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By Kendall Capps
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Nearly every year, all of the premier golf brands reveal their latest tech. Whether that is a new line of drivers and woods, or a groundbreaking approach to a new set of irons.
Recently, I was invited out to Scottsdale National, the home of PXG. The top-of-the-line golf brand was celebrating its 10th anniversary since it burst onto the scene in 2015. I was joined by a couple of dozen other media members from all across the globe, as PXG was preparing to reveal the highly anticipated GEN8 Irons.
We were also treated to the big surprise of the new Lightning driver, fairway woods, and hybrids.
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But unlike just about everyone in attendance, there was something else that drew me to Arizona.
A couple of years ago, I met with actor Rob Riggle, a former Marine and avid golf enthusiast. For years, he hosted charity golf tournaments, giving back to veterans and other charitable causes. Upon my research, I learned of the work he did with Bob Parsons, the founder of GoDaddy.com.
It only made sense that when telling Riggle's story, I referenced that work.
Parsons is also a retired Marine who gives back in ways I could not believe.
You may already know about PXG's support for veterans and active military members. But both Bob and Renee Parsons are equally passionate about helping support underserved populations. Whether that is natural disaster relief, first responders, the underprivileged youth, young girls, and so much more.
"Bob and I have always been aligned on the causes we feel we want to serve," Renee Parsons said during our sit-down. "We started our foundation (Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation) in 2012. It started locally... Of course, we would always go for the underdog."
She went on to detail the time they spent in Haiti and all they did to help those in need after the earthquake in 2010 that took over 100,000 lives. It was moving to see the sincerity in her eyes, how much that meant.
For Renee, the sense of fulfillment when helping those in need was innate.
"It was always in me," Parsons said.
In 2012, they created the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, which provides funding to nonprofit organizations. Thus far, they have donated more than $100 million to the Semper Fi & America's Fund. In fact, the foundation has donated approximately $1 million every two weeks for the last 13 years to different charitable organizations.
Let that sink in.
Now think about this: In 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, created The Giving Pledge. It is a commitment from some of the world's wealthiest people to donate at least 50% of their wealth to combat issues like poverty, health, education, and the environment.
In December of 2013, Bob and Renee became signatories of the movement. They are worth an estimated $4 billion.
Now, rich people donate money to charity all the time. Many do it to take advantage of tax write-offs. But when you agree to give away a couple of billion dollars to help others, you are a cut above.
It is through that endeavor that a budding relationship was formed, prompting me to learn more about Parsons' passion project, PXG.
Parsons Xtreme Golf
Ten years ago, the golf world was forever changed.
Parsons set out to make the finest golf equipment in the world. But unlike the competitors in this space, the mindset was to attack it without the restraints of cost or time. Granted, that is more attainable when a billionaire is at the helm. Nevertheless, just because someone has the means does not mean they are willing to spend it.
Over the last decade, PXG has created some of the greatest, most forgiving golf clubs known to man, with over 200 patents. They did so utilizing proprietary technology, including their own polymer cores, which created the power channel for increased face deflection, ultra-thin maraging steel faces, and many other features.
Several PGA Tour pros are equipped with PXG clubs on the course, including Jake Knapp, Joel Dahmen, former Masters champion Zach Johnson, and many more.
However, you will not find these clubs at your local Roger Dunn shop. In fact, you will not find them in any local shop.
The company's ethos of putting performance ahead of everything includes making certain each club fits the exact golfer perfectly. To get your hands on these clubs, you must schedule a fitting.
If you are like me, a few years ago, and had never been fit for clubs, let me tell you, it is a game-changer.
I was fit for the award-winning Black Ops line in 2024. My game transformed overnight, with a significant gain in distance and forgiveness. To be fair, I was previously using very old clubs, so I was the perfect test case for getting fit.
But I digress.
The Black Ops line of drivers, woods, and hybrids, paired with their 0311 GEN7 Irons, made me feel invincible on the golf course. But this time, PXG took it up another notch.
PXG releases GEN8 Irons
Last week, PXG officially launched the release of their latest tech: the 0311 GEN8 Irons.
This new line of irons was designed to provide precision and an unmatched feel to create what every golfer is looking for: maximum ball speed.
The clubs were made with the aforementioned QuantumCOR, PXG’s proprietary polymer; Deep Core Recoil Technology, which helps create the explosion at impact; a Dual Perimeter Weighting System for unprecedented adjustability; internal high-density tungsten weighting, and ultra-thin maraging steel faces.
Each iron is five-times forged from 8620 soft carbon steel and finished with robotic polishing to ensure exact geometry and consistency.
“GEN8 shows how far craftsmanship in golf has evolved,” said Gary Player, a PXG Ambassador. “These irons blend true performance engineering with incredible attention to detail.”
I got my hands on a set during the fitting process. I absolutely flushed the very first shot I took with the 7-iron, and it felt great. It only got better as we went through the whole process.
Afterward, I spent some time with PXG senior director Mike Nicolette, a former PGA Tour pro who once defeated Greg Norman in a playoff to earn the victory.
Nicolette and his team spent countless hours working on and developing this latest line. Numerous elements of golf science were incorporated into the advent of GEN8, including the Dual Perimeter Weighting System, which provides the master fitters even more flexibility, unprecedented control over center-of-gravity placement, and swing weight.
By repositioning mass from the center of the clubhead to the perimeter, the system increases moment of inertia (MOI) while allowing precise heel-toe center-of-gravity (CG) tuning through interchangeable weights.
But to truly take advantage of the scientific improvements, that fitting process is essential.
"There are a lot of levers that we pull from a scientific standpoint," Nicolette said. "We want the golfer to have an unencumbered mind, and that comes through the fitting process of finding the exact right club for you.
"A pair of shoes are no good if they don't fit your feet. I don't care how much they cost. ... With golf equipment, you have a particular style of swing. It is unique to you. So, you go out, and you make a swing, and every ball seems to go left. All day long, you are fighting your golf equipment to keep the ball from going left.
"So, it is vitally important, no matter what level golfer you are, to at least get a set of clubs that fit your stature and swing style."
It sounds so simple, yet most people fail to understand the importance of using the proper clubs. Whether you are a Sunday golfer like me or someone who spends every waking hour thinking about how they can improve, your golf goals are attainable.
And if I am going to spend some of my hard-earned money on golf equipment, it's nice to support a brand that does so much beyond the golf course.
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