History of Clubmaking/Fitting Accreditation
A Brief Background on Clubmaking Schools and Accreditation: When I decided to seek accreditation in the late 1990s, there were four companies offering formal educational programs for those aspiring to become professional clubmakers or clubfitters. These schools ranged in length from one day to five days, with programs designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. All of the companies offering these educational programs were exclusively focused on golf-specific merchandise as the core of their business models. These companies were:
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Golfsmith: Golfsmith was a golf superstore that marketed OEM equipment, apparel, and original-design component clubhead designs. In 1998, the company acquired the Lynx and Snake Eyes golf brands, adding them to its component inventory. In 1980 Golfsmith established the Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA) and offered a range of training programs for aspiring clubmakers. Despite its growth, Golfsmith expanded perhaps too quickly and ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2016. Dick’s Sporting Goods acquired all Golfsmith store locations and integrated its product inventory into their operations. ​
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​The Golfworks: The Golfworks is a golf superstore and online retailer offering OEM equipment, apparel, high-end Golf Mechanix clubmaking tools, and Maltby-designed component clubheads. The company also provided clubmaker training programs until they were suspended in 2022, and it has not publicly indicated whether these programs will resume. In terms of acquisitions, Dick's Sporting Goods purchased Golf Galaxy in 2006 and The Golfworks in 2007. Later, in 2016, Dick's acquired Golfsmith's retail stores and inventory, solidifying its position as the largest golf retail business in the world.
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Mitchell Golf: Mitchell Golf was founded in 1988 by Ed Mitchell and is renowned for designing precise golf club measurement tools, including gauges, loft and lie machines, and frequency analyzers. Their products are highly respected within the clubmaking community. Today, Mitchell Golf remains the only company offering on-site, advanced training for professional clubmakers.
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Dynacraft Golf: Dynacraft Golf was once a prominent player in the golf club component industry under the leadership of Tom Wishon and Jeff Jackson. Wishon departed for Golfsmith in 1993, after which Jackson continued to guide Dynacraft successfully until 2005, when the company was acquired by Hireko Golf. Today, Hireko markets components primarily under the "Acer" and "Juggernaut" brands, along with clubmaking supplies, shafts, grips, and apparel. The company has not offered formal training since the acquisition.
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​​​​​​Accreditation: Accreditation was only available through the Golfclubmakers Association (GCA), or the independently operated Professional Clubmakers Association (PCS).
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The PCS went bankrupt in 2008, followed by Golfsmith and the GCA in 2016, as previously noted. To fill the resulting void, the Association of Golf Clubmaking Professionals (AGCP) was established in 2006, followed by the International Clubmakers Guild (ICG) in 2009. Today, recognized industry accreditation is obtained primarily through these associations.
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Tom Wishon has been a driving force in the custom clubmaking and fitting industry. Beginning as President of Research and Development at Dynacraft and later at Golfsmith until 2002, he went on to found Tom Wishon Golf Technology (TWGT) in 2003. Many industry leaders, including Britt Lindsey, trained under him before moving on to influential roles elsewhere. Today, Tom’s influence is felt across nearly every aspect of custom clubmaking.
Tom Wishon, founder of Tom Wishon Golf Technology