Though Ely Callaway, founder of Callaway Golf Cos., died of pancreatic cancer last week, many in the industry say his legacy will live on.
“In my time, there have been two people who had a great impact on the equipment side of the industry,” said Mark King, president of TaylorMade-adidas Golf in Carlsbad. “They were Gary Adams and Ely Callaway. (Callaway’s) product innovation and the way he marketed to consumers set the benchmark for all competitors.”
Callaway, who died July 5 at age 82 at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, led the Carlsbad-based company from a small, unknown business in 1982 to the largest clubmaker in the world today. The company gained its biggest success from the Big Bertha metals and woods, including the ERC II forged titanium driver, Hawk Eye VFT and Hawk Eye VFT Pro Series to name a few.
He guided the company to remarkable financial success, going from sales of $5 million in 1988 to $800 million 10 years later.
Callaway was described as one who could be charming and combative, and who didn’t back down from his beliefs.
When the company released the ERC II driver in the United States late last year, it sparked controversy with the U.S. Golf Association.
The USGA said the driver violated its standards because it provided an extra spring effect for golfers, and therefore couldn’t be used in USGA-sanctioned tournaments.
Callaway argued the driver was for recreational play, not professional competition , although the ERC II was accepted by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and could be used by pros in British Open or Ryder’s Cup.
“We’ve sold $5 billion in golf clubs since Callaway started from nothing, which is far more than anybody in the world has ever done,” Callaway was reported as saying in January. “And we want to keep on making clubs that are going to make people happier.”
When Vikash Sanyal entered the field about 10 years ago at Odyssey Golf, he looked to Callaway as a mentor as much as a competitor. “I used to call and ask him for advice and he would talk about this and talk about that,” Sanyal said.
Sanyal now owns and operates his own golf company, Vista-based putter manufacturer Never Compromise, and said he still uses the lessons he learned from Callaway.
“At the time when he really was making his mark, the industry just changed,” Sanyal said. “The industry was not as sophisticated and wasn’t as much of a business. He showed that it could be a lucrative business.
“Everyone who wants to succeed in this industry at least has to try to emulate what he did.”
Callaway retired as president of the company in May largely due to health reasons. He was succeeded by Ron Drapeau.
“The 2,500 employees of Callaway Golf, and their families, thank Ely for what he has done for them,” Drapeau said. “We will continue to honor his memory by doing our very best on behalf of the company that he created.”
Callaway is survived by his wife, Lucinda Villa; three children, Reeves, Lisa and Nicholas; and four grandchildren.
