The family of Bob Jones announced a licensing agreement for golf equipment with a newly formed company, The Bobby Jones Golf Company, LLC.
Hartmarx Corporation (parent of Hickey Freeman and its Bobby Jones apparel division) and the Bob Jones family unveiled an international agreement to license the manufacturing and marketing rights for the use of the Bobby Jones trademark on golf clubs and equipment accessories. The luxury products included in this agreement are: golf clubs, golf bags, shoes, head covers,
gloves and golf balls.
The owners of Bobby Jones Golf are: Walter J. Rosenthal of Malibu, CA., J. Richard Ryan Esq., of New York, The Ortiz Design Studio of San Francisco, CA.,
and Venturi & Company LLC of Burlingame, CA.
Walter Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer of the new entity commented, “The formation and strategic alliance
with Hickey Freeman's Bobby Jones apparel division to manufacture golf equipment and accessories of unprecedented craftsmanship will fill a void in
better golf shops in the U.S. and worldwide. Bobby Jones golf clubs, to be introduced at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida on January 29th will be designed by leading industry craftsmen who understand contemporary technology
and product aesthetics that are consistent with the standards established by the Bobby Jones apparel division. Accordingly, our products will be marketed through fine resort and club pro shops and better specialty stores featuring Bobby Jones apparel products.”
The initial equipment introduction will be focused on drivers and fairway
woods created and engineered by internationally acclaimed golf club designer,
Jesse Ortiz. Describing the new clubs, Mr. Ortiz said, “The Bobby Jones woods
have elegance that belies their ease of playability. Combining the latest
crown and face material advancements with high-end Fujikura Speeder shafts
(previously unavailable in America) will optimize distance, launch trajectory
and accuracy for moderate swing speeds.”
For the Bob Jones family, Bob Jones IV said, “My family and I are truly
excited about this unique concept of producing the ultimate in equipment to be
distributed exclusively through luxury market channels. We believe that the
Bobby Jones name should only be associated with nothing less than first class
products and we believe that the group headed by Walter Rosenthal shares not
only our conviction but also our commitment to unparalleled quality.”
Elbert O. Hand, Chairman of Hartmarx Corporation, commented,
“The Bobby Jones apparel division of Hickey Freeman is at the leading edge of
our company's luxury strategy. Our business partnership with the Jones family
to license and develop worldwide relationships to manufacture and market
luxury products in all appropriate categories takes an important step forward
with the golf equipment initiative.”
