Toulon Golf is doubling its Small Batch operation in the Midwest. Rather than following their typical Small Batch release model one at a time, they decided to release two milled metal offerings.
This time, the Toulon Golf Small Batch Midwest release includes two putters named after cities in the Midwest: Chicago and Milwaukee.
As usual, both are variations on classic designs, each retaining aspects of the original, but with enough tweaks and twists to make them worthy limited edition interpretations.
They are produced in very limited quantities and both quite expensive.
But, hey, since there are two, you have twice the chance of snagging one.
(You can even skip a mortgage payment or two and take both).
Although they are out of your price range, I think you will appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity that Toulon Golf has built in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Let’s head to the Midwest!
Toulon’s wanderings in the Midwest
Last month, Edition of Toulon’s California Coast Series took us on a road trip up the coast of California. This time, Toulon turned the car dead east, traveling a few thousand miles to Illinois and Wisconsin.
Chicago and Milwaukee are world famous Midwestern cities. Although geographically similar, each town has a very distinct personality and both are interesting enough to warrant the Toulon Golf Small Batch treatment.
Chicago is a world-class city, second only in the United States to New York City, many say. Few other American cities can rival Chicago in terms of professional sports, music history, architecture or food culture.
Although not quite at the level of Chicago, Milwaukee is no slouch of a city. Besides being annoying to spell, Milwaukee is the birthplace of Harley-Davidson, hosts numerous music festivals like the massive Summerfest event and, of course, produces oceans of beer.
If you’re taking a two-city vacation in the Midwest, you could definitely do worse than visiting Chicago and Milwaukee. Good times are almost guaranteed.
Let’s see how Toulon Golf has captured the essence of these cities in their Small Batch putters.
Toulon Small Batch Chicago
The Toulon Golf Small Batch Chicago makes me miss the days when Toulon Golf was under the Odyssey Golf umbrella. U Odyssey 2020 / Toulon Chicago fully milled it was a great complement to Odyssey’s line of putters with face inserts.
When Sean Toulon retired from Odyssey, their milled putter offerings, including the Chicago, disappeared.
For the new Small Batch Chicago, Toulon Golf built a black tie putter without losing the putting part of the story. The basic shape of the wide body is similar to the Odyssey / Toulon Chicago model. It is slightly shorter from heel to toe than a traditional blade putter and a slightly wider face at the flange.
It may be like the previous Chicago, but this model is much nicer. The Small Batch Chicago is constructed from 904L stainless steel. Yes, this is the “Rolex” steel. The face of the Chicago features Ultra Double Fly Cut milling. This milling looks as sharp as a pressed neck while providing soft rolls.
A glossy black PVD finish and white bezel give the Chicago a streamlined, address-worthy look. Behind the ball, Chicago has a very clean look and is all business.
The double-bend shaft is a first for a Toulon Small Batch putter. That all-black shaft gives the Chicago about 10 degrees of toe hang, making it ideal for those with a minimal running arch.
Chicago style
When you turn the putter, you see the aroma of Chicago. As well as Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy’s famous Fenderthe background of the Chicago is covered in polka.
There are 34 dots on the bottom of the Toulon Golf Small Batch Chicago. Football fans know that “34” was the jersey number of Walter Payton, one of the greatest athletes to ever play in Chicago.
Toulon Small Batch Milwaukee
The Toulon Golf Small Batch Milwaukee is a little more playable than Chicago. Although it’s also covered in black PVD, the brick face milling and large Cream City logo add some whimsy and local history to the Milwaukee.
I had to ask around to learn what “Cream City” was all about. My friend Chad Gypt told me this.
“Cream City” is an old nickname for Milwaukee, and it comes from the distinctive cream-colored bricks that were widely made and used here in the 19th century.
Milwaukee area clay has a high lime and sulfur content. When fired, it produces a light yellow or cream-colored brick instead of the more typical red brick. Those Cream City bricks became common in Milwaukee homes, stores, churches, breweries, and commercial buildings, especially from about the 1840s to the late 1800s.
Because most of the city was built with that pale brick, Milwaukee became known as “Cream City.”
(Here’s a little more history of the cream city brick if you’re interested.)
Pinning down the pintail
The Small Batch Milwaukee is a pintail putter design. Pintails are characterized by a sloping heel region, often featuring a sloping neck that reinforces the toe-hang.
The neck of the Milwaukee provides about 60 degrees of toe hang, suitable for a swing with a significant arch. In terms of design and hang, a pintail could be the love child of an Anser and an 8802.
Toulon Golf has a thing for pintails and they are here for it. Several Small Batch designs were spun on the pintail shape. Each time, they figure out a way to incorporate something new into the classic head shape.
If you have a moment, check it out Toulon Small Batch Portrush and Toulon Small Lot Dogwood. Exploring these two pints will help you understand how much new Toulon has added to the Milwaukee.
None of those previous Small Batch putters feature a cavity like the Milwaukee. This not so subtle change dramatically changes the look, feel, sound and MOI of the pintail shape.
The Toulon Golf Small Batch Midwest Milwaukee has the uniqueness that collectors seek in limited edition form. If I had just a little less of it hanging on, I would have thrown those creamy bricks into my bag.
Toulon Golf comes after your cabbage putter
The target consumer base for Toulon Golf Small Batch Midwest putters is not expansive. The production is very limited and the putters are quite expensive. I didn’t even ask about the prices, but I assume they are somewhere in the usual $1,800-$2,000.
Learn more about the Toulon Golf Small Batch Midwest release at ToulonGolf.com.
The place Toulon Golf is doubling down on its small batch release in the Midwest appeared first MyGolfSpy.