Titleist
My Evolution
I have been a Titleist tragic since I was a kid. I think it started as a 14-year-old when I caddied in a couple of events during the Australian tournament summer series. In one of the prequalifying events, I can distinctly remember standing on the practice putting green before teeing off, surrounded by Titleist and Ping golf bags. While the Ping bags were great it was the black and white Titleist staff bags with the shiny blades that caught my eye. The white FootJoy glove hanging out of the professionals back pocket and the timeless FootJoy classics the players wore, well, it’s an image that is still burnt into my psyche. I just thought the Titleist kit was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Behind the opaque doors of Titleist in Tokyo is just another world.
I had been a Titleist ambassador for about 7 years in Singapore before I left to live in Japan. I was invited to the Acushnet offices in Tokyo in 2015 by one of the best people in golf, Rick Brown, to meet Mr. Nakamura who was the CEO of Acushnet Japan. The Acushnet headquarters is in an affluent suburb called Minato which hosts companies like Sony, NEC, Google, and Apple. The Acushnet showroom is on the ground floor of a modern looking building and when I arrived I took a seat in the lobby. The entrance has a wall dedicated to the success of the ProV ball and the players who use it. Although the room is tastefully designed it gives no real indication of what is inside the showroom walls. As the opaque doors slid open and I was ushered in, well…. I became Charlie in the chocolate factory. It’s quite pathetic that a 40 something-year-old became that kid in a candy store. The meeting with Nakamura san and his staff was fantastic but the sea of domestic Titleist and Footjoy products that surrounded me made it difficult to concentrate. You cannot believe the gear that Titleist and Footjoy produce for the Japanese market. It’s really just off the charts. Different balls, wedges, bags, and hats are just a few of the unique products made for the domestic market. The biggest difference is the amount of apparel they produce which is something right up my alley. All of the clothing is beautifully made, thoughtfully designed, and made with innovative materia. Most of it is signed with the Titleist logo, including the pants, and each season has gear that is a mix of elegant, classic, funky, and occasionally kitschy. Whatever golfing style you prefer the Japanese domestic gear will have something that floats your boat. One of the advantages of the Titleist clothing is that it can be worn off the golf course also. Some of the apparel is not signed and the logo is so small that it doesn't scream golf. The great choice of colors and designs means there is something for everyone. For those who like a large logo (like me) then they have plenty of gear for you also.
If you are keen to understand a bit more then check www.titleist.co.jp. Although it’s in Japanese you can navigate easily enough to see all of the gear that is available. If you are in Tokyo there is a small store on the 11th floor of Daimaru which is part of Tokyo Station that is worth checking out. Alternatively, the Victoria Golf retail stores also the stock the Acushnet gear with the one in Shinjuku worth the visit. Unfortunately, the Titleist showroom in Minato is not open to the public but if you are lucky enough to be invited make sure you take up the offer. If you do need help in understanding a little more about the product please feel free to reach out.