As early as the 1970s, George Carlin told the world that “if you put two things together that have never been put together before, some crook will buy it for you.“
It’s a funny and sarcastic line (George was the king of sarcasm, after all), but it confuses innovation with creativity.
That said, I’m not sure this is new Sew x Bushnell Collab qualifies as really innovative, but certainly creative.
Meet the new Sew Linkbut be aware. Stitch and Bushnell didn’t just connect two things that have never been connected before.
It’s actually three things, and it uses silicon and magnets. No nails.
Seriously, check this thing out.
What is it Sew Link?
Golf collaborations can sometimes feel forced, but the goal is a noble one, says Stitch CEO Brad King.
“How do you take what they do really well and what we do really well and come up with something that’s never been seen before?”
In this case, what Sew Golf and Bushnell has worked is a new age golf bag belt. of Sew Linenk is a three-in-one golf bag belt Bushnell Wingman Mini Bluetooth Speaker and a Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope GPS device built into the belt itself.
“The Bushnell team reached out to us to explore ways to collaborate,” King tells MyGolfSpy. “We took our knowledge of single and double strap golf bags and built GPS and a Bluetooth speaker right into the strap.”
Stitch originally thought of building the speaker and GPS unit into a golf bag, but the strap idea opened up many more sales opportunities.
“The Sew Link it’s designed to connect to any Stitch golf bag,” explains King. “But we’ve designed an adapter clip pack, so it will be able to connect to almost any bag.”
Wait, these things are real IN the belt?
Yes.
IN double strap modelThe Wingman Mini is secured to the cross strap padding at the rear, while the Phantom 3 Slope GPS is secured at the front. Both are held in place in a silicon frame pocket backed with a magnet.
IN sversion with a beltThe Wingman Mini is on the back half of the belt. The Phantom 3 tilt is mounted on the front, so you can see it while walking.
of Bushnell Wingman Mini it also doubles as a sort of GPS device. Pressing “B” on the speaker gives you audible readings at a distance and is loaded with 38,000 courses worldwide. This functionality presents a problem when you’re actually carrying the bag, however, since it’s mounted on the back. The only way to use that function practically will be when you put the bag down.
of Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope GPS features a large easy-to-read touchscreen. It provides front-middle-back slope adjusted distances as well as hazard distances.
Go ask any Pro Shop and they’ll tell you: The most common items lost in their Lost and Found are rangefinders, GPS devices, and Bluetooth speakers.
“With this, if you lose your GPS or your speaker, you’ve lost your golf club,” King says.
But, but…music on the course is one disgust!
I’m not a big course music guy, but I honestly don’t care if my playing partners want to stir up some frustration. I raised four children. A little noise doesn’t really bother me.
I know the arguments: Nobody wants to hear your dirty music blasting from three streetsOR wear headphones and we won’t have a problemOR I just want to be one with nature. I tell you what, a small speaker on a belt in your purse is not the same as a speaker in a stroller.
“You’re sitting inside a golf cart, the sound is amplified because you’re basically in a box,” King says. “When it’s on a belt, it’s for the person closest to the bag.”
As far as I’m concerned, use one if you want to and don’t if you don’t. If raging at everyone gives you an endorphin rush, you should go for it. It is a free country. The reality, however, is that Bluetooth speakers on golf courses aren’t going away.
On the other hand, if you’re a golfer who plays music, at least be a good citizen. After all, no one wants to hear your crappy music blasting from three streets.
Play some Yacht Rock, man, or some early 70’s soul. You better slow down that swing, baby.
Stitch Link: Final Thoughts, Price and Availability
it Stitch Golf x Bushnell collab definitely ranks as one of the more unusual collaborations we’ve seen this year. We have to give both companies a tip of the hat for creativity for even thinking of putting a GPS device and a Bluetooth speaker on a golf bag strap.
Seriously, it never would have occurred to me. But then again, that’s why I’m a writer and not a product developer. A man must know his limitations.
That said, while Stitch Link is creative, he falls into one of two buckets. For some, it’s an amenity that can enhance the walking golfer’s experience. For others, it may be a solution in search of a problem. Either way, one thing is certain. If you’re trying to find a gift for the golfer who has everything, I guarantee he won’t have one of these.
But what could George Carlin be thinking? As far as I know, old George was not a golfer. Personally, I don’t think you’d be cheating to buy one. It could be a useful accessory for the music-loving, GPS-using bag golfer, although it costs more than most bags.
According to Stitch, the new Sew Link The built-in strap can be used with any Sew band 2 golf bags. The adapter kit includes three different sets of connectors, including the dog chain style. Additionally, both Bushnell devices can be removed from the belt and used individually.
Both single-strap and dual-strap models are available now at Sew the website. They retail for $350 each. The adapter kit should be available soon.
Post You Won’t Believe This Golf Stitch x Bushnell Collab! appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
