Every so often, something stops you mid-stride at a trade show. Not because it is louder or flashier than everything around it, but because it is genuinely different.
That was the case with the Scott Golf Woody at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. In a world where putters have become increasingly futuristic and where face inserts have largely gone from metal to plastic to composite, Scott Petersen decided to go the opposite direction. Instead of removing traditional materials from the equation, he brought one back.
When asked how the idea started, Petersen put it simply. “My partner John Stoltz and I were at dinner at the PGA Show when he said, what about a wood face on a putter? Nobody’s ever done it. Everybody’s done just the opposite.”
When he got home, he built two.
“I kind of liked the feel. I liked the look and the difference. The originality that we had that nobody else had.”
The result is the Woody, a forged steel putter featuring a stabilized wood face insert that blends modern putter design, milling and forging with a material that has been part of golf’s history since the beginning.
Scott Golf Woody — A Material with History
Before steel took over and before CNC milling defined club design, wood was golf. Drivers, fairway woods, even early putters were shaped from persimmon and other hardwoods. Grain, density and craftsmanship mattered because they directly influenced performance.
Over time, that material disappeared from putters entirely. Inserts moved toward polymers and composites, and most modern golfers have never struck a ball with a wooden face.
The Woody doesn’t attempt to recreate a persimmon-era putter. Instead, it reintroduces wood into a forged 1020 carbon steel platform using modern stabilization and machining. That connection to golf’s earliest materials is subtle, but it is meaningful.
It is important to clarify what the Woody is not. This is not a novelty, all-wood head meant for display. The body is forged steel and milled to accept a precision wood insert. The shaping is modern. The weighting is modern. The performance is legitimate.
As Scott Petersen described it, “It’s not a wooden putter. It’s modern technology with the history of wood.”
The insert itself is where the story becomes more interesting.
The Wood, and Why It Works
Petersen uses woods like maple, cypress, Black African wood, cocobolo and many others. While certain species are naturally dense, every insert is dried and vacuum-sealed with resin to stabilize it and protect it from moisture over time.
“I had to figure a way to stabilize the wood so it wouldn’t be affected by moisture content. So, we dry it and we vacuum seal it with resin. It almost plasticizes that wood but keeps the beauty of the original piece.”
That stabilization process is key. It allows the insert to maintain structural integrity in rain, morning dew and normal playing conditions.
“After using mine for the last year in rain, morning dew, everything a putter’s going to go through, nothing’s happened to it.”
That alone answers the first objection many might have at first glance.
The second objection is performance. Why wood? Why now?
Petersen points to ball interaction. “What it does, it allows the ball to be in contact just a little softer. The ball stays in contact with the face maybe a millionth of a second longer.”
That slight extension of contact time, combined with the density of the stabilized wood, appears to reduce initial skid. In testing with the Genus ball and internal evaluation, he noted roll characteristics that competed with industry leaders.
Scott Golf Woody — One of One
Every Woody is stamped one of one, and that’s not just marketing language.
“I don’t make two of the same face insert,” Petersen explained. “Every piece of wood is different.”
That means grain patterns, figuring, and even subtle natural imperfections are unique to each putter. The insert you receive is truly yours alone, a strong pull for golfers who value individuality.
Japanese Forging with Customization Options
The steel bodies are forged in Japan, a detail that will resonate with golfers who appreciate high-end forging heritage. From there, the heads are finished and assembled in the United States with a range of customization options.
Petersen admits he may offer too many options. Powder coating, different neck styles, grip choices, including leather options, and even custom aesthetic touches are available.
“I think I offer almost too much. It might be a little confusing,” he joked.
The current lineup includes The Blade, a plumber’s neck blade profile, with additional shapes including a half-mallet called the Scorpion and a fanged mallet named the Slayer.
Grips range from modern offerings to proprietary leather grips to Gripmaster. Headcovers are produced through a partner, and their design and quality match the premium positioning of the head itself. The bottom line is that the Woody is meant to be customizable, and you can work directly with Petersen to craft it.
Pricing sits in the premium boutique category, consistent with forged Japanese construction and limited production. The starting price is $849.
Who Is the Woody For?
The obvious answer is the golfer who wants something high end and unique, but that undersells it.
The week prior to our conversation, Petersen conducted multiple fittings and every golfer who came in ended up choosing one.
“What I’m seeing is the feel. It feels special.”
That word, special, came up more than once.
For the golfer who is tired of standard designs, or who buys more putters than any other club in the bag, the Woody offers a tangible difference. It also appeals to players who value craftsmanship and material story as much as numbers.
Petersen also sees the psychological side of putting as critical.
“Confidence,” he said plainly when asked what matters most in fitting.
He believes putting is different from every other club category. It’s visual. It’s emotional. It’s reactive. If a putter gives you something that feels distinct and personal, that can translate.
One of the most common reactions to the Woody is that it looks too beautiful to use. Petersen hears it often. “The first thing people say is that’s beautiful, I want to hang it on my wall.”
His response is simple. Play it.
Once golfers experience the sound and the feel, the perception shifts. It is not a museum piece. It is built to roll putts.
Our Thoughts – Scott Golf Woody
We tested both the Woody Blade and the Scorpion mallet. While we’ve detailed the specs separately, it’s important to remember these are customizable putters that can be built and fit specifically to your needs.
There are several directions we can take when evaluating a putter. Craftsmanship matters. Aesthetics matter. Performance ultimately matters most. The Woody line brings all three into the conversation.
Both putters arrived in an ideal length and lie configuration for our setup. At 365 grams, the head weight felt balanced and easy to start on line from a neutral setup. While neither model relies on multi-material weighting systems or adjustable components common in modern putters, both designs offered solid resistance to twisting on off-center strikes. Stability never felt like a weakness.
Hosel preference is highly personal. We found ourselves slightly more comfortable with the Blade in terms of alignment and overall accuracy, though that speaks more to individual setup tendencies than to performance differences between the two. Proper fitting would ultimately determine which model suits a given player best.
Petersen referenced internal testing that showed strong forward roll characteristics from the wood insert. While we did not have access to launch or roll measuring equipment, we did observe a tight, controlled roll that appeared to minimize skid immediately after impact. The ball seemed to transition into forward roll quickly and consistently.
Visually, the Woody line is difficult to overstate. The Blade’s Spalted Maple insert had subtle figuring that resembled natural stone, while the Scorpion’s Ambrosia insert carried a more exotic character. Both draw attention without feeling ornamental.
In terms of feel, both inserts were notably soft in the center. As contact moved away from center, the change in feedback was clear through both sound and sensation. You still know where you miss. Distance control was predictable and easy to calibrate with each model.
Final Thoughts – Scott Golf Woody
For golfers who appreciate forged construction, material experimentation and the idea that a putter can still surprise them, the Woody stands apart. It blends tradition and modern manufacturing in a way that feels intentional rather than nostalgic. To explore available models, wood options and current configurations, visit scottgolf.com.
If you are interested in seeing our thoughts in a different way you can watch our YouTube video below.
