You are viewing: April 2011

FootJoy, the #1 shoe, glove, sock and outerwear brand in golf, announces its plan to enter the full line golf apparel business. With shipments beginning in January, 2012, FootJoy will feature a complete range of men’s golf apparel comprised of performance fabrics to complement the existing line of advanced outerwear.

The line will begin with a core range of essential performance offerings that will be in-stock from season to season. This assortment will be supplemented by multiple colour story collections for the Spring and Fall that feature contemporary colours and patterns in a variety of styles and performance fabrics. The design focus will be on one sport – golf, which is FootJoy’s sole passion.

“Following our success in the outerwear category, including the recently launched and highly popular layering system, the time has come for FootJoy to enter the full line men’s golf apparel business,” said Andy Jones, Vice President, Gloves/Accessories/Apparel, Worldwide.  “This strategic initiative has been carefully considered for several years and is supported by an extremely sophisticated and comprehensive study of the golf apparel category.”

FootJoy entered the golf outerwear category in 1997 with the launch of DryJoys rain wear.  Through constant innovation in construction and material science, the range set the standard for performance in inclement conditions and now leads the category in the United States.  Introduced last year, the layering system was developed to meet the specific needs of golfers who demand comfortable performance apparel that regulates body temperature and adapts to changing weather conditions. Comprised of garments designed for wet, windy, cold and warm conditions, the system allows players to ‘Layer Up’, consistent with FootJoy’s mantra: Make Every Day Playable.

“I continue to be impressed with the quality, fit, comfort and overall performance of FootJoy apparel,” said PGA Tour player Steve Stricker. “The layering system is absolutely terrific, allowing me to regulate my body temperature based upon changing conditions.  In addition, the new performance lisle shirts that I have been wearing all year are superb.”

Jim Connor, President of FootJoy, commented: “We’re excited about the opportunity to move into an adjacent business and believe the timing is right.  We’ve talked to golfers and our trade partners, who enthusiastically support the plans and offerings; and we have the right people and support in place to be as successful in performance golf apparel as we are in our golf footwear, glove and sock categories.  This represents an important step forward in FootJoy’s mission to enhance enjoyment of the game for golfers everywhere.”

Stacy Lewis (Women's LoPro and StaSof) won the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship, holding off world number one and four time major winnner Yani Tseng (Women's DryJoys and StaSof) for the victory.  Lewis, in her professional debut, held the 54 hole lead at the 2008 U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen.  She finished tied for third.  Three years later, she was still winless. 

This time, Lewis began the day 2 strokes back of Yani Tseng on a firm blustery day in the LPGA's first major of the year.  Lewis played steady on the front and took the lead on the par 5 ninth with a birdie to Tseng's bogey.  A clutch birdie and par save on 12 and 17 catapulted her to a final round 69 and a three stroke victory.  This is Lewis's first career victory and later said post round, "It doesn't even feel real yet... I'm still trying to figure out if I actually won, but I played so good today and I was just proud of the way I hung in there and made some key putts, especially on 17... I don't think it's quite sunk in yet."