You don’t have to be a golf geek to know that the best putters in the world are design by Scotty Cameron. They dominate the stats on the Tours and have sank more Major putts than John Daly has beers! But these delightful short sticks are also valued as collectors items. In 2020 Tiger Woodsí back up Scotty Cameron putter sold for $393,000 but for decades amateurs and professionals alike have been collecting Scotty Cameron’s signature putters, but not to improve their game but their bank balance. So we caught up with Henry Byrne, the Scotty Cameron representative on the DP World Tour, in Dubai to find out why these putters are so desirable and what models make ideal investments.
You don’t have to be a golf geek to know that the best putters in the world are design by Scotty Cameron.
They dominate the stats on the Tours and have sank more Major putts than John Daly has beers! But these delightful short sticks are also valued as collectors items. In 2020, Tiger Woodsí back up Scotty Cameron putter sold for $393,000 but for decades amateurs and professionals alike have been collecting Scotty Cameronís signature putters – not to improve their game but their bank balance. So we caught up with Henry Byrne, the Scotty Cameron representative on the DP World Tour in Dubai to find out why these putters are so desirable and what models make ideal investments.
Why do people collect Scotty Cameron putters?
Scotty Cameron has developed and grown an unbelievable brand and we’ve got collectors all over the world. Similar to classic cars, our putter’s often grow in value over time. We release limited edition putters as one-offs which appeals to the collectors.
Which putters are worth the most?
Putters which are very rare or have an association with a particular player tend to carry the most value. Collectors are drawn to fine details such as welds, hand milling, stamping which highlight the craftsmanship that’s gone into them. Having said that, the one that gets the most hits with our social media fan base is the 009 model as used by Jordan Spieth. It’s a very classic shape, soft edges, and beautiful classic putter that seems to be the one that most people gravitate towards.
Does that make the 009 model the one to keep an eye out for?
Definitely, good luck finding one. They’re very limited in numbers and that’s a rarity that helps to keep the value up and all 009 models are not the same. Some have unique elements, such as lines and dots but they also come in different finishes. We produce the 009 in stainless steel and carbon steel, and GSS German stainless steel. These different materials also mean different values.
If you could pick one model as an investment what would it be?
Collectors have their own taste, just like people have with cars and paintings. So, there isn’t a real ‘holy grail’ as such, but for me the 009 and particularly if you can get one with GSS would be as close as it gets. Some collectors will gravitate to original Classics, Del Mar or Napa style which is a very minimalist putter. Very clean look and design, not very forgiving but collectors can opt for the look and rareness rather than purely performance.
From a performance point of view do you believe putter technology is maxed out?
I think it’ll be wrong to say we’re at the pinnacle of performance because we’re always striving to improve on the product that we’ve just launched. That’s one of my key areas of working with the best players in the world, we access and use those players for R&D and get their feedback on specific models. How can we improve on them in terms of the visual aesthetic or the feel, and how it’s going to affect the ball roll. So, for example, with our special Select Line, Scotty scaled down the head so it’s slightly narrower, lower profile, and thinner. This saving enables us to enhance the heel to toe weighting to make the classic shape very forgiving. That’s an example of how we’re trying to innovate and improve on our offerings.
How does the amateur benefit from you working with the some of the best professionals in the game?
We get great feedback from elite players which can lead to rolling model changes. Working with players like Brett Rumford over the years has been an eye-opening experience and education for me. He is a renowned short game wizard & the way his mind works is aligned with our R&D philosophy. Some of his ideas are off the wall & don’t get implemented but some stuff we do try to incorporate. Another example of how this dynamic in action came when Justin Thomas visited the Putter Studio to work with Scotty and the result was the introduction of the Phantom X5.5 with jet-neck, which is a very popular model on our range. This highlights how Tour influences retail & what you’re seeing on your shop floors & on display units globally.
What is it like working with Scotty Cameron?
I’m in a privileged position to visit the Cameron Studio a couple of times a year and meet with Scotty and the team. When you work with Scotty, it’s just so motivational and he’s infectious. He’s very hands on and more importantly approachable. You can meet with him and the team over a launch and talk at length, about any of his putter designs or shapes. His enthusiasm hasn’t waned at all and he’s just as hands-on now he’s ever been. That gives me extra motivation when I come back out on the road to do my job and represent him and all the guys at the studio to the best of my ability.
What’s in your bag putter wise and do you change it often?
As part of my role, I do test models and methods. Over the years, we’ve seen guys with belly putters, armlock putters, with a claw grip, or a cack-handed grip. So part of my role is to test all the different methods in order to give players my feedback and how a certain technique is going to work with a certain style of putter and make sure that we get the best combination for player. As for what is in my bag. It will come as no surprise that I play a 009, but not the GSS model, that remains something for me to work towards in the future…
