Jump to content
2024 Houston Open WITB Photos ×

Bag Drop: Green Friendly Golf Belts: Looking Good, Doing Good


Recommended Posts

By Jack Wadell via TheSandTrap.com
Sometimes a clever idea solves more than one problem. The belts from Green Friendly Golf not only hold up your pants and look good doing it, they make fixing ball marks and even marking your ball a lot more convenient.

bd_title.gifI don't know about you, but I hate carrying lots of stuff in my pockets when I play. I especially hate fumbling around trying to find a coin or distinguish between tees and the ball mark tool. Totally disrupts my concentration, fragile as it is.



This year I went so far as to try those ball markers that you clip on the bill of your cap. My PGA pro friend thought it looked a little too LPGA. While I remained secure in my masculinity, I gave up after losing a few of them.



Green Friendly Golf has come to the rescue with a belt that incorporates not only a ball marker, but also a tool that's been specially designed to conform to the technique experts now recommend for fixing ball marks. Here's the story on the belt and the technique…

The Idea
While attending the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline, Rick Schad, a designer by trade, noticed the fancy belts the players were sporting and then had one of those "aha" moments. Grabbing a Post-it note, he sketched a belt tip that incorporated a ball mark repair tool and ball marker.



green_friendly_logo.jpgThen began the hard part as he and his two partners, Akim Msumba and Stephen Walsh, formed a company, refined the design, found suppliers, and finally launched their product.



They did a good job. Today, Green Friendly Golf belts are carried by two of America's most prestigious national retailers, are endorsed by Jeanne Cho and Pam Crikelair of The Big Break fame, and also have received the endorsement of the Professional Caddies Association.



And, interestingly enough, a Green Friendly Golf belt showed up on the waist of one J.B. Holmes in the cover story photo in the June 2006 issue of Golf Digest. Kevin Na was seen sporting one at this year's Korean Open.



The Belts
The men's belts are beautiful full grain leather, double stitched, with an embossed "croc" pattern. They come in either black or cognac. I think they're pretty classy looking with the silver buckle and all. Sizes range from 32" to 44" in two-inch increments.



green_friendly_mens_belt.jpg
Quality leather and rich nickel plated hardware make for a classy look.



As one might expect, the ladies' line is a lot more colorful. Actually, one of these belts might be just the ticket for fashion conscious males who want to make more of a Camillo Villegas-like sartorial statement.



The only tricky part of that is that the sizing is a little different. Perish the thought a woman should have to acknowledge her actual waist size in inches. So the sizing runs this way: small (28"-30"), medium (31"-33"), large (34"-36"), and x-large (37"-38").



Trust me, if your waist is any bigger than that, you don't want to be wearing a pink belt anyway. A man's got to know his limitations.



green_friendly_ladies_belts.jpg
Smooth leather instead of croc-embossed, the ladies' belts come in hues to make even Ian Poulter drool.



One other note on sizing: Green Friendly Golf recommends you use a belt one size up from your actual waist size. Thus, a 36" inch waist needs a 38" belt.



The Tool
As the picture below shows, the tool slides out from the tip of the belt. On the backside is a notch to hold the magnetized ball marker. The tool and belt buckle are all nickel plated to prevent rust.



According to Schad, a key objective in the design was to come up with a ball mark repair tool that did the job the way it's supposed to be done.



green_friendly_belt_tip.jpgThe result is a tool with relatively short, slim tines to prevent going too deep and damaging the roots. The small handle discourages prying up the turf, a definite no-no according to, among others, the USGA, the PGA Tour, and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.



What I didn't know until our omniscient editor, Erik, pointed it out to me is that prying up the mark tears the roots and kills the grass. Instead, what you're supposed to do is insert the tool outside the mark and then twist the sod toward the center of the mark. Do that all around the ball mark until the gap is closed and then tamp the mark down with your putter.



You know you've done the job correctly when you would putt over it without qualm.



It's actually easier to do than it is to imagine. Much fuller explanations can be found on the GCSAA site right here or the Green Friendly instructions here. Erik's home course superintendent even has an online guide to ball mark repair.



In the End…
If you've read this far, you're either into clothes or agronomy. Either way, I salute you. Looking good is equally important with keeping the putting surfaces on your course in pristine condition.



You can find Green Friendly Golf belts at select Brooks Brothers and Nordstrom stores or you can purchase them from online sources you can find here.



While I have yet to try one out, I can only imagine reaching to my waist and whipping out the divot tool like some riverboat gambler drawing a derringer. Take that, you dratted ball mark! And, all the while, my pants didn't fall down. Very cool.

Article Link>>>Here

"This article is republished with permission from The Sand Trap .com and
remains copyright © The Sand Trap .com. All rights and privileges reserved."
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies -1
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Discussion and links to Photos
      Please put any questions or Comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Thorbjorn Olesen - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ben Silverman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jesse Droemer - SoTX PGA Section POY - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      David Lipsky - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Martin Trainer - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Zac Blair - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jacob Bridgeman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Trace Crowe - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jimmy Walker - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Daniel Berger - WITB(very mini) - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Chesson Hadley - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Callum McNeill - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Rhein Gibson - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Patrick Fishburn - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Peter Malnati - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Raul Pereda - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Tom Hoge's custom Cameron - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Piretti putters - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ping putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Kevin Dougherty's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Bettinardi putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Tony Finau's new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
       
      • 8 replies
    • 2024 Valspar Championship WITB Photos (Thanks to bvmagic)- Discussion & Links to Photos
      This weeks WITB Pics are from member bvmagic (Brian). Brian's first event for WRX was in 2008 at Bayhill while in college. Thanks so much bv.
       
      Please put your comments or question on this thread. Links to all the threads are below...
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 31 replies
    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies

×
×
  • Create New...