Notebook: Scotty Cameron

Listening in on a Master

Had the unique opportunity to attend a Scotty Cameron workshop during the PGA of America’s annual merchandise show.   The chat was about an hour .  Unfortunately he had to leave immediately afterwards and couldn’t answer any direct questions (and I had more than a few), but it was an informative sixty minutes and below are a few notes:

Scotty Cameron was born in 1962 in Glendale, California. He now resides in Carlsbad, California with his wife and two daughters.

His father was an insurance investigator and an avid golfer.  When the two weren’t out on the course together, they were in the garage working on golf clubs.  Scotty describes himself as a ‘fanatical tinkerer’.  Sadly, his best friend and father would die when he was only 13, yet the lessons, memories, and passion passed forth would set Cameron on a definitive path and a future in golf.

Cameron’s earliest designs were born on a table-top mill in his mother-in-law’s garage and from there his talents and reputation for craftmanship would land him jobs with Ray Cook Company, Maxfli, Cleveland Classics, Founder’s Golf and Mizuno.

In the early 90′s he established Cameron Golf International with the ardent philosophy ‘make the best & they will come’. In 1993 Bernhard Langer won the Masters using one of his creations.

In 1994, Scotty was approached by Titleist but was not interested.  Then after several more meetings he was eventually convinced that the company shared the same passion and vision – so a partnership was forged.

OF INTEREST:

• Putters that inspired him – Ram Zebra |  Billy Baroo
• Optimum Loft - 4 degrees (ball weighs 45 grams and that is all that is required to elevate it up out of its impression)
• Set-Up - eyes should be 1 inch inside the ball, not over the ball at address
• Inserts – the ball is not hit hard enough with a putter to compress the cover so the actual impact of any type of insert is limited
• Customization – cutting a shaft affects swing-weight and is not recommended – have it fitted properly and built to specs
• Look, Feel, Sound – are paramount and the goal in his designs is to create ‘visual freedom’ – nothing should impede or distract the eye

May Also be of Interest:

• Notebook: Degrees in Insight
• Notebook: CHATTIN’ with CHEZ
• Notebook : Adam Hadwin
• Different Ball Positions
• Keep it Simple