PGA Magazine

 Southland Golf Magazine

 

 

Golf apparel with edge: Enter Tattoo Golf

By John Q

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I stumbled upon some really smooth, edgy golf apparel lately and wanted to find out a little more about the company behind it. I’m referring to Tattoo Golf, out in California.

Poly-dri golf shirt keeps you dry in hot conditions.

Greg Shaw, the vice president of sales for the company, took a little timeout to give me the lowdown on the company. He joined Tattoo Golf in ’06 as co-owner and since that time they’ve retooled their website, expanded their line, broadened their advertising/marketing efforts and signed up several international distributors.

Shaw says the company is now doing golf expos and other consumer shows and in 2010 they’ll be attending the Orlando Golf Expo for the first time. Here’s a quick Q&A

Q: How long has Tattoo Golf been around? Whose brainchild was it?
A: The company was started 10 years ago in Burbank, Calif. by Bill Anderson. He’s a tattooed golf fanatic (10 handicap) who was just plain tired of the uptight, stale state of the golf apparel business so he decided to do something about it and created the look and image of Tattoo Golf.

Q: How’s business been through the recession?
A: Actually quite good. The company’s been around for 10 years but we really only started busting out over the past couple of years and fortunately sales continue to rise despite the economic mess in the U.S. We were rolling along really well last summer then got slammed mid-Sept. when all the financial institutions started tanking but things got back on track around the holidays, and ’09 is shaping up just fine so far!

One of Tattoo Golf's Flexfit hats.

Q: How do you advertise mostly?
A: We primarily advertise on Google and Yahoo search engines as well as targeted banner ads on a few other golf-related sites. We do limited print advertising in a few regional magazines such as Southern California Golf, Fairways & Greens (Northwest) and Cascades Golfer (Washington).

Q: Most of your customers come from where?
A: The U.S. is our biggest market, however we get orders from all over the world with Canada, Australia and Germany being our top three  international markets. Strangely, we seem to have a very strong customer base in Finland and Sweden. In the U.S., California is #1 followed by Washington, Texas, Illinois and Arizona.

Q: Are your goods in any stores?
A: Definitely. We’re in about 30 shops right now but expanding fast and the good news is, most shops we’ve shipped to have re-ordered so that tells us that the line is selling well. We’re primarily in golf shops but have also sold to some tattoo parlors & last year we were selling in the Hard Rock Theme Park in Myrtle Beach (up until they locked the doors).

Tattoo Golf - Aggressive Golf Wear

Caras Golf Magazine from Mexico

  

An Interview with Greg Shaw from TattooGolf.com

Posted by Brian Weis from GolfConnection.com

German Magazine Gala

 

 5 Questions With Tattoo Golf!

• By Apryl DeLancey

 Golf apparel does not have to be pretentious and stuffy - just ask the guys at Tattoo Golf! Appalled with the horrendous choices in golfing attire, founder Bill Anderson made a point to change that hideous fact forever. The company's roots began with Anderson selling the line from his Burbank home from a simple web page. Since then, they have been a fixture at events and on courses everywhere. Greg Shaw, who joined Tattoo Golf in May 2006 was gracious enough to answer 5 questions for me about my favorite golf apparel company, golf, and the state of its fashion:

1. How much resistance do you get from the bigger chain stores and the pretentious golfers? Has it been an uphill climb to get into the more conservative areas? For example, how much penetration do you have outside of Southern California?

The Tattoo Golf line is targeting a young-minded golfer who is dissatisfied with the golf clothing that's found out in the market today.  They are looking for something fun, different, and a bit edgy to set themselves apart from the crowd. They probably don't buy much, if any, golf apparel in pro shops or golf stores because it's not their thing.  One fact we're very proud of is that every retailer we've sold to has reordered! This tells me our product is selling but getting chain store buyers to understand this and carry our line is proving more difficult than we expected - but we're not giving up.  I think when you deal with older buyers there's a perception that our line is strictly for the fringe element but it's not!  You don't need tattoos to wear our line! We've obviously been concentrating our wholesale efforts to So. Cal. but we have a few accounts in other states and have a new Mid-West sales rep who is starting to do a great job for us.

2. Why do you think it is taking so long for golf to loosen up? What do you think it will take to make the sport more accessible? Is golf destined to forever be a "rich guy" or "country club" sport?

I actually think the sport is more accessible now than ever before which has brought a flood of new, younger golfers out onto courses throughout the U.S. Once the cost of clubs is out of the way, a round of golf at a muni course won't set you back all that much and outside of California, the prices really drop to play a round so our customer base is definitely growing.

3. Do you have any pros that you sponsor now? Have you tried? Is this also a challenge to be taken seriously by the golfing elite?

We don't have any touring pros wearing our gear now but we're working on it!  We could outfit them with clothing but at this stage of our company’s life it wouldn't be possible to be a cash sponsor but one day..... As far as golfing's elite taking us seriously, we were approached by LPGA rookie Mollie Fankhauser who said she absolutely loves our line so we're working with her to get some hats & shirts out to her which hopefully she's wearing when she wins her first tournament.

4. Where does the company get inspiration for designs? Tattoo art? How many tattoos do you guys have? While we are on the subject, why does everyone look at tattooed golfers like we are going to rob them on the driving range?

Everybody loves skulls so the main design of the wicked looking skull with crossed clubs was a natural for us.  We do look at tattoo art for inspiration and also follow current fashion trends to capitalize on the “what's hot” at the moment.  Last year we started seeing argyle designs again so we jumped in with a Tattoo Golf version of the argyle pattern and it quickly became our best selling shirt.  My partner Bill has the tattoos. I'm the virgin!  As far as getting robbed on the driving range, I guess it's still surprising to see tattooed people playing golf or maybe they're wondering where they put their golf clubs on the chopper?

5. What do you believe has been the most defining moment in golf history in the last few decades? What do you think the next big thing will be?

I hate to say it but I think Tiger has changed the industry forever.  He's increased viewership in PGA televised golf so much that tournament purses have exploded making every player in the top 150 a millionaire.  He's brought an unimaginable number of new, young golfers to the game and he's also made the game so cool that everyone wants in on the action.  I've always golfed but in the past decade I've know many friends who've picked it up because they feel like they're missing out on something!  In high school it was considered nerdy to be on the golf team but those days are long gone.  Tattoo Golf's the next big thing for sure!

Some people can be described as vanilla. They enjoy playing golf in khaki shorts and a white polo and just enjoy the game for what it is. A GREAT GAME THAT WE ALL LOVE! Others are different. Some express their game on the course with attitude. Others express their game on the course with STYLE. That is where Tattoo Golf comes in. The golf apparel business has been in transformation for the last few years. It started with some tour players wearing flashy outfits. Along came clothing manufacturers to match those clothes for the average player. But did you know that 10 years ago, a small company came along that stirred the pot and made “Aggressive Golf Wear”? Well let me introduce them to you. 

When we set out to do apparel reviews, tons of readers sent emails asking for more information on Tattoo Golf. We contacted owner Greg Shaw and he told us the story behind the brand and where his partner Bill Anderson came up with this idea.

“It was the Summer of ‘98 and there I was having a post-round beer with my buddies at the 19th of our local club. Usually a gathering at the 19th hole means our worries are over. A few beers in the clubhouse can make your best game even better and your worst game not quite as bad. This is where my buddies and I solved life’s dilemmas, strengthen the bonds between us, and transformed into Tiger. Though we’ve solved most of the worlds problems already, on that hot day a few years ago we found ourselves in a quandary. There existed a dilemma that no amount of alcohol in any clubhouse could help us solve…the horror of the golf attire industry! I decided that very day that golf attire needed a little attitude, and I was the one to provide it and just like that, Tattoo Golf was born. Off the course I like my clothes and my ink to express who I am. Why should that freedom be compromised by some 200 year old stuffy, “tradition”? Obviously I don’t think it should. ”

We asked Mr. Shaw to send us some samples of his line and he was happy to oblige. He really believes in his product and wants the world to know about. It is not just about dollar signs for him. Shaw believes that his clothes are not only about style. He also believes that they are manufactured well and that quality plays a major role in how the apparel line comes out. A few days later a package arrived and in it was a small sampling of what exactly Tattoo Golf is all about. We were able to spend a few days with the items and will tell you all about them. But first I want to add something. When I opened the box, I was very UNSURE. I am not a “skull & crossbones” kind of guy. But the line really won me over. I will explain why in my conclusion at the bottom of the review.

In our package we received from Tattoo Golf, we received quite a few items. The best part was that he sent each item in both Men’s & Women’s. So first up are the shirts that came. We received 2 shirts from them.  The Men’s shirt was one of the new designs that they have come out with. It is a black shirt with an almost “argyle” print. But of course there is a “but”. This shirt has flashes of red and the signature “skull & cross bones” as well. The material is Poly-dri Hi Performance Microfibre and is extremely soft. The material is designed to keep you dry and pull moisture away. It is extremely comfortable and held up quite well in the FL heat.

The women's version is of the same material but has a different look than the men’s. It features Stars & Skull Logo on the front and “TG” on the back upper left side. Both were well liked by all of the testers that gave them a try. The Men’s version is available and black, white, and gray. While the women’s is available in both black & white. The women that tried the shirt reported back “stares of jealousy” while at the course. So I decided to give it a try on the course, I was still a little unsure about the look. As I walked up to the driving range at my local course, I got two compliments on the shirt before I even got to my area to hit. That was it, I was hooked. I actually received 2 more comments on the clothing before leaving that day and people had just not seen anything like it before.

Next up in the package were the hats.  The first one was a black hat with their classic logo on the front as well as a smaller version of that same logo featured on the back. Both of these hats are fitted, but the best part, is that they are flex fit so you do not have to worry about finding the perfect hat size. They fit all the testers with no issues.  The white hat that came featured pinstripes and the same logo pattern as mentioned before. It looked really sharp with the black shirt that came in the package. If someone is a fan of pinstripes, this hat could be for them. It has a different look than most traditional hats, but then again, that is why Tattoo Golf is here. AND HERE TO STAY!

The last thing that came from Tattoo Golfwas their belt buckles. Now many of the readers know that I am a big fan of the flashy belt buckles. In fact we have a piece coming up next week on this very trend, so I was absolutely thrilled when Greg Shaw included them with the rest of the stuff to review. I have a few prerequisites that I look for in my belts and belt buckles. The first thing is that they are nice looking and can go with numerous outfits. The second thing is, that I love having them be interchangeable. Well, if you feel the same way as I do, Tattoo Golf has you covered.  For those looking for the more silver look, we got the same belt in a pewter like sliver. Both looked good with an array of outfits and received compliments both days that they were worn. The belt they included to host these buckles is also a thing of beauty.

They could be worn without the buckles as well. It features stamped leather with their signature cruising all the way around the belt. Once I snapped off the regular closure and dropped in one of the buckles, it turned a good outfit into one to “be reckoned with”. The black buckle that was included was a hit the minute it came out of the box. Again, it features their classic skull & crossbone logo but adds a wonderful shiny black finish. It is big enough to look tremendous but at the same time small enough to not get in the way. It is a piece of art on your belt.

As well as all of the clothing that came the company included a few accessories as well such as golf tees & stickers. Both were a hit as we handed them out at the course to everyone that liked the goods.

In conclusion, I want to say a couple of things about the products. Earlier I stated “Tattoo Golf” won me over. I never thought I would be a skull and crossbones guy. But when you change the crossbones to golf clubs, all of the sudden the appeal was there. Top that off with the fact that the clothing is extremely well made and the people behind the brand could not be a nicer group, and you have a winner. To all my readers out there, I urge you to bite the bullet and take a shot with this one. You will not be let down. The clothes are extremely comfortable, well made, and look fantastic. What else could someone want right? How about affordable. Most of their clothes can be had for far less than the big names out there. Give them a try, you will not be let down. And of course if you register in the forums, you will have a chance at a free shirt courtesy of the fine folks at Tattoo Golf. So don’t forget to register there and start posting. Check out everything reviewed here plus hundreds of other products at Tattoo Golf

Penthouse Magazine

Tattoo Golf Review By SandBox8

Are you looking to add a little attitude to you golf wardrobe? If you answered, Yes! Than you may want to check out the golf clothing and accessories from Tattoo Golf.  Started in 1998, Tattoo Golf set out to change the way golf clothing should be about, by creating tattoo inspired clothing that would appeal to a golfer who wanted there clothing to have some attitude. If your into traditional style, this line is not for you. I received a couple of items from Tattoo Golf and the clothing does live up to its name.