It can only be described as an oversight. They forgot the KITCHEN SINK! That’s it – that’s all that is missing from Callaway’s new Tour Performance truck that’s quickly becoming the talk of the pro circuit. And, if we looked hard enough, we’re sure we’d probably find that too!
This state-of-the-art rig, purpose-built to follow the travelling PGA Tour roadshow, takes clubfitting and data tracking to a whole new level with its bevy of tools and machinery designed to fully optimise the performance of Callaway’s leading players. In fact, so kitted out is the epic semi-trailer, Callaway can run its entire tour operations on the road.
Built by US-based custom trailer designer and fabrication company, Craftsmen Industries in collaboration with Tim Reed and Jacob Davidson, the new Callaway Tour Performance trailer has two levels, a custom putting lab, proprietary measuring devices and bending machines, four air conditioning units, four flat-screen TVs, two Apple TV’s, all controlled by two iPads.
It also houses its own secured internal and external wireless network with more than eight kilometres of electrical and data cabling, two refrigerators, a Bluetooth sound system, state-of-the-art ventilation system, two lounges, a coffee bar, a snack bar, an upstairs conference area, and the ability to see as far as your eyes will allow from its top level.
Check out this fly-through video:
“It’s not just a place to build clubs; it’s a mobile headquarters for the Callaway Tour operation,” says Craftsmen project manager Jim Fickert, who oversaw the design. “It’s a workshop, an office, and a home away from home for the best players in the world.”
Led by Davidson, Callaway’s tour manager, the all-star trucking team makes sure players like Australia’s Marc Leishman, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns have their tools dialled to a level of precision that most mere mortals will never experience. To do this, Davidson and his team make full use of the mobile workshop to build, fit, analyse, and ideate to satisfy even the most pedantic of tour pros.
“Our vision in designing this mobile tour headquarters was to help Callaway athletes perform at their very best,” says Davidson. “Everything we do as a company is focused on optimising players’ bags and providing the best performing equipment in the industry. Each week, we compete in an environment where the smallest details matter, and performance will drive success. The new performance trailer gives Callaway the ability to prepare our athletes for golf’s biggest events like never before.“
As part of the design brief, the truck also incorporates roof-top solar panels that provide up to 30 percent sustainable energy. Yep, when they’re not thinking about greens, Callaway is thinking green.
Head upstairs and you will arrive at a meeting room, used primarily for player meetings so staff can go over their stats and goals for the season. Such information is generated from one of the more impressive analytics programs in golf.
“At Callaway, we have a proprietary analytics program that can break down a player’s performance from every perceivable angle,” adds Callaway’s tour content manager Johnny Wunder.
“This allows our team to address any issues and prepare a plan based on that player’s needs and goals. In many cases, it’s used to optimise a player looking for that last puzzle piece. For example, (PGA Tour star) Sam Burns switched into the Apex TCB irons in late 2020 due to this system and has since risen to No.10 in the OWGR.”
Wunder, who chronicles the ins and outs of daily tour life with Callaway via his “World of Wunder” blog, says Callaway’s new wheels represent more than just technical superiority. “It’s our flag; it represents the pursuit of excellence for our players and our team,” he says.
“In each city we visit, we host staff, non-staff, local PGA professionals, family, and friends week in and week out. We hope that they leave our trailer with the sense that they just experienced a passion, dedication, and level of service that is unlike anything seen in golf. We continue to push the envelope, and this performance trailer is one big step in that evolution.”
