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Personalized BallsByMulligan Stu
Posted on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 08:37:20 PM EDT

Personalized golf balls: Good gift to give, or no?

I've always voted no. But for those who disagree, Titleist has a program in placed for Mother's and Father's Day whereby you can get free personalization when you order at least a dozen balls through an authorized Titleist retailer.

You get up to three lines, a maximum of 17 characters per line, with your choice of black, blue, red or green ink. You can place the order anytime from now to June 30.

I remember the first box of customized golf balls I received as a gift. I was a wee lad ... or a wee teen, anyway. My father got me a box of Titleist balls - I don't remember the specific model, but they were balata.

Remember balata? Back in the day, the choice of cover was Surlyn or balata. Surlyn was for hackers. It was cut-proof (and felt it). Balata was for the good golfers, the ones who knew how to work a ball - and ones who never, ever bladed the ball.

I was not one of those golfers. I was a Surlyn golfer. But Dad got me balata.

I took my shiny new personalized balata balls to the 9-hole executive course I was playing back then, and before the first nine holes were out every one of those balls was gone. Some went into water. Others into tall grass. And many had smiley faces on them - sliced-open balata covers - within just a swing or two.

Hey, it was the thought that counted. But I'd rather have gotten some rock-hard Pinnacles with Surlyn covers and no personalization. Balls that I could beat on for a while longer (until every last one was in the water). And if anyone ever found them, they wouldn't know it was me who sliced, hooked, bladed or shanked 'em there.