All in the game of golf

Pity you if you think that the game of golf involves rich retirees who have nothing better to do than blow their moolah on kooky hats, complicated footwear,  long, thin, hard sticks and even harder balls. Golf is a certified sport concerned with a certain kind of science and a requisite fitness level. As the game has progressed, so have the apparel, accessories, equipment and stamina needed for it.

Thanks to some stores — a few of them in Mall of Asia — that have dedicated their space to little balls that go a long, long way, golf has become a viable sport for both genders of all ages.

Drive it crazy

I may not be a golfer but I know for a fact that the Taylor Made brand is one of the preferred golf brands today. Its drivers are some of the best in the market, comprising the Burner series created for speed and distance.

Now, you can’t find Taylor Made just anywhere. It is exclusively distributed in the Philippin’s by Golfer’s Network, a chain of golf stores that dedicates much of its space to the American golf brand. Taylor Made is part of Adidas so it’s no surprise that Golfer’s Network is also the official distributor of Adidas’ golf shoes. Made with 3D Fitfoam, a trio of shock-aborbing, cushioning layers inside the shoe, Adidas’ golf shoes are really made for comfortably walking from hole one to 18.

Golfer’s Network also offers other popular golf brands such as Lynx, Akira, Pride and Nicklaus, the brand of one of the golf game’s modern greats.

Golfer’s Network is located at the G/F Entertainment Mall, South Wing, Mall of Asia.

Way to the 18-hole

When you see the old-style font golf goods purveyor Callaway uses for its logo, it’s not hard to envision the game as when it was played in its early days in Edinburgh, Scotland. The brand’s merchandise, however, pull you right back into modern times.   The high-end US brand doesn’t lag when it comes to offering state-of-the-art equipment. Its clubs are equipped with a revolutionary Fusion Technology, Callaway’s innovative weight distribution technology that shifts weight away from center of gravity for better stability. Apparel, though still classic in silhouette,  are also given modern upgrading with bold colors and funky details.

Callaway’s Mall of Asia outlet completes the deal with golf watches, caps, footwear and UV-shielding eyewear.

Callaway is located at the the G/F Entertainment Mall, South Wing, Mall of Asia.

Putt potential

Though it’s now becoming popular for running shoes and indoor sports apparel and footwear, there’s no denying that Mizuno started with, and will always be, one of the brands that popularized the game of golf.

Half of the Mall of Asia store is dedicated to the game of putts. Golf clubs ingrained with a patented Grain Flow Forging Technology, which basically assures better performance, stand in rows along one wall. There are wedges in two different styles: the classic round head MP Series gives a slight offset and maximum control, and the teardrop head MP T Series  assures a minimal offset for a solid, soft and consistent feel. There are also long irons with a hybrid technology that gives the ability to launch the ball higher but with better accuracy. Atop these game-enhancing irons are Mizuno’s golf apparel featuring two technology-infused fabrics: Dry Science and Ice Touch, both of which leave the wearer dry and sweat-free even during intense activity.

Mizuno is located at the G/F  South Wing, Mall of Asia.

A round of street style

For a nation obsessed with boxing, Lonsdale of London should fit right in the Philippine market. This British brand, inspired by Hugh Lowther, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale who first mandated that boxers should fight with gloves after three boxers perished in bare knuckle matches, was created in 1960 by ex-professional boxer Bernard Hart. Throughout the years, fan of Lonsdale’s equipment and apparel have included boxing greats such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.

Lonsdale also acquired a non-boxing clientele in the mid-60s when the likes of Paul McCartney, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn discovered the first Lonsdale shop in London’s Beak St, which is just around the corner from Carnaby St., the mecca of mod fashion back in the day. These days, Lonsdale’s lion logo and chic street fashion are popular with followers of the punk movement and mod revivalists.

The brand entered Manila late last year and offers an entire gamut of lifestyle clothing that can be worn by any sports follower outside the ring: logo-inscribed tank tops, casual tees, skimpy shorts and flip-flops with funky prints. And in the tradition of the very first Lonsdale outlet, the shop also has boxing gloves and punching bags in store.

Lonsdale of London is located at the 2/L South Wing, Mall of Asia.