Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

Dimples soon replaced raised patterns.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection; USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

It was one of the best-selling balls in Britain for decades.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection · recall

He went on to make balls that were checked the same way.

Source: Acushnet Company, Titleist history · recall

A tree sap that cut easily but spun well.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

A solid core and a tough cover, built to last.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

That is 1.62 ounces.

Source: The R&A and USGA, Equipment Standards · recall

Balls are tested by a machine before approval.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history, equipment testing · recall

The 1840s, about 1900, 1968 and 2000.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

1935, 1971 and 2000.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; Acushnet Company · recall

The pattern looked like a blackberry.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection · recall

The first putter made a clear ringing note.

Source: PING, company history · recall

He built his first putter in his garage.

Source: PING, company history · recall

His family moved to the USA when he was a child.

Source: PING, company history · recall

His wife Louise suggested 'answer'.

Source: PING, company history · recall

The copies are kept in the company's vault.

Source: PING, company history, Gold Putter Vault · recall

The case was settled in 1990.

Source: PING, company history; USGA · recall

In Phoenix, since the 1960s.

Source: PING, company history · recall

1959, 1966, 1982 and 1990.

Source: PING, company history · recall

The marks show whether the toe or heel dug in.

Source: PING, company history, fitting system · recall

Each colour is a step more upright or flatter.

Source: PING, company history, colour code chart · recall

The name promised power.

Source: Callaway Golf, company history · recall

Its oversized steel head was a huge hit.

Source: Callaway Golf, company history · recall

He was in his sixties when the golf company took off.

Source: Callaway Golf, company history · recall

Steel from Pittsburgh replacing the old wood.

Source: TaylorMade Golf, company history · recall

Lighter than steel, so the head could grow.

Source: Callaway Golf, company history · recall

A pendulum test measures the contact time.

Source: The R&A and USGA, Equipment Standards · recall

Four screw-in weights changed the flight.

Source: TaylorMade Golf, company history · recall

1979, 1991, 2004 and 2008.

Source: Callaway Golf, company history; TaylorMade; USGA · recall

About 150, 190 and 460 cubic centimetres.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; Callaway Golf, company history · recall

Weight towards the heel helps a draw.

Source: TaylorMade Golf; USGA · recall

A rusty blade with a hickory shaft.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; Bobby Jones Golf · recall

Its big head sold out within weeks.

Source: Masters.com, 1986; MacGregor Golf · recall

He changed it only rarely.

Source: Titleist, Scotty Cameron history · recall

He used it from his teens.

Source: Wilson Golf; USGA Museum · recall

Cabrera lost the play-off.

Source: Masters.com, 2013 · recall

Long putters stayed legal if not anchored.

Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules history · recall

He then putted side-saddle instead.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history, Rules history · recall

1968, 1986, 2013 and 2016.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; Masters.com · recall

About 34, 42 and 50 inches.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history, equipment · recall

Launched in 2001, it became a best-seller.

Source: Odyssey Golf, company history · recall

Also home of the Masters.

Source: E-Z-GO and Club Car, company histories · recall

It has around a hundred miles of cart paths.

Source: City of Peachtree City, golf cart paths · recall

A circulation disorder made walking painful.

Source: US Supreme Court, PGA Tour v. Martin (2001) · recall

Residents ride them to shops and clubs.

Source: The Villages, Florida, golf cart guide · recall

Unless given a medical exemption.

Source: PGA Tour, player regulations · recall

Usually after heavy rain.

Source: PGA of America, course etiquette guide · recall

Some can also order food to the turn.

Source: PGA of America, course technology guide · recall

1954, 1958 and 2001.

Source: Company histories; US Supreme Court · recall

Taking a few clubs saves a second trip.

Source: PGA of America, course etiquette guide · recall

It spreads the wear across the fairway.

Source: PGA of America, course etiquette guide · recall

Before that, grips were wrapped by hand.

Source: Golf Pride, company history · recall

A thin, soft sheepskin.

Source: FootJoy, glove guide · recall

They left marks on the putting surface.

Source: USGA Green Section Record · recall

He finished sixth wearing them.

Source: Masters.com, 2010 · recall

Gloves are allowed on the green.

Source: PGA of America, instruction · recall

It began with leather grips in Chicago.

Source: Lamkin, company history · recall

They can be worn off the course too.

Source: FootJoy, shoe guide · recall

Early 1900s, 1950s, 1990s and 2010s.

Source: Golf Pride; FootJoy; USGA Museum · recall

The solvent lets the grip slide, then dries.

Source: Golf Pride, regripping guide · recall

They grip without tearing the greens.

Source: USGA Green Section Record · recall

A Boston dentist and the first African American on Harvard's dental faculty.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; Harvard School of Dental Medicine · recall

He was a New Jersey dentist.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

He toured with trick-shot artist Joe Kirkwood.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

Hence the name.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

Made in 1829; the R&A adopted its size in 1891.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection; The R&A, Rules history · recall

Players made a small sand cone for the ball.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection · recall

Some plastic tees have a step to set the height.

Source: PGA of America, equipment guide · recall

1829, 1899, 1921 and 1935.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection; USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

Caddies often made the tee.

Source: British Golf Museum, equipment collection · recall

A brush inside cleans the ball.

Source: PGA of America, course equipment · recall

The holes are then filled with sand.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research · recall

An English engineer; mowers soon replaced sheep and scythes.

Source: Science Museum Group, Budding lawnmower · recall

They had been Bermuda before.

Source: Masters.com, course history · recall

It grows well in the cool sea air.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research; Pebble Beach Company · recall

It copes with salt better than most.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research · recall

It keeps the course green in winter.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research · recall

Sand drains well and resists packing.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research, green construction · recall

1830, 1935, 1960 and 1981.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research; Science Museum Group · recall

From a few millimetres up to several centimetres.

Source: USGA Green Section, turf research · recall

It keeps the greens firm in any weather.

Source: Masters.com; SubAir Systems · recall

Makers cut the twist, or torque, over the years.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

He later became the USGA's technical director.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

A little of it moves the centre of gravity a lot.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history, equipment · recall

A low centre of gravity helps launch.

Source: TaylorMade Golf; Callaway Golf · recall

Sixty layers of carbon sheet.

Source: TaylorMade Golf, Stealth launch (2022) · recall

Software tried thousands of face shapes.

Source: Callaway Golf, Epic Flash launch (2019) · recall

Hickory varied from shaft to shaft.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history · recall

The 1920s and 1930s, about 1970, the 1990s and 2022.

Source: USGA Museum, equipment history; TaylorMade · recall

About 1.6, 4.5, 7.8 and 19.3 grams per cubic centimetre.

Source: Materials data; USGA · recall

It weighs far less than metal.

Source: TaylorMade Golf; Callaway Golf · recall

At Watford, north of London.

Source: Topgolf, company history · recall

Targets read the chip.

Source: Topgolf, company history · recall

They wanted to make range practice a game.

Source: Topgolf, company history · recall

It began in Sweden as Protracer.

Source: Topgolf, Toptracer history · recall

Golf courses there are few and costly.

Source: Golfzon, company history · recall

Many golfers there practise far more than they play.

Source: Japan Golf Association, golf in Japan · recall

They are often lower-grade balls too.

Source: PGA of America, range operations · recall

2000, 2003, 2005 and 2021.

Source: Topgolf, company history; Trackman · recall

Closer to the centre scores more.

Source: Topgolf, company history · recall

The venues have bars and music.

Source: Topgolf, company history · recall