After recently releasing the revised version of “Swing for Life,” with Simon & Schuster’s Atria division, and announcing two new Faldo Design projects at Donald Trump’s Doral Resort, Sir Nick Faldo will spend three days at the PGA of America Merchandise Show in Orlando on January 23, 24 and 25 to introduce three new business ventures.
Partnering with well-known master craftsman, David Edel of Edel Golf, the duo will launch Faldo by Edel; the ultimate customized clubs to include putters, irons, wedges and limited edition products created with individual golfers on all levels in mind.
“Faldo by Edel, is the realization of a golf dream for me,” says Faldo who is known as one of golf’s truest perfectionists. “I’ve long been an advocate of customizing equipment for look, feel and individuality. David is a precision engineer and an artist and he and his team make true one- of-a-kind equipment with craftsmanship and technical know-how applied to each club.”
“Knowing how fastidious he was as a player about equipment and performance, I was not shocked that Nick understood our vision,” said David Edel, Chairman of Edel Golf. “This is a man with huge vision, knowledge of the game, artistic prowess and insight. Together we will design practical and functional products and concepts to help golfers of all abilities to maximize their game.”
The Show will also introduce Faldo’s globally recognized Faldo Series to the U.S. through the launch of the Faldo Series Academy at Grande Sports World in Arizona – a full-time residential school for the potentially elite young golfer. The Faldo Series, which was launched in 1996 as a charitable effort to grow golf and provide opportunity through the sport, now hosts 40 events in 30 countries outside the U.S. World No. 1’s Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng are both past Faldo Series Champions.
The Faldo Series Academy will expand on the school’s already successful Grande Sports Academy (GSA), which focuses on soccer. GSA is the U.S. training site for Real Salt Lake and numerous other Major League Soccer teams, as well as the Real Salt Lake–AZ Academy. With an 18-hole course and state-of-the-art training facilities on campus, students are able to take advantage of full-time accredited education while learning from the best in their sport. The Faldo Design team is also in the process of creating a one-of-a-kind golf practice facility on site, which will be open to full-time students in September.
“I have long looked for the right first step for the Faldo Series in the U.S. and Grande Sports World gives us the perfect home here,” said Faldo. “In addition to bringing teaching and opportunity to young American golfers, the campus offers a weather-friendly environment to our Faldo Series players from around the world. Ron Burks and his team have created something special for kids at Grande Sports World. The place feels good. As we make our home here, we look forward to working with PGA professionals to grow the awareness of the opportunities in golf and to build an educational framework for all areas of a student’s life in this sport.”
“We are excited to welcome the FaldoSeriesAcademy to Grande Sports World,” says Ron Burks, CEO and Chairman of Grande Sports World, the. “Nick Faldo’s commitment to the training of young golfers to compete and excel at the highest levels of golf is consistent with our standard of excellence in providing the highest quality of training for young athletes from around the world. I have no doubt that our phenomenal success in connecting students to college scholarships or professional opportunities will expand with the programs to be offered by the FaldoSeriesAcademy.”
Finally, after rebranding his own corporate businesses with the “Claret & Green” crest which represents his 6-Major Championships, Faldo has granted the first license of that crest and name to Bernette Textile, LLC of New York City. Along with Bernette President, Jeffrey Siskind, Faldo has designed and created the “Claret & Green” clothing brand, which will be available to consumers in retail outlets across the U.S. this spring. The collection incorporates both classic clubhouse lines and “Faldo-fit” performance wear with both the golfer and the fashion conscious male in mind. It brings new textures and colours and piecing to garments for fit and appeal creating clean lines and fresh looks for the golfer’s wardrobe and beyond.
“Dating back to my days with Pringle, I have looked hard at design and golf attire,” said Faldo. “The experienced team at Bernette has allowed me to take part in every step of the process. I think we have taken what works best on tour and combined it with what is most fashion forward, yet still works for most men in golf and clubhouse attire. I’m proud to wear the line.”
“It is an honour and a treat to work with Sir Nick,” said Siskind. “He has a great sense of style and works closely with the design team so his personal influence comes through in the product. It gives the line a personality that is uniquely Nick. It’s a line I will not only be proud to wear but really do believe it will lower my handicap.”
Nick Faldo will be available at the PGA Trade Show in Orlando with Edel, Burks and Siskind to discuss each of the new businesses and to celebrate the launch on January 24 and 25.
A new www.nickfaldo.com website launches today.