Long Putter grip (15" and longer) - Make your own?

[jjinsa]

I picked up a Cleveland Smart Square 39" (almost belly) counterbalanced putter for an excellent price, it is hardly used.  BUT the grip having sat unused for so long, is disintegrated and unusable (sticky and falling apart).  

 

I am really struggling to find a grip of around 15" to 17" in South Africa, to replace it with, without paying an arm and a leg.  For now I have used tennis over grips to wrap over the grip, so it is usable for now.  

 

I have seen a few times, people with what look like some kind of black/brown wrap on these longer putters - is it something they have made?

 

I am not concerned about replacing the grip and "losing" the extra weight, I have made a counter balanced putter before and have the means to do so... not a concern in this deparment

 

Any things people have done to make their own grips?