What: Custom-made golf clubs
Company: Scratch Golf
Address: 3001 S. Broad St.
Website: www.scratchgolf.com
Telephone: 423-386-5299
Owners: Ari Techner, Chad Techner, Jeff McCoy, Paul Friedrich
What’s special? “Nobody else in the industry is doing what we can with a golf club anymore. It’s very traditional, and a lot of other companies have got away from that. We’ve married tradition and technology,” said Mike Hammontree, its PGA Tour rep.
The origin story: The owners noticed a void in the market for wedges with a custom sole grind – the part of the club that contacts the ground. They began in Oregon by grinding off-the-rack clubs and noticed that didn’t work.
How did they get to Chattanooga? They wanted to move to a city more central to professional tour events. The Southeast has more events than Oregon – including the Chattanooga Classic – and Tennessee offers nice tax advantages for small businesses. Ari Techner also had a family connection to the Scenic City and a great affinity for Lookout Mountain Golf Club.
Who’s using the clubs? PGA Tour professional Ryan Moore spent years looking for the right fit of clubs. He settled on Scratch and has part ownership as part of his sponsorship deal. Cristie Kerr, the No. 1 player on the LPGA Tour, uses its wedges. Local professionals Derek Rende, Bryce Ledford, Jonathan Hodge, Adam Mitchell and several amateurs from the Chattanooga area, including some UTC golfers, also play Scratch Golf clubs.
Target market: The customization of the clubs is designed for competitive amateur players and professionals, but the clubs can help improve scores for all players.
How to get it: The company sells direct from its website, direct from its shop, and PGA Tour Superstores carry the equipment.
Plans: The Oregon office will move to Chattanooga, and the owners plan on growing their efforts to get their clubs in the hands of PGA Tour pros. The company has expanded from four employees in 2003 to a dozen now, including master grinders Don White and Jeff McCoy.
– Compiled by staff writer David Uchiyama, duchiyama@timesfreepress.com