News Releases

GolfTest USA Newsletter for January 2009

Greetings!

GolfTest USA is using a new format for our monthly newsletter. Please send us any thoughts or comments you may have so we can make sure that the time you spend reading it is productive and interesting. We know everyone is inundated with emails from all over the globe so we want to make sure that you want to continue to receive our newsletter.

******We would like to ask all visitors to GolfTest USA to tell their friends and golf associates to visit GolfTest USA on a regular basis. The higher our website is rated on Alexa and Quantcast the more services and test results we can offer to the golfing public.******

The Bobby Jones Hybrid Promotion!!!!!

The winners of the Bobby Jones Hybrids were Jim H. of Akron, Ohio; Harold Z. of Las Vegas, Nevada and Ralph P. of Orlando, Florida. Jesse Ortiz custom fit a set of his great hybrids for each of them and they have all reported that they are hitting them long, high and straight. Our thanks to Bobby Jones Golf for making this promotion possible.

The GolfBallerz CD

A couple of months ago we received a CD from The GolfBallerz. It is a collection of original rap songs done by MC Center Shaft & DJ Blade targeted at the wacky world of golf. At first we thought "O Boy" this is going to be interesting. After listening to several cuts we had some good laughs and were quite amused. We have to warn everyone that it is irreverent and does contain some graphic lyrics however nothing we haven't all heard before, on and off the course. For more info go their website at www.thegolfballerz.com or sample the CD at www.myspace.com/thegolfballerz.

Bobby Jones Workshop Edition Driver

GolfTest USA recently tested the new Bobby Jones Driver. On average each tester in our driver testing will hit 6 and sometimes 7 solid drives out of each 10 shots. This has been true for the past ten years we have tested drivers. We were amazed to find that testers were hitting on average 8 solid drives out of 10 shots. While 1 or 2 more good drives out of 10 may not seem like much it equates to a 10 to 20% improvement for the average golfer. That percentage is statistically significant when looking at improvements golfers can make in their game.

To see the test results of the Bobby Jones Workshop Edition driver click on the link below.

http://golftestusa.com/drivers.html

A NEW GolfTest USA Promotion!!!!!

The September/October promo will have three lucky winners. Each of the three winners will receive a set (3 clubs) of the new Nicklaus Claw Hybrids. Each of the winners will get to pick the lofts they want along with the flex of the shafts. Nicklaus Golf will personally insure that the hybrids will be custom built for each winner. Our GolfTest USA testers found the design of the sole on the Nicklaus Claw made it easy to hit out of rough or off hard pan making it one of the most versatile clubs in their bag. In our testing the Claw had the highest rating in "Accuracy" confirming Nicklaus Golf's claim that the Claw has a "tighter shot dispersion due to extremely high Moment of Inertia (M.O.I.)". To find out more about the NEW Nicklaus hybrid clubs go to www.nicklaus-golf.com

Go to www.golftestusa.com to enter the new promo in November. Even if you have already signed up to receive our newsletter you can enter everyday for a chance to win. The more you enter the better your chances.

2008 GolfTest USA Ball Test

We have finished our 2008 Ball Test. Results are available and posted on www.golftestusa.com. We are going to try our best to finish the 2009 Ball Test in the spring of next year. The ball test takes a long time to complete because of the logistics involved. We have 90 golfers play with one sleeve of balls from each model and out of that group we select the 80 testers that we determined did the test in a fair and unbiased manner. Because golfers can have good and bad days we need to have that large of a base to be sure the results are statistically objective and valid.
Here are the balls that participated in the 2008 Ball Test:

Nike One Platinum
Nike One Black
Nike Ignite
Nike Karma
Crospete Sports Neutron
Wilson Staff Fifty
Wilson Staff ZIP
Innovex E-MOTION
Bridgestone B330-S
Bridgestone B330-RX
Bridgestone e6+
Golf America Eagle Pro
Dixon Earth

We want to thanks all the companies that participated.
The following companies were invited to participate but for various reasons declined.
Callaway: They didn't respond to our emails and didn't return our phone calls.
Chromax: They said they would participate and then decided not to.
Cayman: They said they would get back to us and never did.
Titleist (also Pinnacle): They didn't respond to our emails or return our phone calls. Their voice message said they would get back to us so we are disappointed that they never called us back.
TaylorMade: They said they would participate and then they changed their mind.
MaxFli: Dicks Sporting Goods is now the distributor and said that they may participate next year.
Slazenger: Dicks Sporting Goods is now the distributor and said that they may participate next year.
Srixon: Declined our invitation.

We would like golfers to contact these companies' marketing departments and let them know you would like them to participate so you can have an independent comparison of what balls would be best for you to play.

2008 GolfTest USA Putter Test and Feature Putter Article

GolfTest USA has contacted all putter companies and invited them to participate in our 2008 Putter Testing. This year is different because once testing is complete and the results have been compiled, Wayne Williams, (Member, GWAA) GolfTest USA Testing Director, will be writing a comprehensive article on putters from companies OTHER than what the golf industry considers the Big Seven. Arguably the Big Seven are the following club companies. Callaway (Odyssey), TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist (Scotty Cameron), Nike, Cobra and Cleveland. These golf companies get the majority of the press and exposure in the major golf publications. GolfTest USA knows for a fact that there are many other club companies that make quality equipment yet they do not get the exposure they deserve. The articles that Wayne Williams wrote last year for Golf Illustrated called "Tested and Passed" proved to be one of their most popular features. The title of the article will tentatively be called "Who Else Makes Great Putters besides the Big Seven?" The article will be published in several regional and international golf publications. The combined circulation exposure will be over 7 million which is more than the combined circulation of the major national golf publications. The article, along with the actual test results, will also be posted on our website for golfers from all over the world to see until at least 2010. We get more than 4 times the amount of traffic to our website as the next closest golf testing site. Do a search in Google or Yahoo for "golf equipment testing" and see who comes up # 1.

Here is a partial list of the putters companies that will be participating and will be featured in the article:

Perfect-Putter
GEL Putters
Ontic Putters
Bob Burns Putters
Sleek Putters
Heavy Putters
Redeye Putters
Yes Putters
SlotLine Putters
Mitchell Putters
Kramski Putters
SeeMore Putters
DeLaCruz Putters
Carbite Putters
Mizuno Bettinardi Putters
Elite Sports Dead On Putters
Rife Putters
Nickent Pipe Putters
Ashdon Putters
Dead Staight
Rail Gun Putters
Heavy Putters
Daito Putters
Adjust-a-Putter
Nickel Putters
Tiger Shark Putters

We expect to have several more participants so it should be a really great test and provide golfers with a lot of information about which putters will be the best for their game. Be sure to visit GolfTest USA often to keep up on all the new tests.

Disclaimer regarding Google Ads on the GolfTest USA website.

A few months ago GolfTest USA begin placing Google Ads on our website. We have done this for two reasons. First we feel that some visitors to our site may be interested in finding out about new golf products and services that are available and they may not be aware of them. We want to make it clear that we do not endorse or promote any of the products and services contained in the ads. Second, the small (and we do mean "small") amount of revenue generated from these ads goes to support the Integra*T Youth Golf Foundation. Over the past seven years we have provided over 600 sets of clubs to junior golfers who can't afford golf equipment. The proceeds from our "Pro Shop" link with The Golf Warehouse and the Google Ads help to offset the substantial costs we incur in shipping the clubs to various junior golf programs around the country. We have also recently decided to provide golf equipment to Sgtgolf to be used by disabled vets who need rehabilitation and have an interest in golf. For more info on this organization visit their website, http://sgtgolf.org. The Integra*T Youth Golf Foundation welcomes any assistance or contributions.

IZZO High Roller Travel Golf Bag

In light of the new restrictions on checked in baggage at many airlines golfers have requested we test and review several of the new golf travel bags. We contacted companies who market golf travel bags and asked them to submit their products for our review.

One of the models submitted by IZZO really caught our eye. We decided we would do a separate review on the IZZO High Roller Travel Golf Bag so golfers could find out about all its neat and special features.

The interior of the High Roller has loads of room to store a full size golf bag filled with a complete complement of clubs, balls, shoes and other golf accessories. There are zippered pockets inside to store other things that you would need on your much anticipated golf trip. Once all the important golf items are packed there is still plenty of room to pack your clothes and other essentials. This fact is very important to consider in light of the new restrictions on checked baggage. In fact, many of the golfers who tested the High Roller did just that eliminating the need to check a second bag and thus avoiding the dreaded surcharge. The only thing you have to be careful of is not going over the 50 weight limit most airlines have per bag.

There are also zippered storage sections on the outside of the bag for those things you may need easy access to. There is a full length zipper which goes completely around the bag so loading your clubs is a snap.

The High Roller has all the benefits of a hard case unit without the obvious drawback, which is where do I store it once I have arrived at my destination. Amazingly the High Roller easily folds up into a very compact space which you can then store in a closet or corner of your hotel room.
IZZO provides a Golf Club Protection Guarantee so if any of your clubs are damaged in transit they will repair them at no charge. What a deal!!! However we think the likely hood of that happening is slim and none. None of the golfers who used the High Roller reported any problems or damage to their clubs.
The High Roller is extremely easy to pull on its large rollers and it also has 4 additional rollers on the bottom which allows it to stand vertical while you are waiting in line at the airport check in. Thus it glides easily next to you as you meander thru the maize on your journey to the ticket counter. That is very cool as it saves bending over every few feet to pick it up as you creep forward in line.
The quality of the High Roller is very high and well worth the investment if you are looking for a travel golf bag that will meet all your needs and give you peace of mind that your golf clubs will be safe when they are out of your sight.
The IZZO High Roller Travel Golf Bag easily meets our requirements to be awarded the GolfTest USA's Seal of Excellence. It is a golf product which is of superior performance, quality and value.

For more information on The IZZO High Roller Travel Golf Bag go to www.izzo.com

ProPlay Glove and Grip Fitting System

GolfTest USA has not in the past endorsed any golf product we have tested for various reasons. First we do not want to give the appearance that we have any conflict of interest by recommending one product over another. We have been satisfied in the past to let the actual results from each test that we post speak for its self. We do award our GolfTest USA Seal of Excellence to certain golf products that meet our minimum standards however we do not specifically endorse any products nor have we ever received any revenue or compensation from the sale of any golf products we have tested. Because of the unique attributes of the ProPlay Glove & Grip Fitting System and our belief that it will help such a high percentage of golfers play better golf and enjoy the game more we have decided to provide a link on our home page so that golfers can find out more about the ProPlay Glove & Grip Fitting System and make a decision on whether to purchase it. Should there come a time in the future where we test a golf product similar to the ProPlay Glove & Grip Fitting System we would at that time cease our direct endorsement of it.

To read the full review click on the link below.

www.golftestusa.com/special_tests_proplay.html

FlightScope Kudu Summary Report

In the summer of 2007 GolfTest USA had some proprietary tests to conduct on several new drivers. The tests required us to measure accurately the distance and dispersion of hundreds of shots hit at our test center. We have a very efficient and accurate method for measuring shots made by each tester. By using a gps device and a wheel tape measure we can achieve results that are within 3% accuracy. We thought that if we had a launch monitor that would give us results within a 5% margin of error, the results would still be valid and its use would save us a tremendous amount of time and manpower. We had seen FlightScope at several golf shows, and learned that FlightScope filed the world's first patent application for 3D Doppler Tracking Radar Technology for Golf. We contacted the company to see if we could use the FlightScope Kudu in our standard testing and also in our proprietary testing. The company agreed to send us a FlightScope Kudu to use in our testing.

Because we are dedicated to employing only the most precise measurement methods for our testing, FlightScope provided us with its new software and firmware updates in January, 2008. In February, 2008, we used the FlightScope Kudu, encompassing the new software and firmware, to conduct a practice test, with highly accurate results. We compared the FlightScope Kudu results with our manual method and were pleasantly pleased to find that the FlightScope Kudu was within 2.5% of the accuracy we needed to validate test results

As we have validated the accuracy of the new software and firmware, we realize that the FlightScope Kudu is a real timesaver. We easily can have a golfer hit 10 to 12 shots and then we can use the data recorded by the FlightScope Kudu to determine the distance and dispersion of that group of shots. The data gathered on ball spin rates are also valuable. Another valuable feature of the FlightScope Kudu is its ability to determine a golfer's "Smash Factor." As it was explained to us by a FlightScope guru, the Smash Factor is the ratio of ball speed to clubhead speed (simply divide ball speed by clubhead speed). It is a good measure of how well the ball was struck and how effectively club energy is transferred to the ball. A smash factor of 1.50 would put you in the Tiger Woods class, while mere mortals tend to be in the 1.30 to 1.35 range.

There are a number of other parameters and data that the FlightScope Kudu measures, all of interest to golfers looking to analyze their swings. It provides feedback on launch angle, ball spin rates (back and side), clubhead and ball speed and several other factors. The software program then compiles and presents the data in several formats, including graphs and visual charts, which really help golfers determine where they need to improve. While we don't use many of these features in our testing, we are sure that the information is invaluable to golf instructors and club fitters.
Based on our recent use and evaluation of the FlightScope Kudu, we have awarded it our GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence".

The FlightScope Kudu has shown itself to be a quality product that performs at a high level and is a solid value. We were very pleased that the FlightScope support staff was there for us to help us through the set-up and during the times we needed assistance to ensure we got the most out of the FlightScope Kudu. Its use has allowed us to cut our testing time by one third. For more information on the FlightScope Kudu, www.flightscope.com.

The GolfTest USA Staff

MP600 Driver from Mizuno.

The Mizuno MP600 Driver has the only adjustable weight system that our testing has found to be functional and practical. There are many adjustable drivers on the market and they have achieved mixed results. Most golfers have a very difficult time trying to find the right weight combination to fit their swing and it is time consuming and confusing moving the weights back and forth. With the Mizuno Fast Track Technology™ golfers can quickly shift the weights in the track to try different setting and see the results. Because each setting is numbered the golfer can easily remember which setting was best and is able to return quickly to it after trying other settings. Our recent testing has shown that it is by far the best adjustable weight system design for drivers.

SKLZ GYRO SWING Training Aid

The most impressive factor about the Gyro Swing training club is its ability to allow you to feel the correct swing, and the precise release point.
It also reveals (by resistance) when you are off plane, or making incorrect movements in your swing.

Nearly all other swing- training aids attempt to show you the golf swing, by having you read step by step, position by position, pictures, or by swinging a weighted stick, or a handle that has balls attached, that are supposed to click when in a certain position in the back swing, and also in the downswing.
There are other aids that you can strap yourself into, or strap onto your arm.
Other aids that you can fasten a club into and it is supposed to show you the correct swing.

All of the above are well-intentioned gadgets, most of them endorsed by big name golf Professionals, but none have the ability to show you the proper swing plane, as well as the precise release point, and also tell you when you are off course.

With most training aids you have to think about achieving certain positions in the golf swing.
Gyro Swing is just the opposite, NO THINKING, JUST FEEL THE SWING

All one has to do is practice with the Gyro Swing, and it will automatically show you the true golf swing. And it is so easy, load the batteries, turn it on, and LEARN.

Swinging it on a daily basis will do wonders for your golf swing.

I have tested many golf-training aids, and I have never been so impressed with Gyro Swing ability to improve ones golf swing, that I am giving it my highest rating ever.

RATING: 9.9

Review provided by Bob Barrette, Lead Test Administrator.

T-buddy Summary Report

Recently GolfTest USA conducted a test on a new golf tee accessory called the T-buddy. It is a sleeve that fits over a standard wood tee. The purpose of the T-buddy is to help golfers maintain a consistent height when the ball is teed up.

Overall, the testers found that the features and benefits of the T-buddy make it a golf accessory that will be useful to a substantial percentage of golfers. GolfTest USA has determined that the T-buddy is a golf product that is of superior value, performance and quality. GolfTest USA has confidently awarded the T-buddy its "Seal of Excellence".

The GolfTest USA Testing Staff

For more information on the T-buddy ("U.S. Patent Pending")
go to www.t-buddy.net.

iGolf neo GPS Review

Recently iGolf introduced a new golf GPS model called the "neo". It is a compact; multifunctional golf GPS at a bargain price. We know of no other golf GPS on the market that offers as many features at such a low price.

It has many of the features of more expensive units, such as:
***Distances to the front, center and back of the green along with distances to green side bunkers.
***It accurately measures shot distances.
***It furnishes quick distance readings, with hardly any fluctuations.
***A limited amount of custom points can be manually added to supplement the downloaded course information.
***"Map Golf Hole" permits you to add custom points as you are playing each hole.
***The main screen displays: Distance to the center of the green only; for the front and back distances you have to press the screen button a second time.
***The main screen also displays the hole #, battery level and satellite signal strength.
The only negative is that the hole # indicator is small which makes it a little hard to read at times.

GolfTest USA has awarded the iGolf "neo" GPS our "Seal of Excellence", indicating that it is a golf product which is of superior performance, quality and value. It is by far the best value for golfers who are interested in knowing how far it is to the green and not worried about having a lot of other bells and whistles that are rarely used.

For more information about the iGolf NEO go to www.iGolf.com.

Thank you for taking some of your valuable time to review our newsletter. Our goal is to provide the golfing public with relevant and timely information about what's "NEW" in golf products from an independent source that doesn't have an agenda of influence.

Please consider forwarding this email to any golfers you think would be interested in receiving our newsletter. The more golfers who visit www.golftestusa the more services we can provide to all golfers.

Sincerely,

Wayne Williams,
Testing Director
GolfTest USA

GolfTest USA Editorial on the Participation of Golf Club Companies in our Testing.

Not all of the club makers participate in our testing that we publish for the golfing public to view. We encourage golfers to contact the marketing departments of club companies if you don't see their clubs tested by GolfTest USA. Some club makers may only decide to have us test their clubs if they think there is a demand from the golfing public. Over two million golfers worldwide rely on the test results at GolfTest USA as part of their decision making process before purchasing clubs.

All of the top club makers have participated from time to time in past years with GolfTest USA but now some of them seem hesitant even though they have always gotten excellent ratings in our testing. They seem to prefer to only participate now in the tests conducted by Golf magazine and Golf Digest. They spend large sums of advertising dollars in these two magazines which is certainly their right. It is also apparent that usually only the top tier club manufacturers that spend big advertising dollars with Golf and Golf Digest are included in their annual club tests. We have to wonder how fair and unbiased they can be when they are so selective in who is included in their testing. GolfTest USA invites all golf club manufacturers to participate and would never exclude anyone. We also don't feel the number of golfers they use in the testing is sufficient enough to provide any objective results. Some of their testing only includes results from 5 or so golfers giving anecdotal feedback and other tests that may include up to twenty golfers. This is still not a large enough base to offer statistical valid results. We always test a minimum of 60 golfers under controlled conditions to arrive at our final test results.

We have received comments from golfers saying it is virtually impossible to decipher the results in Golf Digest's testing. They use color coded pastel red, yellow and orange dots (not so good for us color blind folks) to denote how well each club performed in several criteria making it difficult to tell which clubs actually performed better than the others. We are not saying our system is perfect (we are always looking to improve our testing protocol and methodology) but at least on our website you can click on the heading of each criterion on our test results to see how each club is stack ranked.

We ask that you contact the marketing departments of the each of the top club manufacturers and ask them to consider participating in our testing each year. We do not charge companies to participate and we don't accept advertising revenue from any golf company.

There is a golf testing company who claims to test clubs and post the results on their website yet offers no data other than a list of clubs that they claim were picked by golfers (200 to 300 testers) who hit 2 shots (count'em just two shots) each with 40 or 50 drivers at one time and then voted which 4 or 5 drivers they thought were the best. We decided to use that test methodology with a group of golfers to see how they would do at picking the ones they thought were the best. Each golfer hit two shots with each driver. By the time they had hit 25 drivers most testers said they were getting tired but we insisted they carry on and complete the test. At the end of the test after they had hit 50 different drivers we asked them to tell us which 5 drivers they thought were the best. Most testers could name a couple drivers they really liked but were hard pressed to try and remember the 5 drivers they hit the best. Every golfer in the test said that hitting 50 drivers were far too many and it was almost impossible to tell how well they liked a driver after only hitting two shots.

The GolfTest USA methodology is quite different. Our testing protocol calls for a tester to test one driver at a time. They warm up by hitting a few shots with a driver. They are then told to hit ten shots with that driver while keeping in mind the ten criteria we test for. We also ask them to be as fair and unbiased as they can be while testing and rating the drivers. During the time they are hitting the ten shots our test administrator is recording the distance and dispersion of each shot. Once they have finished hitting that driver and before moving on to testing another driver they come back to our test administrator and rate on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being best) each criteria based on how well they felt they hit that driver during the test. This way it is fresh in their minds how they did hitting each driver. We never have a tester hit more than 5 drivers in a test cycle. We have found that golfers get tired after hitting about 70 shots at a time in a period of one hour.

Once we have tested 60 golfers for each driver we take the 50 test results that we feel have been rated in a fair and unbiased manner and total the results. We then add a rating factor that we have calculated based on the actual average distance and dispersion each driver achieved in the test. By doing this we are able to more accurately and fairly arrive at a rating which truly represents how well each driver really performed. Each of the last 8 years we have refined and revamped our testing methodology and will continue to do so to make sure we are providing the best test results we can, given the fact that the results are based on input from human beings. Testing on other club categories consist of additional tests where a select group of golfers play a round of golf with a set of irons, wedges, fairway clubs or hybrids and then rate the ten test criteria. We then consolidate those results with the results we obtained under controlled conditions on the range and come up with the final results. We have found that this type of testing offers results that golfers can use to compare how well a club performs in the criteria that are important to them. Some golfers are only interested in the distance a driver hits. Other golfers want to know how accurate a driver is and others only care about feel or control. We feel that the ten criteria we test for gives golfers data that they can use to make a educated guess as to which club is right for them. We don't have any bias regarding the results and do our best to remain independent.
Please contact the marketing departments at the BIG 7 (Arguably the Big 7 are the following club companies. Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Nike, Cobra and Cleveland.) and let them know you would like them to participate in GolfTest USA's testing regimen.

GolfTest USA has tested many new golf products in 2008
We generally don't make any editorial comments on the test results as we prefer to let the results speak for themselves. However we want to mention a few golf products that deserve special recognition based on the high ratings they achieved in our testing regimen.

GolfTest USA has partnered with GolfSmart to offer 10% off to all our visitors to our website.
Click on the link below or on our home page to save on many golf books, dvds and golf gifts.
All the proceeds go to support the Integra*T Youth Golf Fondation.

Please go to www.golftestusa.com and click on the GolfSmart link to save 10% and help junior golf at the same time. Now is the time to save on your holiday gifts.

The New Bobby Jones Wedges!!!AWESOME!!!

The new wedges designed by Dave Pelz for Bobby Jones Golf actually helps the average golfer improve their short game and hitting bunker shorts. The design and weight of the club promotes a smooth and even swing that most golfers need to be consistent hitting bunker shots. It is by far the best wedge we have ever tested.

Is the Bridgestone B330-RX golf ball the best ball made for the majority of golfers???

We have tested dozens of balls over the last ten years and the B330-RX has shown that it has the widest appeal and best all around performance for all levels of golfers. Most golfers think that if they play with the Titleist Pro V1 it will help their game. Not so. Only about 3 to 5 % of golfers will benefit from playing the Pro V1 while our testing showed that even though the B330-RX is designed to help the better player and is a premium ball it helps golfers of all levels play better and more consistent golf.

The NEW Nickel Putter!!!

GolfTest USA is currently testing a new putter from the Nickel Putter Company. They are located in Germany. They have developed two extremely innovative features that are incorporated into their mallet putter. The first feature is a marking system that is integrated into the sole of the putter. It is capable of picking up the ball on the putting surface and at the same time places a ball mark on the green. When the golfer is ready to putt the putter is placed over the ball mark at a slight angle and the ball mark is picked up and the ball is released and placed in the exact spot where it was originally marked. We are amazed at how easy and accurate the marking system is to use. Any golfer who has even the slightest problem bending over would realize a significant benefit from using the Nickel Putter marking system. The other feature is the ball pickup device that easily fits on the butt of the putter grip. When you want to pickup the ball from the bottom of the hole all you do is flip the device open and use the end of the putter grip to pick up the ball. Another flip of your finger and the device closes. Our test administrators found these two features to be very functional and easy to use. We will have more results on the actual performance benefits of the Nickel Putter in November. For more information and to view the features go to www.nickelputter.com.

GolfTest USA Newsletter for February/March, 2008

Testing on NEW Golf Club Models from many club makers to begin February, 2008!!!!!
Testing on all club categories including putters, drivers, hybrids, wedges, irons and fairway clubs is currently underway. We will be posting results ongoing beginning in late March and continuing throughout the year. In March we will be posting a matrix which will show which clubs will be tested and which club makers have not yet decided to participate.

We encourage all golfers to contact the marketing departments of club companies if you don’t see their clubs tested by GolfTest USA

New Testing Facility at Canoa Ranch Golf Club in Green Valley, Arizona!!!!!
As of January 1, 2008 GolfTest USA had the opportunity to move our test facility to the beautiful Canoa Ranch Golf Club in Green Valley. This move will allow us much more flexibility in our testing schedule. In past years we could only test one or two club categories at a time. We have received many comments (complaints if you prefer) from club companies and golfers alike that we consider reevaluating our testing schedule. By testing one club category at a time we found that many of the test results were old “news” by the time they were posted and no longer of use to golfers trying to figure out what new clubs would be best for them. We are now able to run testing regimens on all club categories concurrently. Club companies can now send us their clubs for testing when they are ready (instead of when GolfTest USA is ready) to introduce their new clubs so golfers can see the results of our independent golfer testing. In the past club models were on the shelves for 2 or 3 years but now that cycle has changed to ever year. We feel our new testing schedule will help us stay ahead of the curve and keep our test results relevant to the more than 2 million golfers worldwide who rely on our test results to help them make their decisions on which clubs would be right for them.

The Canoa Ranch practice area has a large expansive putting green, varied short game scenarios and a wide deep driving range. By being located in the Green Valley area we can draw from a pool of over 20,000 golfers from all age groups and demographics. In the winter months golfers from all over the country and world vacation here to play the many beautiful, challenging and reasonably priced (even in winter) golf courses located within 20 miles for Green Valley. Just a few miles down the road is the famous Tubac Country Club where Tin Cup, one of the most popular golf films of all time was filmed. Twenty miles to the north is Tucson, which has several of the top rated courses in the US.

More info on Canoa Ranch Golf Club!!!
The Canoa Ranch Golf Club (www.canoaranchgolfcourse.com) is one of the most scenic courses in the country. If you are fortunate enough to be able to play here be sure to bring your camera as each hole offers awesome views of the mountains and the desert. It is surrounded by three different mountain ranges and is cut in a series of arroyos that cause each hole to have its own unique look and feel. Many of the holes have daunting elevation changes. It is a par 70 that has 6 par threes. Only the brave and most skilled players should consider playing from the tips as the par 3’s are some of the most difficult found anywhere. Canoa Ranch brings new meaning to the term “target” golf. Any golfer who walks away with a score of 90 or less can indeed be proud of good day of golf. For the less challenged playing the course from the forward tees will decrease one’s frustration to a reasonable level.

Canoa Ranch has a sister course just a few miles away called Torres Blancas Golf Club. It is more subdued and forgiving than Canoa Ranch but still offers an enjoyable and challenging day of golf for all skill levels.

Some club makers not included in GolfTest USA Test Results!!!!!
Not all of the club makers participate in our testing that we publish for the golfing public to view. We encourage golfers to contact the marketing departments of club companies if you don’t see their clubs tested by GolfTest USA. Some club makers may only decide to have us test their clubs if they think there is a demand from the golfing public. Over two million golfers worldwide rely on the test results at GolfTest USA as part of their decision making process before purchasing clubs.

Digital Golf/GolfTest USA Partnership in 2007 a HUGE Success!!!!!
At the beginning of 2007 Digital Golf (www.DigitalGolf.tv) announced a strategic partnership with GolfTest USA that combined top-quality testing results of golf products compiled by GolfTest USA with exclusive video product demonstrations available on the Digital Golf Website. The popularity of YouTube and other online video Websites continued to grow in the marketplace. Over 123 million Americans viewed online video at least once a month in 2007, Digital Golf is pleased to continue to provide our users and new users with video of innovative golf products combined with GolfTest USA's coveted testing results," says Scott Walker, President & CEO of Digital Golf.

Digital Golf is the premier online video source for golfers on the Web delivering exclusive content on golf courses, equipment and instruction, and provides an innovative platform for golfers to communicate and interact with players of all skill levels. Since its official launch in March 2006, Digital Golf has quickly emerged as the fastest growing interactive and online video Website for golfers.

GolfTest USA is the leading source in the golf industry in providing the most comprehensive information, test results, reviews and ratings on all golf related products and services available in the market by compiling independent and unbiased information for golfers. "We want golf consumers to have the information they need to make informed decisions about their purchases of golf products and services," says Wayne Williams, Founder & President of GolfTest USA.

Every product tested by GolfTest USA will be featured on the Digital Golf Equipment section (http://www.digitalgolf.tv/equipment) utilizing the Digital Golf patent-pending Interactive Viewing System (IVS) which allows a golfer to navigate a cursor over the product for detailed information and provides a streaming video product demonstration that gives the golfer a better look at the product in action.

"Since GolfTest USA is considered the Consumer Reports of the golf industry, the partnership is a natural fit for Digital Golf. We share the same philosophy of providing golfers with the best information on quality products that will help make informed buying decisions and that will help get more enjoyment out of the game," says Scott Walker.

About Digital Golf: Digital Golf was founded by two Stanford University alumni with the mission of serving as the premier online video source for golfers on the Web by delivering exclusive content on golf courses, equipment and instruction, and providing an innovative platform for golfers to communicate and interact with players of all skill levels. Users in more than 75 countries have viewed Digital Golf content to date.

GolfTest USA has received many comments and compliments from golf companies expressing how pleased they are to have their golf equipment tested at GolfTest USA and then a video made by Digital Golf. Golfers are able to see and hear first hand about the features and benefits of the equipment from a truly independent source which lends a great deal of credibility and validity to the claims made by each golf equipment company.
GolfTest USA has been very pleased with our partnership with Digital Golf and look forward to an even more productive year in 2008.

New GolfTest USA Lead Test Administrator!!!!
GolfTest USA is pleased to announce that Bob Barrette has been added to our testing staff. Bob has been appointed to the position of Lead Test Administrator. He has vast experience in golf starting with almost 20 years as a professional custom club builder. He is an accomplished amateur golfer having won several club championships and amateur golf tournaments. Bob knows golf inside and out and is an astute student of the game. Along with his many other duties Bob will be conducting the preliminary screening evaluations of the many golf training aids and accessories we receive to determine which ones are worthy of further testing. GolfTest USA is very fortunate to have someone of Bob’s stature and experience on our staff.

NEW GolfTest USA Promotion!!!!!
The February/March promo will have three lucky winners. Each of the three winners will receive a set (3 clubs) of the new Bobby Jones Hybrids designed by Jesse Ortiz, one of the top club designers in the golf industry. Each of the winners will get to pick the lofts they want along with the flex of the shafts. Jesse will personally insure that the hybrids will be custom built for each winner. In just two short years these clubs have become one of the most popular hybrids around. Our testers have found them to be easy to hit long and straight from any lie. To find out more about the NEW Bobby Jones clubs go to http://www.bobbyjonesgolf.net.

Click here to have a chance to win a set of the NEW Bobby Jones Hybrids.

Bob Burns No Bananas Driver Promotion Winners!!!!!!
Winners of the Bob Burns No Bananas Driver promotion were Louis R, Sam M and Dwight K. Chris Burns of Bob Burns Golf is custom building each of the awesome No Bananas drivers for these lucky winners and will be sending them out soon. They will be able to see for themselves how the No Bananas driver hits the ball long and straight and helps to reduce the dreaded slice.
For more info on the Bob Burns Anti-Slice Technology designed golf clubs go to www.bobburnsgolf.com.

T-buddy Test
Recently GolfTest USA conducted a test on a new golf tee accessory called the T-buddy. It is a sleeve that fits over a standard wood tee. The purpose of the T-buddy is to help golfers maintain a consistent height when the ball is teed up. For more information on the test of the T-buddy go to www.golftestusa.com and click on the “Special Tests” link in the “Tests/Reviews” link. For more information from the manufacturer go to www.t-buddy.net.

Unbreakable Tee Test
GolfTest USA tested the Unbreakable Tee and can state that based on the feedback and evaluations made by 25 testers the Unbreakable Tee received high ratings in all criteria. By an overwhelming margin the testers felt that the Unbreakable Tee was far superior to wood tees. The durability of the Unbreakable Tee exceeded the claims made by Playing Pro Golf by a substantial margin. For more information on the test of the Unbreakable Tee go to www.golftestusa.com and click on the “Special Tests” link in the “Tests/Reviews” link. For more information from the manufacturer go to www.playingpro.com.

The Unbreakable Tee and the T-buddy are both golf products that are of superior value, performance and quality. GolfTest USA has awarded them the Unbreakable Tee and the T-buddy it’s"Seal of Excellence".

Disclaimer regarding Google Ads on the GolfTest USA website.
A few months ago GolfTest USA begin placing Google Ads on our website. We have done this for two reasons. First we feel that some visitors to our site may be interested in finding out about new golf products and services that are available and they may not be aware of them. We want to make it clear that we do not endorse or promote any of the products and services contained in the ads. Second, the small (and we do mean “small”) amount of revenue generated from these ads goes to support the Integra*T Youth Golf Foundation. Over the past seven years we have provided over 600 sets of clubs to junior golfers who can’t afford golf equipment. The proceeds from our “Pro Shop” link with The Golf Warehouse and the Google Ads help to offset the substantial costs we incur in shipping the clubs to various junior golf programs around the country. We have also recently decided to provide golf equipment to Sgtgolf to be used by disabled vets who need rehabilitation and have an interest in golf. For more info on this organization visit their website, http://sgtgolf.org. The Integra*T Youth Golf Foundation welcomes any assistance or contributions.

GolfTest USA / January 2007 Newsletter

A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH GOLF!

Important News for all Golf Product Companies and all Golfers

Digital Golf Partners With GolfTest USA To Feature Online Video of Product Testing

January 15, 2007- For Immediate Release

Digital Golf (www.DigitalGolf.tv) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with GolfTest USA that will combine top-quality testing results of golf products compiled by GolfTest USA with exclusive video product demonstrations available on the Digital Golf Website.

“The popularity of YouTube and other online video Websites continues to grow in the marketplace. With over 123 million Americans projected to view online video at least once a month in 2007, Digital Golf is pleased to continue to provide our users and new users with video of innovative golf products combined with GolfTest USA’s coveted testing results,” says Scott Walker, President & CEO of Digital Golf.

Digital Golf is the premier online video source for golfers on the Web delivering exclusive content on golf courses, equipment and instruction, and provides an innovative platform for golfers to communicate and interact with players of all skill levels. Since its official launch in March 2006, Digital Golf has quickly emerged as the fastest growing interactive and online video Website for golfers.

GolfTest USA is the leading source in the golf industry in providing the most comprehensive information, test results, reviews and ratings on all golf related products and services available in the market by compiling independent and unbiased information for golfers.

“We want golf consumers to have the information they need to make informed decisions about their purchases of golf products and services,” says Wayne Williams, Founder & President of GolfTest USA.

Every product tested by GolfTest USA will be featured on the Digital Golf Equipment section (http://www.digitalgolf.tv/equipment) utilizing the Digital Golf patent-pending Interactive Viewing System (IVS) which allows a golfer to navigate a cursor over the product for detailed information and provides a streaming video product demonstration that gives the golfer a better look at the product in action.

“Since GolfTest USA is considered the Consumer Reports of the golf industry, the partnership is a natural fit for Digital Golf. We share the same philosophy of providing golfers with the best information on quality products that will help make informed buying decisions and that will help get more enjoyment out of the game,” says Scott Walker.

For equipment companies interested in having products featured on the Digital Golf website, please send an e-mail to equipment@digitalgolf.biz.

For more information on Digital Golf, please contact:

Scott Walker, President & CEO
Digital Golf Corporation
7545 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92618
P: 949-544-4948 F: 949-544-4689
press@DigitalGolf.biz
www.DigitalGolf.tv

About Digital Golf
Digital Golf was founded by two Stanford University alumni with the mission of serving as the premier online video source for golfers on the Web by delivering exclusive content on golf courses, equipment and instruction, and providing an innovative platform for golfers to communicate and interact with players of all skill levels. Users in more than 75 countries have viewed Digital Golf content to date.


TV REALITY SHOW SEEKS FAMILIES WHO ARE GOLF ENTHUSIASTS
A TV reality show is currently seeking families who are passionate about the culture, etiquette, and sport of golf for the current season.

Ideal candidates would be families with school aged children (6-17) who have vibrant personalities and genuinely love the game of golf and who participate in golf instruction, attending golfing events and taking vacations centered around golf, as well as enjoy the benefits that playing golf can bring to the work environment! All interested families are encouraged to apply.

All families featured on the show receive a generous monetary honorarium. Referrals for families are extremely welcome; the more the better!

Potential families can live anywhere in the continental United States and should consist of two parents who have at least one child, age 6 or older, living at home.

For more information, please contact Wayne Williams at GolfTest USA.

Phone 520 393 8624
Cell Phone 928 821 2613

wayne@golftestusa.com

NEW GOLFTEST USA PROMOTION
We recently tested the Nickent 3DX Hybrid Irons and can report that they ranked among the top iron sets. The Nickent 3DX Hybrids irons are the best game improvement irons we have tested to date.
Nickent is making available two sets of Nickent 3DX Hybrid Irons to lucky golfers who enter their email address at www.golftestusa.com this month. Click here to have a chance to win these great new irons.

Visit www.golftestusa.com and enter for a chance to win a set of the new Nickent 3DX Hybrids Irons. We never reveal or give out any email addresses submitted to our website so you will never receive any spam as the result of entering your email address on our website.

GOLFTEST USA & GOLF ILLUSTRATED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP UPDATE
In 2006 GolfTest USA partnered with Golf Illustrated, one of the top national golf publications, to provide them with 3rd party, independent test results obtained from our “Standard” Testing. Each issue in 2006 featured an article on a different club category. This means that when golfers read about the new clubs and other golf products that have been introduced they were also be able to see how other golfers like themselves rate the new golf equipment from an independent and unbiased source. GolfTest USA feels strongly that having our test ratings and results available to golfers adds credibility to the quality and performance of the equipment featured in Golf Illustrated. Over a million golfers a month were exposed to the test results we provided Golf Illustrated in 2006.

Golf Illustrated plans on featuring the following golf products we have tested recently. The March/April issue will feature many of the new golf balls that have been introduced in 2006. Subsequent issues will feature drivers, putters, fairway clubs, hybrids, irons and wedges.

We will be picking manufacturers who have participated in our testing to be included in these feature articles in upcoming issues. Based on the feedback we have received from golfers these articles have proved to be very popular with golfers all over the world. Readers have told us they like being able to compare how the new clubs were rated by golfers just like themselves.

2007 DRIVER TESTING
GolfTest USA has begun testing of the many new drivers that have been introduced in the past year. Testing should be finished by the end of February with the results available in the May/June issue of Golf Illustrated. The results will be posted on www.golftestusa.com about March 15th. During the testing of drivers we typically use thousands of 2 ¾ inch tees at several locations in Green Valley and Tucson, Arizona. A golf company named Playing Pro has offered to sponsor our Annual Driver Test by providing us with Playing Pro Unbreakable Golf Tees (They look like wood, feel like wood, play like wood - BUT will not break for 100+ shots!). For more information on these new tees visit their website at www.PlayingPro.com. GolfTest USA is also conducting a proprietary test on these tees and the results will be posted in March.

UPCOMING REVIEW OF HANDHELD GPS UNITS
GolfTest USA has just completed a review of several of the new handheld GPS units used by golfers to determine the distances on golf courses. The units that we will be reporting on are as follows: Sky Caddy, iGolf, SureShot and Sonocaddie. The review will be posted on www.golftestusa.com in February and will appear in an upcoming issue of Golf Illustrated.

SHARP NEW GOLFCART / NEV ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Recently GolfTest USA reviewed a new line of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. Mobile West is the west coast distributor for American Custom Golf Cars, INC. These NEV’s come in three models: Hummer, California Roadster and the new Escalade. They are considered luxury golf cars and are the only NEV’s licensed by General Motors. They look sharp going down the road. They are the perfect vehicle to use to drive around golf communities, on streets where the speed limit is 35 MPH and of course, on the golf course. Insurance on these types of vehicles typically cost about $50 a year and cost pennies to recharge. The distance range is 70 miles and the speed is 25-35 mph. This Luxury Golf & Estate custom NEV will just about pay for itself when compared to the cost associated with driving a car similar distances. They are virtually maintenance free with the batteries lasting 5 to 6 years between replacement.

The Escalade was such a hit with GM at the Auto Show in Detroit that GM wants to have two to be driven at half time on the turf...AT THE SUPER BOWL....!!!!

Get $500 of the purchase of your new NEV. When you contact Mobile West to get more information just mention you heard about them at GolfTest USA and you will receive a $500 discount if you purchase one.

GolfTest USA has awarded the NEV’s marketed by Mobile West our GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence"

Hummers, Roadsters,& Scooters
(480) 837-1155
(888) 882 6481
mobilewest@azdreams.com
http://mobilewest.azdreams.com

THE GOLF TEST USA "SEAL OF EXCELLENCE"
Over the past several years GolfTest USA has had golfers evaluate many different golf products. In 2002 we created the GolfTest USA Seal of Excellence. It is awarded to select golf products that have undergone our testing regimen. To be awarded the GolfTest USA Seal of Excellence a golf product must be tested and reviewed by our staff of golf testers and be judged to be of superior quality, value and performance.

GolfTest USA knows that having a golf product tested and rated by real golfers in an independent and unbiased format will help golf consumers determine which golf products would be right for them. A golfer considering the purchase of a golf product that has been awarded the GolfTest USA Seal of Excellence can feel confident that it will be a quality product.

Golf companies are welcome to participate in one or more of our club categories and other golf related categories. We typically have 60 golfers test each product and then compile the ratings given by each tester to come up with an overall rating average.

PROPRIETARY TESTING
We can design and conduct a proprietary, independent, 3rd party private data test to meet any needs or requirements golf companies may have. Proprietary test results remain the property of the client and are not disseminated to any other party unless directed to do so by the client.

Every product tested by GolfTest USA in 2007 will be featured on the Digital Golf Equipment section (http://www.digitalgolf.tv/equipment) utilizing the Digital Golf patent-pending Interactive Viewing System (IVS) which allows a golfer to navigate a cursor over the product for detailed information and provides a streaming video product demonstration that gives the golfer a better look at the product in action. The cost to make a video of this type by a professional film production company would range from $20,000 to $30,000. There are other media organizations that could make this type of video for much less but the cost would still be from $5,000 and up. Even then the video would still have to find a way to capture an audience. By testing your product with GolfTest USA the video will be featured on Digital Golf and it will be exposed to millions of serious golfers worldwide.

Having a proprietary test conducted by GolfTest USA will cost far less than the value of the video and we firmly believe it is the most effective use of your discretionary promotional budget.

Why should golf companies conduct independent 3rd party testing with GolfTest USA? Golf companies spend a lot of time, money and resources to develop new products and most conduct extensive in-house testing. We feel it may be equally, if not more important, to conduct unbiased, independent 3rd party testing to validate their internal results. Conducting 3rd party testing help golf companies identify the strengths of a product and assist in determining what areas of the product can be improved upon. These types of tests constitute a small fraction of the overall cost to bring a product to market and yet may well be the most important final step in the process. EBay is filled with golf products that failed to find a market in the retail golf arena because no market research and testing was conducted prior to their introduction to the golfing public.

We can provide a no obligation quote of the estimated cost of such a test. Each proprietary test is unique so there are many factors we need to take into account before we can give an accurate cost estimate. We offer a "Satisfaction Guaranteed Testing Program" with any proprietary testing that we do for clients. We guarantee our services so if the client is not completely satisfied there is no cost to them. We are confident golf companies will find that GolfTest USA offers the most professional and cost effective testing services in the golf industry. Once a test is complete and the client has received our summary report and is satisfied with our services we can post a summary report our website with a link to the client’s website. We are widely recognized as the most credible 3rd party, independent and unbiased testing company in the golf industry. GolfTest USA has conducted proprietary testing for most of the major club manufacturers. We do not receive any advertising revenue from any organization. Many golf companies generate substantial sales as the result of having their summary test reports seen by the over 2 million page visits made to www.golftestusa.com each month. For any product we judge to be of superior quality, performance and value we award it the GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence". Clients are free to use the GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence" in any promotional or advertising material as long as they receive our permission in advance.

Visit www.golftestusa.com to view all the new ratings on clubs that have been posted.

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