Just Released - PXG Desert Club!!!

[Chux13]

Wow! PXG just released the brand spankin' new Desert Club!!!

This 44º iron has the pitching wedge loft but built at the length of an 8 iron with the ability to still customize shaft and length if desired. This is a club built out of raw 17-4 hardened stainless steel. Softness is not the plan here as this is a club that seems to be built for the desert, rocks, and other nasty lies that would otherwise bang up your purty clubs.

Check out the link in the intro to get more info. Honestly, at $99 ($79 with hero discount), I feel the price is pretty sweet for such a niche but still usable in any situation club to keep in the bag. Living in AZ, a club like this will absolutely come in handy and be fun to rip out and just not worry about beating up my future clubs I hope to get sometime soon . Already ordered mine, can't wait to share my experience with y'all on how this club performs.

What are your thoughts? Could you see yourself popping such a wild club in your bag?? 

[Hook DeLoft]

It kind of seems like a gimmick to me.  After all, I'm not going to risk breaking my wrist on a shot off rocks or roots.

[Coulter]

I saw this earlier and thought it could be pretty useful for people that regularly play in these types of areas. Obviously pxg thought so too or they wouldn’t have made it lol I look forward to hearing how you like it.

Edited November 15 by Coulter

[Shankster]

As much as I dislike the looks of PXG clubs.  I would seriously consider a full set that looks just like that.  

[Chux13]

2 minutes ago, Shankster said:

As much as I dislike the looks of PXG clubs.  I would seriously consider a full set that looks just like that.  

When I first saw it, I thought it would be a design choice for the Gen 7's. Would love that on a full set as well!

[GolfSpy_APH]

Can we get a Swamp Club for one that will cut through water and allow us to get out of those hazards?

[Josh Parker]

For the folks that play in those conditions all the time it's probably something some already have in bags anyways. Old beater club to get back in play. 

I like the loft selection and at 8 iron length let's you get a little extra out of it. 

[slash25rc]

I would think most wouldn't dedicate a club for this, but I also do not live anywhere near the desert, so perhaps it is more common to take up a spot! In casual rounds, I'd keep it on the cart like a ball retriever 

[mpatrickriley]

3 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

Old beater club to get back in play. 

This was my first thought: buying a new club to get beat up on rocks isn't intuitive to me

I know we're long past the day when PXG only released super expensive stuff, but buying a shiny new club to bang on rocks harkens back to those days.

[chisag]

 

8 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

For the folks that play in those conditions all the time it's probably something some already have in bags anyways. Old beater club to get back in play. 

I like the loft selection and at 8 iron length let's you get a little extra out of it. 

 

... When I first moved to the desert I was paired up with 2 ASU golf team members and they gave me a great suggestion. If you aren't in a tournament or posting a round for your handicap and your ball lands in the desert you have two options. With an obstructed path to your target or in big rocks with an unplayable lie, move to the nearest grass and take a 1 stroke penalty. But many lies in the desert have a clear path to the target and are just on rocky and playable ground but there may be more rock just under your ball and it tears up forged irons as well as possibly injuring your wrist, so they move to the nearest grass with no penalty stroke. Occasionally the move to grass produces an obstructed view to the target with a tree or bush in the way and them's the breaks and the price you pay for saving your clubs and preventing injury. 

... Some add a desert iron but it is usually a 15th club and breaks the rules anyway. Many of us think with irons costing $1400 it is reckless and silly to destroy them with one swing in the rocks. 

Edited November 15 by chisag

[Josh Parker]

2 minutes ago, chisag said:

Some add a desert iron but it is usually a 14th club and breaks the rules anyway. Many of us think with irons costing $1400 it is reckless and silly to destroy them with one swing in the rocks. 

There are places on my course that I'll take a penalty because of the ground conditions. I'm not ruining a club for nothing other than a little pride out there. Ha. 

[Chux13]

2 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

There are places on my course that I'll take a penalty because of the ground conditions. I'm not ruining a club for nothing other than a little pride out there. Ha. 

And I think that will be the fun test of this club, seeing just how well it will stand up to some of the usual desert lies I find myself in. We have only two courses to play on in this immediate area and MUST stay on fairway or small amounts of rough. If not, in the natural desert landscape you go. And not natural by designed lush desert with native plants, its nasty native rocky ass land out here . If there is anywhere that will test the claims of this niche club, it will be out here in eastern AZ

Edited November 15 by Chux13

[Wedge891]

On 11/15/2024 at 12:28 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Can we get a Swamp Club for one that will cut through water and allow us to get out of those hazards?

Maybe PXG could design a rescue club for the most common trouble spot in each region: desert for Arizona; swamp for Florida; and something to fight rattlesnakes in Texas. For myself in the North, I’ll take a club that can saw through the saplings, small trees, and shrubs my ball likes to find. Or one that has a tiny leaf blower for fall golf. 

[Javs]

I saw this online yesterday. I imagine I would give it a look if I was playing in Arizona or somewhere that has the rock desert landscape. I think those in Palm Desert in California could give this club a look as well. It’s a cool design and idea. 

[BIG STU]

I saw this on one of my feeds. And this is going to sound odd coming from me self proclaimed King of beat up clubs.

I like the Idea for folks with expensive clubs and I cannot blame them at all. With me with my old forged blades I have at least 3 replacement clubs for each one. Yeah I do not blame anyone for not damaging a $2500 set of irons. 

I have played in the desert a few times in the infamous Vegas Shootouts (with backers) I virtually destroyed a Spalding Elite 5 iron in those days. I also have hanging on my wall of fame in my shop a Hogan 56* wedge my late friend Little Bear destroyed on a couple of desert courses.

Got to go with @chisag here on taking drops to keep from hitting rocks and possibly hurting oneself. Here all of the leagues have a "root rule" and it is a standard course rule here. I absolutely have no problem with either one. 

LOL now my sarcastic old school pun is going to come out here. I got a chuckle with the 44* PW loft. In my world that is a 9 iron. In my 50s world that is a 1955 Hogan 8 iron. Hey I had to just throw that in. After all it is expected of me

 

[KurtActual]

The majority of the sand traps on the goat tracks I play have rocks in them. I refuse to play out of them for fear of damaging one of my clubs. I suppose using a $79 (Hero) club would be better than a $149 wedge.

[Rico_de_Gallo]

Absolutely love the look and design. Club isn't for me though

The most official events I play in are the VTC stuff here and I'll typically just blade a wedge to get back in play. Otherwise my group it's always just for fun and getting out so we will just move it when it does happen. San Antonio courses are pretty firm, but nothing really rocky. Maybe just super compact dirt without grass on occasion.

I do still have some old irons and would find a spot in the bag for one club if I knew there was a course where these situations would come up more frequently 

[jbern]

The club looks awesome! Great design!

I personally can't imagine buying a new club for the purpose of beating it up. I have several clubs from the early 2000's that could break a few rocks if I play out in AZ ever! 

[Wakit300]

Clubs are tools not jewels - so now you have to take a real club out of your bag for this. Just hit the shot or take an unplayable lie - your choice.

[Javs]

1 hour ago, Wakit300 said:

Clubs are tools not jewels - so now you have to take a real club out of your bag for this. Just hit the shot or take an unplayable lie - your choice.

I completely see your point; however, I don’t think most people want to loose a club from a 1500 set on one swing. It’s a niche club just like when a person carries a chipper. That’s why we get to pick our 14. I can see the merit if I played a lot of golf in the desert. However, I have no need for the club in central Texas. 

[funkyjudge]

11 minutes ago, Javs said:

I completely see your point; however, I don’t think most people want to loose a club from a 1500 set on one swing. It’s a niche club just like when a person carries a chipper. That’s why we get to pick our 14. I can see the merit if I played a lot of golf in the desert. However, I have no need for the club in central Texas. 

I have a 5 year old set of Tour Edge Exotics irons that I used for 3+ years and still use occasionally. I’ve hit the 6-iron and PW off of paved cart paths, rocks and a mix of gravel/stones and hard pan several times and although there are scratches and some small nicks in both clubs’ soles (there were more before I buffed the soles), the clubs are still perfectly playable.  I have played in the Arizona and SoCal desert (also outside of Las Vegas) many times over the last 25 years and hit from the desert lots of times using my regular irons and they all remained playable.

I also have two old Scratch forged wedges (a 50* and a 60*) that have soles where I had to grind out some gouges and “dings”, but that didn’t keep me from using them until the faces/grooves got worn to a point where they no longer performed well, or they didn’t impart proper spin to the ball any longer.

Edited November 19 by funkyjudge

[Javs]

1 hour ago, funkyjudge said:

I have a 5 year old set of Tour Edge Exotics irons that I used for 3+ years and still use occasionally. I’ve hit the 6-iron and PW off of paved cart paths, rocks and a mix of gravel/stones and hard pan several times and although there are scratches and some small nicks in both clubs’ soles (there were more before I buffed the soles), the clubs are still perfectly playable.  I have played in the Arizona and SoCal desert (also outside of Las Vegas) many times over the last 25 years and hit from the desert lots of times using my regular irons and they all remained playable.

I also have two old Scratch forged wedges (a 50* and a 60*) that have soles where I had to grind out some gouges and “dings”, but that didn’t keep me from using them until the faces/grooves got worn to a point where they no longer performed well, or they didn’t impart proper spin to the ball any longer.

Makes sense and with the scratches just on the sole that works. I have only played limited from desert courses so, my experience is limited. Plus, I tend to play from the fairway, ha ha joking. I did hit a 3 wood off a cart path in a tournament because the drop would have put me in jail. Was able to pick it clean and hit the par 5 green in two and made eagle. So, it was worth the risk. Only had minor scratches on the sole and still played fine. I guess looking back it’s similar to your experience on the rocks. I don’t think I would want to hit my new Gen 7’s off rocks just yet. However, since it will be 3 months till I can play maybe I’ll be over the honeymoon with them……

[chisag]

On 11/19/2024 at 4:00 PM, Javs said:

Makes sense and with the scratches just on the sole that works. I have only played limited from desert courses so, my experience is limited. Plus, I tend to play from the fairway, ha ha joking. I did hit a 3 wood off a cart path in a tournament because the drop would have put me in jail. Was able to pick it clean and hit the par 5 green in two and made eagle. So, it was worth the risk. Only had minor scratches on the sole and still played fine. I guess looking back it’s similar to your experience on the rocks. I don’t think I would want to hit my new Gen 7’s off rocks just yet. However, since it will be 3 months till I can play maybe I’ll be over the honeymoon with them……

 

... The better the player, the hard fast desert fairway bordered by rocky desert terrain and find a good drive on the rocks. We had this exact scenario happen one round and it explained a lot. My 82 yr old is crazy straight and hits his drives in the 185 range with a few bombs out there near 200. He hit a standard drive to the right side of the fairway and was a few inches from the rough. I hit a drive of around 260 on the same line and I was in the rough just a few feet from the desert. We played with a Mini Tour winner averaging around 340 off the tee and on the same line he was in the rocky desert. 

... The two main things we lined is short hitters rarely find trouble. Slightly above average distance hitters like myself can find trouble when fairways are hard and fast. Landing in the fairway is no guarantee as uneven ground can bounce your ball into the rough or even the desert so my margin for error is quite a bit less than a short hitter. And finally a really long hitter has an amazingly small margin for error.

... Most driving holes on my home course have gentle doglegs or strong doglegs and picking the right line is critical. Missing that line becomes more of a problem the longer you hit your drives. And even straight holes where your drive lands in the fairway can end up in the rocky desert if you are hitting drives longer than 300.  

... This that haven't played on true desert courses probably don't realize how rocky the terrain really is. Sharp and jagged rocks that have been there for probably thousands of years. Of course that is what you see, but more are right below the surface. Literally my very first shot from a rocky desert lie didn't scratch the sole of my club. There was a jagged rock just below the surface and it gouged a deep rut in the sole of my forged 7 iron. It began rusting in days and over time I imagine the chrome would rust underneath and begin flaking off. Even medium depth scratches will start rusting. Those playing stainless steel irons have a huge advantage when it comes to wear from the desert. 

.... This is a photo of the rocky rough just off the fairway at my home course. It is one of the milder area's and some are much more rocky. Back in the Midwest this would just be rough. Many visitors would just play from here, but us locals know better. They do remove the big rocks, although many higher end courses do not remove large rocks and boulders and leave it natural. But just beneath the surface can hide a really big rock that can do damage to your club as well as your wrist. If and it's a big IF, I were going to try and pick a ball clean from the rocky desert like this picture, a club like the PXG would seem like an excellent option. 

[funkyjudge]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... The better the player, the hard fast desert fairway bordered by rocky desert terrain and find a good drive on the rocks. We had this exact scenario happen one round and it explained a lot. My 82 yr old is crazy straight and hits his drives in the 185 range with a few bombs out there near 200. He hit a standard drive to the right side of the fairway and was a few inches from the rough. I hit a drive of around 260 on the same line and I was in the rough just a few feet from the desert. We played with a Mini Tour winner averaging around 340 off the tee and on the same line he was in the rocky desert. 

... The two main things we lined is short hitters rarely find trouble. Slightly above average distance hitters like myself can find trouble when fairways are hard and fast. Landing in the fairway is no guarantee as uneven ground can bounce your ball into the rough or even the desert so my margin for error is quite a bit less than a short hitter. And finally a really long hitter has an amazingly small margin for error.

... Most driving holes on my home course have gentle doglegs or strong doglegs and picking the right line is critical. Missing that line becomes more of a problem the longer you hit your drives. And even straight holes where your drive lands in the fairway can end up in the rocky desert if you are hitting drives longer than 300.  

... This that haven't played on true desert courses probably don't realize how rocky the terrain really is. Sharp and jagged rocks that have been there for probably thousands of years. Of course that is what you see, but more are right below the surface. Literally my very first shot from a rocky desert lie didn't scratch the sole of my club. There was a jagged rock just below the surface and it gouged a deep rut in the sole of my forged 7 iron. It began rusting in days and over time I imagine the chrome would rust underneath and begin flaking off. Even medium depth scratches will start rusting. Those playing stainless steel irons have a huge advantage when it comes to wear from the desert. 

.... This is a photo of the rocky rough just off the fairway at my home course. It is one of the milder area's and some are much more rocky. Back in the Midwest this would just be rough. Many visitors would just play from here, but us locals know better. They do remove the big rocks, although many higher end courses do not remove large rocks and boulders and leave it natural. But just beneath the surface can hide a really big rock that can do damage to your club as well as your wrist. If and it's a big IF, I were going to try and pick a ball clean from the rocky desert like this picture, a club like the PXG would seem like an excellent option. 

I agree, Sam.  If I was still playing a lot of travel golf in the Tucson (and occasionally Phoenix) area, as well as in the desert around Las Vegas and in the Temecula and Murietta, California areas, as I was from 17-25 years ago, I would probably have something like that PXG “desert Club”or an old stainless steel middle iron with a steel shaft in my bag for those trips.

Of course, back in those days I was a much longer hitter and my offline shots would travel much farther offline and into the desert when I played out your way, and further south in the Tucson desert.

Edited November 26 by funkyjudge

[Javs]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... The better the player, the hard fast desert fairway bordered by rocky desert terrain and find a good drive on the rocks. We had this exact scenario happen one round and it explained a lot. My 82 yr old is crazy straight and hits his drives in the 185 range with a few bombs out there near 200. He hit a standard drive to the right side of the fairway and was a few inches from the rough. I hit a drive of around 260 on the same line and I was in the rough just a few feet from the desert. We played with a Mini Tour winner averaging around 340 off the tee and on the same line he was in the rocky desert. 

... The two main things we lined is short hitters rarely find trouble. Slightly above average distance hitters like myself can find trouble when fairways are hard and fast. Landing in the fairway is no guarantee as uneven ground can bounce your ball into the rough or even the desert so my margin for error is quite a bit less than a short hitter. And finally a really long hitter has an amazingly small margin for error.

... Most driving holes on my home course have gentle doglegs or strong doglegs and picking the right line is critical. Missing that line becomes more of a problem the longer you hit your drives. And even straight holes where your drive lands in the fairway can end up in the rocky desert if you are hitting drives longer than 300.  

... This that haven't played on true desert courses probably don't realize how rocky the terrain really is. Sharp and jagged rocks that have been there for probably thousands of years. Of course that is what you see, but more are right below the surface. Literally my very first shot from a rocky desert lie didn't scratch the sole of my club. There was a jagged rock just below the surface and it gouged a deep rut in the sole of my forged 7 iron. It began rusting in days and over time I imagine the chrome would rust underneath and begin flaking off. Even medium depth scratches will start rusting. Those playing stainless steel irons have a huge advantage when it comes to wear from the desert. 

.... This is a photo of the rocky rough just off the fairway at my home course. It is one of the milder area's and some are much more rocky. Back in the Midwest this would just be rough. Many visitors would just play from here, but us locals know better. They do remove the big rocks, although many higher end courses do not remove large rocks and boulders and leave it natural. But just beneath the surface can hide a really big rock that can do damage to your club as well as your wrist. If and it's a big IF, I were going to try and pick a ball clean from the rocky desert like this picture, a club like the PXG would seem like an excellent option. 

Fully agree with everything you presented. I have played several tournaments in Palm Springs/Desert Ca, Az and Nevada. I learned the first time to carry an escape club. You are 100 percent correct on the line and various bounces. Hit many “perfect” drives that ended up in a less than desirable lie. I was lucky enough to have placed fairly well in those desert tournaments. I did enjoy the way the ball flew farther in the warm thin air! If I venture out again I will carry a PXG desert club!

Edited November 26 by Javs

[chisag]

6 minutes ago, Javs said:

Fully agree with everything you presented. I have played several tournaments in Palm Springs/Desert Ca, Az and Nevada. I learned the first time to carry and escape club. You are 100 percent correct on the line and various bounces. Hit many “perfect” drives that ended up in a less than desirable lie. I was lucky enough to have placed fairly well in those desert tournaments. I did enjoy the way the ball flew farther in the warm thin air! If I venture out again I will carry a PXG desert club!

 

... Careful what you wish for.   We all want longer drives and there is an obvious advantage to hitting the ball farther. But it can bite you if you are just a little off line, at least here in the desert. Again a trade off I would absolutely make but it was crazy watching someone driving the ball 350 yds on my same line that found the edge of fairway and he ended up in a bush. Otoh it was also crazy in a good way to watch him have a short to mid iron iron approach shots on every par 4 and par 5. 

[Javs]

7 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Careful what you wish for.   We all want longer drives and there is an obvious advantage to hitting the ball farther. But it can bite you if you are just a little off line, at least here in the desert. Again a trade off I would absolutely make but it was crazy watching someone driving the ball 350 yds on my same line that found the edge of fairway and he ended up in a bush. Otoh it was also crazy in a good way to watch him have a short to mid iron iron approach shots on every par 4 and par 5. 

Something happened when I moved from sea level in California to central Texas. Gained 20 yards without doing anything different. Took me a little while to get the sight lines for our courses and the various tee boxes. Good thing is I normally hit it where I am looking. I also do a good leaders recon prior to playing to understand what is on my target lines. However, I hear what you are saying. 

[StrokerAce]

On 11/15/2024 at 9:19 AM, mpatrickriley said:

This was my first thought: buying a new club to get beat up on rocks isn't intuitive to me

I know we're long past the day when PXG only released super expensive stuff, but buying a shiny new club to bang on rocks harkens back to those days.

you could get a PW head and 8i shaft from golfworks for half the price and build the club yourself.

I've only played in the desert once - out in Tucson for a week - and I can see the desire for this type of club. 

I cringe when I'm on a not-so-nice lie (base of tree/gravel like area) and hate the thought of what it's going to do to my club. It's mostly aesthetic but nevertheless I don't like the thought of it.

I'm sure if I played in an area where it's not uncommon to roll into a dirt/sand lie I'd find a spot in the bag for this.

Just as an aside - when I was still learning the game and ended up under/next to trees a lot I carried a left handed 7 iron... haha

[StrokerAce]

12 minutes ago, Javs said:

Something happened when I moved from sea level in California to central Texas. Gained 20 yards without doing anything different. Took me a little while to get the sight lines for our courses and the various tee boxes. Good thing is I normally hit it where I am looking. I also do a good leaders recon prior to playing to understand what is on my target lines. However, I hear what you are saying. 

I'm not a long hitter (270ish) but when I played in Tucson I was able to get close to 300 and I had to adjust for it. I really enjoyed being able to hit the ball that far!

[StrokerAce]

On 11/15/2024 at 12:44 PM, chisag said:

 

 

... When I first moved to the desert I was paired up with 2 ASU golf team members and they gave me a great suggestion. If you aren't in a tournament or posting a round for your handicap and your ball lands in the desert you have two options. With an obstructed path to your target or in big rocks with an unplayable lie, move to the nearest grass and take a 1 stroke penalty. But many lies in the desert have a clear path to the target and are just on rocky and playable ground but there may be more rock just under your ball and it tears up forged irons as well as possibly injuring your wrist, so they move to the nearest grass with no penalty stroke. Occasionally the move to grass produces an obstructed view to the target with a tree or bush in the way and them's the breaks and the price you pay for saving your clubs and preventing injury. 

... Some add a desert iron but it is usually a 15th club and breaks the rules anyway. Many of us think with irons costing $1400 it is reckless and silly to destroy them with one swing in the rocks. 

I didn't realize you could move it to grass w/o a penalty stroke!