Bettinardi – Milled to perfection

Sam Bettinardi explains why the Chicago based manufacturer are constantly investing in their business.

Can you give us a brief history of the Company?

Starting in 1991, Robert Bettinardi challenged the golf industry by successfully milling a one-piece putter head from a single block of metal. Using his state-of-the-art machining techniques, Robert was quickly contracted by major golf OEMs to design and engineer putters for many of the industry leaders. Two years later, a one-piece milled putter crafted by Robert Bettinardi won the 1993 Masters, and shortly after, many other players began to switch to one piece milled putters, totalling over 100 PGA Tour players by the late 1990’s.

In 1998, Robert decided to go his separate way and begin milling putters for himself under his namesake. A brand-new Honeycomb face milling took the PGA Tour by storm in 1999, winning the Greater Greensboro Open by Jesper Parnevik with a tournament-record 99 putts. Twenty-plus years later, Bettinardi Golf is the gold standard for premium-made putters and other luxury golf products.

Sam Bettinardi joined his father in 2013, making Bettinardi one of the only family-run OEM companies in golf. Sam Bettinardi expanded the product lines, including the addition of wedges, and made his mark on engineering and design with the 2020 Inovai series and all-new 2021 Studio Stock series with Bettinardi’s new Roll Control face milling. Bettinardi putters have become some of the most requested putters on Tour, amassing over 85 worldwide Tour victories and counting, including 3 Majors, most notably the 2018 The Open when a Bettinardi putter went bogey-free all weekend at Carnoustie.

How does Bettinardi differ from their competitors?

Bettinardi Golf’s credibility in quality starts with our dedication to craft all of our putters and golf equipment in the United States under the tightest control measures in our own shop to ensure zero defects.

Our world-class engineers and designers have worked with the world’s best players and the latest technology to make high-end products that continue to push the limits of golf.

Each of our products is engineered and hand-crafted in the on-site without the use of forgings or plastic insert faces. Our one-piece technology ensures quality, consistency, and precision that cannot be matched by companies who believe in forgoing higher degrees of excellence for mass sale of production. We offer four distinctive face milling’s that are intricately milled directly on the precision milled putter head, providing options for every player, and maintaining the integrity of the one-piece technology.

Bettinardi Golf is one of the few family-owned golf club manufacturing businesses in the game of golf. This independence allows for freedom in design and product creation from start to finish, in addition to creating the best golf equipment under the discerning eyes of my father and myself. Making putters our way, the right way, affords us the freedom to tailor our products to the exact needs of our customers and players.

Why is a CNC Milled putter better?

My father, Robert Bettinardi, was the first person in the world to use CNC Machines, ‘Computer Numerical Control,’ to craft a one-piece milled putter from a single block of steel. Many in the golf industry did not believe this could be done, but Robert believed that, from his background in the aerospace and military industry, the needs of the world’s best golfers demanded the precision and quality control of the highest-level standards. Other companies continue to outsource their production, giving them little control over quality assurance and attention to detail.

What changes have you recently made to the factory/how will
any new machinery improve
your putters?

The biggest change in our machining of one-piece milled putters has been our investment in state-of-the-art equipment. The growth of Bettinardi Golf from Tour wins across all global tours, and collegiate and amateur players requesting Bettinardi putters has forced us to expand and invest in some remarkable new technology.

The new CNC Milling  Machines have changed drastically from the early 1990’s, and the capabilities allow our talented team to craft entirely new ideas, refine classics with new Tour feedback, and ensure the highest quality machining through every step of the process.

What are your thoughts on how 2020 has gone for Bettinardi and what can we look forward to seeing in 2021?

We’re very excited about the success of Bettinardi Golf to start the new decade, winning twice on the European Tour, twice on the PGA TOUR, Hero Open and Celtic Classic with rising stars trusting Bettinardi putters. Big PGA Tour wins from Tour staffers Jason Kokrak and Jim Herman have also been very rewarding and have drawn increased attention to Bettinardi putters in the U.S.

I was able to put my mark on Bettinardi’s all-new HLX 3.0 golf wedges with a total redesign of technology and appearance, and they have garnered a lot of attention since their release this April. Along with adding to our repertoire of short game products, the line-up of putters being crafted by Robert Bettinardi and the team in Chicago are second to none, and some of the best models and head shapes the company has ever produced. We continue to advance our techniques, and out-do ourselves each year.

The entire 2021 line-up has been inspired by some of the world’s best players, including an all-new face milling in the Roll Control Face, developed and engineered by Bettinardi after a two-year process of working with a European Tour superstar and No. 2 putter on the PGA Tour Matthew Fitzpatrick.  GR