In 2005, John Letters of Scotland, which has been trading since 1918, was purchased by the successful multi-channel retailer Direct Golf UK Limited.
Owing to the mass production of clubs by other manufacturers within the UK and an increase in the amount of imports from the Far East, the famous golf equipment manufacturer could no longer compete and inevitably required support.
Back in its heyday, golf professionals such as Fred Daly, Dai Rees, Lee Trevino, Cathy Panton, Bernard Gallacher, Sam Torrence, Gary Player and Paul Lawrie – to name but a few – played and won with John Letters’ clubs.
It wasn’t just the professionals in the game that chose to play with John Letters’ clubs. Due to the company’s reputation for quality and innovation top entertainers around the world opted to play with the John Letters’ clubs. Such celebrities included Ertha Kitt, Danny Kaye, Jack Lemmon, Judy Garland and Sean Connery and the biggest of them all Frank Sinatra.
With the support of Direct Golf UK Limited, John Letters is looking forward to a prosperous future with an aim to reproducing its golden years again.
Looking to the future, John Letters is delighted to have secured the signature of one of Britain’s most exciting young prospects, PGA European Tour Professional Phillip Archer, who has already had a tremendous start to the 2008 season and is in hot pursuit of a place in this year’s European Ryder Cup team. www.philarcher.com
In 2006 Phil came remarkably close to carding the first 59 in European Tour history as he took the lead after the opening round of the Wales Open. The Englishman’s birdie putt on the 18th lipped out to leave him nine under par after one round at Celtic Manor, Newport. Phillip Archer can now be spotted carrying a John Letters bag along with head covers and headwear that include the celebrated John Letters brand. Indeed, after his first event carrying the bag at the Dubai Desert Classic Phillip said, “I was amazed by the reaction and interest of fellow European Tour Professionals that saw me with the bag and were delighted to see a British brand with such a long history returning to the Tour.”
John Letters is also proud to be supporting two other young British golfers, Simon Hurd who is playing on the PGA Asian Tour and Chris Hanson who is working his way on the EuroPro Tour. John Andrew, managing director of John Letters Ltd said, “It’s great for the John Letters brand to be associated with Phillip Archer and have a presence again on the PGA European Tour. I wish Phil, Simon and Chris every success for the future and hope with the exciting development plans we have for John Letters that this is only the start of things to come.”
John Letters www.johnletters.com