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 Masashi Kamoda is helping Fourteen Golf establish itself in America. Photo: Eddie Meeks But after Inbee Park won this year’s U.S. Women’s Open with Fourteen Golf irons, the company took the victory in stride. “Yes, it was a big win — the biggest for us so far in 2008,” said Masashi Kamoda, vice president of the American arm of Fourteen Golf. “But we’ve won golf tournaments before.” The understated stance by Kamoda underlies something distinctive about Fourteen Golf, which promotes itself through word of mouth by putting its clubs in the hands of regional professionals and retailers. “They let us use the clubs and we all absolutely loved them,” said Mark Stickney of Golf Etc. in San Clemente. “We sell a lot of their wedges and we’re starting to sell more and more of their hybrids. They perform really well and, with their wedges specifically, the grooves and the way they build the faces add a lot of spin. And that helps even high handicappers get a little roll back when the ball hits the green. We find that if someone comes in and buys a Fourteen wedge, they’re usually coming in and buying another one pretty quickly.” Success isn’t new to Fourteen Golf. Kamoda pointed out that Ernie Els used a hybrid club designed by the company en route to his 2002 British Open title. Though it didn’t establish an American presence until 2005 with the opening of an Irvine office, the company has been designing clubs for major manufacturers such as Titleist and Wilson for nearly 30 years, Kamoda said. “But in 2000, we realized that we should have our own brand,” he said. “We were doing such a good job designing for other companies that we realized we should do it for ourselves.” The decision to enter the American market came five years later. “Based on our success in Asia, we felt that it was time to penetrate America,” Kamoda said. Though its wedges and hybrids are its biggest sellers, Fourteen Golf makes an entire line of clubs. Hence, the name. “Our goal is to design the 14 best clubs for a golfer, from the putter through the driver,” Kamoda said. “And we think we’ve done that by designing clubs that match every kind of golfer and skill level, from juniors and ladies to high handicappers and low handicappers.” As a high-performance club manufacturer, Fourteen Golf has eschewed mass marketing campaigns, and Kamoda said Park’s victory in the U.S. Women’s Open wasn’t the result of some long-term strategy to lure professional golfers. “Building a relationship with the LPGA is something we’ve been trying to do since 2005,” he said. “And earlier this year, [Park] decided to begin using our irons. There was nothing special to it on our part. We didn’t push her to use them, and she isn’t on contract. She just really liked the clubs. We think that speaks more highly of the clubs than paying someone to use them.” Kamoda knows it will take time for Fourteen Golf clubs to establish a major presence in the United States. “We dominate the wedge market in Asia but in America it’s a much different story,” he said. “And we realize that to compete with major companies like Callaway and Cleveland in the States will be a long process and we need to take it step by step. But we know who we are, and we know the quality and performance of our clubs. So we’re in no rush. We’ll get there.” For more information on Fourteen Golf, visit fourteengolf.com. |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
I played golf with a guy who had just bought a set of fourteen clubs, he let me hit them and i really liked the way the ball came off the face, he didnt hit the clubs all that well but he did hit the wedges good, and i liked the way the wedges performed they seem a very soft feel, but the price may be out of my league.
| Comment at 1/11/2009 |
Well,they look good but i do not see any model in left-hand,special i
notice the other manufacturers are designing some kind they call forgiving
design head.
anyway i notice your club playing by many pros at HK open few months
ago,it is only my thought about design nothing wrong with your club as i
myself have been using forged club for years.
thank for your kind attention.
my best regards to you.
| Comment at 2/19/2009 |
Fourteen golf clubs are absolutely fantastic. Well worth the price. No matter what club you pick up and play they are very high quality. We offer the full line at: http://www.golfclubclearance.net
| Comment at 9/18/2009 |
I tried Fourteen 510 clubs at a demo day in Seattle just for fun. I couldn't believe how straight I hit them. I tested the PW, 8 & 7 irons. Every shot was straight and pure. The feel was very nice. I've never owned forged irons but may buy them next. I would consider these seriously but the price is an issue..........
| Comment at 4/7/2011 |
