One of my favorite memes these days is the “Expectation vs. Reality” meme. Just Google that phrase and you will see what I’m talking about. Basically, it’s that difference between what a Big Mac looks like in advertising photos, and what one looks like when you unwrap one in person. Rarely does the actual experience or product live up to the expectation.
Last summer, Toulon Design launched its online design interface for the Toulon Garage, which allows golfers to design custom putters from the comfort of a computer screen, and then have that putter built and shipped directly from Toulon to your doorstep. Sure, the process also requires a not insignificant charge on your Visa, but consider it the cost of ordering a putter that exactly meets your needs and wants. What excited me at its launch, and still excites me today, is the incredible number of custom options that the Toulon Garage system gives the golfer access to during the design process.
Since its launch, I’ve probably designed a dozen putters using the Toulon Garage interface. If nothing else, it’s excellent digital entertainment. Sure, it’s no Fortnite, but I do enjoy exploring the possibilities.
And that brings us back to the nagging question about the Toulon Garage system, or any online ordering system. Is what you see online in digital renderings genuinely representative of what you will find when the product hits your porch?
That, dear readers, is what we will be exploring today.
Oodles of Options
When I first attempted to calculate the number of options available in the Toulon Garage system, I came to the conclusion that there are over six million different possible putter configurations. To be fair, I just made that number up (math is hard), but I know that once you factor in the number of head choices, finishes, stamps, grips, loft/lie adjustments, and so on, the number of possible putters will be bigly HUGE.
The nearly endless putter possibilities contained in the Toulon Garage should allow for most golfers to select his or her ideal putter characteristics. That’s what we are doing today. I have put together a design based on my play and aesthetic specs, and now we can compare the digital version to the putter that was constructed.
Let’s take a look at some of the key options and see if the reality lives up to expectation.
Hand and Head Designs
Hand was easy, since I’m right-handed, but I want to call attention to this choice since our southpaw golfers often times get no love from golf companies. The Toulon Garage has some love for the lefties, but it’s limited to three models, and admittedly the computer mock-up graphic is still right-handed. Still, three left-handed options is better than no left-handed options.
As we move to the other side of the ball, the list of head options jumps to ten, and this is probably where I have spent most of my putter daydreaming time, mulling over the possibilities.
For this project, I chose the Rochester head. I tend to putt better with blades that lean more toward a squared-off aesthetic. I was back and forth a bit with the Columbus notchback, but I preferred the look of the Rochester at address.
EXPECTATION VS REALITY
I think that the rendering of the head was pretty spot-on for this category. My focus was on the profile of the Rochester at address, and the delivered putter matched the expected look. What I saw on the computer translated to the real-world design.
Neck and Finish Designs
There are three neck options available for the Rochester, and since I know that my stroke prefers the flow neck, the H5 flow neck was my neck of choice. Besides, flow necks are so hot these days.
As for the finish, my design plan for the Rochester was to murder it out. With this goal in mind, the only finish choice was black. I like the copper option as well, but this one was heading in a darker direction.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
This time, I’d say that the finished product exceeded the digital expectation. The neck fits with the head flawlessly. It’s hard to imagine that there are two other neck options. The H5 neck just looks like it is the one that belongs there.
The black finish was also exceeded my expectations. This is a very dynamic black, and in fact, it’s not just black. You can see rainbow hues around the edges of the cavity. There is a prismatic nature to the black in person, whereas the online black looks more like you dipped the putter in black enamel.
Paint Fill and Stamp Designs
Since I was murdering out the putter, I went with black paint wherever possible. I considered using some gray to add a bit more contrast, but in the computer model, the black paint appears to be a different enough shade of black.
What to stamp is always a bit confounding to me. Should I even stamp the putter at all? Sometimes less is more. Since we were exploring what the Toulon Garage can do though, I went with thematic “Roll Noir” stamping on the bumpers.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Black paint worked as expected. It was black, and just a little different in color when compared to the putter’s overall black finish. Sitting behind the ball, the sight line has plenty of alignment-assisting contrast.
The bumper stamping was pleasantly surprising as well. On the computer, the simulation looks like someone just added a text box on top of the putter photo. In person, you can see that the stamping was done by hand, maybe even Sean Toulon himself! Probably not, but a person did stamp the putter. I really like that there is a bit of human touch to the putter and that the putter was not just carved out of metal by the machine. For me, it makes this personalized putter feel a bit more personal still.
Shaft, Grip, and Static Design Options
Keeping with the theme, I chose the black shaft option, along with the white SuperStroke Pistol GT grip. There are a ton of grip options, but unfortunately, there’s not an all-black option in the mix, so the black and white seemed the next best choice.
Back in January, I was fortunate enough to complete a SAM Lab putter fitting while visiting Callaway HQ. Based on those findings, I went with 1° flat and 1° strong.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
I experienced zero surprises when I placed the putter on the bending machine and learned that it was exactly 1° flat and 1° strong. Specs need to be right if this putter is going to do more than decorate a wall.
The Outside-the-Box Box
I think that you have figured it out by now that the Toulon Garage Rochester definitely exceeded my looks-on-the-computer expectations, but the putter was only part of the excitement.
When you open the box, the putter is displayed on foam mounts, as opposed to just stuffed in a box with shipping material. I liked that they had included a couple of stickers and that the headcover was a special Toulon Garage design.
Then I noticed that there was a little box in the box.
Included is a Toulon branded pitch tool, and a metal certificate of authenticity. For lack of a better term, these little additions are just plain cool. The metallic card is nice detail and a fantastic way to document the extraordinary putter you had made.
While I was looking at the certificate, I noticed that there was a little finger hole in the foam off to the right, and upon lifting up the certificate, I discovered a Toulon Garage coin. Such a fun surprise, and a great way for Toulon to make the purchaser feel like they are getting something truly special.
It is Expensive
Once all was said and done, the custom Toulon Garage Rochester slapped the wallet for $754. I’m willing to bet that some of you lost interest right there. I get that, $750 for a putter is an impossibility for many, much like the monthly nut to afford a new BMW is beyond the borders of many bank accounts. High-end stuff comes with high-end prices, and those prices can be exclusionary.
For some though, the price will be accessible, and will actually seem quite reasonable. Putters tend to last longer in the bag, and hold value better than other clubs. You’ll take more strokes with your putter than any other club, so why not have one that is fully customized for your game? We putter lovers can come up with all sorts of reasons to justify the costs, right?
Another way to explore the justness of the cost is to compare what you get from the Toulon Garage to what you would get and pay for a 2018 Custom Shop customized Scotty Cameron Select putter. You can take the stock Cameron putter ($399), and quickly add another $150-$300 depending on what you want done cosmetically (aka adding lots of purple). That’ll get you up to Toulon Garage pricing and while there are lots of options available at the Cameron Custom Shop, changing finish and neck style are not among them.
Both the Cameron Custom Shop and the Toulon Garage will allow you to create a personalized putter for about the same cost, but the Toulon Garage system allows you to alter the physical nature of your putter to a greater extent, which makes for a putter that is comparably more customized than personalized.
It’s worth noting too that the Toulon Garage lists their turnaround time in days, while the Custom Shop will probably take weeks to get your putter back to you.
The Toulon Garage: Expectation Exceeded
For once, I was not confronted with a droopy-bunned Big Mac when I opened the box. The Toulon Garage Rochester that I received blew past my design expectations by quite a bit. The finish, the stamping, and even the geometries of the putter itself look so much better in person than they did on the computer. Add to that a shipping/presentation box that made me really feel like I had just opened something special, and you get an overall package that should satisfy any custom putter aficionado.
Should you have the desire (and the means) to order one of these putters, you can do so with confidence. Sean Toulon and the rest of his putter crew have developed the user-friendly, digital custom putter system. Sure, you can get great custom putters through other small-run custom putter shops by email and phone conversations, but if you want your putter experience to move efficiently from desktop to doorstep, the Toulon Garage is the stand-out best system right now.
For more information, or to start designing your putter, visit the Toulon Garage website.
Travis
4 years agoI’ve tried to customize a Latrobe putter 10+ times now on their Toulon Garage website, but it freezes every single time at either the finish options or sightline options.
Why would I risk spending $500-800+ on a putter when their fancy customization website can’t even function properly… Toulon Garbage.
Steve
4 years agoProbably not freezing, I thought the same thing, you have to do individually click every option, even if you are OK with what’s on the screen…I did the same thing 20 times until I realized it….for instance on the stamping, click every option and click a color then it will give the option to move forward.
Bob D.
4 years agoOMG! that is the worst looking putter I’ve ever seen $750 are you nuts Walmart $19.95
Poor old pops
4 years agoLooks like a twin to my Golf Works Accusite Putter which can be bought for $100. This is WAAAAAAY overpriced!
G-Ray
4 years agoTHEROD, agree fully on the quality of Tom Slighter’s work. First class, he called me as well with a suggestion on a new finish he was working with. Couldn’t be more satisfied.
Rekklss
4 years agoWhat about options on grooves ?
Where is the ‘tech’ ?
This appears to just be another Ping knockoff. Like Scotty. But prettier.
Just my .02 cents.
therod
4 years agoWhile I haven’t played with the Toulon site, I had a putter made for me by Tom Slighted many years ago, and I’ve debated doing another more recently. His work is very impressive and that putter was in the bag for 8-10 years. I have around $500 in that putter and I still put it in the bag periodically. Tom called me personally during the building process to ask me a question or two about the build that wasn’t in their online building survey. It was a great experience and his work is second to none.
therod
4 years agoNot Tom Slighted, Tom Slighter
KM
4 years agoTom Slightly
MikeB
4 years agoI’m so sick and tired of seeing overpriced art pieces that aren’t any better than a 10 year old used putter being pushed on the buying slaves of the world!
mackdaddy
4 years agoNo tech? Why change?
Michael
4 years agoI ordered a custom Long Island two weeks ago. The turnaround time was amazingly fast and I can confirm everything that has been stated in the article. The final product, customization, presentation and most important the performance. Yes this putter was an investment but I am happy I did it. I have used many top line putters over the years (Bettinardi, Mizuno, Scotty) and the click sound and the feel of this putter far surpasses them all. It just does. It is not because I spent as much as I did, it simply has an amazing sound and feel. Then add the looks from your customization and it is a putter that will be in the bag for a long time.
Tom S
4 years agoStill using my Slotline “Big Mo” that I bought in 1985 or so. Still love it.
Jack
4 years agoNice write up but you left out the most important factors. How did it feel when you hit the putt? Well balanced? Solid? How did the ball roll? etc.
Dave Wolfe
4 years agoI love the feel of the Rochester. The diamond pattern puts a great roll on the ball. It’s in the fight for the gamer spot for sure.
Justin
4 years agoSo you spent almost $800 on a club that might not even be your gamer? O_o
Dave Wolfe
4 years agoMy putter situation is admittedly somewhat ridiculous. 🙂
Golfinnut
4 years agoStill wayyyy too much for my blood to spend on just a putter. $750 later & I can still 3-putt like all the others.
Rizzo
4 years agoThe options on the mallets seem a little lacking, particularly the Indianapolis. 1 finish, 1 neck option. Even the Memphis only has 1 neck option (3 total finish options). Otherwise this seems like a pretty sweet deal. Things cost what they cost.
Stephen
4 years agoAgreed. I guess this is what it’s like to be left handed. 🙁
Kenny B
4 years agoLet’s see the part of the putter that the ball sees.
Gunmetal
4 years agoJust give be a tank option in the Toulon lineup and take my money already!
Dave Wolfe
4 years agoYou can order these with the heavy sole plate and get up into tank-like head weights.
morris jacobsen
4 years agothe price of ANY putter over $300 is absurd. what about public perception of following the price trend to infinity and beyond? come down to reality folks!!!!
Mark Liquorman
4 years agoOther than golf professionals and a few “putter-obsessed” recreational golfers, how many others could even intelligently fill-out the order form?
Kansas King
4 years agoI liked the article. However, I would like to make note of three poor finishing issues on the $754 putter. On the last photo in the article you can see the three issues.
1) It appears the hozzle was welded to the club head and you can see the line from that and the concave semi-circle above and to the left of the Toulon logo you can see it was not ground and finished to be smooth.
2) On the tope right of the Toulon logo you can see a straight vertical milling line that was not cleaned up along with some additional milling marks to the right of it that are still visible. Milling marks can be okay but the rest of the putter is nicely finished, so I would say this looks inconsistent.
3) The milling marks left on the flat surface where the Toulon logo is are not consistent and look unfinished.
I like the putter but the finishing isn’t as good as it should be. I would included the grinding around the hozzle as an issue but that would be difficult to perfect. I don’t mind a “hand finished” look, I just don’t like it when milling marks are places they shouldn’t be. I know this seems very picky, but at $754, you probably should be. If I am wrong about something, I would like to know.
Dave Wolfe
4 years agoYou may have the best eyes in the business! I’ll be checking these things out as soon as I get back to the putter. Remember too that these photos are enlarged quite a bit. Under a macro lens, most putters, even the fanciest Cameron or Lamb will probably have similar missed marks. Regardless, thanks for taking the time to look at these so closely!
Kansas King
4 years agoI agree that looking at things through a macro lens of a camera will probably bring out details that aren’t obvious under normal conditions. However, I think that these issues I noted will probably be visible outdoors during the day.
It appears you can get the same quality putter from Scotty Cameron or Evnroll for half the price (Only $349, What A Deal!). I think Toulon sells a good experience with their putter, but at the end of the day, I think the finished product has to better than other commercial offerings at their price point.
KM
4 years agoMaybe its a cast head.
Michael
4 years agoGREAT write up! Thanks for this. I’ve also gone back and forth but was able to get a “used” one on Callaway Pre Owned and I absolutely love it. The look, sound and feel is awesome. Nice to know that the garage is true, really like this company a lot!
Dave Wolfe
4 years ago30% off putters at Callaway Pre-Owned today actually. Toulons included. Normally I’d keep this secret, but I need someone to buy the Long Island before I do 🙂
Scott
4 years agoLike I’m sure many others, I too have played on the custom garage site. This one turned out beautiful in every way and was glad to see that it exceeded expectations. I have honestly heard and read nothing but good things about other Toulon Garage experiences and products.
McaseyM
4 years agoNice follow up!! I’ve spent sometime playing with the custom app and it’s fun. I too love that smaller head squared off design, just don’t know if I can actually putt with it. I wish superstroke would do more of their Tuxedo grips with all black and just “superstroke” in white.
Presentation is definitely top notch!