When it comes to limited edition golf gear, most brands follow a predictable playbook: slap some stars and stripes on everything, throw in a few patriotic slogans, and call it a day. TaylorMade could have done exactly that for this year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Instead, they’ve created something a bit more interesting.
The Heritage Collection manages to honor both the championship and TaylorMade’s own legacy in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. While red, white, and blue elements are present throughout the collection, they’re balanced with a deeper story that connects TaylorMade’s founding to the host venue.
The Pittsburgh connection
The star of the Heritage Collection isn’t just another flag-themed staff bag. It’s a love letter to TaylorMade’s origin story and the city that’s hosting this year’s championship.
In 1979, TaylorMade founder Gary Adams created the Pittsburgh Persimmon, a stainless steel driver that would fundamentally change the game. The name was a deliberate nod to industrial Pittsburgh, symbolizing a new age of metalwoods in golf.
Within a few years, wooden drivers were essentially obsolete. The Pittsburgh Persimmon had started a revolution.
Fast forward 45(ish) years, and TaylorMade is celebrating that heritage with a collection that brings the Pittsburgh Persimmon story full circle as the U.S. Open returns to Pennsylvania.
More than meets the eye
The Heritage Staff Bag stands out from across the range with its steel-grey base color and patriotic accents, but the real details are more subtle. ‘Pittsburgh Persimmon’ is scripted into the topside valuables pocket and carry strap. ‘Original One’—another moniker for that first metal wood—is bordered by 1979 on one of the backside pockets.
The headcovers follow the patriotic theme with distinctive red, white, and blue patterns, and they also feature ‘125’ to commemorate the 125th playing of the championship.
The attention to detail extends to elements like the vintage plaid lining.
The balls get the retro treatment
The Heritage TP5 and TP5x balls might be the most interesting part of the collection. Instead of the modern TaylorMade logo, they feature the original blue script that longtime golfers will recognize.
The packaging follows suit with retro designs and decades-old golf ball blueprints on the dozen boxes. It’s the kind of throwback aesthetic that appeals to golfers who appreciate vintage design.
The rest of the collection
Rounding out the TaylorMade Heritage Collection are a pair of A-Frame hats (one red, one blue) featuring the TaylorMade logo, a pair of T-shirts (black/white), and, for my money, what might be the unsung hero of the collection, a Tour Preferred Glove featuring the vintage logo on the closure piece.
Why this approach works
What makes the Heritage Collection worth noting isn’t just that it looks good—though it does. It’s that TaylorMade found a way to celebrate both the championship and their own story without making either feel secondary or forced.
Most U.S. Open gear is forgettable. It serves its purpose for a week and then disappears into golf history. The Heritage Collection feels a bit different. It’s the kind of stuff that collectors might want to own not just because it’s limited, but because it tells a story.
TaylorMade has always been a company built on innovation, but this collection shows they understand their history too.
The Pittsburgh Persimmon changed golf in 1979. Forty-six years later, the Heritage Collection offers a thoughtful take on limited edition golf gear.
The TaylorMade Heritage Collection is available now at select retailers and at TaylorMadeGolf.com.
Pat Maweini
1 year ago
….but $65 for a TP5 with just a different logo? wow