Equipment
Breaking: Cleveland Golf CEO Greg Hopkins Resigns
GolfWRX Staff
Cleveland Golf/Srixon has announced that Greg Hopkins has resigned as CEO of the company, effective immediately. Yesterday, Sept. 24, 2012, Hopkins officially tendered his resignation to the Board of Dunlop Sports in Kobe, Japan.
“I’ve been with Cleveland for sixteen years and have seen tremendous growth for the company during that time,” Hopkins said. “Now I’m at a point in my life where I want to do some things and explore some ideas that I’ve always wanted to pursue.”
Cleveland Golf is an American golf equipment company based in Huntington Beach, Calif. The company was founded in 1979 by Roger Cleveland, and originally produced replicas of classic golf clubs from the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1990, Roger Cleveland sold his company to ski manufacturer Rossignol. New high tech products called VAS woods and irons were introduced. Corey Pavin won the U.S. Open in 1995 with these products which provided greater awareness of the brand. However, consumers didn’t take to the radical look of these products so by the end of 1996 finances were hampered.
Greg Hopkins was chosen as president of Cleveland in 1997 and under his leadership things began to turn around. Product designs returned to the original great looks of classic clubs while incorporating modern technology for enhanced playability and Cleveland began to sponsor world class players like Vijay Singh. Sales increased five times the levels of 1997 by 2005.
In the summer of 2005, Rossignol was bought out by Huntington Beach-based Quiksilver. However, in 2007 Quicksilver sold Cleveland Golf and its Never Compromise subsidiary to Japan-based SRI Sports Limited, owner of the Dunlop Sport brand in Japan. It was later announced that Cleveland Golf operations would be consolidated with those of Srixon, SRI Sports’ other golf brand. Although both brands would continue, Cleveland took over marketing in North America, with Srixon taking over in Europe.
Equipment
Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut
Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.
So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)
Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.

Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.

Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.

Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.

Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.

Whats in the Bag
Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Equipment
Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.
Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”
And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.
Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
- ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”
Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Goober
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:31 am
Greg presented a good image. The current product line-up is okay, except new drivers are needed, and the wedges need some leading edge tweaking.
John
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:03 am
I always enjoyed playing Cleveland products (from irons to drivers), but in my opinion, they’ve lost their way the last few years. Time for a change, although, an effective immediately resignation usually means that someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
Todd M
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:21 am
I would not read too much in it. The economy is terrible and people are not spending money.
Adam
Sep 25, 2012 at 4:27 pm
You don’t resign out of the blue without notice or some hint in advance unless you have done something bad. I would bet he was told “Get out or we will put you out”.