Being a single parent and trying to develop and launch a totally new product has been an epic journey in its self; (not to mention 1 heart attack, a couple more trips to the emergency, and basically homeless a couple of times) especially when your child is your entire life. In fact as I sit hear reflecting on it, I have never missed a recital, school play, or a teacher parent conference, and that’s the most cherished accomplishment in my life. The reason I bring this up is because she is the sole reason I am still here and still haven’t given up. So, when you become an owner of Outriders No Fear No Hesitation putter and start playing the best golf of your life; you can thank my daughter. This is why I have added photos of her at various stages of this journey that WE both have been on. It gives you a better understanding of what a 10 year time line really is all about. It is not just a number; its one person’s entire life and a decade of struggle for another. My family and friends remind me all the time I have never been a quitter, but make no mistake, this has been the hardest thing I ever set out to do, and if not for her, I would not have made it this far. And now I find myself at yet another cross road; however, I don’t want to get ahead of the story so let’s go back 10 years to the beginning.

December 1999

This is when the journey started; my daughter was not even 2 years old. A friend has a friend with a product idea for a new putter. After 2+ years and $230.000 invested, the USGA re-wrights the rule book making it illegal to use. It is over.

December 2001

My daughter is 4 years old and in pre-school. Everyone goes back to what they did before; EXCEPT ME; I still think I can build the putter that will change the game of golf forever and conform to USGA rules. I’m told over and over it can’t be done; give it up. I don’t listen and will accomplish this several years later.

Around June 2002:

I think I’m getting close and send a prototype of a grip to Wilson Sporting goods to consider selling or licensing the technology. They spend 7 months looking at it then turn it down. I never get my prototype back even after numerous calls to them to return it. I’m doing this on my own now and this is a major let down for me.

2002

My daughter is now 5 years old and in kindergarten. It’s about 11:30 on a Friday night and I’m still at the old shop working. I have the USGA rule book in hand and have made several drawings on a large blackboard.

With several turn down letters from the USGA adorning the wall beside me; it only motivates me further. I continue working and with a little tweak here, and one there, I start thinking I could be getting close. I call my friends who happen to be out having a good time and tell them I’m close. They tell me to give it up, it will never happen. About an hour later I have the vision that will eventually, in several more years become Outriders No Fear No Hesitation putter; mathematically the most reliable and accurate putter in golf, a putter that will change golf forever.

2003

My daughter is now 6 years old and in the 1st grade. After having the cheapest prototype tool built, I have several finished prototypes made. I send 1 to the USGA; after several months I get the letter from the USGA. I am told again it appears to conform to the rules of golf; however, they need another one to put together themselves for a final ruling. Remember it takes months each time you submit your product to them. I’m out of time and out of money; and by now the stress has messed up my health. I need this approval letter to raise more money. So, I have a mild heart attack. This will be the first of 3 stress related trips to the hospital. I send off another one for what could be the moment of truth.

2004

My daughter is now 7 years old and still in 2nd grade. I get the USGA letter and my product finally conforms to the rules of golf and is legal to use in tournament play. Now I have ammunition to go to family and friends to borrow money from them to gear up for production and marketing. There are set-backs at every turn from engineering problems to tooling problems. Everything that could go wrong and then some went wrong.

2005 and 2006

My daughter goes through 3rd and 4th grade and everything is going somewhat smooth. I raised some money and started to tool up and do the things you do to get ready for a successful start up. There are more set-backs.

2007

My daughter is now in the 5th grade. Things are looking good; the putter is almost ready. I have developed a travel training aid that fits in your pocket to go with my training putting system. A USGA approved training putter that is coming soon. Train as you play; Play as you train. I have been in negotiations with an investor group that approached me as well as an old school buddy, all wanting to invest, sizable amounts. Everything was on track for a successful start-up; at last. I decided to go with my buddies deal. I would keep much more of the company. It was less money but it was enough to take me to the next level. Then in September of 07, all hell breaks out. I end up in the emergency with a rupturing appendix. The surgery was botched, and a whole the size of a nickel was nicked in my bowel. I spent 4 months with a drip tube out my side that I had to drain several times a day. The surgeons’ had hoped the hole would close on its own. They thought it was a pin whole and not as big as it was. After 4 months of toxic waste running into me they opened me up and closed it.

2008

My daughter is now in the 6th grade. That was 2 years ago. I am still having problems from the aftermath of that surgical screw-up. At the same time all this was happening the economy fell like a lead ball rolling of a table. My friend that was ready to invest lost everything. It was like a rug was pulled out from under me. I was about to get a large infusion of capital and now he was broke. Both deals were done deals except for my signature; so I was moving and spending this money like it was in the bank.

2009

My daughter is now in middle school. As I write this she just celebrated her 13th birthday. I can’t believe she wasn’t even 2 years old when WE started this epic journey. As I reflect back on the history of Outrider and the journey my daughter and I have had to take to keep going, I’m reminded of something she said recently that puts it in perspective; she looked at me and asked if the putter would ever start making us money instead of costing us money? Then she said something that really hit me so hard. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said; “I hate Outrider; I feel like I have lived out of a suit case my whole life and that’s ok. But what I hate the most; is what it has done to you and your health dad; you’re not the same. I would rather have you around than all the money in the world” I will never forget that moment. At that very moment, I realized that I have been so obsessed that I was blind to what she needed or wanted. I was so set on bringing my invention to market; even with money and sometimes lots of money in the bank, I would not spend it on anything that didn’t help the company. After all, I was doing this so she would never half to struggle in life. This entire 10 year struggle was for her; so I thought. Now I wonder. We find ourselves at yet another cross road. Wait out this economy or find another way to move forward? I’m not the type to wait around. A consultant involved in helping Ely Callaway launch the Big Bertha Driver said my product is the only totally new technology in golf and will change the game. He also said it could be bigger than Big Bertha in terms of the affect it will have on a golfer’s game as well as the industry. The Big Bertha product changed the game and made Callaway Golf Co. what it is today.

So this is what I will do until the economy turns around and banks start lending money again. I am going to custom build every putter ordered in my garage. You should know, this putter is the most expensive, difficult, and time consuming putter in the world to build. All great things take time. For example; you can assemble about 20 stander putters to 1 Outrider No Fear No Hesitation putter. I will need a 50% deposit with delivery in about 2 weeks. I want to thank everyone that took the time to read the entire history section of this web site. Now if you go to the products section and order my game changing putter, you will thank my daughter over and over, I promise. It will give you so much confidence in your short game the rest of your game will improve as well. I promise again. Don’t forget to follow the directions on how to determine the length you need. God bless.