SGBGolf_Feb09_p6 23/1/09 15:44 Page 6
News
Record breaker for
MD Golf
The magic number for Northern Ireland’s MD Golf at the year’s
end was 117, as the company has announced that forward
sales for 2009 were up 117% on the pre-2008 mark.
The company is reaping the benefits of a brand makeover
and an expanded and improved product line, featuring the
new Icon range that was developed with Seve Ballesteros, as
first revealed by SGB Golf in September.
“Since we agreed the deal with Seve and the range was
launched in Munich in October, we have had interest from all
over the world,” says Michael Morton, MD Golf director. “Our
first shipment has gone out to New Zealand, and we are very
close to completing deals with the largest retailers in South
Africa and Australia. Seve is still held in the highest regard on a
global basis.”
It was a great shock to the entire sporting world when
Ballesteros was taken severely ill with a brain tumour last
October, and it was an unhappy coincidence that the Spanish
legend was first taken to hospital as he was travelling to
Munich to appear at Golf Europe with MD Golf.
“All of us at MD Golf where delighted to receive news that
Seve was released from hospital so he could spend time with
his family over Christmas,” adds Morton. “We understand he
is making steady progress and we all pray that he will make a
full recovery.”
www.mdgolf.co.uk
End of the road TaylorMade Camp leaves
for Petron launches Ashworth
Petron, the Essex-based golf Jon Camp, Ashworth Europe managing director,
company, is closing down.
new line
has left the company. His January departure
Partner Keith Dicker remains TaylorMade has launched follows last year’s TaylorMade-adidas takeover of
owner of the Petron, Stix and an entire new range of Ashworth, the Californian clothing brand, and
Nitro brands, although he has equipment for 2009, TaylorMade-adidas Europe’s managing director
not confirmed that the brands will spearheaded by the R9 and Ben Sharpe has taken direct control. Camp had
continue. Kasco, Bite shoes and R9 TP drivers. The other new been with the company since 2000.
Conte of Florence, all brands that clubs are the R9 fairway woods,
Petron distributed, are re-organising Rescue 2009 hybrids and the
their UK operations. Burner 09 irons.
“The company has not gone into liquidation A successor to the R7 series, the
Srixon launches
and is not bankrupt,” Dicker tells SGB Golf. “We R9’s headline advance is its Flight
are collecting money owed to us, we are paying Control Technology (FCT). With a
Z-Star
the people we owe to, and then we will walk twist of a wrench, golfers are able to change the Srixon, already
away. We are selling off the stock and it will be a club’s face angle loft and lie established as the
clean break.” to one of eight positions. UK’s number one
Dicker blames the failure of the business on the The R9 fairway woods also come with two-piece golf ball
economic slowdown and lack of growth in golf. FCT installed, the Rescue 2009 combines brand, has launched
“The golf trade is on the floor,” he says. “It is TaylorMade’s latest hybrid technology with a its attack on the
desperate. When you go into a recession, lifestyle clubhead shape similar to that of its compact three-piece market with the Z-Star and Z-Star X.
and sport are the first things to take a kick Rescue Mid, which was launched in 2003, The 90-compression Z-Star is designed for the
because if people can’t pay their mortgages, the while the company bills its sleek Burner 09 mid-to-low handicapper, with a view to providing
last thing they are going to do is buy a new iron as “easy to launch” while delivering ‘optimum distance, spin control and soft feel’,
driver. The recession will thin the golf industry out “meaningful distance”. whereas the 104-compression Z-Star X is a ‘Tour
a bit, which it needs. There are too many The recommended retail prices are as follows; performance’ ball, designed to offer explosive
suppliers and too many brands, and not enough R9 drivers from £349; fairway woods at £249, distance and high-spin around the greens.
people playing golf. All the kids want to be Rescue 2009 from £149; Burner 09 irons (eight The Z-Star will be available by the end of
footballers now so the juniors aren’t coming clubs) from £549. Availability starts March 23. February at an RRP of £44 per dozen.
through in golf like they used to.” www.taylormadegolf.eu www.srixon.co.uk
6 SGB GOLF FEBRUARY 2009
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