Equipment
Getting to know 59 Belts
After a long day on the range teaching junior golfers in Las Vegas back in 2006, Trevor Derrheim came up with an idea to create a milled-buckle to complement the new micro-fiber clothing and Euro-styling trends that were becoming red-hot in golf at the time.
“I honestly knew nothing — no fashion background or business degree,” Derrheim said, “but I have always had a great imagination, determination and focus when I really get into something I believe in.”
By the spring of 2007, Derrheim’s brainchild, 59 Belts, had opened shop in Las Vegas and after months of prototyping the first buckles that met his approval were finally ready.
“With the Canadian Women’s Open coming up,” Derrheim said, “I decided I would take the first 20 or so buckles ever made straight to the LPGA Tour to be tested.”
Derrheim flew to Edmonton to hand the buckles – stainless “Canuck” (Maple Leaf) styled and personally engraved with the name of each player, the event and the date on the back of each – out to a select group of players he felt might appreciate the Maple Leaf theme and also support 59.
“I managed to get 16 buckles in play that week and Lorena Ochoa won the event wearing her 59 ‘Canuck’ belt on Friday and Saturday,” Derrheim said.
That’s right, 59 not only debuted on a major golf tour but was also worn by the eventual champion.
Derrheim recalls being worried that a buckle wouldn’t work right or fall apart. Quite the contrary, the reaction he received during and after the event from the players was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was very shoot from the hip kind of stuff looking back at it,” he said. “I was just a golf instructor with an idea who did something about it. Those were great times and I owe a lot to those girls who gave me the inspiration to keep grinding.”
It wasn’t too long after when PGA Tour pro Brian Gay sported a 59 buckle while winning the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in 2008.
After a couple years, Derrheim transitioned away from teaching to concentrate more fully on what is today a nearly $500K business, although he says he still sees the occasional student as time permits.
Independently run with everything customized and made in the USA, 59 primarily mills from solid high-grade aluminum or 303 stainless steel stock. The company is also launching an exotic buckle line in the next month or so that will include Damascus, Mokume Gane and also gold-plated options. The exotic buckles are going to be extremely unique one-of-a-kind pieces. The price of 59 buckles ranges from $50 in aluminum up to $1,500 for the exotics. 59 makes just a handful of buckles a day, one at a time, and the workmanship reflects that effort.
“From the beginning, the goal was to produce a product that would outlast any other in the game,” Derrheim said. “I really believe we achieved that with 59 and continue to set the benchmark for quality. We don’t mass produce; instead, every single buckle is individually milled and hand finished. Our goal is to a make classy buckles that will outlast the user. From a brand perspective, 59 is about full commitment, the total sacrifice to be better. The number ‘59’ in golf will always signify excellence and the constant struggle to achieve perfecting something that cannot be perfected. If 59 were a body part, we would be the calloused hands of a golfer.”
Over the past seven years, several prominent Tour players have worn 59 at one time or another including Rory McIlory, Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Paula Creamer, Annika Sorenstam and Yani Tseng.
The company is finalizing a new strap attachment system that will allow traditional style straps to fit on a 59 buckle, the goal of which Derrheim says is to make 59 buckles more user friendly to the public and to pave the way for entry into a more traditional retail environment.
While having a buzz around your products is nice, Derrheim admits, he is much more focused on the long-term.
“I think it’s pretty easy to get wrapped up into what is going on now and to forget about forming a plan for who you are as a brand and how you want to spread that message,” he said. “I also think it is important to actually have a message that people can relate to. 59 is that one kid who is the last one off the course or range every night. Every facility has that kid… That is our brand message. It’s never been about making money for me. Maybe that’s a terrible thing to say as a business owner, but I’ve never needed much to be happy. I really just wanted to make something people could take into battle and appreciate being part of.”
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Shannon
Oct 9, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Hilarious that Tim above says “gawdy”. You have the ability to work with and design something yourself for your belt buckle – that is why the belt buckles are called “custom”?! Unless you prefer to just wear a Nike belt like the majority of clones in the US, go ahead, it’s your choice. I personally love the two belts my boyfriend designed for me from 69 belts and would consider buying for my gal pal golf buddies up in Canada!
Rich
Oct 12, 2014 at 5:11 pm
It’s 59 belts Shannon. Perhaps not the best typo either.
Bruce
Oct 9, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Quality product. Love 59 Belts…been wearing mine on the links for 5 years and it still looks great.
Bleh
Oct 8, 2014 at 1:23 pm
69
J
Oct 7, 2014 at 11:29 pm
So now we delete comments and censor membership when someone doesn’t like the comment?
I’ll say it again..
Making a comment like ” I’m not in it for money ” while charging 1500.00 for a belt buckle is nothing more than elitism and its pretentious as all h*ll.
Zak Kozuchowski
Oct 8, 2014 at 9:43 am
Don’t use the word h*ll in comments you want to pass through our profanity filters. It’s as simple as that.
RumtumTim
Oct 7, 2014 at 9:19 am
So gawdy.
Jeremy
Oct 6, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Why is the logo a 69 and not a 59? Don’t go telling me it’s abstract or artistic. That, sir, is a 6 and not a 5.
ABgolfer2
Oct 6, 2014 at 11:44 pm
A 6 and a 9. Yup.
Jeremy
Oct 7, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I’m just saying, if you pulled that “5” iron out of your bag you’d be confused when it came up 15 yards short.