Timberlake’s ‘N Sync With Callaway

Callaway is gunning for the next generation with news that actor and musician Justin Timberlake has been named creative director

The announcement from Jeff Colton, senior vice president of global brand and product for Callaway calls on Timberlake to be involved in development and execution of concepts for Callaway marketing activities and consultation on visual representation of the brand.

“We have worked with Justin for more than three years now and have been thoroughly impressed with the level of quality he brings to everything he is involved with,” said Colton.

“The opportunity to bring someone with his multifaceted talents into our creative matrix is very rare and his input has already made an impact,” he added.

Off the top, Timberlake with support the company’s 2012 RAZR line, including the just-launched RAZR Fit driver.

The 2012 line will be launched in the first quarter of 2012 through the company’s “Epic Demo” campaign being shot at several iconic Las Vegas landmarks.

“It’s always great when professional projects surround something that I am passionate about and the sport of golf and my work with Callaway definitely fit that criteria,” said Timberlake.

“I’m looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to this category, focusing on the social aspects, fun and lifestyle associated with Callaway and playing golf,” he said.

So, Maybe Madonna Plays Golf

NEW YORK—The flashing of cameras in the direction of Justin Timberlake on Friday at Grand Central Station was nothing new for the former N Synch lead singer, but teeing it up in front of a crowd was a different story.

“I played a show (Thursday) night. I jumped on stage with Madonna in front of 60,000 people and you ask me to hit a ball over here in front of 10 (media) and I’m like …,” said Timberlake, flashing a look of fear as he laughed.

Timberlake was in town for the official launch of the FT-iQ driver from Callaway, a company that recently signed the six-time Grammy winner to play and endorse its products.

That was the latest in a series of recent events that have taken Timberlake, a single digit handicap, to new heights in golf, including his efforts to raise the stature of the PGA Tour’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children in Las Vegas.

Timberlake is admittedly a fan of the Rat Pack, Bing Crosby and other iconic names from Hollywood’s Golden Era and he says Callaway is a perfect fit for him.

“I think Callaway is a unique golf brand because I think they look at their brand as a little more retro and a little more outside the box and that’s sort of why this happened,” said Timberlake, who is also in the process of refurbishing an eco-friendly golf course in his home town of Memphis.

As for the FT-iQ, Timberlake says it helps him ease a problem that affects many other golfers.
“I find I don’t miss it right as much and that’s all I’m really looking for. I just don’t want to miss it right,” he said with a grin.

Callaway’s In A New York State of Mind

NEW YORK – Somebody with an occasionally wonky back truly appreciates the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers, where the ball is automatically reloaded on a tee at the driving range, allowing full focus on the task at hand which in this case was trying out the new FT-iQ driver from Callaway last Friday.

It had been a couple of weeks since I last teed it up, so initially, a couple of worm-burners weren’t doing the FT-iQ justice, but that changed as the drives started going down the middle towards the Hudson River to back up the claims of the Callaway marketing department.

As pleased as I was with this turn of events, I needed five minutes to check out something I had been told about an hour earlier, so I laid down the FT-iQ and walked down the pier towards the water and looked up the river to see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance.

If that doesn’t ignite a New York state of mind, nothing will, but that had already been planted when we took in a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden the previous evening. Read more

Callaway N Sync with Future

It’s safe to assume that most people within the golf industry know what brand of clubs Tiger Woods or Mike Weir play.

The use of PGA Tour players – or LPGA, Nationwide or Champions Tour players, for that matter – is a common practice that is the focus of advertising campaigns for golf club manufacturers, not to mention apparel companies and other businesses that concentrate on the game.

Callaway Golf is one of those golf companies that use star power to its advantage, but it isn’t always tour players who are the centrepieces of that brand’s parade of stars.

Over the years, Callaway has had the likes of Alice Cooper and Celine Dion use their products, either officially or unofficially, and it continued that tradition recently when it signed six-time Grammy winner Justin Timberlake to endorse and play its equipment.

The signing of such a spokesperson not only grabs the attention of the industry, but also the consumers that Callaway is trying to convince to play its brand. In this case, Timberlake’s endorsement appeals to the next generation, which means that Callaway is not only seeking instant gratification, but also planning its future. Read more

Americans May Prevail at Ryder Cup

Let’s lighten the mood from all of this talk about the economy, gas prices, stalled participation and bad weather and discuss instead golf as a game instead of golf as a business.

It is, after all, the game that drew us to this business and, even if many of us don’t get to play as much as we’d like, the Ryder Cup is dead ahead and will draw the attention of pros, owners, members and even celebrities on the weekend.

“I’ve got to go with the underdogs,” said six-time Grammy winner Justin Timberlake the other day. “I’ve got to go with the Americans. I’m hoping (Phil Mickelson) can play well in match play. He seems to step up a little bit more when he’s one on one.

“It’s tough, man. The Europeans, their team play is pretty amazing. I mean, they have one of the hottest golfers in the world right now with (Padraig) Harrington, so we’ll have to see. Sentimentally, I’m going to obviously go with the Americans,” he added.
Don’t dismiss Timberlake’s opinion as fluff. He’s a single digit handicapper who is lending his name to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a PGA Tour event that will be played in mid-October at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

Timberlake will participate in a Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, Oct. 15 and headline a special concert along with other celebrities two days later in Vegas and while he may be better known as a singer/songwriter, he isn’t far off the mark by going with the Americans.

Personally, I’ll go with the favoured Europeans, but won’t be as surprised as many others will be if the Americans pull off an upset at Valhalla. Read more