Fresh off last week’s WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Toulon Golf is announcing the latest in their Small Batch line of putters – the Scottsdale. As we’ve come to expect from Toulon’s Small Batch series, the putter draws inspiration from a number of sources that all somehow tie back to its name. This release is sure to be a fan favorite thanks to its exquisite shaping and finish work. It’s a masterclass in what Toulon describes as “form and function”, meaning that while this putter is not just meant to look great. It’s been designed to help you make putts too.
The Inspiration – Toulon Small Batch Scottsdale
Thanks to recency bias, the most obvious source of inspiration for the Scottsdale is, of course, the WM Phoenix Open, but other than the timing of the putter’s release, there really isn’t a lot of tie-in to the event itself. While we can imagine a putter with flying beer cups, dumpsters, and green paint fill, that concept does become a bit one dimensional, and Toulon Golf tends to look a little deeper than that. Instead, the company looked at the history of putter innovation itself. We all know that Karsten Solheim, the Phoenix area’s most notable club designer, would find a place on a Mt Rushmore dedicated to putter innovation. The nod to Solheim, a modified H1 plumber’s neck, is subtle, but it’s important to the overall design of the Scottsdale.
The Design – Toulon Small Batch Scottsdale
What the modified H1 hosel does for the Scottsdale is simple – it takes a head shape that is somewhat limited in who it can fit and makes it accessible to a wide variety of players. As you can see, the Scottsdale is a classic, ear shaped mid-mallet. We are much more familiar with this type of putter having a true heel shafted design, which while immensely popular from an aesthetic standpoint, has some real performance limitations. This is because of the heel shafted design creating so much toe hang, which results in a putter that has a great deal of face closure throughout the putting stroke. It’s really best suited for players that have a noticeable arc in their putting stroke, which we see much less of today compared to the 1960’s, when the design was at its peak popularity. Instead, the hosel choice on the Scottsdale should work well with players that typically excel with the very-standard plumber’s neck design.
The concept of “flow” was key in the Scottsdale’s design concept, and it’s most noticeable when we view the putter’s flange. The thin top line, with a single alignment diamond, drops quickly and gently curves down to the flange, which is shaped almost in a way that you could take a sip from it. At address, this shaping lets the light play with shadows to produce color variations that please the eyes. However, this isn’t the extent of the “flow” that the Scottsdale brings to the table. From the rear view, we can see that the flange flows from its thinnest point near the heel upwards to its thickest point at the toe. This smooth transition brings us back to “form and function”. While the added mass and ramping effect is certainly jaw dropping, it also places the center of gravity at the center of the putter, providing the balance needed to make this somewhat quirky design accessible to more golfers.
Capping off the masterfully sculpted flange, which is void of any stamping or branding, are hundreds of tiny diamonds, each milled into the 904L Stainless Steel over the course of many hours. This breathtaking choice not only serves as a reminder that we are looking at an exceptional bit of craftsmanship, it also reduces glare.
Moving on, we come to the sole, which takes the Scottsdale theme to a completely new place. Rather than nodding towards the putter designs of the past, Toulon instead looks at the past of Scottsdale and Arizona. The history of the states is intimately tied to the uniquely American concept of the Wild West. While many of us associate the Wild West with movies, TV shows, and books, the reality is that it’s baked into the American identity in ways we don’t even know. The independence, the adventure, and even the lawlessness of the Wild West are all things that have shaped the American consciousness.
Immediately we see artwork and graphics reminiscent of something we might see on a pistol, wanted poster or the windows of a saloon in a dusty Western town. The first impression they give is immediate and unmistakable. In addition, a subtle design choice, the carved out “bullet” sole gives a nod to legendary gunslingers while also serving to increase MOI and put the Scottsdale at its ideal weight of 355g.
The Scottsdale has a delightful Milk Chocolate finish, and the face is milled with Toulon’s Ultra Fine Double Fly cut, which when combined with the overall design should produce exceptional feel and responsiveness. The paint fill is a combination of Cream and Gold that will pair perfectly with the Toulon Pistol Midsize grip in Black and Rose Gold.
The Details
The Toulon Golf Small Batch Scottsdale putter is priced at $1,800 and will be available in very limited quantities starting February 14th, 2025 on the company’s website, ToulonGolf.com.
- Material – 904L Stainless Steel
- Finish – Milk Chocolate
- Face Mill – Ultra Fine Double Fly Cut
- Grip – Toulon Pistol Midsize Black / Rose Gold
- Shaft – Chrome Stepless Steel
- Head Weight – 355 g /Toe Hang – 36° / Loft – 3° / Lie – 70°
