PING Golf

HTML clipboard   You might not know it by the name Karsten Manufacturing, but PING Golf is the name by which Karsten Manufacturing Corporation is known worldwide. The name Karsten Manufacturing came from the original creator of the first PING club, a putter.   That man was Karsten Solheim. Karsten designed and built his first putter in the garage of his home. Thus began a legacy that would endure for generations to come and make him the only golf club manufacturer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Although Karsten Solheim passed away in 2000, his sons have continued to manage and advance the family business. If you are interested in learning more about the humble genius behind PING golf clubs, you can read his biography, Karsten's Way: the Life-Changing Story of Karsten Solheim - Pioneer in Golf Club Design and the Founder of Ping (Compare Prices).   The Solheim family is proud to share the history and success of PING Golf, and one of the unique ways in which they do that is by offering free tours of the manufacturing facility in Phoenix. Reservations are required, as they will only take a limited number of people on each guided tour. During the busy season (October through April) they are often booked months in advance.   Begin the PING Tour The factory tour of PING begins in the club fitting area where you sign in. In the waiting room the newest PING clubs are on display, and you can drool over them, er, I mean, see what new products are being offered. There is a small lecture room where you will begin your tour. You'll be introduced to your tour guide, learn about the history of the company and its founder, Karsten Solheim, and hear about the rest of the Solheim family and their involvement with the company. The second and third generations of the family are very much involved in the business. Louise Solheim, Karsten's wife, has always and continues to be involved and influence decisions. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 2008. Although the name Solheim isn't technically part of the company name, it might sound familiar to golf fans. That's because Karsten Manufacturing (PING) sponsors a tournament in professional ladies golf called The Solheim Cup. It pits 12 of the top European-born players against 12 top American-born players. It is a prestigious event that occurs only every other year (odd years), alternating between the U.S. and Europe. That tradition began in 1990.   Something You Won't See on This PING Tour You'll get a thorough introduction to the world of PING Golf on this free factory tour, but there's at least one thing you won't see --"the vault." What is it? That's where PING keeps some very special clubs. Every time a pro golfer wins a tournament using a PING putter, the company makes two gold-plated replica putters, engraved with the golfer's name and the tournament name and date. One is sent to the golfer as a congratulatory memento. The other is kept in the vault. What if a professional golfer wins a major with a PING putter? Then it isn't just gold-plated, it's a solid gold putter head. This tour group was very lucky to find that four gold putters were being made on this day. Although we tried, we couldn't convince them to let us put them away in the vault!   Hours and Location: Tours of PING Golf are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (except major holidays) by reservation only. They start promptly at 9 a.m. A limited number of people are allowed on each guided tour, and during the busy season (October through April) they are often booked months in advance. Call 602-687-5385 or 1-800-474-6434 to make a reservation. If you make a reservation and won't be able to keep the appointment, please call and let PING know. That way, people who are on the waiting list can take the tour. Are there ever no-shows? Well, yes. If you want to take the chance and show up on a tour morning to see if you can take the place of a no-show, you can do that. Of course, there's a risk that you'll make that trip and there won't be any no-shows.

 

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