Thomas L. Fawick, from Cleveland, Ohio, founded Golf Pride in 1949. Fawick had only to travel to nearby Akron, Ohio, then ‘Rubber Capital of the World’ to develop his idea. The location already had an historical correlation to the evolution of golf equipment.

Akron was also home of the Haskell rubber-cored ball, progenitor of the modern golf ball. Fawick immediately entered into a manufacturing agreement with the Westgate Rubber Company. The companies merged, and Fawick created a new entity within his business empire, called the Fawick Flexi-Grip Company.

Early on the trade name ‘Golf Pride’ was chosen. Initial models were moulded directly to the club shaft, and it wasn’t long before bonded on Golf Pride grips were standard on many new golf clubs. The new rubber grips provided improved feel and durability.

They were also lighter than traditional leather grips, absorbed shock more effectively, and gave a more positive, high-traction grip. 1953 saw the introduction of the first ‘slip-on’ grip, a major development at the time. The impact of the slip-on grip was significant and lasting. The new slip-on grip immediately changed the economics in manufacturing golf clubs. It also made grip replacement a staple service in golf shops.

Shortly after the slip-on grip debuted, Golf Pride introduced its famous ‘Victory’ model. The Victory grip featured Golf Pride’s exclusive ‘GripRite-SwingRite’ hand placement guide, to encourage proper positioning of the hands. More than five decades later, this unique arrow design remains one of the most recognized emblems in all of golf.

Today Golf Pride continues the introduction of innovative products, utilizing a broad range of material development and rubber compounding expertise. State-of-the-art grip design, testing and manufacturing are performed at facilities in Laurinburg, North Carolina.