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