging national, economic environment the country is in as well as the business shut-down of a prior, well known golf company this year”, said David Otterbach, Chief Operating Officer of Feel Golf.  “We have had increasing sales for over the past year with more substantial gains in the more recent quarters.  It’s a very positive trend we plan to build upon during 2008.”

 

Part of the Company’s growth strategy in 2008 is the implementation of a strategic marketing support campaign that includes 60 & 30 second TV commercials on The Golf Channel beginning this spring. “We have experienced very good sales growth over the past 4 quarters and this has been accomplished with very little marketing support to date” further states Mr. Otterbach.  “We are very thankful for the tremendous “word of mouth” marketing our loyal customers provide, as well as the ongoing support of our major retailers - but we still need to do a better job in building consumer awareness about Feel Golf products, whether our award winning wedges or better performing and more ergonomically designed golf grips.” Feel’s multi-patented, advanced sports science golf grips are both USGA and R&A Conforming.

 

“We realize we are not that well known by the average golfer as we are well known by many Tour Players”, stated Andy Heffner, VP of Sales at Feel Golf.  “With the implementation of our strategic marketing campaign, we will further educate golfers on the benefits of our products that are designed and developed by PGA Professionals, as well as build better brand awareness.  In today’s competitive market environment, retailers expect customers to be pre-sold before entering their stores and this can only happen with a consistent marketing effort by the Company.  We have a number of exciting products available for golfers, whether our new 73° high loft wedge – an industry first - that was awarded the most innovative product to improve a golfer’s game in 2007, our new 787PR Long Driver or our new Pro Release™ Performance golf grip, - the next generation of the Full Release™ grip line of reverse tapered golf grips.  The Pro Release™ has a slightly slimmer profile than the Full Release™ and we believe is an attractive grip for low handicap golfers and professionals with typically, faster swing speeds, including women professionals on the LPGA – where the Company has had an historic presence with.”

 

About Feel Golf

 

Feel Golf Company is known for its PGA performance designed golf clubs including its superior line of award winning wedges.  The Company is a full-line premium golf club manufacturer with club assembly in the USA whose products are designed, built and backed by PGA Professionals.  For over the past 18 years, Feel Golf’s proprietary technology golf clubs have been played by Tour Professionals worldwide - including the PGA, LPGA, European, Asian, Champions and Nationwide Tours, as well as by All-American Collegiate Players. 

 

Feel Golf is the innovator of the Reverse-Taper, Full Release™ & new, Pro Release™ Performance golf grips.  These leading, technologically advanced grips with patents in grip design & utility can increase distance, improve accuracy, and provide golfers of all skill levels with a better touch and feel – the trademark of the Company. 

 

The entire line of Full Release™ Performance grips are USGA and R&A conforming, and are the Official Golf Grip of the United States Schools of Golf.  The grips have been called: “The greatest change to golf in the last 100 years” by a major golfing publication and > 4 out of 5 golfers validated improved performance:  greater distance with more accuracy & better control with overall satisfaction over traditional tapered golf grips as independently measured by PGA Tour Partners.  

 

Feel’s award winning wedges have been played by Tour players worldwide with multiple Tour wins, and are known on Tour for their accuracy and great feel.  The wedges received PGA Tour Partners’ 2007 “Best of the Best” – the 8^th time these wedges have received this annual award from independent testing golf organizations.  The Company’s innovative clubs and grips are sold on 5 continents in 35 countries and are available online and/or in many major US golf and sporting goods retail stores.

Feel Golf is based in Monterey County, California, home of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links. For more information about the Feel Golf Company and their great lineup of products, visit their website at www.feelgolf.net or call: 1-877-934-7387.

Testimonial from another satisfied buyer

Lee,
I’ve had the opportunity to play the two (2) wedges that I purchased from you for about a week now and I must say, they are remarkable. 

I’ve got a closet full of wedges from every major manufacturer, not including the 15 or 20 others that I have given away to friends. None of them….. and I truely mean none, have offered the playability of your company’s product. 

The design, materials and feel of your wedges are unquestionably the best I’ve ever played. These wedges can execute virtually any shot that one could invision.

As far as I am concerned, your company’s wedges should be considered as the benchmark for the industry…no “funny grinds”, no “overpriced finishes”, no “gimmicks”…just a fundamentally sound geometry and function.

In closing, I will again thank you for the consideration that you extended during our conversations and note that I’ve decided to take your advise about adding the 52 degree to the bag.

Very Best Regards,
Robb
www.interplususa.net

Wedge Play Tips from the Pros who build wedges

Dr. Feel Explains:
Around the green, bunkers are a professional’s friend and an amateur’s nightmare. Most professionals would much prefer to land in a bunker than the rough and with amateurs it’s exactly the opposite.

Bunker play is very simple since it’s the only shot you intentionally want to miss the ball. Most amateurs set up in the bunker with the same set up as for their other shots - which seldom works.

What to Do?

1) The Set Up:  Set up just a little farther from the ball than normal, this produces a slightly flatter swing plane to prevent a steep angle of attack and digging the club head into the sand. Then vary your ball position to find your own best ball position.
.
2) Thought: In practice, swing and try throwing sand to the flag with your left arm (for R/H players) without a ball. Just make a relaxed swing with the thought of the left arm throwing sand as if it was a shovel. Now swing, keeping the lower body quiet, and emphasize throwing sand all the way to the flag with each swing. This gives you the feel for how much effort the swinging of the club is required. You should have your left arm swinging all the way through to your finish - is crucial.

3) Behind the Ball: Do not focus upon how far behind the ball to hit - your intuition will prevail if you simply let it, but typically - for those that have to know - it’s generally anywhere from <1 inch to 2-3 inches.

4) Arms Only: For green side bunker practice, place your feet together-touching and then practice using a soft and relaxed arms only swing, with the ball just inside the front foot.

5) Wrist Break: Try breaking your wrists much quicker , but softly in the swing just like you’re picking the club head up and throwing sand to the flag

6) Confidence Builder: Now place a small pebble, place the pebble (very small rock) in your normal ball position, swing and watch the rock fly out with the sand. Practice this until you have the feel and confidence, then change to a ball and use the same thoughts and motion. You now will play bunkers with confidence!

To learn more or for additional tips: Visit our website: www.feelgolf.net  or call Toll Free (877) 934.7387 M-F 8:30-5 PST

International Players Tour names Feel Golf “Official Wedges”

Feel Golf Wedges Named “Official Wedge” of the International Players Tour

Feel Golf Company and the International Players Tour (IPT) have joined forces for the 2008 Tour Season. The partnership features Feel Golf’s designation as “The Official Wedge” of the IPT, and unique access to Feel’s technology for the IPT membership. “I’m extremely excited about our partnership with Feel Golf and the tremendous benefits from this association,” stated Ron Beaman, Founder and President of the IPT.

“Our players now have unique access to the premier wedge technology in the world from Feel Golf. The partnership also brings many new ‘Added-Value” benefits to our members, especially Feel’s sponsorship of cash bonuses to our players. The cash bonuses will be awarded to category winners as part of our overall player incentive program, the first in our industry.”

Bill Conwell, SVP-Business Development of the IPT, stated: “The strategic partnership with Feel Golf has tremendous benefits for both organizations. We are certainly honored to be the first major “avid golfer” tour to fully endorse Feel Golf’s leading edge wedge technology. Their award-winning wedge sets, including the revolutionary 73 degree, are clearly leading the next era of innovative design.”

“We are very pleased to participate as a key sponsor on the IPT,” stated Lee Miller, CEO of Feel Golf and PGA Member. “While we already have a presence on the PGA, LPGA and other professional Tours, our association with the IPT allows us access to the avid golfer – golfers with handicaps ranging from +2 to 26, and includes professionals as well.

These are the golfers who enjoy competitive golf, and play golf with a passion. As a golf club and golf grip OEM, access to these important golfers is an excellent avenue to building brand awareness and garnering new customers.”

Greg Cottingham, PGA Professional and General Manager of Feel Golf stated: “Many of our existing customers include serious recreational amateurs and/or scratch players that enjoy a competitive round of golf with fellow golfers with similar handicaps. The IPT is a way for us to showcase our excellent line of premium golf products to our target market and we see the IPT growing its already strong base of these competitive golfers.”

Returning from the PGA Show with great news!

We just returned after a full week (Jan 14^th-20^th-200 crammed packed with everything and every product, some good and some  gadgets…from spending 12+ hours/day at the 2008 PGA International Golf Show, meeting with buyers and distributors from all over the globe, to meeting with our major retail customers, to making new acquaintances. In additon, we had to check out the 10 miles of Show Exhibits. It was “a reallybbig shew” as Ed Sullivan used to say! (For those old enough to remember).

New International Distributors and US Sales Reps

Some of the highlights include our signing several new international distributors – one from Sweden that also represents the Jack Nicklaus Golf line. Nicklaus Golf earlier in 2007 had inquired about adding our grips to their worldwide club line as well as several other company’s showing interest.

We are in the process of signing a new and very large grip distributor in Korea – which we are very excited about as we have some solid history in Korea with many Korean Tour players using our product as well as the Korean National golf team…who by the way is almost always number 1 in the world. The Korean market is really a booming market and one we are excited to re-enter. 

We added two professional sales reps to our sales team for 2008.

• Mr. Jim Vogl- 18 years of golf sales experience for the territory of Alabama and Georgia
• Mr. Richard Bonifazio, with his 23 years of sales experience will cover central New York state and New York City area

Endorsement Deals

• We met with our long time friend, Charlie Sorrel, the former PGA Teacher of the Year and Top 50 Teacher who will endorse our grips and 73 wedge!  
• Just before the PGA Show, we signed a Letter of Intent with one of the top 5 players in the world to use our grips over the next 3 years –.  This agreement is presently on hold as we work out a few bugs and we’ll keep you informed…so stay tuned for this earth shattering news from Feel Golf. The performance of our new grip has generated significant interest by other Tour players,  that now want to be involved and use the new grips. 

   We are very excited about our growth prospects as we begin this new year of 2008.  As always,  we sincerely value your past and continued support of our efforts!

Got a burning golf question you’d like answered?

Here’s your chance to get tips and answers straight from Dr. Feel himself!  At any time you are welcome to leave your questions for club designer and Feel Golf Company CEO, Lee Miller, PhD in the comments section. After each question is answered, we’ll post the answers in a section on the right sidebar entitled “Q&A with Dr. Feel”. So…let the questioning begin!

Feel Golf’s 73 Degree Wedge - a HOT Seller

Feel Golf announced today “The 73″ degree wedge continues to be a hot seller world wide.

When Feel CEO and designer Lee Miller introduced their first 64 degree wedge in the early 1990’s, many at the time thought that loft might be too extreme, but a 64 is now considered an essential tool on Tour with many of the top players using a 64 and many looking for still more loft.

Golf Magazine (December 2007) article for example clearly states, that more loft is needed not only by Tour players, but for recreational players as well.

More loft is being required with recent environmental changes dictating less watering of the greens, new grasses introduced, greens cut a little shorter, placement of more greenside bunkers and letting the rough grow higher around the green, making it more difficult to hold the ball on the hard greens.

“The 73″ is the ideal loft discovered after testing various lofts and bounce angles with different players. We used scratch players, some Tour players and many recreational players to test and attest to the ease “The 73″ brings to the game.

Golf Illustrated equipment editors quickly saw “The 73″ as a very innovative addition to the short game and awarded it their prestigious “2007 Baggy Award”.

“The 73″ and its patent pending design takes wedges to a whole new level of short side and approach performance,” said Miller. “This club can be controlled from 3 feet to 50 yards simply by ball placement. One of the hardest shots in golf is a shot out of the rough or bunker while being short sided near a tight pin. More often than not since most recreational players and some players lack the touch and confidence to commit to the needed shot, they decelerate and the result is less then desirable.

That just doesn’t happen with the “73.” The player doesn’t need to open the face or try to get “cute” with the shot using half swings. “The 73″ will allow the player to use their full swing on most shots, since the full swing is the most repeatable swing a player has. Simply, you just take a full swing with good rhythm, and the wedge glides through with the ball landing very softly from a tight lie or the bunker.”

Distance is controlled simply by ball placement. Off the front foot for a flop shot or off the rear foot for the 40 to 50 yard shot.

“The 73″ was developed in concert with Charlie Sorrell, former “PGA Teacher of the Year” and a leading short game guru.

Feel Wedges, “The Dart Throwers”, so named by Tour players

The Feel Wedge line has long been a preference for professionals on all Tours since 1986. The patented wedges have a longer hosel that results in more stability at impact and a better feel. The frequency matching makes every Feel wedge play and “feel” the same regardless of loft. The clubs are carefully hand made in the USA, and dynamically balanced, for perfect matching. The clubs made for the consumer are the same as sent to our Tour players, which is not the case with most major brands.

In 2001, Feel Golf introduced the Designer Series, the first ever colored wedge making easy identification of each loft and for better player focus. The Gun Metal and Midnight Series soon followed.

“The 73 in right and left hand has just shot out of our warehouse with many retailers seeing The 73 as their best selling wedge,” said Miller “and the testimonials have been very gratifying and the 73 is on its way to becoming very popular, very fast.”

To date, since we first introduced “The 73″ in late 2006, our monthly 73 wedge production has sold out with orders coming in from golfers and retailers worldwide. It is a best seller!

Media Contact:
Joe Wieczorek
The Media Group, Inc.
(847) 956-9090
E-mail: joe@themediagroupinc.com

Feel Golf & the New “Pro Release” Performance Grip

Feel Golf announces since releasing its new - “Pro Feel Golf announces since releasing its new - “Pro Release™” Performance reverse taper performance grip in September to select retailers, sales have been brisk with good customer acceptance and sell through.

Samples of the new grip will be available to qualified accounts at the 2008 Orlando PGA show in booth 1196.

The “Pro Release” will begin shipping on a limited basis to other retailers in February 2008. Orders taken at the PGA show have a 10% early bird discount.

The “Pro Release” keeps the same features and benefits of their very popular - and patented Full Release™ grip line. This slightly different design came from select Tour Players input who tested the prototype throughout Europe and the US during the 2006 & 2007 Tour seasons.

Feel Golf’s CEO & PGA Member, Lee Miller, said, “The Tour Players came back to us and said they wanted a few more options with respect to the shaft end of the grip. They love the smaller diameter at the top of our Full Release™ grip - that’s just a better design and keeps it in the fingers for a faster and more consistent release at impact. The only change they wanted was on the shaft end to be a little bit thinner as well. This design change gives the flexibility to build up the shaft end for their unique grip preferences, thereby providing more finger tip short game control and feedback.”

Made of the finest natural rubber materials in the X-Line style, the “Pro Release”™ Performance grip delivers outstanding feel with a more natural finger grip that contributes to a full release through impact. This helps prevent hand blocks that can sometimes hamper the better players resulting in an errant shot. “Blocked hands at impact are one of the worse things that can happen to a professional golfer during tournament play,” said Miller. “Just look at a TV swing analysis of a Tour Player on any given weekend - an errant shot is generally the result of a hand block and/or tension. Using the Pro Release™ Performance grip better allows the way your hands move through the ball at impact for better control and is simply, more comfortable, thereby reducing known or unknown tension. This is the feedback we have been receiving from the Tour Players.”

The new “Pro Release”™ Performance grip is designed to provide better grip performance for Professionals and low handicap amateur golfers. In addition, due to the new grip’s smaller diameter, smaller hand players such as juniors will also benefit from its design. The “Pro Release” ™ Performance grip has been available since September 2007.

“The Full Release™” Performance grip has been called,

“The greatest change to golf in the last 100 years” by a major golfing publication

Over 4.5 out of 5 golfers validated enhanced performance and satisfaction approval as tested by PGA Tour Partners.

Recently, Feel Golf’s Full Release™ Performance grip was named the Official Grip of the United States Schools of Golf (USSOG). “We believe Feel Golf’s Reverse Taper - Full Release™ Performance Grip provides golfers of all skill levels worldwide a better way to hold the golf club and promotes better shot making - whether off the tee or approaching the green,” stated Mitchell A Crum, President of the USSOG.

About Feel Golf

Feel Golf Company is known for its PGA performance designed golf clubs including its superior line of award winning wedges. The Company is a full-line premium golf club manufacturer with club assembly in the USA whose products are designed, built and backed by PGA Professionals. For almost 20 years, Feel Golf’s proprietary technology golf clubs have been played by Tour Professionals worldwide - including the PGA, LPGA, European, Asian, Champions and Nationwide Tours, as well as by All-American Collegiate Players. Feel Golf is also the innovator of “The Reverse Taper - Full Release™” Performance grip. This leading, technologically advanced grip with patents in grip design & utility can increase distance, improve accuracy, and provide golfers of all skill levels with a better touch and feel - the trademark of the Company. The Company’s innovative clubs and grips are sold on 5 continents in 35 countries and are available online and/or in many major US golf and sporting goods retail stores.

Feel Golf is based in Monterey County, California, home of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links. For more information about the Feel Golf Company and their great lineup of products, visit their website at www.feelgolf.net or call: 1-877-934-7387.

Media members interested in testing a Full Release™ Performance grip or other products for editorial review, please contact Joe Wieczorek or Bart Henyan of The Media Group at (847) 956-9090 or e-mail joe@themediagroupinc.com or bart@themediagroupinc.com

Media Contact:
Joe Wieczorek
The Media Group, Inc.
(847) 956-9090
E-mail: joe@themediagroupinc.com

Feel Golf Announces its Next Generation Driver-The Pro Tour 787 PR

The Longest Driver among the Company’s storied history of Long Drivers

Monterey, CA - Feel Golf Company is very pleased to announce the new release of its Next Generation Driver, the “Pro Tour 787 PR” 460 cc. Feel Golf’s history of producing some of the longest and most accurate drivers on the market include being ranked by Sports Illustrated as the best among the Top 25 drivers on the market and was the driver used by the “World’s Amateur Long Drive Record Holder” with an amazing 449 yard blast.

The “Pro Tour 787 PR” was designed to incorporate our history of producing some of the longest drivers and most accurate on the market - so it produces a very high MOI”, said Greg Cottingham, PGA Member and Director of Manufacturing at Feel Golf. “But we also wanted to design the driver to be very forgiving - giving amateur golfers a better chance to hit the fairway - even with off center tee shots such as hitting off the toe or heel of the driver.

Since no Company can improve upon a player’s “Good Hits”, we wanted to design a forged driver that would “Make your Bad Hits Better”. The “787″ is designed for today’s modern golf balls producing significantly less spin for better ball flight trajectory, less wayward shots, and resulting in greater forward roll after landing on the fairway.”

Using a focus group of testers through each design stage and from all skill levels, most marveled at the ability to “keep the ball” in play, even on off center hits and still not lose much distance.

Nick Miller, the World’s Amateur Long Drive Record Holder, stated: “With Feel’s history of producing some of the very best long drivers on the market, the “787″ is definitely the next generation long driver that a golfer can hit with more confidence of finding the fairway, and a lot further down the fairway! The Company has always been known for producing some of the best feeling golf clubs in the world and better feel produces better feedback and more confidence resulting in lower scores and a lot more fun on and off the course.”

Feel Golf Tour Rep Reports from PGA Championship

PGA Championship, Tulsa, OK
Welcome golf fans this is Jeff Dill reporting to you from Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK site of the PGA Championship. Wow, I thought it was hot in Akron, which it was, but I’m cooked like a lobster after 3 beautiful days at Southern Hills.

This is a totally different format than regular PGA events. Manufacturer reps such as yours truly, are not allowed to approach players unless asked too; in addition we are not allowed to put our bags out on the driving range or practice greens. I did make some progress especially when it comes to the player’s coaches. I would strike up conversations regarding our wedges and new Full Release grips and by the strangest luck I would happen to be carrying a wedge and grip with me! Players I spoke with included Bart Bryant, Steve Sticker, John Senden, Toru Tahgiti, Wen Chong Liang and Y E Yang. As I mentioned in my previous report regarding Steve Stricker I did leave 2 grips for him. He thanked me and would try them on some wedges next week.

I would also show the massive crowds that stood around the practice areas and tell them about our products. On Monday alone the crowd estimate was over 35,000. It was even bigger on Tuesday and Wednesday. These knowledgeable fans were impressed with the Full Release grips. I estimate I handed out over 100 cards with our website for fans to look at.

I met John Kim from PGA.com. He wrote a nice article on us this past week. We looked at wedges and grips and he expressed to me again how impressed he was with our products. I handed out some grips to Ian Triggs who is a top golf instructor from Australia. He was working with John Senden this week but has several other players including LPGA members like Karri Webb. He was very interested in our grips and knew of our wedges from past years. He liked the look and feel of them. He will be promoting our new Tour line grips down under!

I also gave a couple of grips to Marius Filmalter, another top instructor, who works with players like Hunter Mahan and Fred Funk just to name a few. So even though our abilities as reps to get to players were limited I believe I found some good success by talking to their coaches.

Until next time take care and keep them in the fairway!