How a Hockey Player introduced Miura Golf to the world...

[chipaputt]

Being a big Miura fan, this is a backstory I had to tell about a good friend........Back in the 1990's, Bill Holowaty out of Canada, once an elite College Hockey player and then a Professional was recruited as a player/coach in the Japan Hockey League. At that time, each team was allowed to have two foreign "ringers". A lot of the ringers were Russian or Canadians. Bill squared off against quite a few tough Russians in those days. Knowing Bill, I am sure he did not even blink.

During the course of his tenure in Japan, Bill an avid golfer was invited to tour a golf club forging factory. Being something of a Gearhead, he eagerly accepted the invite. What he saw in this factory surprised him... Titleist, Callaway and many name brand heads were going through production. He came to learn they were making a lot of Tour clubs for major OEM's. This quiet Japanese Company, Miura Giken, was not really known outside of Japan. Bill was by no means a golf club expert, but he knew quality when he saw it and those clubs were the finest sticks he had ever seen. Mr. Miura (Miurasan/Katsuhiro Miura) and Bill struck up a friendship and Miura made some custom clubs for him with his name stamped on them. These Miura clubs went back to Canada with Bill where he proudly showed them off to his buddies. Everyone wanted a set. Bill began to realize that the world needed to know about this company. He started a worldwide distribution network selling Miura branded clubs and today a lot more people know about and play them.

Bill is a humble guy and there are other people who worked with him along the way but he was the "force" that got it going. The distribution company has changed hands and Bill is still onboard as the COO, but more importantly the most knowledgeable expert in the world not named Miura is still behind the scenes furthering the cause of his beloved Miura Golf!

[chonkoa]

Thanks Chip, I remember someone telling me that story as well.

On a separate note please PM me when you do have a black MB 001 8 iron. I have quite a number of clubs from you through Ebay.

[EaglesGolf99]

I did not know that story.

 

Thanks for sharing, Chip.

[Diamana_Stinger]

Before finally moving operations to the USA; Miura global was in a suburb of Vancouver, BC, Canada for the longest time. Which is were Bill must have settled upon returning from Japan.

[kcsf]

Awesome story Chip, thanks for sharing.

[jjfcpa]

Chip

That's a great story. I wish Miura clubs were more accessible. if you were going to purchase a set of Miura irons, what would be your preferred option considering there may not be any place close to get fitted? I've been fitted 3 times so I know what I'm looking for. I recently contacted Trufit and they just failed to respond after I explained what I was looking for. They stated they had to check on availability and would get back to me...

[Mitchell]

I will answer that, contact Usher Golf in Savannah- Chip is first class both as clubmaker and a gentleman.