A Visit to Tour Edge HQ

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

 

Had a few hours to kill in Suburban Chicago yesterday - so a quick call to marketing chief Jon Claffey wound up with a nice tour and demo session at Tour Edge HQ our in Batavia.

 

Tour Edge is owned by David Glod, and has been since he founded the company. Someone once asked David how long it took him to be profitable, to which he famously replied “I’ve been in business 33 years and have been profitable every one of them.”

 

 

Jon gave me a quick tour of the facility, which houses sales, marketing, R&D, assembly and shipping. David owns the building as well.

 

 

The assembly section was brilliant - it’s set up for a logical flow from receiving of raw parts through shipping of finished, packaged goods. Jon told me the set up has been designed to handle a 300% increase in sales and they’d only have to add, at most, 15 people. They’re able to turn around custom orders in less than 48 hours.

 

 

 

 

The real treat was on the second floor. There’s a putting and chipping green, as well as three bays equipped with Trackman for fitting.

 

 

 

 

 

I got to try the full EXS line and was more than impressed. I’ve hit the driver before and it’s an incredible value at $299. The 3 wood was excellent as well, but I did not get along with either the EXS or CBX hybrids at all (then again, hybrids and I have a love/hate relationship anyway).

 

 

 

The irons were an eye-opener. As I get older distance is a factor, and in the last year I’ve begun to notice a bit of a distance loss - hell, I’ll be 59 this summer, so it’s to be expected. After warming up I started wailing the bejesus out of the EXS irons, posting some numbers that made me feel young again.

 

 

That’s with the 7-iron. It had a regular flex Tensei Graphite shaft, which didn’t hurt - and it had a 27.5* loft, which also didn’t hurt. But the spin, trajectory and decent were all what you’d want in a 7-iron. For reference, I’m usually around 160 with a 7-iron. With the 5-iron I was right around 200-205.

 

 

As for the hybrids, I was not liking them much - at best I was hitting an 18 degree right around 205 - same as the EXS 5-iron, so there would be no point in bagging one. Did much better with driving irons.

 

 

Got to try their forged blades, too. The difference in tech and loft was remarkable - 34 degree loft was going right around 150.

 

 

Do I need a set that goes 20 to 30 yards farther than what I have? No. Do I want one? You bet your ass!

 

TE putters are pretty basic and truth be told, non-description, and their wedges are solid and head heavy, like the old Hogan Rivieras, which I also like.

 

TE is pretty proud of their fitting studio - rightfully so - and they even rent it out over the winter to local club pros for lessons. They’re installing an R&D robot right next to the studio, which should be pretty interesting to see. Jon told me they’ll have lunchtime and after hours chipping and putting tourneys on the putting green, and have given some the holes some R-rated names .

 

 

Anyway, it’s always cool to see different OEM HQ’s - Tour Edge is by no means big (the facility is much smaller than the Srixon/Cleveland HQ, for example), but it’s right-sized for where their business is now, and they’re well-prepped for future growth.

 

 

 

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[Bucky CC]

Great write-up! Do they give this kind of tour to the regular public? If so it might be worth the 2 hour drive south from Milwaukee.


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[jayjay0808]

This is awesome to see. Long time supporter of Tour Edge woods. And I 100% believe they are the best on the market. The crazy thing to me is David's comments of being in business 33 years and profitable every one of them, truly remarkable.

[tony@CIC]

Great write-up!


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[Shankster]

So those blades... I asked them a while back if they were conforming because I couldn’t find them on the USGA site. Any idea John?

[ole gray]

Awesome review big guy!‍


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[GolfSpy Barbajo]

On 3/29/2019 at 8:57 PM, Shankster said:

So those blades... I asked them a while back if they were conforming because I couldn’t find them on the USGA site. Any idea John?

Hadn't heard that they weren't comforting - don't see why they wouldn't be.They may not have bothered to submit, but I'm just guessing...

[Shankster]

Hadn't heard that they weren't comforting - don't see why they wouldn't be.They may not have bothered to submit, but I'm just guessing...

That’s what I figured. Thanks!

[fozcycle]

Great stuff! Makes me wanna get fitted for the exotics.


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