Golf Monthly Editor's Letter June 2014

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter for June 2014 issue, includes Michael Harris giving thoughts on the past month and what can be found in the June 2014 issue

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Michael Harris and Mark King, CEO of TaylorMade

Golf Monthly Editor's Letter June 2014

Editor's Letter June 2014 Issue

After discussions about slow play and dress codes, there’s no topic that gets the members of the Golf Monthly forum tapping away at the keyboard more furiously than news of new golf gear being released.

The appetite for talking about the looks – and possible magical effect – shiny new sticks might have on one’s game certainly gets the debate going.

In recent years there’s been an extra dimension to the conversation, with golfers questioning the increasing frequency with which products are launched and the accompanying performance claims.

These days two years is the longest a product will stay in the line, with many only having a year (or less) on the shelf before being replaced by something promising impressive game-improving credentials.

It’s a gripe we at Golf Monthly recognise, and have acknowledged in previous articles. Our view is that shorter product cycles are here to stay, and the best way to look at the situation is that there will always be innovative new products to buy, and that if you haven’t upgraded your kit for a number of years, the latest clubs will almost certainly offer improved performance.

However, that’s just our view, so when I recently had the opportunity to interview Mark King, the CEO of TaylorMade (pictured, left) – the brand that many point the finger at for releasing new products on a frequent basis – the chance to quiz him on the subject was too good to miss.

To ensure the topics we covered in the interview reflected what golfers really wanted to know, we put a call to action out on the GM forum and our social-media channels. It’s fair to say we were inundated with questions for King.

If you turn to page 58 you can read those that I put to him and the answers he gave, which I know will be of interest. I won’t spoil the feature by giving away his views here, except to say that big golf companies do listen to the opinions of golfers, so do use your voice to air your views in the future.

Email: michael_harris@ipcmedia.com Twitter: @MikeHarrisGolf

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x