A London Ontario manufacturer is branching out, creating a line of high-end golf putters that already is getting the attention of industry professionals.
Ballycorp Ltd. is preparing to roll out about 90 custom putters by month’s end under its spinoff industry Blacksmith Putter Co., with input from two golf professionals and instructors with links to the PGA.
“We realized there’s a niche market for custom-built putters and we’re doing it with old-school methods,” said Matthew Balaban, chief executive of Ballycorp, located on Ashland Avenue, just east of downtown.
“Golf equipment now is built offshore and in high volumes. It’s as cost effective as possible, but you lose quality when you save money.”
The putter business is a different path for Ballycorp. Its core business of making support systems for rooftop commercial furnace and air conditioners has taken off. It bought 3.2 hectares of land at Skyway Industrial Park on Robin’s Hill Road to expand its business and expects to break ground next year on construction of a new factory.
“We have a solid business, we’re making money, doing good things, but this is a passion project to build custom golf clubs. But it can also make money,” Balaban said. “We’re doing what we love.”
Balaban also has operated the Smash Factory, where he customizes clubs from any manufacturer to the user’s specifications, for more than a year. That helped drive his desire to create a custom putter.
“I would say about 40 per cent of shots in golf are made with a putter and players don’t give it a lot of consideration. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Part of the fitting for a new putter is to have a player putt on a putting table about 18 inches above the ground. Balaban can make the table slope and tilt, to get an idea of a player’s ability.
We can do some pretty cool stuff,” Balaban said.
The putters will start at about $1,000 each. They will be 100 per cent carbon steel, milled with interchangeable faces and weights. The purchase price includes a fitting and multiple shaft and grip choices are available.
“It won’t be mass produced,” said Gareth Raflewski, a teaching professional at Riverbend Golf and Country Club, who coaches PGA golfers.
“It has to look fantastic and function very well, but it will be made for you.”
