Bob Parsons: Visionary, Internet Mogul, & Club Maker? 

Following the start of the 2016 PGA Tour season, the buzz surrounding equipment circles generally focused on one subject: Parson’s Xtreme Golf, or PXG. The brainchild of Bob Parsons, GoDaddy.com founder and marketing extraordinaire, PXG burst onto the scene by adding multiple high level tour players to their sponsorship portfolio, including Open Champion Zach Johnson, the calm and unflappable Chris Kirk, and the big hitting Charles Howell III. 

This rapid growth in tour usage came by no accident, seeing as the company takes a no-holds barred approach to club-making and design. A golf lunatic, Parsons wanted to create golf clubs using only the best techniques and the finest materials. With this “damn the cost” attitude, Parsons elicited the help of two former Ping product designers/engineers, Mike Nicolette &  Brad Schweigert, to help him build these clubs that would go farther and feel wonderful.

They succeeded, and PXG was born. Running at $5,000 for a set of 0311 irons, Parsons does not mince words when it comes to the kind of people he expects to buy his clubs. Likening his clubs to a Ferarri, Parsons  believes that price is no barrier for someone who is obsessed with the game. In a recent Golf.com interview, Parsons claims not everyone can use his clubs and, “to find out if you can 'swing a set,' give us a call.”

What a gracious and inclusive offer. I cannot believe that more people aren’t rushing out to be fit by this golfing hack and his elitist and needlessly exclusive company. I wasn’t surprised when Ryan Moore put these clubs in his bag last year because he has been known to tinker and to follow new and innovative trends, both with his apparel and footwear. I was stunned, however, when everyday tour players, including Titleist stalwart Zach Johnson, threw these overrated, overpriced clubs into their bags. By subscribing to Parson’s ridiculous and arrogant ideology, these players, as role models for younger golfing generations, are sending a disturbing message that performance is directly tied to the price of the clubs you play instead of hard work, determination and talent.

In the face of declining participation, course closures, revenue streams drying up, and an overall lack of enthusiasm and growth, the PGA Tour and its commissioner, Tim Finchem, have been trying to re-brand the game as modern, exciting, and affordable. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of any meaningful or sustainable headway being made following years of effort. It is difficult to increase the popularity of a sport that has the stereotype of being a dull, expensive, white man’s sport, and the existence of companies such as PXG only further strengthen these stereotypes.