Henry-Griffitts Club Makers Purchased

Henry-Griffits, that stand-alone custom club maker of Hayden, Idaho, stands alone no more. The 26-year-old firm was bought last October by aboutGolf Ltd. of Maumee, Ohio and 80 percent of its club making business has migrated to that firm’s headquarters. In its heyday in the ‘90s, Henry-Griffitts employed 24. Seven employees remain in Hayden, three have been hired in Ohio, and the rest have moved on to other jobs. The employees that remain produce clubs for the local area, repair any clubs damaged by owners in the Western states, take orders, provide customer service, construct fitting systems and assemble Henry-Griffitts putters. Jim Hofmeister, former president of the firm, remains in Hayden as chief of product development. He says the pared-down Henry-Griffitts presence will remain in North Idaho for at least the next two years and may build up again if business remains good. Hofmeister claims Henry-Griffitts produced 15,000 clubs last year. A new iron called the OS-1, part of an offset series, will be available in June 2009, Hofmeister says, and the firm is also featuring new wedges with custom-ground soles. The aboutGolf parent firm will also have a presence in North Idaho. Randy Henry, one of the Henry-Griffits firm’s founders, and his son Randall, are installing a pair of state-of-the-art PGA Tour Simulators made by the company in The Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops and portable units at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. Randall says the new machines will be in service in early to mid-June.