PINNACLE ENTERS NEW DIMENSION WITH INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCT LINE

Advances Position as Distance, Performance and Value Brand Category Leader with Five New Models

Fairhaven, MA (September 9, 2009) – Building upon its position as the long-standing leader in the distance and performance value golf ball category, Pinnacle introduces its new five-model family, including an exciting new microbrand, the Pinnacle Dimension.

The second-best selling golf ball brand in the marketplace, only behind its Acushnet Company companion Titleist, Pinnacle continues to serve as the top choice for value-conscious golfers who seek distance, quality and performance. In addition to the launch of the new Dimension, Pinnacle has also reanimated its legendary Gold franchise with the introduction of the new Pinnacle Gold Precision and Pinnacle Gold Distance offerings. Pinnacle also continues its support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, while providing women golfers two quality offerings under the Ribbon microbrand.

Click below to download hi-res images of all
Pinnacle Fall 2009 Products.

“Pinnacle has been soundly established as the product and quality leader in the value segment for over 25 years,” said George Sine, Vice President Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, Acushnet Company. “The new and improved product offerings, in concert with reanimated Pinnacle brand positioning and personality will include a new tag line and brand attitude to exceed the distance, performance, quality and value requirements of the recreational golfer segment.”

“The Pinnacle brand strategy will continue to capitalize upon its reputation of providing golfers with distance and performance choices at a great value, as well as separate itself from the escalating price clutter in the market place where performance and quality are being sacrificed by some brands to merely deliver lower price points,” added Sine.

DIMENSION: Designed and engineered for golfers seeking straight flight, soft feel and long distance, the new Pinnacle Dimension’s new soft, thin 3D (3 Dimensional = Distance, Durability and Dispersion) Ionomer cover formulation provides cut-proof durability. New large, soft core technology contributes to soft feel with a high initial velocity and long distance with exceptional greenside control, while a high-coverage 332 Icosahedral dimple design helps provide consistent ball flight and minimize dispersion.

In concert with the new, contemporary personality of the Pinnacle Dimension product, the golf ball features the dynamic jet trail logo nameplate and “Dimension” alignment sidestamp for better putting accuracy. The packaging employs a striking new electric blue and vibrant orange color combination to pronounce its energetic personality, as well as elevate and pronounce its presence and positioning among other value products. The new “Take Your Game to a New Dimension” tagline invites golfers to experience the new level of distance, responsive feel and greenside performance attainable with the Dimension golf ball.

“With the new Pinnacle Dimension, we reinforce our commitment to long distance and superior quality and advance the performance expectations of soft feel and short game control for value conscious recreational golfers and particularly those new to the game or the Pinnacle brand,” said Sine. “The Dimension replaces the prior two-model Pinnacle Platinum Feel and Distance golf ball models to provide a simplified, single offering for competitive value products.

Comprehensive merchandising initiatives will accompany the launch of the new Pinnacle Dimension microbrand, including in-shop collateral featuring the “Take Your Game to a New Dimension” tagline. Trial will be encouraged via 2-ball packs available at the onset of the launch, as well as sustaining 4-ball and 6-ball sidekick offerings throughout the season. The Pinnacle Dimension carries an MSRP of $18 per dozen and $14.99 MAP.

GOLD PRECISION: Complementing Pinnacle’s Dimension introduction is the new and improved Pinnacle Gold Precision, which has been advanced to provide improved accuracy and legendary Pinnacle Gold distance, while delivering soft feel on all shots. Designed for competitive value conscious golfers seeking long, accurate distance with superior quality, the new Pinnacle Gold Precision features a soft responsive Ionomer cover and high speed, soft compression core. A high coverage 392 Icosahedral dimple design provides consistent ball flight with a flatter trajectory for long distance, while a new alignment “Precision” sidestamp promotes better putting accuracy.

GOLD DISTANCE: Consistent with its distance heritage, Pinnacle continues to provide a golf ball product that exceeds those golfer’s expectations whose first priority is to hit the golf ball as long as humanly possible. The new Pinnacle Gold Distance will appeal to value conscious recreational golfers who prioritize long, straight distance. Designed to deliver maximum distance for average and recreational golfers, the new Pinnacle Gold Distance features a low spin, resilient Ionomer cover and a high speed core to provide long, straight distance from tee to green. A 332 Icosahedral dimple design helps provide consistent ball flight from tee to green with a higher trajectory for maximum distance. A new “Distance” alignment sidestamp promotes better putting accuracy.

“Pinnacle Gold players are among the most loyal and enthusiastic golfers in the game, and the new Pinnacle Gold offerings will instill further confidence in the quality and consistency of the brand, as well as provide tangible and noticeable product improvements ,” said Sine. “Gold Precision and Gold Distance represent the best of what Pinnacle Gold consumers have come to expect through the years – quality, long, straight distance, performance and value.”

The new “Distance Yourself” positioning uppercases the game improvement enhancements of Gold Precision and Gold Distance, and invites golfers to distinguish themselves from others in their foursomes by hitting it farther and straighter. Gold Precision and Gold Distance feature an MSRP of $18 per 15-ball pack and $14.99 MAP. They are packaged in a new, smaller, eco-friendly 15-ball pack configuration.

PINNACLE RIBBON: The new Pinnacle Ribbon product is designed to provide value-conscious women golfers with superior distance and soft feel in traditional white and new lavender pearl cover options. A soft Ionomer cover in combination with a soft compression, faster core promotes longer distance, soft feel and improved short game control. A high coverage 392 Icosahedral dimple design helps provide consistent ball flight.

Pinnacle continues to align the Ribbon product offering with its support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, prioritizing the importance of the awareness icon and the new Ribbon positioning. In addition to the Pinnacle “jet trail logo,” Ribbon nameplate and pink or lavender play number, the golf balls feature the Susan G. Komen for the Cure logo and accompanying ribbon. The new and contemporary packaging will feature a soft white primary color with a pink or lavender flowing ribbon design to clearly differentiate between the two offerings and establish a distinctive impression and shelf presence. The Acushnet Company is a proud member of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Million Dollar Council and is dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness. The Pinnacle Ribbon carries an MSRP of $18 per 15-ball pack and $14.99 MAP.

The entire line of new Pinnacle product offerings begins shipping to golf shops on October 1, 2009.

“With the Pinnacle brand we strive to provide discernible points of difference and a higher realized value for the golfer,” said Sine. “With our new Pinnacle Dimension, Gold Precision and Gold Distance, and Ribbon introductions, we are committed to exceeding the distance and performance requirements of value conscious recreational golfers of all levels. This is, without a doubt, the strongest, most comprehensive Pinnacle golf ball product line in the brand’s legendary history, with products reaching a wider range of golfers that will improve their distance and performance, as well as enhance their golfing experience.”

For more information, please visit us online at www.pinnaclegolf.com or contact:
Joe Gomes, Director of Communications, Acushnet Company (508.979.3211) or joe.gomes@acushnetgolf.com.

Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra and Pinnacle comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE – FO).

30 comments|October 6th, 2009

Making the Official Ball of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship

Recently, just before participating in a long drive exhibition for members of the local media, Pinnacle Distance Team members Art Sellinger, Jason Zuback and Jamie Sadlowski , joined by a film crew from ESPN, visited Acushnet Company’s Ball Plant II facility, where Rastko Gajic, Acushnet Company’s Ball Plant II Manager of Process Quality, took them on a plant tour for a first-hand look at how the Pinnacle Gold FX Long golf ball is made.

Check out the photo gallery below to get a behind-the scenes look for yourself.

Pinnacle Gold FX Long, the Official Golf Ball at the
RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship

1 comment|October 16th, 2008

Dalen DeMary Wins the 2008 Exceptional Driver Championship

Dalen DeMary of Gilbert, AZ out-drove 6,412 amateur contestants from 148 qualifying sites in the U.S. and Canada to win the 2008 Exceptional Driver Championship in Mesquite, NV. The 28-year-old DeMary, a plus-1.1 handicap player who has aspirations of one day playing on the PGA TOUR, demonstrated TOUR-caliber grit, power and poise under pressure in capturing the $100,000 prize as well as the title of “Best Driver of the Golf Ball in North America”.

Check out a couple photos from the 2008 Exceptional Driver Championship below.

DeMary got bitten by the EDC bug in 2006. Intrigued by the concept of a competition that rewards both power and accuracy, DeMary paid his $20 entry fee and participated in a local qualifier. In his first attempt DeMary hit all five balls as well as his bonus ball in the grid. He won the qualifier with an impressive score of 59 points. However, he didn’t fare as well at the 2006 Championship, where he got bounced in the first round. “It’s easy to post a good score in any one round”, explained DeMary, “but it’s another thing altogether to put up good scores round after round after round.”

Undaunted, DeMary qualified for the Championship again in 2008. He started slowly; his combined Round 1 and Round 2 scores of 31 points placed him in the losers bracket, where he’d have to compete in an extra round. However, a strong score of 42 points in Round 3 got him back on track. He then posted scores of 50, 34 and 73 and 38 points to advance through Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. He was now one of the eight finalists who would advance to Saturday’s match play finals.

In the quarterfinals, DeMary defeated David Dover 38 to 10. Demary’s performance in Round 7 had placed him as the #5 seed. In the semifinals, he would now face the #1 seed, Casey Fowles, who posted 55 points in Round 7. In the semis, with the pressure mounting, Fowles was only able to find the grid twice, scoring 22 points. DeMary’s fourth shot spelled the difference, a 12-pointer that gave him three in the grid, a 34-point total and the victory. In the head-to-head finals, with only two balls remaining, DeMary trailed in his match with Rick Dimick of Eagle Pointe, OR by 14 points. A smooth swing on his fourth attempt resulted in 12 points. A great drive, but not enough to overtake Dimick. He still needed a ball in the grid on his fifth and final ball. DeMary put the same smooth cut swing on his fifth drive and rejoiced immediately after impact. He knew he had caught the ball squarely. A few anxious seconds later, his intuition was confirmed. His drive had come to rest on the right side of the grid, over 300 yards downrange, for a score of 11 points. He had won the EDC Championship by a score of 35 to 28. We recently caught up with Dalen and asked him a few questions:

PINNACLE: Congratulations on your big win, Dalen. Has your accomplishment sunk in yet?

DALEN: It’s starting to, but I really haven’t come off the high yet.

PINNACLE: Tell us about the competition. What was your strategy?

DALEN: Well, I usually favor a draw when I play, but in EDC I played a high cut. I sacrificed a little distance, but with the high fade I knew the ball was going to hit the grid and hold. There were quite a few players who played a low running shot. More times than not I’d see them land in the grid and roll off. Zero points. It’s hard enough to fly the ball on line without worrying about funny bounces, too. So I definitely think my strategy paid off. It took a big variable out of the equation.

PINNACLE: So is accuracy more important than distance at EDC?

DALEN: No, I’d still say distance is key. If you look at the scores throughout the Championship, players are probably only averaging 3 balls in the grid out of 5 per round. So when you do hit the grid, you have to make sure you’re getting rewarded with high point totals. Three balls in at 11 or 12 points each is a lot easier than four balls in at 7 or 8 points each. Forty yards sounds like a wide landing area, but it really looks tiny when you’re 300 yards out. You know you’re going to miss the grid occasionally, so you have to make your good drives count.

PINNACLE: You had lots of 11 and 12 point shots throughout the competition. What kind of distance does that equate to?

DALEN: If you’re right down the middle and get the bonus point for landing in the 20-yard-wide Exceptional Zone, a drive between 290 and 300 yards will earn you 11 points. If you’re on either the left or right side of the grid, you have to hit it 300 to 310 yards for an 11-pointer.

PINNACLE: Is that a typical distance for you? Do you swing comfortably to hit it that far?

DALEN: Yeah, like I said before, I usually play a draw and I’ll typically drive it between 320 and 330 yards in an everyday round of golf. The ball also flies well in Mesquite, so I was able to put a smooth swing on it and get right in that 300 yard range with a slight cut.

PINNACLE: Were you ever tempted to hit it as hard as you could?

DALEN: I was only going to try to kill it if I found myself way behind and if I needed to do something special. The way it worked out, I was never really in big trouble, so I could focus on tempo and stick with the same comfortable swing every time.

PINNACLE: You’re a plus-1.1 handicap. What kind of advantage has your distance given you in attaining your level of play?

DALEN: I’d say it’s a big advantage. As long as I stay reasonably straight, I’m able to hit wedges into virtually every par-4 I come across. You can score a lot better hitting wedge or sand wedge into greens than you can hitting 7 or 8 irons.

PINNACLE: Did you use any special equipment for the EDC?

DALEN: No. I’ve used the same Titleist 905R driver for several years now. It’s been extremely reliable.

PINNACLE: What other equipment do you play?

DALEN: I’ve always been a Titleist guy. I play a set of 690 MB irons and I use a Scotty Cameron putter. And I play a Titleist Pro V1 ball. I have to say, though, it was fun to drive Pinnacle Platinums all week at EDC.

PINNACLE: How has this win impacted your life? Do you have any immediate plans?

DALEN: Yes, actually. The $100,000 is huge. I’m going to invest a lot of it in myself, in my game. I want to take a shot at a playing career. I plan on playing in 5-10 Golden State Tour events next year and I’ll also take a shot at some Monday qualifiers on the west coast – the Nissan, Tuscon, FBR. I’ll try to qualify for the U.S. Open, too. And I hope the notoriety of winning EDC might open some doors, too.

We hope so, too, Dalen. Congratulations from all your friends at Pinnacle! We wish you the best of luck in reaching your goals!

Dalen was also featured as Long Drivers of America’s LDA Player of the Month. Check out Long Drivers’ interview with Dalen by clicking the link below:

http://www.longdrivers.com/ldaplayer.php?id=25

And if you missed The Golf Channel’s original airing of the Exceptional Driver Championship, TGC will be re-airing their broadcast, featuring Dalen, on November 11, 2008 at 10 AM EST as well as on December 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM EST. Click below for more details:

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=26000&select2=10347

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2 comments|October 3rd, 2008

Pinnacle on The Golf Channel

The Golf Channel recently aired some great footage from the Pinnacle Distance Team’s recent appearance at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Check out the coverage below:

Tuesdays on Tour at the Deutsche Bank

2 comments|September 17th, 2008

Who will go home with the $100,000 prize?

Watch the Exceptional Driver Championship Thursday at 10pm ET on Golf Channel

EDC Television Schedule

August 28, 2008         10 PM EST PREMIERE!
September 1, 2008      3 PM EST
September 2, 2008      9 AM EST
September 29, 2008     6 PM EST
November 11, 2008      10 AM EST
December 4, 2008         2:30 PM EST

2 comments|August 28th, 2008