Its great to know that our wearers are coming back again for their second, third, and fourth pairs of golf shoes. After having had some time in our phx, 2012 stealths and 2012 tours, we're confident that they're more comfortable, more stylish, and a better fit than anything we've produced before. Coordinated to the new product launch, we've obviously launched our new website. As we head through the month of January, you should see some new features unveiled on the site and will note that the stealth and tours begin to ship in early February.

We're eager to hear what your experience in our '12 golf shoes is like. Stop by our Facebook page or leave a review on the product pages. Tell us who you are, where you play, and what you think of the shoes.  And don't forget to be on the watch for limited edition releases, our women's line, and upcoming promotions!

Thank you for showing us that it’s not a 1, 2, or 3 act play.  After stubbing your toe with the Apple III and Lisa, the Mac was born.  After getting ousted by the board, you came back and increased revenue from $7B to $65B while changing industries and millions of lives along the way.

Thank you for inspiring me and others to follow their passion and chart their own course.

Thank you for showing us that you should never settle for “good enough.”

And thank you for all of these insanely great products.

I will miss you.

Sean Eidson

ceo - TRUE linkswear

As a product geek it is impossible to recall how many times I have referenced an Apple creation as a "north star" to be admired and aspired to.

Steve Jobs, obviously, was a genius and a visionary. He was a passionate perfectionist who ignored the status quo and charted his own course until his products became the status quo.

He never followed the crowd.  He shaped innovation in ways that literally changed how humans function on a daily basis. Who can live without their iPod, iPhone, iPad or Mac Book? Apple is part of how we exist and Mr. Jobs' product vision was iconic.

As important for the future, in my opinion, was Mr. Jobs' influence on a generation of product entrepreneurs to think differently in their own "space", and his legacy will inspire entrepreneurs for many generations to come.

Thank you Mr. Jobs for giving companies like TRUE linkswear the confidence to strap on some "brassies", challenge the status quo and pursue a dream.

We will miss you.

Rob Rigg

President - TRUE linkswear

Ryan's next tournament will be the Justin Timberlake Shriners Open in Las Vegas - just down the street from his house.

Ryan's Bag for The BMW Championship

Putter: Cleveland Classic 3

60* Titleist Vokey Design; BV 260-06; Spin Milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, Dynamic Gold Wedge Shaft
54* Titleist Vokey TVD54; Spin Milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, Dynamic Gold Lite Wedge Shaft

4-P Adams idea MB2, Dynamic Gold X100 Pro Lite Sensicore, Ping Tour Velvet Grip

20 degree Adams idea pro A12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi Hybrid 05-100, Ping Tour Velvet Grip

14 degree Adams idea pro a12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi 05-100, Ping Tour Velvet Grip

3 Wood - Adams Speedline Fairway, F11, Ti, 15*. Shaft: UST Proforce, Mamiya, 6TX

Driver - Adams Speedline, 9088 LDA 7*. Shaft: UST Proforce, Mamiya, 6TX

Ryan's Footwear Selection

Thursday: TRUE stealth - White with Cream sole
Friday: TRUE stealth - Brown with Cream sole
Saturday: TRUE stealth - Brown with Cream sole
Sunday: TRUE stealth - Brown with Cream sole

In the last few months, I had purchased high end Adidas and FJ Streets in order to find a more comfortable shoe. 2 weeks ago the "shoe-guy" at my local Golfsmith in The Woodlands,  Texas recommended I just try they on. He calls himself this, and it is obvious why, he loves what he does ALOT! I could not truly believe what my feet were telling me. The ooos and ahhhs from my toes and heels could not be real. Had someone finally designed the perfect shoe? Needless to say, "shoe-guy" along with my feet talked me into buying a pair. When I got to my course, everyone kept looking at my shoes. "What are those?", "where did you get them?", "they look comfortable!" and on and on. Needless to say, all the money I have spent on other shoes recently has been wasted and I gave away most all of the other pairs I owned. Oakleys, FJ's, Nike's, Adidas...all gone.  Outside of the obvious and extreme comfort, I love many other features that "bug" me with other shoes:

1 - Sole design is genius. It is stable, you can feel slopes and subtle curves in the ground AND anything outside of clay will not stick.

2 - Lowering the heel of the shoes. Ever try to raise your head with most of your weight on your heels? Possible, but hard to do.

3 - Tongue design. I hate, hate, hate shoes in which the tongue twists to the side. This is not possible with your shoe.

4 - Leather of the shoe is soft, yet gives the impression that it is thick enough to last many years.

5 - Most guys do not have tiny hands, so the bigger laces are also a plus.

Thanks for a product that is ahead of its time, I look forward to owning many more pairs.

Howard W.

He has changed his Driver, 3 Wood and Putter from the last time we posted WITB for RyMo.

Putter: Cleveland Classic 3

Wedges

60* Titleist Vokey Design; BV 260-06; Spin Milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, DG Wedge shaft
54* Titleist Vokey TVD54; Spin Milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, DG Lite Wedge shaft

Irons

4-P Adams  idea MB2, DG x100 Pro Lite Sensicore, Ping Tour Velvet Grip

Woods and Hybrids

20 degree Adams idea pro A12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi Hybrid 05-100, Ping Tour Velvet Grip
14 degree Adams idea pro a12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi Hyrbrid 05-100, Ping Tour Velvet Grip

3 WD Speedline Super fairway, Ti-w.! 14.5*, Matrix 7M3 black tie, X-Flex,  GP Tour Velvet Grip
Driver Adams Speedline,9088LOA. 7*, Graphite Design tourAD quattro tech X 75 grams,  GP Tour Velvet Grip

Ryan's shoe choices

TRUE tours: White/White with Black sole

TRUE stealth: Brown/Cream and White/Cream

Ryan Moore in his White TRUE tours

Honestly, we are ecstatic because we believe all golfers would benefit from lighter, more flexible shoes. TRUE is very confident that our product will outperform what others bring to the market and we will continue to innovate and improve so competitors remain a step or two behind us in the minimalist golf shoe space.

Ryan Moore at a PGA TOUR event in his TRUE stealths

How did it Start?

On a summer morning two years ago, Sean Eidson, the CEO and co-founder of TRUE linkswear, teed it with a guy golfing in the Vibram Five Fingers. The VFFs were part of the barefoot running movement which Chris McDougall captured wonderfully in "Born to Run", a book that essentially discusses the benefits of eliminating motion control in footwear because they cause injuries and reduce proprioception (the communication between the nerves in your feet and your brain). We thought there might be a way to bring those benefits to golf.

As we worked to develop the TRUE tour our goal was fairly simple - build a golf shoe around the foot, not a dress shoe, in order to allow the body to function naturally while swinging and walking.

The key benefits we sought in developing a minimalist golf shoe were 1) Comfort 2) Increased Feel or Proprioception 3) Excellent Traction 4) Lightweight 5) Waterproof

What makes our Shoes Special?

In order to create a "slipper with traction", as customers have been calling the TRUEs, we looked to barefoot running shoes for inspiration and built from the ground up. To maximize comfort we added memory foam to the heel and a sock fit liner under the laces to lock the foot into place and reduce heel slippage, which can cause blisters. With the back half of the foot comfortably secured in the shoe it would allow the toes in the forefoot to function naturally.

Natural toe function in the shoe helps increase proprioception and traction when combined with the barefoot Ergo-Traction outsole.

Most golf shoes are built with a heel wedge in the back, a shank in the bottom and mid-sole between the outsole and the foot. All of these elements reduce proprioception by skewing signals from the feet to the brain due to excess material between the foot and the ground. We eliminated these properties and created a shoe with an 2.5mm outsole that would contact the ground and a 3mm insole that would provide some cushioning while walking. Feedback from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive - "finally a company designed a golf shoe that was incredibly comfortable while also providing great feel and traction."

The lightweight nature of the TRUEs, weighing in around 13 ounces which is 5 to 10 ounces less than other shoes on TOUR, was basically a bi-product of our construction method and simplification of materials. We added a full waterproof membrane to the TRUE tour and it is still lighter than many non-waterproof golf shoes on the market. Customers have taken the shoes out of the box and walked 36 holes a day at places like Bandon Dunes without ever getting a blister or foot fatigue.

Design elements of the TRUE tour

What is the TRUE Effect?

The TRUE effect started with what we call The Street Effect, referring to the obvious success of the Ecco Street Premier golf shoe that Fred Couples made famous at the 2010 Masters. I had just returned from China with our TRUE tour prototype and was surprised, in a very good way, to see another spikeless golf shoe making some serious noise. When Ryan Moore started wearing the TRUE tour in May 2010 there were only two spikeless golf shoes on TOUR and only one with a barefoot platform. How times have changed!

The Street effect led some competitors to produce almost identical models to the Ecco Street Premier. Now we are seeing the start of the TRUE effect which, to be honest, is incredibly exciting for us and not surprising based on what golfers have been telling us for months.

We have received a ton of feedback on the TRUE tour and stealth – here’s one from the past week that echoes hundreds of others - "today I broke 80 for the first time in my TRUEs, these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn." We have been receiving comments like these from our TRUE friends since our shoes got to market in November 2010.

Jim Colton walked 155 holes in one day in his TRUEs to raise over $100k for Ben Cox and his family

Is the TRUE effect really happening ?

Nike Golf just announced the Nike FREE TW Prototype Golf Shoes and Tiger Woods is wearing them at The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this week. Nike FREE running shoes hit the market back in 2004 which was the same year that the Vibram Five Finger was released. 7 years later Nike are finally releasing a FREE version of their golf shoe because Tiger asked for it? We believe the more likely reason for the launch of this shoe is the impressive response to the Ecco Street Premier and the TRUE linkswear Tour. As one blogger said "It is interesting however to see Nike bringing their Free concept to golf. Dare I say that they’re following the lead of True Linkswear?"

Adidas, has an ad campaign based on getting as close to the ground as possible. Their new product has kept the spikes but they are focusing on flexibility in the forefoot region. From our perspective, Adidas, Nike and Ecco, with their new BIOM, are starting to chart a "Natural Motion" course which we attempted to capture with the barefoot technology of the TRUE tour.

While the Nike FREE TW Prototype, ECCO Biom and Adidas TOUR360 ATV are all much higher off the ground, we applaud the efforts to allow the foot to function more naturally. Golfers want comfort and performance in a golf shoe and that has been tough to find for many years.

What’s Next?

We are seeing the beginnings of the TRUE Effect in golf footwear as we move towards 2012, but TRUE linkswear remains the only company making a truly minimalist golf shoe based on a barefoot platform.

In a few years, we expect the lightweight/flexible/spikeless market to be more than half of the total golf shoe market - The shoes we see today are just the tip of the iceberg. With the help of our TRUE friends, TRUE linkswear will continue to lead.

This course holds a special place in Ryan's heart as it was at The Canadian Open at Shaughnessy in 2005 where he secured his PGA TOUR Card and avoided having to visit Q School. Most impressive of the young jedi.

Ryan will be sporting a mix of TRUE stealths and the Limited Edition White/Red TRUE tour in Vancouver. The Limited Editions are available at TRUE linkswear.com and also at select Golf Town locations in BC and Ontario.

Canadian Open TRUE tour Limited Edition

On the stealth side Ryan has been leaning towards the Black with Mud sole, Black with Electric Blue sole and White with Cream sole.

Ryan will be visiting Golf Town in Richmond BC on Tuesday, July 19th from 6pm to 7pm so be sure to stop by if you are in the area and say "hi".

His bag at The Canadian Open will consist of:

Putter - Sik Pro; prototype; IOmic grip

60* Wedge - Titleist Vokey Design; BV 260-06; spin milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, Dynamic Gold Wedge Shaft
54* Wedge - Titleist Vokey TVD54; spin milled, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip, Dynamic Gold Lite Wedge Shaft

Irons - 4-P Adams idea MB2, Dynamic Gold x100 Pro Lite Sensicore, ribbed Ping Tour Velvet Grip

Hybrid - 20 degree Adams idea pro A12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi Hybrid 05-100, ribbed Ping Tour Velvet Grip
Hybrid - 14 degree Adams idea pro a12 proto-g, Oban Kiyoshi 05-100, ribbed Ping Tour Velvet Grip

3 Wood - Speedline F11 ti 14.5 degree, Fujikura Motora F3 x-flex 70g, ribbed Ping Tour Velvet Grip

Driver - Adams A4 InSight tech proto 9015d, Graphite Design tourAD quattro tech x-flex 75 grams, ribbed Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip (blue)

Dear my TRUE friends,

I wanted to send a quick note of thanks for supporting the Ben Cox golf marathon and for being a vital part of the big day. As you know, we smashed right through our original goal of 108 holes and ended up walking 155 holes in one day! That helped push the fundraising for the Cox family to new heights. Right now, we are sitting at over $80,000 raised!

I had TRUEs on my feet for the entire day, walked over 45 miles in 16 hours, and didn't have a single issue with my feet or legs. I can't think of a more ringing endorsement for your product. I doubt that I would've made it close to 155 in any other shoe. In fact, I wouldn't have even attempted to do this marathon if I hadn't discovered the TRUEs last year. I suffered through a summer of the Ecco Freddy Couples last summer, and they were murder on my feet and ankles when walking 36 or more. Now I wouldn't even wear those shoes to mow my lawn.

Jim Colton rockin' the Brown stealths during The Ben Cox 155

The sharp, brown TRUE stealths were on my feet when I teed off at 4:47 AM (see pic above) and stayed through Rounds 1 & 2. I've never been much of a brown shoe guy but these look great. They've become my go-to shoe whenever I'm wearing khakis - church, work, whatever. The stealths looked great in that GolfWorld spread, even if I did duck-hook that drive on #12 into the Yucca.

Jim was featured in Golf World - How cool is that?!?!

I had plans to wear my three TRUEs for two rounds each, but it was apparent early on that six rounds and 108 holes was going to be easily doable. I had The Masters Special Edition TRUE Tours on my feet for Rounds 3-5, including my low round of 75. I get more compliments on these white/green shoes than any other. I'm glad to be one of the lucky 100 to own a pair.

The White/Green LEs were part of the journey - inline in '12!

After a quick shower and change of clothes after Rd 5 (at about 1:20 PM), I put my black/red TRUE Tours on for the stretch run. As I said in my blog post, the black/reds aren't the most comfortable golf shoes I've ever worn. They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. Period. I could sleep in these shoes. I often find myself forgetting that I'm even wearing shoes when I have these on. What a revelation after 25+ years of ped-abuse on the golf course.

The Black TRUE tours were part of the stretch run

I tapped in for par on the par 3 11th hole, my 155th of the day, at 8:55 PM. In the weeks leading up to the event, "144" was the number in my head but I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know how I'd feel as the day wore on. When we finished the 144th hole, we still had about 55 minutes of daylight left and I felt fine. So I kept on going with the plan to play 9 more. Coming up the 8th and 9th fairway, we were still having fun, could still see the ball, so we kept on chugging and played two more. The day wouldn't have been nearly as successful or memorable had I had foot or leg problems half way into it. Each extra hole meant more money for the cause, so we were determined to get in as many as possible.

155 holes in one day - Beyond impressive and for a great cause.

Look, I'm smart enough to realize that I'm never going to qualify for a USGA event. And I'm probably never going to win a club championship. But this is the crowning achievement of my golfing life. This is my major. Meeting and getting to know Ben Cox has been a deeply moving experience for me the past few months. He has inspired me to be bold in life, be bold in faith and keep on pushing further. Without Ben, I wouldn't have discovered this ability to merge my passion for the game with helping a brother in need. I feel like this is the start of a new (and improved) chapter of my life as a golfer. Maybe 155 is just the beginning. I have Ben to thank for the inspiration. I have the TRUEs to thank for helping make it happen.

SIncerely,

Jim Colton

ps. If you could make TRUEs that have a laser-edge that shows you whether your feet are lined up parallel to the target on the greens, I'd be the first in line.

The most amazing scorecard we've ever seen at TRUE

How to give:

Send a check payable to: Prairie Home Baptist Church (memo: Ballyneal fundraiser)

Prairie Home Baptist Church
P.O. Box 271
Haxtun, CO 80731

The Raffle:

You will receive a raffle ticket for every $50 donated. Donations need to be received by Friday July 8th in order to be eligible for the raffle. The raffle will take place and winners notified on Saturday July 9th. The raffle includes over 70 golf prizes, including rounds of golf at some of the best and most prestigious courses in the world (NGLA, Merion, Riviera, Royal Dornoch, Pebble Beach, The Olympic Club, etc). See updated list here: http://www.wegoblogger31.com/2011/06/still-time-to-get-in-on-ben-cox-raffle.html

By the numbers:

155 - Holes played
$80,000 - Money raised so far for Ben Cox and the Cox family
16 hours, 8 minutes - total time spent on the golf course
45 - approximate number of miles walked (5.25 miles/round)
1:27 - quickest round (Rd 1) - 3.62 miles per hour pace
1:54 - slowest round (Rd 6) - 2.76 miles per hour pace
725 - Number of total strokes
+113 - Number of total strokes over par
41.44 - Scoring Average, front nine (+5.44 over par)
42.18 - Scoring Average, back nine (+7.18 over par)
83.62 - Scoring Average, overall (+12.62 over par)
4.75 - Lowest Scoring Average vs. Par, 16th Hole
5.38 - Highest Scoring Average vs. Par, 17th Hole
68 - Best ball score
108 - Worst ball score
12 - Number of Birdies
49 - Number of Pars
67 - Number of Bogeys
23 - Number of Double Bogeys
3 - Number of Triple Bogeys
1 - Number of Quintuple Bogeys
175 - Number of Three-Putts (approximate)

My best friend Justin, who is an avid golfer, was planning his wedding a couple months ago and wanted to break away from the traditional wedding getup.  He was shown the True Tours by Ryan First, Head Golf Professional at White Eagle Golf Club, and knew they would be a perfect fit with a tuxedo.  Due to high demand it was looking like it would be difficult to outfit all of the groomsmen with the shoes, but thanks to some hard work from Ryan and one of your representatives (who evidently went directly to Ryan Moore’s personal stash to fill our order) we were able to get the shoes in time and show up to the wedding in style.  Although we have yet to test the shoes on the course, we can attest that they held up well on the dance floor!

Jordan

Photos below!

Justin and his Groomsmen in their Black/White Tours

Lounging before "Go time!"

The Men in Black (with White soles!)

We launched a new model in the TRUE stealth, began working seriously on apparel, received samples for our 2012 men's and women's footwear lines, set up TRUE HQ in Scottsdale and are about to go chain wide at multiple retailers.

We are also starting to add to our team - which is VERY exciting.

TRUE linkswear is looking for an Office Manager to join us at our new headquarters in Scottsdale.

If you, or anyone you know, may be interested, please pass on this link.

Thanks!