Friday, October 19, 2007

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- Beat cancer through golf

By Jennifer Gardner
GPA Equipment Editor

Support cancer research by playing golf. Sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?

And many equipment manufacturers are making that easy for you by selling special equipment that bears a special logo or is colored pink. Proceeds from these products go to a charity that supports cancer research and education, often the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

This being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with most of the golf equipment sold benefiting the fight against breast cancer, The Wire is highlighting some of the many products where at least some of the proceeds go to that cause.

Aldila

Paula Creamer uses Aldila's NV Pink shaft in her driver.

You may have seen LPGA professional Paula Creamer using the brightly-colored Aldila Pink NV shaft. The company created the shaft especially for Creamer, who loves pink, and then decided to offer it to the public with the proceeds of all shafts sold through distribution and to Aldila's manufacturing partners going to support the Komen Foundation.

"After Paula experienced multiple wins using the Pink NV shaft, we were flooded with requests for the shaft so we decided to offer them on a limited basis," said Stewart Bahl, Aldila's marketing manager. "The number of requests for pink shafts led Aldila to offer the shaft in every weight and flex combination of both the NV and NVS woods."

The Pink NV and NVS shafts use Aldila's Micro Laminate Technology for enhanced power, consistent flex and precise feel. While the company began offering the shafts 2 years ago in just women's flexes, due to its popularity, Aldila now offers both the NV and NVS Pink shaft models, ranging in weight from 45 to 85 grams, in L through X flex.

For more, go to www.aldila.com.

Sweet Spot Golf
Sweet Spot Golf is planning an entire line of women's clubs that boast pink accents, including its V-11 driver, hybrids and "Think Pink" putters. The putters, which were released in July, are pink and white or pink and black, and sport pink ribbon logos on the grip. They utilize a series of pink arrows on the top of the mallet head that encourages proper alignment.

"Women who have seen and tried the putters have embraced it with enthusiasm," said company co-founder Brian Allman. "It says 'I support the National Breast Cancer Foundation' while it performs well around the green. It is the power of pink."

Each mallet has a precision-milled face and is evenly weighted to reduce twisting and promote a smooth stroke. They are available in right-hand models only and 32-, 33- and 34-inch lengths.

To order, go to www.sweetspotgolf.net.

C-Thru Golf Grips
C-Thru is well-known as the company that can make virtually any kind of grip you want. Prefer something in your team's colors? No problem. How about a grip that has your company logo, your favorite cartoon character, even a photo of your kids? They can do it.

C-Thru also offers a line of grips that are pink to support cancer research. They introduced their fourth design in that line this month, called "In the Light" -- a pink design with a glowing white line and a ribbon icon. The grips sell for $10 each.

Linda Jamison, C-Thru Golf Grips director of operations, is a 7-year breast cancer survivor.

"I'm proud of the continuing involvement of C-Thru Grips in the battle against breast cancer," Jamison said. "These awareness and research programs have doubled the percentage of mammograms among women over the past 20 years and deaths from breast cancer have declined."

For more, go to www.cthrugrips.com.

Golf Pride
Each limited-edition pink and black DD2 swing grip from Golf Pride that is sold means 25 cents goes to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. The grip has a pink ribbon icon and the word "empower" embossed on the grip. The DD2 molded grip is new this year and features technology that keeps the grip material from twisting during the swing.

"We are proud to have incorporated such a beautiful and meaningful design into one of our latest technologically advanced swing grips," said Jeff Fiorini, general manager for Eaton's Golf Grip Division. "Everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer and we are honored to continue working with an organization that brings empowerment and vital resources to those facing the disease and those who support them."

Golf Pride also has two other grips that are pink -- the Dual Durometer putter grip and the pink Tour Velvet grip that's raised close to $30,000 for Y-ME.

A full set of the DD2 grips is $58.99 (that includes 13 grips) and can be purchased at www.golfpride.com.

FootJoy
FootJoy manufactures a variety of products, including apparel and shoes, that feature pink and the breast cancer ribbon logo. The SciFlex glove is a pink and white cabretta leather glove with microfiber along the fingers for greater movement and comfort.

The gloves retail for $15.95.

Wilson
Wilson has a line of Hope products, including clubs, gloves and balls, that benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The three-piece Hope golf balls come in several pastel colors, including white for traditionalists, that have a clear cutproof cover and a soft core for a good balance of spin and distance.

For more, go to www.wilson.com.

Callaway
And don't forget Callaway Golf's work to fight ovarian cancer. The company has introduced limited edition teal golf bags, FT-i drivers, hats, golf balls and towels that are designed to raise awareness for the importance of ovarian cancer research.

Throughout the last month -- September was National Ovarian Cancer Month -- more than 30 Callaway staff professionals carried the bags. Callaway also teamed up with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to donate more than $1 million that will help identify fast-track treatments and tests for the disease.

The Callaway teal products can be purchased online at www.callawaygolf.com. To learn more about the initiative and even make a donation, go to www.callawaygolffoundation.org.