| The Metal Wood | | | | rest of the 1980s, while other golf club manufactures |
| That Changed the Face of Golfing | | | | were making great strides, nothing new came out of |
| Taylor Made, like many golf manufacturing companies | | | | the Taylor Made factories. In fact, it wasn't until the |
| was started by a golfing fanatic. Gary Adams was an | | | | mid nineties that Taylor Made introduced its new |
| entrepreneur who spent as much time on the golf | | | | Burner Bubble driver. The driver's innovative shaft, |
| course as humanly possible. | | | | that helped golfers swing faster without exerting |
| His singular claim to fame was the development of | | | | extra effort, became a success after a prototype |
| the metal wood that literally changed the face of golf | | | | Burner Bubble driver became the first Metal wood to |
| forever. | | | | win at the Masters. However, the metal wood |
| In 1979, Adams's patented, stainless steel Taylor | | | | concept was so popular that Taylor Made continued |
| Made Metal wood clubs made their first appearance | | | | to grow and prosper. |
| at the PGA Merchandise. The odd looking clubs did | | | | During that static period, Taylor Made, like many |
| not exactly take the golfing world by storm. The | | | | companies that start with a great idea but can't |
| average golfer was not exactly ready to spend his | | | | follow through, knew that the entrepreneurial vision |
| or her hard earned money on a strange looking golf | | | | needed to be replaced with a corporate structure. In |
| club made by an unknown company. | | | | 1984 Taylor Made was acquired by French Ski |
| Gary Adams knew that unless he could convince | | | | equipment manufacturer Salomon S.A. It was a good |
| professional golfers to use and recommend his golf | | | | merger for both entities. Salomon received a strong |
| clubs, the average golfer would never even consider | | | | entry into the rapidly growing golf market and Taylor |
| buying them. It was a herculean task, but somehow | | | | Made got financial stability and a more organized |
| Adams convinced 47 professional golfers playing in | | | | management structure. |
| the 1979 PGA tournament to use his Taylor Made | | | | The corporate stage of Taylor Made's growth was |
| Metal woods. Fueled by this exposure, skeptics | | | | led by George Montgomery. He led Taylor Made from |
| turned into buyers and sales began to rise. By 1983 | | | | the sixth largest golf manufacturer in the United |
| Taylor Made Metal woods were prominent on the | | | | States to second, only behind Callaway Golf. Taylor |
| PGA tour and soon metal became the preferred | | | | Made also produces a line of golf bags and stands. |
| material used in the golf club manufacturing process. | | | | In 1997, Taylor Made was acquired by Adidas, AG |
| Adams' aggressive pioneering had borne great | | | | and became part of the worldwide Adidas sporting |
| rewards. | | | | family. The company has continued to grow and |
| However, the what have you done for me lately | | | | prosper and is still one of the most respected names |
| syndrome ran head first into Taylor Made. For the | | | | in golf. |