WRX Forum Buzzz
GolfWRXer gets an Odyssey tattoo for a custom putter

Don’t confuse Neil Javins for a walking billboard. Yes, he may have gotten the Odyssey swirl logo tattooed on his left forearm, but the opportunity to get a customized putter was just too good to pass up.
“I’m down with any tattoo or anything, but I didn’t want to seem like I’m selling out like I’m trying to advertise for a brand or anything,” Javins, a 27-year-old recreational golfer from Louisville, Ky., said on the phone the other day. “But I’ve already gotten a few different swirls and things like that tattooed already. So that (Odyssey) swirl just kind of fit.”
The tattoo was a result of a post Chris Koske, Odyssey’s production manager, left on this thread on GolfWRX’s Putter Forum. Koske wrote that if anyone got an Odyssey tattoo, he or she would receive a free customized putter. Javins said he was getting a tattoo on his leg when he read Koske’s message.
After a few emails between the two, Javins got the tattoo. A couple more emails were exchanged about Javins’ putter preference — a 34-inch ProType #2 with a plumber’s neck head, the looks of a Versa No. 1 wide and his favorite colors of black, red and white for the University of Louisville. Then Koske and his team set out to make the putter for Javins.
In late February, the putter came and Javins said he was blown away by the design.
“It was spot-on for absolutely what I would love,” he said. “The No. 1 widestyle type of head, because it’s not available in ProType from anything I’ve seen, with the new white hot insert was just incredible. And then all the swirls with paint fill and everything in the bottom is pretty cool.”
Javins is no stranger to getting inked, and he estimated that he had six or seven tattoos before getting the Odyssey swirl done.
Though the Odyssey logo does fit in with his other tattoos and he was able to get a free customized putter — the ProType #2 sells for $270 — some people have told him he is crazy for getting it. One of his biggest critics was his father, who Javins said doesn’t like tattoos on his son.
But that’s where the location of the tattoo on his forearm helps. Javins said he could conceal it with a watch if he needed it covered. Javins said the tattoo may also help him with his putting, even if he isn’t using his new putter.
“When I look down to putt, I can see it there,” Javins said. “Maybe it’ll be a little good luck charm, you know give it a little rub before I make a putt.”
Other club manufacturers should not expect to see their logos on Javins. But if Odyssey or Callaway offered something else for another tattoo, Javins may be back at the tattoo parlor.
“I’d think about it,” he said. “It would depend on exactly what it would be. If it’s a different brand, probably not. I’d probably go with Odyssey because it’s what I’ve used and it’s what I’ve enjoyed the last several years.”
Since receiving the putter, Javins has been limited by the cold and rain to trying his putter only on his indoor putting green. With the new putter, it gives him just another reason to look forward to spring.
“I can’t wait to get out and test it out,” he said. “See how it feels, how it rolls in a real-life round.”
Javins said he first got into golf four years ago, and for the past two years he has gotten to the point where he checks golf message boards daily. The tattoo is just another testament to his new dedication to the sport.
“It’s incredible to have such a rare and personal putter now,” Javins said. “To know that something this special was made for me, I’m blown away, and super grateful to have it. It’s a permanent reminder of my passion.”
Equipment
I’m a 31 year-old male and I turned my apartment living room into a driving range stall – GolfWRXers react

In our forums, our members have been reacting to a post from ‘GolferTodd’ who has turned their apartment living room into a driving range stall. ‘GolferTodd’ produced the following photo in our forums with the caption:
“To the exclusion of furniture. Bachelor life.”
And our members have been reacting to the post in our forums.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- MtlJeff: “This is amazing……When i was 28 i lived in an apartment that had my winter tires in the kitchen, i only had one plate and 1 set of knives and forks, and i cooked pasta in a witches cauldron from 1835. And i still convinced a woman to marry me. So i am all for this. In fact this is way better than what i had to offer.”
- TiScape: “Love it Todd. Go Dodgers!!”
- imkirby34: “Based on the view out the window, it looks like you’re on the first floor, which is probably a good thing because I’d hate to live below you, even if you have an extremely shallow AoA. Haha.”
Equipment
Best classic irons – GolfWRXers discuss

In our forums, our members have been discussing classic irons. WRXer ‘DonaldDunes’ has caught the vintage club bug, and wants to know other members’ favorite iron models that “have stood the test of time or were the top performers for their day.”
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Maine Golfer: “I love a lot of clubs but ’69 Wilson Staff’s are an all time favorite. Easy to hit in relative terms and they look amazing.”
- Wilsonian: “No surprise from me, but the Wilson K-28 irons, specifically blades with the glide thru sole. I grew up playing Ram clubs, but got away from them as I got older. My return to vintage was with the Wilsons, and my first set of hickories were the Wilson Plus Success irons. You’ll try a lot of sets, but I think it’s a matter of what feels best in your hands, specifically your 7 iron which is the best indicator imo.”
- Hawkeye777: “Hogan Redlines. Macgregor Nicklaus Muirfield 20th. Wilson Staff Tour Blade. Those are mine, don’t play any of them these days (no real reason to) and didn’t really “collect” them. The Wilsons I played with for years.”
Equipment
When buying used irons how much wear is too much? – GolfWRXers discuss

In our forums, our members have been discussing how much wear is too much wear when purchasing used irons. WRXer ‘con_mon2’ is interested in a used set of iron and kicks off the thread, asking:
“Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this! How much wear are you comfortable with?
I found a set of irons on eBay that I am very interested in buying, but they have a bit more wear than I’m comfortable with. I have attached a few pictures showing especially the wear on the sweet spot on the PW and 9 iron. Maybe you can convince me that I’m being too picky and I should just buy them? Or maybe I should be concerned about the wear? I’m not really sure. They are Ping i230s which came out in 2022 so they aren’t that old. And the seller had this to say about the condition: ‘Good: Normal wear for their age. Excellent playing condition but they have cosmetic wear on faces and soles. Sweetspot wear is visible.’
Beyond the cosmetic, I’d really like to know this: At what point do you start to worry about the grooves being so worn that they have a substantial effect on the shots you’re hitting?”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- rsballer10: “The term you are looking for is “browning” and these irons have some of that going on. They are completely playable, but I’d say they’ve reached their half-life.”
- Nessism: “Those heads are stainless steel. The “browning” that some people reference, is really the yellow shade of the nickel layer under the chrome. When forged carbon steel heads wear through the chrome, the “brown” is RUST. These heads will never rust. People applaud the old Ping irons as being “indestructible”. Those heads had no chrome. These heads, even if the chrome is beginning to wear through, on one head, are miles more durable than the older unplated “indestructible” Ping’s. And even further ahead of any forged club.”
- phizzy30: “Hard pass for me. I would rather get a new set of DTC irons and would be glad to spend the extra couple to few hundred.”
Entire Thread: “When buying used irons: How much wear is too much? – GolfWRXers discuss”
PAUL R
Apr 5, 2013 at 4:04 am
HI ALL
DONT YOU THINK HE SHOULD HAVE AND RED TATTOO ON THE OTHER ARM ????
TO MATCH THE BLACK ONE
THANKS
PAUL R