Softspikes Enters The Golf Grip Market

After 15 years of innovating and dominating the golf cleat and tee market, Softspikes®, claiming to be the number one cleat on the PGA TOUR, recently enhanced its position as the game’s premier accessory brand by entering the golf grip market and debuting BLACK WIDOW® Grips.  Branded alongside the game’s all-time best selling cleat model, BLACK WIDOW® Grips are born off Softspikes’ heritage for advanced technology and developing products that offer best-in-class traction and feel.

 

The new BLACK WIDOW® Grips line, which was created to meet the demands of players at all levels, offers five distinct models, each one complete with bold colors and excellent performance features to improve any golfer’s game:

·         Tour Silk – Tour Silk features a Softspikes inspired horizontal “S” traction pattern embedded in a specialized rubber compound for the ultimate performance.  Available in black or white and round or ribbed models.

·         Widow Maker – Widow Maker features a multi-compound hybrid feel and a two-color design that features a corded top for traction in all conditions and a firm responsive bottom for performance and feedback.  Available in round and ribbed models with black/white and black/red color patterns.  In the future, it will also be available in a putter grip model.

·         Signature – Signature features a firm two-compound composition that delivers enhanced feel in the finger tip contact points, as well as Web Traction Technology on the backside for greater control,  resulting in an unmatched combination of an aggressive design, superior feel and performance.  Available in round and ribbed models with black/white, black/red and white/black color patterns.  A junior model with a black/white color pattern is also available, as well as a putter grip model.

·         Fusion – Fusion features a firm and highly textured surface for enhanced feel and control.  The two-compound, multi-color material controls vibration and delivers two distinct feels plus Web Traction Technology for greater control.  Available in black round and ribbed models.

·         Edge – Edge features a soft performance wrap design with a high tack feel.  The Web Traction Technology design pattern provides greater grip confidence and control.  Available in black round, ribbed and oversized models. 

In addition to their unique performance characteristics, all of the models in the BLACK WIDOW® Grips line feature distinctive markings, including either black widow spider icons, and/or stylish spider web designs. 

"After extensive research and testing of our new designs, and based on our track record of success in the golf cleat, tee and overall accessory market, we felt the time was right to enter the grip market and position the new Black Widow line to compete alongside the game’s best brand names," said John Hohman, Vice President of Marketing, Softspikes.  "Building off the advanced technology and design that have made our Softspikes cleats the world’s best selling brand, Black Widow Grips not only offer superior performance and feel, but offer a unique and stylish change from what is on the market today."

BLACK WIDOW® Grips, available in spring 2010, will be sold at golf and sporting goods retail shops nationwide.  Suggested retail price for the BLACK WIDOW® Grips will vary from $3.99 to $9.39 depending on the type of grip. 

Fujikura Famed Speeder Shaft Technology Winner at Bob Hope Classic

With the daily receipt of new press releases in my mail, I have decided to make this content readily available to my readers.

#1 Driver Shaft Fujikura

(Vista, CA – January 28, 2010) Fujikura’s famed Speeder shaft technology was used in the driver played by the Bob Hope Classic winner. The brand also was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand Model at the tournament.

“We’re thrilled with this victory that demonstrates the superior performance of the Speeder brand,” says Dave Schnider, President/COO of Fujikura. “This win continues to show Fujikura’s leadership in technology, design and materials. We proudly salute this talented, up and coming player in his first PGA Tour victory.”

Fujikura is building momentum entering the 2010 golf season having the #1 Wood 
Shaft Brand at the SBS Championship in Hawaii. The brand also has been the #1 
Wood Shaft Brand for an unprecedented nine straight years on the PGA Tour.  The 
new Motore Speeder shaft won the first week it was launched on Tour at the 
Barclays Singapore Open.  Motore was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand for all four 2009 
major championships and lead the Darrell Survey National Consumer Report on new 
driver shaft usages for the second consecutive year. 

Fujikura is the primary supplier to many national brand OEM’s offering both 
proprietary and brand product shaft designs.  Fujikura products also can be 
custom fitted through its network of over 900 Charter Dealers.  To learn more 
about Fujikura, visit www.fujikuragolf.com.   

Photo Credits: © Pureforged.co.uk

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Golf and Hotel Options in France

Within the land of baguettes, burgundy wine and architectural wonders also lies many of the world's best golf courses. France, well known for the Eiffel Tower, Rue de la Pais and most recently a decree banning women from wearing trousers in Paris, has also created some of the most difficult and creative courses in the world.

Several public golf courses in "L'Hexagone" as referred to by its citizens, have caught this golfer's attention, wondering whether or not it is worth shlepping clubs halfway across the world and incurring excessive luggage fees on the airlines for the effort and expense of playing in the land of professional Euro Tour golfers Gregory Havret and Thomas Levet.

Learning that there are areas within France easily accessible to the Chunnel and also within my guidelines of "beach", "gaming" excitement and luxurious accomodations, how could I not consider vacationing within the confines of the most spectacular properties in some of the most desirable locations in France?

I recently read up on the Lucien Barriere chain of three to five-star luxury casino/golf hotels which dazzle the eyes as well as the senses. Some of these delightful properties are located in Southern France, others are within the Loire and Normandy and one of their properties, Hotel Fouquet's Barriere, is the first one ever built on the Champs-Elysées.

Other top-rated hotels in the area include the Dolce Chantilly and the Chateau de Montvillargenne.


Chantilly, Fontainebleau and Paris International Club are all within walking distance from the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower so a golfer can bring along the family to wonder at the Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace or the Basilique de St-Denis and have a bounty of choices for where to leave a divot!

Chantilly has hosted the French Open ten times and has a challenging championship layout. Fontainebleau is a nature-lovers dream and is set in a sandstone forest where peace and tranquility set the stage and the International Club is a Nicklaus parkland wonder considered to be one of the finest manicured courses in all of Paris. All are ranked among the top courses in Europe and impeccably maintained.

Golf afficionados may be interested in the five-star Hermitage Barriere La Baule, located along the Loire River and the largest port in France because non-golfers can play on the sandy beach while duffers can try their luck on one of the two eighteen hole courses, the Diane and Lucien Courses, or spruce up at their nine-hole executive course. Any time Jack Nicklaus' name graces an Academy be sure that there will be instructors as well as outstanding amenities on hand to prepare you for your rounds.

If you are considering old world aesthetics and charm as well as some of the finest golf near LeHavre, the elegant, five-star Hotel du Golf Barriere Deauville may be your choice for a restful holiday. Although this luxurious resort is not located beachfront, it is only three-minutes away from Deauville on the coast of Normandy, considered the "queen of the Norman beaches".

Views of Deauville compliment the New Golf Barriere de Deauville three nine-hole courses with no water worries but bunkers which are fearsome.

Here are just a few more golf courses to make note of for afficionados who will search out the toughest tests of the sport during their French vacation. Les Bordes Golf International is consistently rated as one of the top five golf courses in France. Medoc Golf Club, consisting of the Chateaux and Vignes courses played host to the 1999 French Open and is located near Bordeaux, French wine country.


Being out of the USA, the rules of play are governed by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A). There is a bit of a language barrier although some of the basic terms like bogey, bunker and fairway remain the same. It would be polite to learn a bit of French aside from "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" before you visit as I understand that the people consider it rude to address them in English.

But, are the French really rude or is this just another myth coming from those who simply don't respect or understand another country's culture?

Here are a few French terms that should be learned by le Américain:


Fore!                   Balle! (pronounce as "shall")
golf course          terrain / parcours de golf
water hazard       obstacle d’eau


If you are new to the game, travel around Easter to partake in the annual event introducing new players to the sport known as Tous au Golf.


Deciding where in Metropolitan France to stay can be a daunting task as the country is the largest in area of all in the European Union. From scenic areas in Normandy to the heart of the action in Paris, wherever you finally decide to hang your "chapeau" will be a grand experience!


Check here for more Paris Hotels.