If you are good enough to be in the “elite level” of this game, is it wrong to get paid to use a certain brand. Many players change brands because they get paid more money for example. Do you believe that a player will forgo his brand for another brand because he/she believes they will work out better? The same can be said for golf balls used etc. You can also add in marketing/product awareness perspectives.

Play well guys

I’m certainly not good enough to be at the elite level (yet… :P) but if I was offered free gear, I’de definately take it, and if I got paid to use it, I’de most definately be using it. Getting paid to play golf is a sweet place to be I reckon.

if you’re at the high end of “the elite” cant you pretty much just get the company you’re signed with to make you clubs exactly how YOU want them? eg; Phil’s new blades?

Surely you would use something that actually benefits your game. To play a certain brand just because company X is paying you big bucks, would be ludicrous.

At the elite level, like any sport, players are paid to use what they are asked to by the respective paying company.

At that level, as tomrules implied, companies will usually build your clubs around you ie Tiger’s Miura (stamped Nike) blades and Phil’s new blades. Another example, a soccer player like David Beckham paid to wear Adidas (they actually took a mould of his feet and built the shoe around it), so it was tailor made to suit him.

In a real world, a player will usually change brand name when they are offered more coin….

Well then there’s a difference between playing a brand and playing something that is custom made with a brand lable.

Having custom made gear that suits you perfectly helps your game and gives your sponsor what they want, exposure. Average golfers love a certain brand and are probably faithful but I’m sure I read the average driver contrac for people on the PGA tour was around $250k. And a majority of players get that when they turn pro. I’d use a twig with a rock for that money.

It’s all about marketing pure and simple. Pay enough pros to use your brand of clubs, bag and wear the company visor with logo and Joe Bloggs out there will see that the pros use that brand, surmise they must therefore be the best and will stump up the two grand for this years offering. Of course the fact that the clubs the pro may be using, even though they carry the company logo, have no semblance to what is available to Joe, completely escapes him. Tiger uses Nike, therefore buy Nike, hit it like Tiger. Tiger uses a Pro V, therefore I will pay $8/$9 a ball. The fact that I cannot compress that ball to get out of it what it was designed to do is neither here or there.

If you are good enough to be in the “elite level” of this game, is it wrong to get paid to use a certain brand. Many players change brands because they get paid more money for example. Do you believe that a player will forgo his brand for another brand because he/she believes they will work out better? The same can be said for golf balls used etc. You can also add in marketing/product awareness perspectives.

Play well guys

If it is your dream, make it happen….

I look at playing at an “elite” level like I would as if I would race in Formula 1. If I get a better offer, I’ll take it. Chances as, if you have made it to such a high level, no matter who you “play” for, you’ll be making a decent living. But, if the chance comes along where a substantial amount of money or great oppertunity comes along, I’ll take it, as most people and players would. That being said…

There is a huge difference between a good player, and a great player. The same goes for a good or great racing driver. A good driver can take a good car on a good day and win a race. A great can win with a sub-par car almost any time. That mean the driver is constantly adapting, learning how to drive the car, and learning its strong and weak points, and taking advantage of them. I firmly believe the same is true for golfers, and the greats will eventually rise to the top. I’d bet most of the greats is golf could ditch their clubs, pick up my Taylor Made OS2’s, and still do very well or win at the same rate as they did before.

Surely you would use something that actually benefits your game. To play a certain brand just because company X is paying you big bucks, would be ludicrous.

Former Top 10 on the PGA Tour ISG Money List.

Why? Some people are in the gamn for the $$$, and a great player will adapt to sub-par equipment. A marketable person (such as Tiger Woods or Michael Schumacher) can make a lot of money for both themselves and the company they represent. Look at Greg Norman. How much money has he made both playing the game and doing endorements? Gulfstream V, huge yacht, etc. Would you turn down a life like that just to play a club you prefere more?

I think Greg Norman has made a LOT more money from his own personal business ventures then his playing and endorsement earnings. However, I am sure it was made possible through his golf earnings.

... Of course the fact that the clubs the pro may be using, even though they carry the company logo, have no semblance to what is available to Joe, completely escapes him…

Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by
the occasional miracle.

Couldn’t agree more, Whambam. Like you say, it’s all about marketing.

The ‘Nikes’ that Tiger uses are custom made for Tiger – and nothing like what us punters buy. For Joe Average, especially beginners, it’s monkey see, monkey do. The pros I work with all make the point that the brand is much less important than the fit.

... Of course the fact that the clubs the pro may be using, even though they carry the company logo, have no semblance to what is available to Joe, completely escapes him…

Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by
the occasional miracle.

Couldn’t agree more, Whambam. Like you say, it’s all about marketing.

The ‘Nikes’ that Tiger uses are custom made for Tiger – and nothing like what us punters buy. For Joe Average, especially beginners, it’s monkey see, monkey do. The pros I work with all make the point that the brand is much less important than the fit.

So the average punter should go and get his brand name clubs fitted/tuned ? Because if it’s important to Tiger and Phil, then it has to be that much more important to us, gubers ? IMHO, every little bit of custom fitting helps.
Jon…

I found out recently that I guy I have played with (and I guessed had a 30hcp) finally got his handicap and it was 5. Only thing that had changed was his new clubs were custom fitted. Ugly swing, pretty handicap… Only difference was getting his clubs fitted. Go figure…

Of course they accept more money. Nick Flanagan recently switched to Callaway and that hasn’t helped his game so far,,,,, top 25 finishes with Nike,,,,, then two missed cuts straight up with Callaway,,,,, so far, not so good. But I dont think he is too worried,,, his 3 year contract with Callaway is making up for the prize money side of things. I do know his total contract is between 3 to 5 million AUD for the 3 years,,,,, obviously Nike has either no money left after paying Tiger,,,,, or see no future in him and think hes not worth it. I would of thought his results from the end of this year would of made them think twice.

I think Greg Norman has made a LOT more money from his own personal business ventures then his playing and endorsement earnings. However, I am sure it was made possible through his golf earnings.

Spot on…

Greg made a lot of his money because he was not sponsered as such…he became a partner in the business and his business mind allowed him to reap the rewards. I highly recommend reading The Way Of The Shark…awesome insight into how his business has grown and that is what made him the money, his golf was just the stepping stone!