If you're a golfer (and perhaps even if you are not) you have probably heard of PING golf clubs, named for the sound they make when a golfer hits the ball with the club's "sweet spot." In 1961 Karsten moved his family and new business to Phoenix and the rest is golfing history. The Karsten family still runs the PING business and you can get a tour of the facility where they manufacture their legendary clubs still using many hand crafting techniques used on the first products. The PING facility also has computerized tools for visiting golfers to have their swings analyzed and custom clubs optimized for them. Pro golfers will visit often to test out the new equipment. Because this is an actual working factory they do not allow pictures to be taken but the tour is impressive and you also get to see a bit of golfing history including the original designs to some of the first PING clubs.
My children have recently begun golf lessons so of course I am now interested in the history and culture of golf. PING is a large manufacture of clubs, bags, and previously golf balls (they ceased making the balls and so they are now collctors items).
http://www.ping.com/about/decade.aspx
Karsten Solheim is the man behind the clubs. When he settled his family here in Phx he also built his manufacturing plant here. PING is 100% family owned.
The tour lasted 2 hours and I went thru 4 buildings and saw first hand the equipment being built. Sadly no pictures are allowed.
http://phoenix.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/ss/PING_9.htm
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