Equipment
8 Revealing Photos from the 2016 Bettinardi Summer Social
For a gear head who loves Tour, one-off and custom equipment, it’s difficult to think of a better event than Bettinardi’s yearly Summer Social, now in its 8th year. The event invites putter collectors and aficionados to browse and buy Bettinardi prototypes before they become available to the world.
This year, 35-40 guests traveled to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, to take part in the affair, where the event-goers played golf, picked the brain of Bob Bettinardi, toured the facility, Mr. Rich’s car collection, and of course, tested and purchased putters.
More than 100 putters were on display, along with staff bags, stand bags, ball marker divot tool sets, custom knives, head covers, belt buckles and more. There were also two golf simulators, an indoor putting green (rolling at 13 on the stimp meter) and a bunker/chipping green guests could practice on.
Check out some of the awesome photos from the event below. And if you’re interested in purchasing custom putters from Bettinardi, make sure to check out tourstockputters.com
Groovy, baby
While Sam Bettinardi assured us that his father, Bob Bettinardi, is “not a hippy,” this putter definitely has vibes of “love and peace” from the ’60s and ’70s. This BB Zero putter has a tie-dye PVD finish, and is milled from the company’s Double-Aged Stainless Steel (DASS).
These necks will make your head spin

This left-handed BB Zero has a welded, flame-industrial neck, Bettinardi’s familiar skull-and-crossbones stamping and a black-oxide finish.

This “JAM” putter model, similar to the Queen B6, has a high toe and a slinky neck. It also has an aluminum, bronze and gold insert.
The wrapped hosels are what Bettinardi calls “slinky necks,” and while they don’t serve much of a purpose other than looking cool, they certainly do their jobs.
Don’t drink the Kool-Aid

A putter that Sam Bettinardi calls “maybe his favorite,” this BB Zero has a flame twisty neck and intricate face engravings of the Kool-Aid man.
The Kool-Aid man has become a popular design among Bettinardi putter collectors, engraved on putter faces, soles and collector headcovers. GolfWRXers, can you figure out the significance of the Kool-Aid man to Bettinardi putters and its collectors?
A slice of elegance
New to the collection this year, Bettinardi designed knives made from aluminum and stainless steel. What’s special about this knife is that it has glow-in-the-dark paint applied to the blade, so you can see where it is… even in the dark. They sell for $350, so it’s a good thing you won’t lose them in the night.
Kids in a candy store
I guess the comparison is unnecessary, as “putter collectors at the Bettinardi Summer Social” would have sufficed.
Ashes to ashes
Are these the coolest cigar ashtrays ever? Milled from aluminum with custom Bettinardi logos in the center, they’re difficult to argue against.
What time is it?
Time to play some golf. Guests at the event had the honor of playing a round at Rich Harvest Farm, a top-100 ranked course in America.
Builder’s bonus
Thanks to Bettinardi, bonus photos above give us a peek behind-the-scenes during the building and customization process. Incredible stuff from a leader in high-end, custom putters.
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet














notcalc
Jun 10, 2016 at 12:43 pm
You couldn’t pay me enough to buy a Bettinardi. How he can get away with selling something that blatantly misquotes our first President is beyond me. If he’s truly a patriot, Bob should grow a spine and pull his 2nd Amendment cover from market.
No respect.
digitalbroccoli
Jun 10, 2016 at 4:25 pm
You ever look around the world and think, “maybe it’s me, and not everyone else that’s a little crazy?”.
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
notcalc
Jun 12, 2016 at 11:42 pm
I don’t, because neither I nor ‘the world’ is crazy.
Now, if you are telling me to get off my high horse and that a head cover isn’t a big deal – fine. We disagree. I value integrity and try to purchase from companies that do so as well.
Bettinardi clearly isn’t a company with integrity.
fyrglfr
Jun 9, 2016 at 11:52 pm
my buddy Jason was lucky enough to go back and participate in that.
Erik
Jun 9, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Are there any more photos from the party? Will they all be listed on tourstockputters.com or are there any other sites overseas or domestic to purchase from? I want that welded back BB2!!! SIK!
DaveyD
Jun 9, 2016 at 9:11 am
Nice! The putter as an art form.