Grab a coffee and settle in for a no-nonsense ride through the ins and outs of my gig as a greenskeeper. We're talking early mornings, buzzing lawnmowers, and enough bunker-raking to make a chiropractor rich. But hey, somebody's gotta do it, and I've got the scoop on what it's really like behind the scenes.
The WHY:
Let me rewind a bit and spill the backstory on how I stumbled into the world of greens keeping. Picture this: a person yearning for a change, a departure from the usual routine, and a burning desire to fully commit to learning all there is about golf, including how to keep bringing customers the very best golf gloves. That person was me. Tossing caution aside, I decided to bid farewell to the conventional and embarked on a journey to explore the world. From navigating the jungles of Central America to basking on a Californian green, my adventure eventually led me to Melbourne.
Now, Melbourne isn't just known for its coffee culture and laneways; it boasts some of the world's finest golf courses. Driven by an eagerness to absorb myself into the world of golf, I was determined to dedicate my time here to learning, playing, and making invaluable connections in the city. In a serendipitous turn of events, I landed a gig as a greenskeeper. Every divot I filled and bunker I raked was not just a task but a step deeper into the heart of a sport I had grown to love. Welcome to my world, where the game isn't just a pastime; it's a way of life, complete with misty mornings, drizzly afternoons, and an insight to the hard work behind the grandeur of the golfing universe.
Early Mornings and the Roar of the Lawn Mower:
Ever wondered what the world looks like when the sun is just starting to peek over the horizon? Well, let me tell you – it's a magical sight, especially when you're perched on top of a roaring lawn mower, cruising through the dew-kissed grass. As a greenskeeper, my alarm clock is set for the unholy hour of 4am, but trust me, there's something strangely soothing about being the first one on the course.
Of course, it couldn’t all be as dream-like as described above and the unruly Melbourne weather is a twist in my greenskeeping tale that I hadn't quite anticipated. Before I landed down under, I pictured endless sunny days, the kind you see in postcards. Reality check: Melbourne has a mind of its own when it comes to weather. Some mornings, instead of being greeted by a cheerful sunrise, I find myself battling through mist and drizzle, armed with rain gear and a determined spirit. Turns out, not every day on the golf course is a sun-soaked adventure; some are downright miserable. Yet, amidst the gloom, there's a strange beauty to those misty mornings, and they've become a quirky part of my Greenskeeping adventure.
Bunker Blues:
Now, let's talk bunkers – those sandy traps strategically scattered across the course, just waiting to gobble up an errant golf ball. Little did I know that keeping those suckers in tip-top shape would be a workout in itself. Armed with a rake and a mission, I spend what feels like half my life smoothing out those pesky bunkers.
Raking bunkers is a unique form of therapy, they said. But let me tell you, after a few hours of bending, lifting, and raking, it feels more like a boot camp workout. And don't even get me started on the golfers who seem to have an uncanny ability to land their balls right in the center of the sand – thanks, guys!
The Immaculate Illusion:
So, what's the main takeaway from my Greenskeeping escapades? It's that maintaining a golf course isn't just about making it look pretty – it's about creating the illusion of perfection. Sure, from a distance, it's all emerald greens and pristine fairways, but behind the scenes, it's a battlefield of mowers, rakes, and an army of greenskeepers working tirelessly to keep the magic alive.
Being a greenskeeper has given me a newfound appreciation for the immaculate façade of a golf course. It's not just a pretty picture; it's a labor of love, a daily grind that goes unnoticed by many. So, the next time you're out on the course, take a moment to tip your hat to the greenskeepers – the unsung heroes making sure your golfing paradise stays picture-perfect.
In the end, every divot filled, every bunker raked, and every blade of grass meticulously trimmed is a testament to the dedication it takes to keep a golf course looking like it just stepped out of a magazine. Cheers to the greenskeepers, the guardians of the green, the unsung MVPs of the golfing world
FreshGrip began in 2021, at the height of a new generation joining the game, able to social distance on the beauty of the golf green. FreshGrip quickly grew, with players taking the opportunity to wear bold, vibrant and different products and make a unique statement on the course
With a gap in the market and the support of our amazing customers, we were able to add new designs, release new series and ultimately, begin to fulfill the dream of FreshGrip - saying goodbye to stale, boring golf gloves and hello to vibrant colours and inventive designs.
Yet at the fabric of FreshGrip, it’s not only the dedication to fun and vibrance but also quality, functionality and a commitment to our customers - we needed to improve our gloves!
Since late 2022, founder Matt has made it his mission to make a better product; challenging, innovating and seeking alternatives to what has gone before. Hours of research, designing, sampling and communication with our suppliers later, and we were ready to launch. By July 2023, a new FreshGrip glove was born. Same designs, better gloves. We had our proudest moment yet - the launch of the new Players and Motif editions!
All gloves now feature AAA cabretta leather, dramatically improving durability, comfort and feel. Our designs are now printed using the latest technology, producing a vibrant finish that is difficult to tear your eyes away from. We obsess over every stitch, seam and blemish to ensure the glove you receive is of the highest quality.
We didn’t just stop there.
All gloves are now packaged in recyclable wallets, and the mailing bags which are used to ship to you are biodegradable.
Bettered, revamped, improved, enriched, sharpened.
A good golf glove is one of the best golf accessories you can invest in so, it stands to reason, that you purchase one that has style, durability and longevity because, although it may not seem it, it is an item which can improve your game without you even noticing.
That's where we come in - FreshGrip is changing the game with their unique patterns and colourful designs. The history of golf gloves has been defined by function over form. For many years, golfers were content with plain leather gloves that simply served their purpose of protecting the hands and providing grip. But as golf became more mainstream, players began to seek more personalisation and style in their accessories.
We are uniquely positioned to support this movement, offering a wide range of patterned and colourful gloves to suit any golfer's tastes. From bold geometric designs to retro patterns of a bygone era, our gloves are a far cry from the traditional plain white or black gloves of the past.
Not only do our gloves offer a fresh take on the traditional design of golf gloves, but they also prioritise functionality. Our gloves are made from high-quality cabretta leather and synthetic materials that provide a comfortable fit, excellent grip and high-quality design print.
The biggest advantage of our gloves, however, is the ability to express your personality, style and fun-side which plain gloves simply can't do. Whether it's our Geometric for the fashion-conscious or a subdued black and white Splatter for the classicist, these gloves allow golfers to stand out from the crowd and make a statement on the course.
While golf gloves have been around for over a century, our gloves are revolutionising the game with unique patterns and colourful designs. These gloves offer golfers the best of both worlds - style and functionality - and are quickly becoming a must-have accessory for players of all skill levels.
So why settle for boring plain gloves when you can express your personality and style with FreshGrip gloves?
]]>Scratch Women are a London based golf community aiming to inspire, encourage and support inner-city women to enjoy the skill of golf. How? By holding lots of meet-ups, fun socials and building a network of girl golfers for their members. They meet regularly at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range for a range session and drinks afterwards. As well as holding Saturday coaching sessions at Hersham Golf Club to help members get their game into shape. Head to their website to see when the next social is on!
Our partnership with Skratch Women has enabled us to release four new Womens golf gloves in four great designs: Pink Contour, Grey Leopard, Mixed Floral and Fine Line Floral. Let us know your favourite one! You can pick up your own glove on our website now, or even mix and match your favourite 3 for £35. Our stylish golf gloves combine supple AAA cabretta leather and a vivid quality design that stays looking great for longer.
The game of golf is certainly under the limelight at the moment. Especially with the controversial new LIV Golf Tour, headed up by Greg Norman. And since the COVID pandemic, the game has seen a growing number of new golfers take up the game. However, the number of women getting into the game still remains low. So groups like Skratch Women are doing amazing things to help make a difference and making golf more approachable for beginners women golfers. It can be a daunting game to get into.
We hope you like our latest release as much as we do. Keep your eyes peeled for lots more designs in the pipework!
]]>Golf gloves are an important aspect of any golfer's swing and the quality of the materials can’t be understated. If you normally wear a glove, you’ve definitely tried swinging and hitting a few balls without one. It just feels weird, right? It feels like you’re missing a secure grip on the club as you swing.
Not only that, but a glove gives you that extra protection against blisters and sore hands from consistent friction from swinging a club. But make sure you choose the right sized glove, because a loose fitting one can cause it’s own problems in terms of blisters and friction sore points. Looking for help on how to choose the right sized glove? We’ve written a blog about that before, read it here.
You also want it to look great. This is an important aspect when choosing the right type of glove. The different types of materials used to make golf gloves have a big impact on the quality of printing on gloves, which we’ll talk about later.
Our mission is to give golfers a better choice. A choice that’s interesting and bold. We avoid the mundane and give you something different. But we’re not doing it by sacrificing quality.
Our gloves are made from a combination of cabretta & faux leather. This is because we made a big discovery when we were creating our very first products. During development, we opted for a full 100% premium cabretta leather, and used a process called digital printing to give our gloves the bold designs that you love.
In the testing phase we noticed that the patterns on the gloves were peeling and fading during use. Something we weren’t happy about. We discovered that cabretta leather is naturally moist and oily, which is why it’s incredibly supple and soft.
However, a naturally oily leather is not a good combination to print designs on. The printed patterns couldn’t bind to the leather and faded quickly.
We had to think of a new solution. So we tested a few alternatives. But one thing was absolutely certain, we were not going to sacrifice quality.
Our gloves are the ultimate combination of premium cabretta & faux leather. The palm is made using cabretta leather because of its impeccable feel and grip. The back of the hand is made from a smooth faux leather that is perfect bringing our bold colourful designs to life, but is still soft and supple. This faux leather is also incredibly difficult to tell real from faux.
We're incredibly proud to be making our mark on the UK glove market. Our mission is to enhance the golf experience by providing stylish and high-quality gloves that inspire self-expression and performance. We strive to create a unique and memorable brand that stands out on the course and makes a statement in the golf community.
Have you played a round with our colourful golf gloves yet? Be sure to let us know what you think. Join the many happy customers and their 5 star reviews and freshen up your grip with a FreshGrip glove today.
]]>Tip #1 - Don't use it!
Joking, kind of. What we mean is, don’t use your sparkly new FreshGrip glove down the range, or during practice. Always keep an old one in the bag for that. There’s no need to hit balls with your latest fresh one for practise, it’s a sure fire way to dive bomb it’s longevity. Keep your nice looking ones for when it really matters, out on the course.
Tip #2 - Store your glove properly.
Golf gloves aren’t supposed to be left screwed up and damp in your bag after a round. This can really damage the material and can become hard and lose its shape. After you finish, make sure your glove is dry and lay it flat in it’s own pouch, copying the original shape it came in. A ziplock bag or similar is great. If it’s damp, make sure to dry it before storing it. All FreshGrip gloves are delivered in resealable pouch which is perfect to store your golf glove in when not in use.
Tip #3 - Take your glove off between shots
Wearing a glove when you’re not hitting a shot isn’t necessary, so this is a perfect time to take it off. Overtime, your glove will absorb oil and moisture from sweat which wears out the leather faster. Slow down this process by taking it off when you can and let it breath.
Tip #4 - Gently wash it
A dirty, grimy, greasy, sweat-stained glove is likely deteriorating before your eyes. Grease/oil/salt/dirt wears away at the leather, causing it to rip or crack — especially after the moisture component has dried out. One way to avoid this is to gently hand wash your golf glove at home. You read that right. With a gentle detergent, a quick soak and a gentle scrub will help pull the oil out from your glove and have it looking and feeling like new. Just don’t put it in the dryer — let it air dry.
Tip #5 - Get the right size
Make sure you buy the right size. An ill-fitting glove could cause wear and tear in various areas. We have a handy blog post published to help you measure your hand and buy the right size for you.
Tip #6 - Check your wear marks.
It might not be the gloves fault, it could well be your grip. Wear excessive wear marks in the fat part of the palm, underneath the little finger, the thumb or index finger locations means it’s likely you are gripping the club too hard. Over time you should have even worn marks across the hand.
]]>Fit is everything when it comes to golf gloves. Too big, and it could cause unnecessary rubbing and soreness. Too tight and the glove could tear.
And, as your golf glove gets a lot of use, and is an important component for controlling your club during your swing, it’s important you get the right one for you.
The vast majority of golfers actually buy gloves that are not the right size of them. So, we’ve put this guide together to help you choose the right size, and your glove may last a little longer.
How to measure your hand
To understand what size glove you are, you will need to make two hand measurements.
One, measure from the crease in your wrist, just below the palm of your hand, to the top of your middle finger. This will give you the measurement for the length of your hand.
Two, measure circumference of your hand starting and finishing at the knuckles on the back of your hand. This will give you an idea on the width of your hand.
We recommend using a textile measuring tape so you can easily wrap it around your hand to get an accurate measurement.
What should the fit feel like?
It’s important that your glove fits without any excess material at the end of your fingers, or sagging on the back or palm of your hand. You want your glove to feel tight, but not restrictive.
Further tips for buying the right gloves
Read more about looking after your glove here.
Size |
Width – Hand |
Length – Middle Finger |
Small |
3 3/8 inches |
7 2/8 inches |
Medium |
3 5/8 inches |
7 1/2 inches |
Medium / Large |
3 3/4 inches |
7 3/4 inches |
Large |
3 7/8 inches |
8 inches |
Extra Large | 4 2/8 inches | 8 2/8 inches |