Why Roger Cleveland’s return to Cleveland Golf is a big deal

I first met legendary club designer Roger Cleveland about seven years ago.

As a gear reporter and junky, I long had had Cleveland on my Mt. Rushmore of people to meet, and I still recall my extreme nervousness on that day in the winter of 2018.

You know what they about your heroes disappointing you? In this case, the result was the polar opposite. Roger not only maintained his hero status but also became a dear friend — one of the relationships I’ve made in this racket that I will cherish forever.

My admiration for Roger was rooted in his talent: He designed what I think is the greatest-ever wedge — the 588 — and one I had played religiously for more than two decades before I met him. There are four designs whose DNA still lives in a staggering number of clubs you see on the shelves. The Ping Anser and Anser 2, and the Cleveland 588 and 485.

Back when I got into this game in 1994, Cleveland was to wedges what Titleist is to golf balls today. They dominated the market, because the 588, in particular, seemed to work for any type of player. It was a clean, versatile design that allowed all players to hit a number of shots around the greens. The club didn’t come in countless grinds or options, because they weren’t necessary.

Keep in mind that the 588 was launched in 1988! The design lived and succeeded for 12 years before a successor (the 900) was introduced to the market. Think about that with today’s launch cadence. Can you think of a modern-day club that hasn’t changed in a dozen years?

The list of players who had Cleveland wedges back in the day was insane.

Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, David Toms, Ernie Els, Jose Marie Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, David Duval, Lee Janzen, Nick Price, Corey Pavin, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and on and on. In 1996, Roger moved to Callaway, where he transformed the company’s wedge and iron program and his work landed in the bags of countless other brand-name pros.

If you know the 588 design well, you would know that most of what you see on the shelves these days samples Roger’s work, in the same way that musicians might sample classic tunes from the 70s or 80s. I love that this happens; it’s an acknowledgment of Roger’s greatness than anything else. Sometimes designs are so good they stand the test of time.

Much like the reputation of this great man.

RC, as I call him, more or less took me under his wing from that first meet-up.

He gave me his number. We spoke periodically if I had a question. He was always available for interviews and quotes for an article. When I joined Callaway, he looked after me in almost a fatherly way. He would always want to know how I was adjusting to the travel, to being on Tour, etc. I loved our chats and checking in on one another whether things were good or bad. He always was home base for me.

I love the man deeply, and selfishly I always wanted him to return to where it all started for him. That time has come.

On Wednesday, Cleveland officially announced that Roger is coming home to consult on its wedge program, opening the opportunity for one more 588 run.

I’m writing this to congratulate my friend and to express my excitement. When I first heard whispers of his return to Cleveland, it kinda felt like Ken Griffey Jr. playing his last games in a Mariners uniform. One last run on the team he helped define.

For that I’m grateful.

More to come.

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Cleveland Golf

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