OUR STORY STARTS LONG BEFORE THE THREE OF US EVER TEED IT UP TOGETHER. OUR GRANDFATHER, BIG AL, GREW UP IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND PLAYED GOLF AT PENN STATE AFTER RETURNING FROM WORLD WAR II, WHERE HIS TEAM WON THE VERY FIRST EASTERN INTERCOLLEGIATE GOLF ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP. AFTER COLLEGE, HE AND OUR GRANDMOTHER MOVED TO LAWRENCE, KANSAS, WHERE THEY OPENED THE UNIVERSITY CLOTHING SHOP AND BECAME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN AND LAWRENCE COUNTRY CLUB — THE SAME COURSE WHERE OUR DAD, AND THE THREE OF US, LEARNED TO PLAY THE GAME.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS, OUR DAD PLAYED COLLEGIATE GOLF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND SPENT A SHORT TIME IN THE PROFESSIONAL GOLF WORLD BEFORE BUILDING A CAREER AND RAISING A FAMILY OF HIS OWN. THE GAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONSTANT THROUGH IT ALL — A THREAD CONNECTING GENERATIONS, SHAPING WHO WE ARE BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURSE.

ALL THREE OF US STAYED CLOSE TO HOME, ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM WHERE WE GREW UP. WILSON EARNED A DEGREE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPUTING WITH A FOCUS IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY. WESTON FOLLOWED SUIT WITH A COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE WHILE ATTAINING MINORS IN MATH AND FINANCE. HUDSON TOOK A DIFFERENT ROUTE BY PURSUING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING, INCLUDING WORK WITH A MAJOR GOLF PUTTER LINE.

WE’VE SPENT YEARS STUDYING, BUILDING, AND DESIGNING—BUT WE’VE ALSO SPENT PLENTY OF TIME 3-PUTTING, GRINDING OVER SIX-FOOTERS, AND FEELING EVERY FRUSTRATION THE GAME CAN DELIVER. THAT MIX OF CURIOSITY, CRAFT, AND PERFECTION ON THE GREENS IS WHAT BROUGHT US HERE.

FOR AS LONG AS WE’VE BEEN ALIVE, PUTTERS HAVE LARGELY STAYED THE SAME. WHILE EVERY OTHER PART OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY HAS SEEN WAVES OF INNOVATION – FROM MATERIALS TO MANUFACTURING – PUTTERS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

OUR GOAL IS TO REIMAGINE THE MODERN PUTTER – COMBINING PRECISION ENGINEERING, THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, AND BOLD AESTHETICS TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY PERFORMS, BUT INSPIRES CONFIDENCE AT FIRST GLANCE. THE PUTTER IS THE MOST USED CLUB IN THE BAG; IT DESERVES THE SAME LEVEL OF INNOVATION AND ATTENTION AS THE REST. WE GAVE IT THAT ATTENTION, PROVING THE FUTURE OF PUTTING CAN LOOK, AND FEEL, VERY DIFFERENT. 

THE WORDS BELOW WERE WRITTEN BY OUR DAD IN MEMORY OF OUR GRANDFATHER, BIG AL, WHOSE LOVE FOR THE GAME SET EVERYTHING IN MOTION. HIS POEM IS A REFLECTION ON THE GAME AND THE LESSONS IT QUIETLY TEACHES, AND REMINDS US THAT GOLF OFFERS MORE THAN JUST A SCORECARD. THIS GAME TEACHES PATIENCE, HUMILITY, AND GRATITUDE, AND THE LESSONS IT GIVES LAST FAR BEYOND THE COURSE.

GOLF LESSONS

WHEN YOU FIRST MEET YOUR OPPONENT, ON THE COURSE OR ON THE STREET

WISH HIM LUCK AND LOOK YOUR BEST - IT MAY BE THE ONLY TIME YOU MEET.

DURING THE ROUND WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING WELL OR NOT

MAKE SURE TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY, “HEY, NICE SHOT.”

ALWAYS PLAY BY THE RULES; EVEN CALL A PENALTY ON YOURSELF

THAT’S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY TROPHY ON YOUR SHELF.

IF A PLAYER HAS A HARD PUTT, HELP HIM GET LINED UP

AND IF A TOURNAMENT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP.

IF YOU’VE LOST YOUR MATCH AND THINGS DIDN’T GO AS PLANNED

TAKE OFF YOUR HAT, SAY CONGRATULATIONS, AND GIVE HIM A FIRM SHAKE OF THE HAND.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S NOT WHETHER YOU’VE LOST OR WON

BUT THAT YOU GAVE IT YOUR BEST, ENJOYED THE COMPANY, AND HAD AT LEAST A LITTLE FUN.

SO TODAY ON THE 18TH HOLE, DAD, WE’LL DO WHAT YOU TAUGHT US TO DO

WELL MOVE OUT OF THE FAIRWAY, WAVE BACK THE TEE, AND SMILE AS YOU PLAY THROUGH.

WRITTEN BY BILL HACK FOR HIS FATHER, ALAN HACK SR. ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2009

IN LOVING MEMORY OF BILL HACK.