Michael Cooney attended the Callaway Ai-Smoke Product Launch on behalf of Inside Golf. Here is what he thought…….
Well golfers, I think I’ve just attended the best golf product launch ever! Yes that’s right, EVER! This is the third Callaway launch day I’ve attended and bravo to Callaway Golf and everyone involved as they’ve taken it to another level.
As first impressions count, everyone was welcomed with the announcement of a new ambassador for Team Callaway in 2-time major winner Minjee Lee. A major coup for Callaway, it says a lot about the quality of the product and Callaway brand that a player of her undoubted ability would switch companies and put all 14 clubs in the bag.
Now let’s get cracking onto the day! At registration all participants were split into different pods and moved out to the various holes at the wonderful Sandy Golf Links. The first hole my group started on was the “Beat the Pro Challenge”, a 130m shot to the 7th hole. We were lucky enough to have PGA Professional Josh Shaw who is located at Flinders Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, someone I’ve known for many years, from pennant golf to coming through the PGA Associate program at the same time. At the station we were able to donate to the Cancer Council, and got the opportunity to try the new Paradym Ai Smoke Irons, Paradym Ai Smoke HL Irons and the Paradym Ai Smoke MAX Fast Irons. What an impressive addition to the Callaway range. I hit the Paradym Ai Smoke 9iron and Pitching Wedge to the hole and found it super forgiving and so easy to use……. who doesn’t want that in a club!
Let’s move to the next station! Now it’s about 1pm and I noticed from walking down the 7th hole to the 8th and our next station an amazing smell and I was impressed to see chicken tacos and Balter Beers available. It was like all my worlds colliding into one. Callaway Golf, tacos and beer. I thought I was in heaven! At this station we had a long drive competition with everyone hitting two drives with the New Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Drivers. I had a fitting three weeks prior, so knew which driver I needed and boom, I fluked one out there. I was fitted for the Triple Diamond 10.5 head and what a driver! Both drives were slightly struck in the toe – but to my surprise, without any extra club head speed, my ball speed was still considerably higher than normal. Understandably, I was very happy with the results.
Now to the “Hole in One” hole. This is a life changer if you’re lucky enough to have a Hole in One due to a brand-new BMW being up for grabs! The 9th hole at Sandy Golf Links is not that long, although the green is very tricky. The pin placement was generous, the wind helping us, so everyone had the chance. The hole played 141m, I grabbed the Paradym Ai Smoke 9-iron again and almost missed the ball! Nonetheless the technology in the club head allowed for poor strike to still work out, but sadly no new BMW in my garage.
The Weber BBQ short game challenge was next up. Golfers, I thought the smell of the chicken tacos was great, but the smell of the lamb cutlets and the steak on the Weber BBQ was next level. We had three pitch shots, with the Callaway Jaws Raw wedges, onto the Himalayan putting green with the new Chrome Soft range of golf balls. Now if you have not seen or been on a Himalayan putting green, they are so much fun to putt on and even more fun to pitch or chip onto. The creativity and the different shots required are something you very rarely experience. I could have hit shots there all day! None the less we all tried to pitch them into a small 1ft radius. I wasn’t successful, but it was so fun to hit those different shots onto the green!
Now we head for the driving range. Everyone on the day was fitted for a driver which was a great experience – lucky enough I was able to head down to Callaway Headquarters a few weeks earlier for a fitting session, but seeing the excitement and feeling the buzz was something I have never seen before. We had DJ’s playing music, people enjoying each other’s company and everyone loving the new product. From the fitting we then moved to the driving games using the Top Tracer Technology.
Now to the Golf Australia station and the Participation Team led by Tony Craswell exposed us to different formats of golf. The message from the station was “all golf is golf”. We have seen over time that the traditional format of golf still has a strong hold in the overall landscape but as we develop and grow as a sport there are many different formats of the game that can be played and enjoyed. We all got to experience this. We were able to play some foot golf, playing a hole kicking a soccer ball, playing frisbee golf, throwing a frisbee for a hole and then the last one being mini golf, which most people have experienced.
For the last station, we had two challenges. One being a chipping challenge with Monster Energy, where again we were able to experience the new ball and wedges, then we had the fairway wood and hybrid challenge. I must say I have used the fairway woods before, and I absolutely loved them. We had a big bullseye target 190m away but with the wind into us and off the left it was playing closer to 210m. I grabbed the triple diamond 5 wood and hit two pretty good shots just left of the bullseye target.
The Callaway Golf product launch event was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment of registration to the final challenges, it was evident that every detail was meticulously planned to create an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
The announcement of Minjee Lee as a new ambassador for Callaway Golf set the tone for the day, emphasising the calibre of both the products and the brand. Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to test an impressive array of new equipment, from irons to drivers, and experience firsthand the innovation and quality that defines Callaway Golf.
Beyond the excitement of trying out the latest gear, the event offered a perfect blend of entertainment and camaraderie. From enjoying delicious food and beverages to engaging in various golf-related challenges and activities, attendees were immersed in a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and enthusiasm for the sport.
The event highlighted the inclusivity and versatility of golf, with activities ranging from traditional challenges to alternative formats, reinforcing the message that “all golf is golf.” It showcased the evolution of the sport and the endless possibilities for enjoyment and participation.
Overall, the Callaway Golf product launch was not just about unveiling new equipment; it was a celebration of the passion, community, and innovation that define the world of golf. Bravo to Callaway Golf for delivering an exceptional event that left a lasting impression on all who attended.
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