http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=b800a8b8-93f6-4d36-84cd-c04231f4f371Golf can be a thing of beauty
For a mere $10,000, you, too, can have a diamond-studded putter, reports Gord Holder.
Gord Holder, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, January 17, 2008
ORLANDO, Florida -- The practical part of her new line of putters, Wendy Laub says, is that all golfers have to like what they're looking at if they're going to be any good on the greens.
In that case, they'd have 10,001 reasons to want the best out of the headline item in the products that Laub and her husband, David, are unveiling at this week's PGA Merchandise Show.
The Deluxe Diamond Series from Gemspot Putters features five small diamonds set into a line of silver bezels atop the head of the mallet-style club that sells for $10,000 U.S. Each Grade 1 gem weighs one-half carat, and they are handset to create an alignment aid extending backward from the face of the putter.
Each numbered, limited-edition club comes with a cherry-wood presentation gift case and, yes, a putter head cover.
"There's nothing (else) out there for women's putters, in the line of women's putters, and I just wanted to produce a beautiful-looking competition putter for women," said Wendy Laub, who within the past six months has used a prototype to win the women's championship at Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara, California, and to place fourth in the Women's Southern California Golf Association tournament of champions.
Golf equipment geeks will want to know that the putter comes with a leather-wrap grip and a 72-degree lie angle. The mallet head is perimeter-weighted, and it has a stainless steel finish with a milled face with three degrees of loft, plus a high rating for moment of inertia, which in golf terms represents a club's resistance to twisting when a ball is struck.
It seems apparent, though, that the Deluxe Diamond and 14 other precious and semi-precious gem models in Gemspot's line are about looks or giving eye-catching gifts to that someone special. Prices start at $395 for shaped and polished cabochon stones such as Blue Paua, Tiger Eye and Turquoise, and rise from there for faceted gems such as Blue Topaz ($395), Iolite ($495), Aqua Marine ($695), Pink Tourmaline and Sapphire (both $1,995), Ruby and Emerald (both $6,200).
The inspiration for creating the putter and the company came to Wendy Laub early last year during a Sunday morning round with her husband. A drop of dew on the head of her putter caught the sunlight just so and looked, to her eye, like a diamond.
David Laub, a urologic surgeon, has his own version using elk ivory. "That's not available on the market," he said.
A colleague of Wendy Laub, a neurosurgical nurse, and that woman's siblings have purchased a Gemspot putter for their mother, using different gems to represent the birthdates of grandchildren.
David Laub says a lot of women are attracted to the gems, including several who have seen Wendy's prototype used in competition, but he also cites a recent Wall Street Journal report of a doubling of U.S. men's jewelry sales to $6 billion annually between 2004 and 2006, according to a Pennsylvania research firm.
Gemspot's marketing efforts will focus on destination resorts, high-end country clubs and corporate business. Depending on how many orders the company receives from clubs and retail operators during this week's show, which ends Saturday, anybody who orders one online (
www.gemspotputters.com) now should have it by March 1.
"After the first 300 putters that we have orders on, at that point it will be April 1," David Laub said.
http://gemspotputters.com/products.htmlThe Gemspot Mallet Putter
Weighing in at 375 grams, the perimeter weighted 431 stainless steel mallet head has a high MOI resulting in a large sweet spot to promote amazing accuracy. Gemspot putters have a 3 degree loft with a CNC milled face creating consistent ball contact through impact with reproducible smooth rolling putts. The shaft is a precision single-bend, with a 72 degree lie. Standard lengths 32"-35" are available. Gemspot putters incorporate the latest advances in technology and materials to provide the best product available, ensuring performance and customized beauty.
Deluxe Diamond Series
Numbered, limited edition diamond putter
Certificate of authenticity
Brilliant cut
Grade 1
2.5 carats in total weight
Engraving optional
Custom Putter
The most distinctive handcrafted custom putter available.
Make your choice, and tell us what brilliant gem stones you want to see in your sight line.
GEMSPOT creates family heirlooms with one-of-a-kind gem designs.
Commemorate a special date, event or accomplishment.
Suggested Retail Price List
Precious Gems Price Semi Precious Gems Price
Diamond $10,000.00 Garnet $395.00
Ruby $6200.00 Amethyst $395.00
Emerald $6200.00 Peridot $395.00
Sapphire $1995.00 Citrine $395.00
P. Tourmaline $1995.00 Blue Topaz $395.00
Aquamarine $695.00 Turquoise $395.00
Iolite $459.00 Tiger Eye $395.00
Blue Paua $395.00
