Just The Facts! - An Industry View from the USA

• TaylorMade took the top spot in drivers,fairway woods and irons while Cleveland won in wedges and Titleist won in putters and golf balls at last week St. Jude Classic.
  
• A "new golfing world" will be hitting San Diego this summer for the 35th edition of the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championships. The 2002 tournament will mark the first year of title sponsorship by Callaway Golf.This acclaimed event will encompass over 1,000 junior players from over 40 countries as the best international players bring their game from July 16-19 at five San Diego area golf courses. There is no junior golf tournament played anywhere in the world that compares to the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championships in size, quality, or international representation.
  
• Staff player Len Mattiace became the first player to win on the PGA Tour with the new Ben Hogan Apex Tour ball.
  
• Callaway Golf has announced that the U.S. District Court in San Diego has issued an injunction prohibiting the sale of a "knock-off" of the Odyssey White Hot "2-Ball" putter. The Vortex Plus VP-00 putter manufactured by the defendant, Technique Golf LLC. Callaway had also previously obtained relief against Green Grass Golf Inc. for infringement.
  
• San Diego based Aldila Shafts has announced their new web site:www.aldila.com
  
• Tour Edge introduces their new Hyper Steel 300 driver. The driver is one of the largest steel drivers on the market measuring in at 300cc. The drivers will be available in men?s and women?s in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, and 11.5°, left handed available in 9.5°. Each Hyper Steel 300 metal wood driver has a retail-selling price of $149.99 and comes with a lifetime warranty.
  
• Nike Inc. reported revenues increased 8 percent and net income jumped 28 percent for the fourth quarter ending May 31, 2002. For the three-month period, the Beaverton, Ore.-based sports equipment, footwear and apparel company posted sales of $2.7 billion compared with $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter 2001. Net income increased to $208.4 million from $162.7 million a year ago.
  
• Hartmarx Corp., makers of the Bobby Jones and Nicklaus golf collections, has reported a 10.6% drop in revenues as well as a net loss for the second quarter of its 2002 fiscal year.
  
• Book4Golf.com has signed a letter of intent with Turner Sports Interactive to participate in the latter's new 10-year agreement to manage the operations of PGA Interactive.
  
• Spalding announed their new Apex Tour, four-piece ball with a soft inner core and harder outer core, both of which are made from a rubber compound. It also includes an isomer mantel and an HC350 thermoset urethane cover with a new dimple pattern. The result, officials say, is a ball that provides exceptional distance off the tee and optimum feel around the green.
  
• FootJoy used the 2002 U.S. Open to launch three new lines of golf shoes, including the GelFusion, which according to company president Jim Connor, features "the most significant outsole breakthrough in 10 years." According to FootJoy, the advance is similar to the sort of independent suspension found in premium automobiles and designed to isolate the movement of one wheel from another, keeping optimum contact with the road surface and maximizing performance. Also, FootJoy announced the "X-dimension", their new entry-level performance shoe as well as a new women's eComfort line that comprises five styles and runs $85 a pair.
  
• Kasco Golf has reached a four-year agreement with Jim McLean to promote its golf equipment at the golf instructor's network of golf schools.
  
• Mark Brooks has returned to Ben Hogan after a brief stint as a Nike staff member.
  
• 19th Hole Products, LLC - developer of the new Proderma Maximum Sport Formule sun and skin-care products for golfers - today announces it has donated its breakthrough sunscreen product to The First Tee, a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to providing affordable golf access for everyone, especially kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play
  
• Adams Golf announced it will introduce their high-COR GT 363R titanium driver on July 1. The 363cc clubhead will feature a SP-700 Beta Titanium face.
  
• The Yoshida Group, a 15 company conglomerate, including a snowboard manufacturer, freight forwarder, screen-printer, apparel maker, food products manufacturer and an original artwork gallery, has acquired Forrester's Outerwear, a manufacturer of golf performance clothing.