11/21/2023 0 Comments Artisan golf wedgeNo different than the records Nike kept for guys like Tiger or Rory. If you purchase wedges from Artisan, once they wear out and it’s time for a new set, they know exactly how to construct them over again. As with tour professionals, specs for each individual are kept in binders. Yes, the clubs are magnificent, and the performance is second to none, however another great thing about Artisan design is the records they keep on file. Tour quality is just the beginning for the customers of Artisan. The third thing is I want everyone who orders one to know and feel like they’re worthy of a tour quality custom product.” Hatfield said. I want every putter to perform better than any putter these players have had before. Since then Hatfield has helped some of the world’s best make pressure putts when it matters. The putter maker extraordinaire fell in love with putters with his days pre-Nike when he worked at Ray Cook. Hatfield, another 30-years-in-the-industry guy, carries himself as a little more reserved than his shop-mate. It’s different now, but back then, they would be making persimmon woods, and it smelled like you were in a furniture factory.” “And man, the smells you would get in that place. I think a lot of the passion started with him.” Taylor said. We were held accountable, and we were conditioned to get things done correctly. “I think Hogan’s passion for the game and for the equipment helped mold a lot of us over there. Hogan himself, that helped fuel his budding passion for golf club design and manufacturing. Taylor met several people during these years, including Mr. Although many of the Hogan irons were considered to be for the advanced player, there is little debate over how beautiful their forged blades were. If you’ve ever seen Hogan irons, you understand the craftsmanship that went into their clubs, especially in the 80’s and 90’s. Taylor, who describes himself as a “good ol’ country boy”, once worked alongside some of the finest club designers and manufacturers for Hogan Golf in Fort Worth. Then in 2017, Taylor, Hatfield, along with a few others from the halcyon days of Nike equipment production decided maybe it was time to try to do something on their own. The pair have more than 60 years in the golf club making industry, but when Nike folded up shop, they were now thrust into a holding pattern. Two of the men that were given the challenge of making a stockpile of Nike clubs for their touring professionals were Mike Taylor and John Hatfield. Once that job was done, the facility closed. Once it was known the facility was going to be shut down, those who weren’t out the door in a matter of hours were tasked with the challenge of producing enough product to keep their current stable of tour players in Nike equipment as they worked to make the transition to other manufacturers. Talented club designers, machinists, and scores of others who had dedicated years to the production of innovative and beautiful golf clubs were all out of a job. Not only did this development impact the tour players that had become comfortable playing equipment with the swoosh, but it left many of the R&D people at The Oven in limbo. The company still makes apparel and shoes, but if you want some Vapor Pro irons or a dozen RZN golf balls, your only option may be the secondary market. No more irons, no more drivers, no more wedges, no more golf balls. Two years ago, Nike announced their intentions of permanently doing away with the manufacturing of equipment. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard, Michelle Wie, and even Michael Jordan would get their clubs custom fitted out of this space. Most Fort Worth residents likely don’t know just how often greatness frequented this state of the art facility. Just west of downtown, adjacent to the Leonard Golf Links, sits what used to be known as The Oven. Its rich history, which includes Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan caddying as teens at Glen Garden, Marvin Leonard and his passion and near obsession for seeing bent grass greens thrive in the Texas heat, to Colonial and the Horrible Horseshoe, Panther City has always been a place where golfers and the golf industry have flourished.įor that very reason, Nike once constructed a state of the art research and development facility in Fort Worth.
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