Video Story: Bob Vokey, Master Wedge Craftsman

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With the voice of golf, Jim Nantz, providing voiceover, Titleist produces an easy-to-consume eight-minute docu-clip of the famous wedge maker, Bob Vokey.

ABOUT BOB VOKEY

The son of Walter, a precision tool and die maker, Vokey was born in 1939 in Montreal, Canada, and raised in Verdun, Quebec. His father, an avid golfer, often “tinkered” with golf clubs in his home shop.

In 1964, at the age of 25, Vokey left Canada for the United States and settled on the west coast, in Carlsbad, California. With his residence located near a golf club, Bob started to play competitively, eventually developing his father’s passion for “tinkering” with golf clubs.

Vokey opened Bob’s Custom Golf Shop at Fallbrook Country Club in San Diego County in 1976. About four years later, in 1980, Vokey moved his operation to a larger location in Vista, California.

It was around this time, in the early 80s, that Vokey became the personal club-master for some of the biggest names on tour. This notoriety led to a job offer in 1986 from a fast-growing local company (Carlsbad) known as Taylormade.

In 1991, Vokey left TaylorMade, along with its founder, Gary Adams, to help launch Founders Club. In 1996, with Adams diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Founders Club folded, and Vokey joined Titleist.

Vokey, then 57 years-old, was initially assigned to help out with the launch of the popular Titleist Titanium 975D driver.

According to Titleist, Vokey did not start specializing in wedges until after he arrived at the Chicopee, MA-based company.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Over the next couple of decades, Vokey crafted, what are now, the most sought-after wedges the game has ever known.


Credit: Titleist Media, The Golf Channel, Golf Canada


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