For 14 years, one Bettinardi was running the show at Bettinardi Golf, but things changed when founder Bob Bettinardi‘s son, Sam, was ready to join the company.
On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, both Bettinardis discussed their father-son relationship and how it has benefited their family company over the past decade-plus.
Sam joined the company in 2013 and Bob said the first six years were about him learning the ropes.
“And then from about five or six years after he came in, I pretty much said, ‘Here you go. Trial by fire,'” Bob said. “So Sam has been running things. He’s the president of Bettinardi Golf, which is a great title, he deserves it. He’s done a fantastic job.”
Since taking over as the company’s President, while Bob retains the CEO title, Bob says the company has grown by double digits every year. Their roles have evolved as things have gone on.
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“Now that I’m running the business, Bob’s the bank,” Sam joked. “So if I go, I want to go invest in this machinery or we need more embroidery, we need more people, I’ll run the numbers by him.
“And then where I think he’s very valuable right now is design because he’s been doing it, you know, making putters since 1991 and then on our own brand 27 years. So when it comes time to design models for Tour players or new head shapes for a new production series, after I work with our engineering team, 3D print them, I’ll bless the models then I’ll bring him to the boss and say, ‘Hey, here’s what we’re thinking for next year. What do you think?’
“And he’s always got little ideas to shape a muscle or tweak a bumper here or there, a top line thickness, to make it perfect. And I think he’s really, really good at that, because again, he’s earned it and he’s got the experience there.”
Sam has heard the criticism that the second generation often “messes it up”, but he’s confident that he’s towing the line of the family legacy.
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“That’s always been a challenge,” Sam said. “And that’s why I work my butt off to be able to carry on the family name and the legacy. But, you know, there’s a lot of ups, you know, it’s awesome to be in business with my father, who’s again, my dad, I’ve known him my whole life. And to be able to share a lot of really cool experiences, whether it’s going to the Masters together or a major or going on a golf trip with customers. It’s kind of a pinch yourself, like, ‘Hey, this is our job, we’re in the golf world.’”
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