Yep, you read that correctly. The new Honma Beres 10 line can, if you go 5 Star all the way, run as much as 60 large.
To you, me and most folks we might run into at the local muni, that’s an insane amount of money.
However, before we dive into why the Honma Beres line costs up to $60,000, I feel compelled to make at least one thing crystal clear.
People who buy a set for $60k are NOT–repeat, NOT–paying that kind of money because they believe those clubs will make them play better golf. And they’re not buying them because they have more money than brains.
No, someone who shells out that kind of cabbage for a full set of 5 Star Honma Beres 10 golf clubs is doing so because they can.
And because they want to.
Hey, man, it’s not my tax bracket but I don’t judge.
And let’s get one more thing on the table now before I forget: the existence of the new Honma Beres 10 line will not affect what you pay for golf gear one iota.
We’ll elaborate on that later. First, however, let’s tackle the obvious.
What the hell makes Honma Beres 10 worth that kind of money?
“Worth”, friends, is a loaded term. It’s personal and it’s not the same as “value.” Therefore, let’s suspend reality for a moment and do a quick dive into what the Honma Beres 10 line is all about.
I’m going to share Honma’s words from its press release, simply because these fingers of mine don’t possess this kind of “artistry.”
“Beres 10 (represents) the highest expression of luxury in golf, where rarity, refinement and performance exist in perfect harmony. Globally recognized as a symbol of prestige, BERES has long been the choice of those who value craftsmanship at its most elevated level.”
Wait, it gets better.
“The intricate design of Beres 10 draws inspiration from Edo Kiriko, a traditional Japanese glass-cutting art established in 1864 and designated a National Traditional Craft of Japan. The disciplined geometry, deep colors and intricate two-tone overlay techniques of Edo Kiriko mirror Honma’s own philosophy, where technical excellence and refined beauty co-exist.”
I’m sure that at some posh country club where the likes of you and I would never be allowed in (unless we’re there to fix the plumbing) a Beres 10 club might actually touch the dirt. Otherwise, we’re talking about collector’s items.
Yeah, we’re talking about works of art. However, credit where credit is due: Honma does pack some significant tech into its Beres line.
Honma Beres 10 facts ‘n’ figures
Honma tells us the Beres 10 line is crafted for players who value consistency, effortless power and luxury.
Especially that last one.
Tech-wise, the Beres line is the richer cousin of XXIO. It’s designed to be ultra-lightweight to help modest swing speed players get the most out of what they have. The Beres 10 driver, for example, features an ultra-thin, ultra-rigid titanium crown and body along with a forged cup face and a rear weight for a lower CG and more forgiveness. The variable thickness face features 14 different zones with four different thicknesses, the thinnest of which is only about two millimeters.
The fairways and hybrids feature what Honma calls a 3D L-cup face structure which expands the high velocity zone across the entire face. The irons also feature the 3D L-cup face with a 3D variable thickness face. Honma’s proprietary shaft, ARMRQ Flight, is made from advanced carbon composites which the company says deliver the ultimate in fiber strength and elasticity.
The real draw for Beres, however, is the aesthetics. Granted, the design might appeal to a specific audience but the line is as much about artistry as it is about advanced material technology. The patterns you see are all hand designed and laser cut, “creating a modern interpretation of glass-cutting techniques.”
They are not, according to Honma, mere decorative gestures. They are signatures of mastery.
The aesthetic isn’t my particular cup of saki but it’s easy to appreciate the skill and effort that created it.
Three levels of Honma Beres 10
We can’t forget the gold. How could we? Honma Beres 10 is lousy with gold.
Beres 10 features three price points. The 3 Star line is, if you’ll pardon the expression, the most affordable. It features what Honma calls “Champagne Gold” which we assume is gold plating. The more premium 4 Star and 5 Star lines are laced with solid gold.
Each Star level comes in men’s and women’s models. The Beres 10 3 Star driver is $1,200 while the 4 Star is $2,000. It you want to go all the way to 5 Star, the driver will set you back $5,000.
Fairways follow the same pattern: $800 for the 3 Star, $1,500 for the 4 Star and $5,000 for the 5 Star. Hybrids or “Utilities” as Honma calls them are $600, $1,400 and $5,000 respectively.
The irons, forged from S25C carbon steel, are $550 each for 3 Star, $1,350 each for 4 Star and (we’re seeing a trend here) $5,000 each for 5 Star.
So, if you’re a baller on a budget, you could cobble together a 3 Star set for as little as $8,450. That’ll get you a driver, two fairways, three hybrids and six irons. Bag and putter are extra.
If you’re feeling 5 Star, let ‘er rip, baby. The same setup will run you $60,000.
(Bag and putter extra.)
Seriously, who buys these?
The fact that the Honma Beres 10 line can run as high as 60 grand has no more impact on anyone reading this article than does the existence of a Patek Phillipe or Audemars Piguet wristwatch. The existence of Beres 10 doesn’t mean lower-priced options are being taken away.
We’ve said it a million times before and we’ll say it again. There’s never been a better time to be a bargain-hunting golf consumer. You have more terrific products available to you at very affordable prices than ever before. The lesson here is don’t get your undies in a wad over the Beres 10 line.
The only reason we wrote this article was to have a little fun. It’s kind of like going to a car show and gawking at the Maserati, McLaren or Rolls-Royce on display. They’re fun to look at and people do buy them. Those folks don’t generally socialize with the likes of me but there are more of them out there than we realize.
Honma will sell more of these than you’d think. The company lists royalty and global icons among its clientele. Those are the folks who don’t bother asking what the price is.
They don’t have to.
If you want to learn more about the Beres 10 lineup (if you want to have some fun, I suggest you should), visit www.us.honmagolf.com.
Pete
4 months ago
In fact, Honma makes also limited edition sets that make those 5 star clubs exit stage left. A friend of mine who travels regularly to Japan on business keeps on sending me pics about different kinds of local wonders and one of them, Honma full set, bag putter and all for $250k was, I thought, was as crazy as it can be. No, the next time he found Honma limited edition “Fuji” set priced at $400k!