The Golf House Club at Elie, scene of many a titanic golf match during its 135-year history, is to stage a contest of a different kind on July 13, when it plays host to a battle of equipment technology courtesy of leading golf brand Nike Golf. The special event aims to showcase how modern equipment has helped change the way both professional and amateur golfers are able to play the game.
Among those attending this unique event, which is open to members of the public, will be Nike Golf’s legendary club designer Tom Stites, who has been responsible for the creation of every club to come off Nike Golf’s production line since the company first started making clubs back in 2000. Stites will be on hand to talk guests through the technological breakthroughs that have allowed players like Tiger to regularly hit the ball over 350 yards, and stop the ball on a sixpence – 2½ pence in new money – with a pitching wedge.
In a twist of ‘old against new’, Tom Stites will come face to face with one of his true golfing heroes, the legendary Old Tom Morris. Although history records that the four-time Open winner died in 1908 and is buried in St Andrews, his spirit lives on in the form of professional impersonator and noted golf historian David Joy, whose ‘An Audience with Old Tom Morris’ has entertained thousands of visitors to St Andrews over the years. The two Toms will meet at 5.30pm and talk technology together in a meeting of two the greatest minds in the club –making business. It’s guaranteed to entertain and inform in equal measure!
Old Tom and New Tom will be joined at Elie by some of Nike Golf’s staff athletes, including European Tour winner Marc Warren and Ladies European Tour player Carly Booth, the 19-year old from Comrie in Perthshire, who has recently turned professional following a stellar amateur career. The athletes will give a demonstration of their ball-striking ability in a clinic on Elie’s driving range using their own Nike equipment.
During the event, which is scheduled from 4pm-8pm, members of the public will also be able to interact with and put questions to OLD TOM AND NEW TOM, as well as put the latest range of Nike Golf equipment through its paces on the range, with Nike Golf’s team of club technicians on hand to analyse ball flight using the very latest launch monitors, as well as offering advice on the right clubs for their game.
Guests will also be able to view a range of hickory-shafted clubs and feathery golf balls, of the type that were used at the turn of the last century, and then compare them against the very latest hi-tech equipment from Nike Golf’s 2010 range, including the new MachSpeed driver, and the VR driver used by Tiger Woods and many of Nike Golf’s other tour stars
Elie Golf Club is situated 30 minutes from St Andrews. Golf House Club, Elie, Fife, KY9 1AS 01333 330301 www.golfhouseclub.org
Nike Golf www.nike.com/nikegolf/europe