A white elephant gift exchange is a popular holiday party game primarily in North America, with many variations in name and game play. Generally, white elephant parties need a minimum of six participants, although the larger the group, the more entertaining and protracted game play will be. White elephant parties can result in vicious rivalries between players trying to get sought after gifts. The goal of a white elephant party is usually entertainment rather than gain. In the southeastern United States, this game is sometimes called a Yankee Swap, Dirty Santa or Thieving Secret Santa. In the northeastern United States it is sometimes called a Parcel Pass.

Ebay 6 Block Diagonal Puzzle, Malibu Wood, white elephant

Talk to me… People.

(Statistics taken from Dave Pelz Book-”Putt Like The Pros”) Here’s a short excerpt from Dave Pelz “In reality, putting is more than half the game!  Why? First, the putt is the “terminal” on every hole (except of course, should you hole it out from off the green, and that occurs only rarely.  Second, putting is the part of the game that comes under closest scrutiny.   The rest of your foursome is standing close by.  Third, I am convinced if you develop an accurate, reliable putting stroke, you hold a tremendous advantage over your competitors”.

I see new drivers coming out that are so much money and can’t figure out why.  The good thing is that technology is getting better and the ball will go far and straight. I can’t wait to try Callaway’s new Razr Hawk or the Titleist 910 D2.

But, putting is half the game so try Malibu Wood because it cost about half a new driver…

Making your shaft out of hickory is a good choice because it will give you minimal flex depending on thickness.  Milling the shaft down to 6- 1/8”x3/4” pieces and laminating them back together will give you a longer lasting club. If you do mill your shaft it will also give you more options (off-sets and double bends) but, you will need to make a jig for it. You may want to invest into a tenon cutter to get a nice ½” round end on the shaft that will fit your bore through drilling of the head. www.lumberjacktools.com

Connecting the head to the shaft is going to be one of the hardest things you do. If you know what lie you want, that will tell you what angle to drill through the head (off-sets will make compound angles).  If you have a good drill press, make a block/jig that the heads will sit in with the lie degree you want. We don’t set the loft degree until head and shaft are glued together. Use exotic hardwood epoxy like Smith & Co’s which will give you lasting results. www.japanwoodworker.com

If you want to use a rubber grip, just mill the grip area to ½” and slide one on. Try and keep at least 5/8” up to the grip area of your shaft or you may get to much flex. A wood grip can be made of different hardwoods giving you great feel as well as beauty. Cut/mill pieces for building up the grip to glue on the bottom, top (top piece is your call) and then sides of the shaft. Shape and SAND everything as much as possible (Sam Maloof’s best advice)down to 200 grit or more before you start applying the finish.

We use General Finishes Exterior 450 (water based acrylic) on most of Malibu Woods putters these days.  www.generalfinishes.com/in-the-news.

via Marty Fleckman’s Putting Technique – Grip, Stance and Swing Path.

Another reason Malibu Wood putters are not just a pretty face.  Feel from solid Exotic hardwood heads on Malibu Wood putters is phenomenal. If you can feel the response when you touch/hit the golf ball eventually it becomes control. Controlling distance, speed, and consistence shots is the key to only 24 putts in a round of golf like Fred Couples did to win last Sunday.

Our product features a standard-length, mallet-style putter featuring a grip, shaft, neck and head composed of wood with a brass sole plate for weighting.  Our system is based on engineering that produces a lighter club. Lofted putters are best suited to faster, smoother greens, and heavier putters work better on rougher, slower surfaces.  The theory of heel-toe balance is old school and (ensures/guarantees) a reduction in twisting of the putter head at impact.

At approx. 35” long, average 72 degrees lie, and 3 degrees loft, this design gives these “all wood” putters the best feel to the player.  The heads are hand picked and cut from slabs of Cocobolo, Iron wood, Ebony, Padauk and Pink Ivory (minimum 68 lbs. per cubic ft. weight- exotic hardwoods only).  Ensuring grain alignment with strength at ball impact creates feel to the hands from the hardwood faces that is outstanding.  Hickory Shafts/hardwoods bored through the heads give incredible feel transfer to your hands enabling remarkable distance accuracy (inside 20’ J).

Malibu Wood putters have years of play familiarity! Yes, they are putters of vintage engineering history.  Our classic club head design and meticulous attention to detail result in one of the most precise wooden putters available.  Each putter is made by hand in our shop. 

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