Miles Bennett
Golf Pride is a leading manufacturer of high-performance golf grips and is owned by Eaton, a power management company. Golf Pride was founded in 1949 by inventor and golf enthusiast Thomas Fawick, who believed that rubber was the future of golf grips. The company has since been an industry leader in grip innovation and has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company. Eaton's Golf Pride Grips Division is the world's largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities on six continents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Eaton |
| Year founded | 1949 |
| Founder | Thomas Fawick |
| Founder's partners | Bill Junker and Jim Karns |
| Founder's insight | Rubber is the future of golf grips |
| Location | Akron, Ohio |
| Number of manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities | 6 |
| Global recognition | #1 Grip on Tour |
| Number of continents sold on | 6 |
| Number of countries sold in | 175 |
| Number of employees | 95,000 |
| 2019 revenues | $21.4 billion |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Golf Pride's parent company, Eaton
Golf Pride is a subsidiary of the power management company Eaton, which has approximately 95,000 employees and sells products in over 175 countries. Eaton Corporation plc is an American-Irish-domiciled multinational corporation with a primary administrative centre in Beachwood, Ohio.
The company was founded in 1911 by Joseph O. Eaton, Henning O. Taube, and Viggo V. Torbensen, who incorporated the Torbensen Gear and Axle Co. in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The company was set up to manufacture Torbensen's patented internal-gear truck axle. In 1914, the company moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to be closer to the automotive industry. In 1916, the Torbensen Axle Company was incorporated in Ohio, succeeding the New Jersey corporation.
In 1917, Republic Motor Truck Company, Torbensen's largest customer, bought out the company. However, Eaton and Torbensen were not satisfied and left Republic to form the Eaton Axle Company in 1919. A year later, the Eaton Axle Company merged with Standard Parts, which went into liquidation the same year. In 1923, Eaton bought back the Torbensen Axle Co. and changed the name to the Eaton Axle and Spring Company. Over the following decades, the company expanded internationally and changed its name several times, eventually becoming the Eaton Corporation in 1971.
Today, Eaton is a leader in power management, providing energy-efficient solutions for electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power. The company serves a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, and data centres. Eaton's Golf Pride Grips Division is the world's largest manufacturer of golf grips, known for its innovative ALIGN Technology, which delivers a new level of consistency for golfers.
Golf's Greatest: PGA's Location and Legacy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Thomas Fawick, the inventor of Golf Pride
Golf Pride is currently owned by Eaton, a power management company with approximately 95,000 employees. However, it was founded in 1949 by inventor Thomas L. Fawick, a golf enthusiast who was the first to realise that rubber was the future of golf grips.
Fawick's insight provided golfers with a lighter, higher traction, and more durable gripping surface compared to the popular leather grips of the time. He partnered with Bill Junker and Jim Karns in Akron, Ohio (known as the rubber capital of the world) to bring his concept to life.
Since its founding, Golf Pride has been a global leader in golf grip innovation and technology. The company's influence within the golf industry is profound, with more than 80% of Tour professionals choosing to use Golf Pride grips in competition, and notable manufacturers such as Callaway, PING, TaylorMade, and Titleist using Golf Pride in their standard offerings.
Golf Pride's commitment to innovation and investment in research and development has driven its transformation from a component manufacturer to a performance equipment brand. The company's Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst, North Carolina, has been integral to this modernisation, with its rapid prototyping lab significantly reducing the time from concept to product testing.
Thomas Fawick's invention of rubber golf grips and his founding of Golf Pride have had a lasting impact on the sport, with the company continuing to be a leader in golf grip technology and innovation for over seven decades.
Golfing with AM Radio Phoenix: The Perfect Swing Companion
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Golf Pride's global leadership in golf grip innovation
Golf Pride is a division of the power management company Eaton. It has been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology for over seven decades.
The story of Golf Pride began in 1949 in Akron, Ohio, when inventor and golf enthusiast Thomas Fawick, along with Bill Junker and Jim Karns, introduced the concept of using rubber for golf grips. This provided a lighter, higher traction, and more durable gripping surface compared to the popular leather grips at the time.
Over the years, Golf Pride has continuously pushed the boundaries of golf grip technology. They were the first to introduce the slip-on grip and made groundbreaking advancements in cord technology with their Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®). They also pioneered the hybrid category of grips, combining cord and rubber for all-weather performance.
In 2017, Golf Pride unveiled its revolutionary ALIGN Technology, featuring a dedicated raised ridge that extends down the back of the grip. This innovation provides golfers with consistent hand placement, allowing them to feel alignment and square the clubface more effectively. The ALIGN Technology was featured in the MCC family, including the MCC ALIGN and MCC Plus4 ALIGN grips, offering amateurs and professionals alike a new level of consistency in their games.
Golf Pride's commitment to innovation has made them the number one choice in grips among TOUR and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers, and club repairmen. Their products are trusted by top golfers, with 86% of the field at the 2020 PGA Championship choosing Golf Pride grips.
With manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities on six continents, Golf Pride continues to drive global operations and accelerate product innovation. Their rich history and dedication to enhancing the connection between golfers and their equipment have solidified their position as the global leader in golf grip innovation.
Golf Schedule: AM Edition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Golf Pride's manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities
Golf Pride is owned by Eaton, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities across the world. The company has been in operation for over seven decades and has established itself as a global leader in golf grip innovation and technology.
Manufacturing Facilities
Golf Pride's manufacturing facilities are responsible for producing the company's high-performance golf grips, which are used by over 80% of Tour professionals. The company has a strong commitment to innovation and has introduced groundbreaking advancements, such as Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) and the hybrid category of grips.
Sales and Distribution Facilities
Golf Pride's sales and distribution network spans across various countries, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company has a strong online presence, with an easy-to-use website that provides customers with detailed information about their products.
Golf Pride's distribution channels include wholesale distributors and OEM partners. Some of their wholesale distributors include Jack Jolly & Son, Inc., R. J. Shepherd Co., Hornung's Golf Products Inc., and international distributors like Shanghai Golf Lynch Co., Ltd. in China, and VIN SPORTING HOUSE PTE. LTD. in Singapore.
Retail Lab
Golf Pride's Retail Lab, located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, is a unique facility that offers golfers a personalised experience. The 1,000-square-foot space allows golfers to touch, feel, and witness the regripping process firsthand, making grip selection more approachable. The Retail Lab is designed to enhance innovation and improve the overall consumer experience, with Golf Pride technicians learning from each interaction to evolve their retail practices.
Golf: Easy to Start, Hard to Master
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Golf Pride's product innovation and global operations
Golf Pride is a division of Eaton, a power management company with approximately 95,000 employees. Eaton's Golf Grip Division is the largest manufacturer of golf club grips in the world, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities on six continents. The company sells products to customers in more than 175 countries.
Golf Pride has been an industry leader in golf grip innovation for over seven decades, since its inception in 1949. The company's mission is to design grips for golfers worldwide, inspiring them with a feeling of confidence to play their best. Golf Pride's obsession with the connection between hand and grip has led to groundbreaking advancements, such as the invention of the slip-on grip and its new Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®).
In 2017, Golf Pride announced plans to develop a new purpose-built facility at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina, to accelerate product innovation and drive global operations. The facility would include an R&D lab with rapid prototyping capabilities and a consumer grip fitting studio, providing a platform to test new product ideas with the golfers visiting Pinehurst Resort from around the world.
Golf Pride's commitment to innovation has resulted in its products being the choice for winners of the last five majors dating back to the 2019 Masters. The company conducts extensive professional and consumer testing to create innovations that deliver consistent results. For instance, its ALIGN Technology, introduced in 2017, features a dedicated raised ridge for consistent hand placement, allowing golfers to feel alignment and square the clubface at impact.
Golf Pride's rich history, commitment to innovation, and global operations have solidified its position as the leading manufacturer of high-performance golf grips, with its products trusted by over 80% of Tour professionals and amateurs alike.
Golf's Fore: What's the Reason?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Golf Pride is owned by Eaton, a power management company with approximately 95,000 employees.
Golf Pride is known for its golf grips and has been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology for over seven decades.
Golf Pride was founded in 1949 by inventor and golf enthusiast Thomas Fawick, who was the first to introduce the concept of using rubber for golf grips.
Golf Pride is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, and has manufacturing, sales, and distribution facilities on six continents.
Golf Pride is the #1 Grip on Tour and is trusted by over 80% of PGA Tour professionals and competitive amateur golfers.
