[Slingblade61]

The following is a rewrite of an earlier post for the front page....


You never forget your first Cameron.
I remember well my first encounter with a Cameron putter. I was playing with a friend some years back and he's one of these guy's that loves the latest and greatest.... Titleist irons of some sort, a collection of head covers that reminded me of the top of my daughters bed and his 'Scotty'.

What he pulled out was a Cameron Futura. What impressed me at the time was how ugly it was. It looked more like a garden tool than a putter. Nevertheless, I quickly forgot about it and only gradually became aware of the Cameron hype. This took many years to be fully realized by me. I guess I'm slow that way.

I never bought into the the hype. I thought they were pretty and all but hideously overpriced. I still think that.

Fast forward to the beginning of the golf season, which for me was early April of this year. I walk into the pro shop and casually glance at the new swag for this year when lo and behold, I spy 3 of those famous Cameron head covers lined up on the floor all by themselves. Totally opposite of the other more 'common' putters lest they become contaminated.

I picked one up and peeled pack the cover. The written word cannot convey the feeling that passed my mind for that first, brief instant. I want to say it's similar to losing my virginity but thinking about it rationally, the Cameron encounter wasn't THAT good.

I admired it's heft as well as it's beauty but was able to resist it's subtle charms and put it back.

The next week, there were only 2. Once again I picked it up and admired it's sleek lines and stout feel. Once again, I was able to resist this wily block of milled steel and I put it back with nary a thought.

By the third week there was only one left. I repeated my ritual and once again, put it back. The price was $279, no small matter for a family guy.
Well after I put it back I went out to the putting green and began to use my old TM Rossa Modena. When finished I was about to get into the cart and head to the 1st tee when I suddenly told my partner to wait for me.
I bolted to the pro shop and quickly negotiated 'terms' for my first Cameron and stuck it in the bag. I was now the proud owner of a Studio Select Newport. There is no logical explanation for my behavior. It HAS GOT to be witchcraft! A spell has been cast and I am the unwitting victim.

Oh, the guilty pleasure! There will be some major rationalizing to come over the course of the round but I have to say it felt great!

I've had this in the bag for a few weeks now and I still love it. Is it the cure all for bad putting? Surely spending nearly $300 on a putter has to do SOMETHING! Well, no it isn't. That's not why I bought it anyway. It just "spoke" to me in a way no other piece of golf gear ever had and I had to have it, simple as that. And as one of the wise guy's around here said, I'll still be 3 putting but I'll look damn good doing it.