My JDM Story

By J-J

Until the end of 2005 I never thought I would be playing golf. I mean, I never thought this would be something I liked. But I got invited to an initiation and WOW I was able to hit the ball about 120 yards. Which at that time felt pretty good, seeing that everybody else was managing about 20 yards. I was there with my father-in-law, who’s also a pretty good friend of mine. He too was hitting the ball pretty well. To make this story short, we both entered as members in one of the local clubs. (And still play together on a weekly basis).

So I started on my quest to search for more info about golf, equipment, rules, …

I came across some message boards with stuff for sale, but really nothing that caught my interest. Then just before Christmas 2005 I signed on to this board. WOW nothing like the other forums, this site was full of unusual stuff. So I kept reading and asking questions, sending PM’s. I got in touch with tourspecgolfer aka Chris, he answered all of my questions and was very helpful. I also got to meet ,thru PM’s, Joe Kwok who enlightened me with technical knowledge regarding to club making; what to do and what not to do, or buy. So I bought my first JDM gear here from Chris. Two wedges: Gauge Design GAS1 SQBT 53 and 58. I still have these today and still love them. At the time I was thinking about vokey’s and I’m glad Chris sold me these.

I went thru sets and sets of clubs, mostly Titleist. Why I don’t know, but something in that brand appealed to me. The club-ho in me was born before I could break a 100.
Later I got lucky finding some Tourstage MR-23 blades in a store around town, realise I live in Belgium and we don’t have many golf shops and they certainly don’t carry premium stuff let alone JDM.

So I got on the board and asked around and decided to buy! Man when you pured a shot with those irons it was like butter, softest feeling I’ve ever felt. But when you didn’t pure it, well you could see the result. So with pain in my heart I sold them (still think they’re the best looking iron set out there!). And I bought my current set of Miura forged TM RAC TP’s. Very rare and after having the MR’s I knew I had to get satin irons again. Around that time I also bought a driving iron from “Fourteen”, wasn’t for me it turned out. So off it went.

The last item I bought JDM were my grips, TSG style. Just a statement that I wasn’t going to be the umpteenth guy playing golf pride’s. Btw very happy with those grips!

So for me JDM is about quality but also having something different then most. It’s what it says in the new TSG style: “Golf to impress”. I agree 100%, quality and looks do impress.
For now I’m set, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. Or better yet, who knows what TSG will bring. Can’t wait for the 2008 equipment to be showed and discussed.

I enjoyed putting these thoughts together and I hope it was readable.

Thanks and one-putts to everybody!