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FEATURE
Discovering Zero Restriction
By Vartan Kupelian
GPA Fashion Correspondent
Doug Tibbetts calls it golf's "completely undiscovered issue."
Tibbetts is president of Zero Restriction, a leading manufacturer of premium golf outerwear, so you might guess it has something to do with rain, wind or some other form of inclement weather.
And you would be correct.
The undiscovered issue, according to Tibbetts, is that "you can have fun playing in the rain" if you are properly dressed. There's more.
"You don't need an umbrella," Tibbetts said. "That's what I love best about our products. What creates the most stress playing in the rain, makes you the wettest and is the most annoying is dealing with an umbrella."
Tibbetts recently played Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, the multi-course facility on Oregon's coast.
"I had rain, wind, hail - I made a hail snowball," Tibbetts said.
He also never missed a tee time.
There should not be any hail this week for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club but there may well be rain. The Masters hasn't been able to escape rain in recent years and the firm, fast golf course everybody has been waiting to see hasn't happened. It rained Sunday afternoon in Augusta and thunderstorms were in the forecast for Wednesday. That means you may well see the golfers marching the emerald fairways of Augusta National in their rain gear again this year.
If it looks like tour players are practically oblivious to rain it is because they are. They have the proper equipment and know how to use it. As for umbrellas, they aren't distracted. They leave umbrellas to the caddies.
Zero Restriction Outerwear is a division of Hallam, Pa.- based Red Lion Mfg. Inc. Modern rain and wind gear allows golfers complete and quiet freedom of movement during a golf swing. ZR, one of the industry's most recognized, offers men's and ladies' lines of rainwear, technical windproof wear and wind fashion wear. Accessories include hats, gloves and care products.
ZR Outerwear gear has also been worn by golfers representing the United States in major international competitions.
The Whisper Soft is the company's top of the line Gortex. Tibbetts said it is very soft, quiet and "almost cottony feeling." The Whisper Soft jacket retails for $350 and the pants cost $250.
"When you find yourself in a competitive situation, whether it be top players in the world, or the local guy playing in his inter-club matches, having the right gear is a tremendous competitive advantage," Tibbetts said.
"If the jacket doesn't fit or doesn't move with the golf swing you completely lose your feel and your ability to hit the kind of golf clubs."
Tibbetts encounters a lot of golfers who say they don't play in the rain, among them club professionals. They'd rather wait for the weather to clear.
"But if you're playing Bandon Dunes or Pebble Beach or in Scotland or Ireland, you need to be prepared for rain," Tibbetts said. "Competitive players generally know if they're going to compete they're going to run into a day or two when they need rainwear."
The National Golf Foundation estimates there are around five million golfers in a core group of the most avid golfers. Of those, Tibbetts estimates about one million have premium rainwear and "understand that making investment in good rainwear makes sense."
A key to making and selling a premium rainsuit, which retails for between $400 and $600, is in its classic design instincts.
"Why we're so successful in the little niche we occupy is having a product that can be sold as an investment," Tibbetts said. "A classic style never goes out of fashion."
Tibbetts adds a bucket hat that sheds rain and rain gloves as other key components of turning rainy day golf into an enjoyable experience.
"People don't understand how effective rain gloves can be," he said. "On a day that's really soaking, rain gloves are really amazing."
For information, go to www.zerorestriction.com.
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