Mrbojumbles has crossed paths with some chaps who have a lot in common. Everybody… introducing Golf refugees the “Square peg in a round hole”.
Golf refugees are the one-stop-shop for exercising your golfing wild side. You will be the envy of your four-ball striding the fairways (or pavements) in style sporting your sharp new threads and accessories. The pioneers of the original black golf ball that got the golfing world in a spin, the radical must have check-me-out golf ball first featured on the UK’s Channel 4’s Big Breakfast and then in numerous style/fashion/golf magazines as the phenomenon snowballed. Golf refugee’s had officially cracked the creme brulee and their crusade to conquer the (golfing) world had begun.
One of the first of a new breed of indie golf brands along with Subpar from California, Golf refugees arrival coincided with the publishing of two alternative golf magazines; Schwing in the US and Putt in the UK, leading GQ USA to described it as “the irreverent brainchild of some wise-assed Gen-MTV British lads who are subverting golf’s stuffy country-club image”.
“Golf Refugees developed Thermal Distance Technology (TDT) to produce the ultimate long-distance golf ball. The Golf Refugees original black ball has a revolutionary heat-absorbing ultra-thin black cover which increases the temperature of the core materials when played in hot, sunny conditions. As a result, the Golf Refugees black ball transfers energy more efficiently than traditional white balls, to give you greater distance on your golf shots. And thanks to the abrasion-resistant soft cover, it achieves ultimate distance with the added benefit of soft feel.”
F**k Nike! The real story of the original black golf ball
As a new brand, Golf Refugees initially had some media exposure through an appearance on Channel 4’s early morning ‘Big Breakfast’ TV show, interviewed by loud mouth Johnny Vaughan and the tasty Denise Van Outen. Next, we filmed three of our skateboarding friends trying to play golf through the hazardous streets of London, filmed by us and MTV, for broadcast on their sports show called ‘Balls’ hosted by rapper Coolio.
At this stage, there was only a painted black ball to show the audience, but the response was so positive, we had to try and make the idea a reality. After talking to a golf ball engineer at Titleist, who helped us to understand the technical aspects of golf ball design, we set off with some cash to find a manufacturing partner. Wishing to find a local, a visit to Penfold in Birmingham, UK was arranged. Unfortunately, they refused to make a black golf ball. Ironically, Birmingham is known as part of the ‘black country’. Realising that most other UK based manufacturers had closed down and their moulds shipped out to the Far East, it became clear we had to look overseas.
After six months, we eventually found someone willing to work with us and developed a black golf ball to our specifications. The main technical objective was to try and increase the temperature of the core, as Titleist had told us that if you can achieve this a performance advantage can be gained. From this conversation Golf Refugees developed Thermal Distance Technology (TDT) to produce the ultimate long distance ball. The warmer a golf ball gets, the more efficiently it can transfer energy for entra distance. Our two-piece ball has an ultra-thin heat-absorbing black cover with a high conducting metal-mix core.
Samples were sent out to numerous style, fashion and golf magazines. It became apparent that the style magazines loved the concept of a black ball, whilst the golf industry mags were dubious, Golf World calling it ‘bonkers’. Golf Refugees were open to the fact that our black ball is designed to perform in hot sunny conditions, it is more visible in the air but less visible on the ground than a traditional white golf ball. None the less, we were confident we had created an iconic golf ball.
Through a contact in California, who worked for Reebok, our black balls were featured in GQ USA, and played with in pro-am events by Alice Cooper and NFL football stars filmed by ESPN. It won the longest drive competition at the MGM media golf challenge day. The response was fantastic and we started negotiations with Modern Amusements about including our black ball & clothing range in selected stores across the USA. Mean while back in the UK, Selfridges & Dockers had agreed to stock our original black golf ball.
We were flying high, until news from one of our USA customers e-mailed us of the imminent arrival of a Nike black golf ball. Reports ranged from it just being a PR stunt to help launch their new white golf ball called Nike One Black, because of its black graphics. However, it soon became a reality that Nike had manufactured a black ball, given it to some of their golf professionals and started a media campaign. What had taken us nearly two years was all undone in a matter of days. The Nike black ball was splattered across all forms of media, we’d been buggered by the mighty swoosh.
Nike perhaps did something that Golf Refugees couldn’t have done. They made the idea of a black golf ball legitimate with the golfing media. The golf magazines who thought our original black ball was bonkers, we’re all soon lovin the Nike black ball. The same magazines were not too keen to mention, let alone test and compare our original black ball to Nike’s. Understandable, considering the amount of money Nike spend on advertising, editors had to protect their revenue streams, still it was a bitter blow to us. One glimpse of light was freelance golf journalist, Tom Cox, who agreed to play with both black balls, albeit on a cold and damp February day and write an article for The Times newspapers, where a Nike executive is quoted as saying ‘never heard of Refugee Golf black ball’
How the hell can I get my hands on these bad boys?
The original black golf ball Thermal Distance Technology Advanced 2-piece construction Abrasion-resistant soft cover Icosahedral dimple pattern Enhanced aerial visibility and R&A and USGA compliant.
£14.99 / 18 euros / Box of 12 or £3.99 / 5 euros / Sleeve of 3
Also from Golf refugees… the Graffiti golf ball.
Advanced 3-piece construction Titanium double core for extra feel & distance. Abrasion-resistant soft cover. Circle numbers 1, 11 or 111 or add your own graffiti to mark your ball. R&A and USGA compliant.
By far, the best value three piece golf ball, you can buy
£3.49 / 4 euros / Box of 12 or £0.99 / 1 euro / Sleeve of 3
Don’t hesitate to visit Golf refugees at http://www.golf-refugees.com/ to spoil your golfing mad unkle or just splash out on yourself. Take it on a recommendation from us…
You won’t be disappointed – MBJ
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