Callaway Purchases Ogio, True Spec To Invest In Miura

There were two intriguing moves on the business side of golf that became official this week, with Callaway paying $75 million for luggage, golf bag and golf apparel maker Ogio, while investors and True Spec have purchased clubmaker Miura for an undisclosed sum.

Mike Stachura of GolfDigest.com on the Callaway purchase designed to beef up their soft goods operation. The background on Ogio:

Formed 30 years ago after founder Michael J. Pratt developed a sports locker tote bag called the Travel Cube, Ogio (the name stands for “our gear is organized”) became known in golf circles for its unique problem-solving golf bag designs. Notable technologies included the rugged “SLED” (an acronym that stands for Structural Load Equalizing Deck) feature on its rolling luggage and golf travel bags, a hard plastic base and back panel that adds durability and structure. There was also the ZPB (for “zipperless ball pocket”), a pocket with a hinged opening that allowed users to open the pocket with one hand. Ogio also redesigned its golf bags top opening to create easier access, and in 2015 debuted the Silencer, a bag top that locked clubs in place at both the top and bottom of the bag to prevent the clubs from rattling against each other while riding in a cart.

Ogio also has been a player in skateboarding, motocross and BMX, including sponsoring teams of riders in all three sports. It also has an extensive line of backpacks and work bags, as well as the athletic bags the company was founded on.

The full press release, including quotes from CEO Chip Brewer, who will share more in a Thursday conference call.

Meanwhile, GolfWRX's Zak Kozuchowski follows up on an original report about high-end iron maker Miura being sold, by talking to New Miura Golf president Hoyt McGarity. His True Spec Golf will invest and manage Miura.

If you aren't familiar with True Spec, they are an impressive, brand agnostic club fitting system with locations across the globe. I toured their facility at Turnberry and it's nothing short of jaw-dropping in both vision and presentation. But McGarity insists that True Spec will continue to be brand agnostic in fitting their customers, while preserving Miura's clubmaking process.

“True Spec will always be brand agnostic,” McGarity said. “If [another brand’s clubs] are better than Miura’s, that’s a Miura problem. We’re always going to sell the best-performing clubs to our customers.”

True Spec will act as a “fulfillment center” for Miura, McGarity said, specifically as “a shipping and storage place.”

A few photos from the True Spec space at Trump Turnberry: