Back when Callaway announced their buy a driver get a fairway wood for a buck promotion I told you it was the best deal I’d ever seen from a major industry player.  Since that time, TaylorMade, Cleveland, and others have stepped up with similar offers; making 2009 an absolutely incredible year for those of us looking for new equipment.

The bad economy has been good for golfers with money to spend, and for those of you who still have a little something left in your pockets, the deals keep coming.  Take, for example, Cleveland Golf, who has just announced the latest offer to qualify as the best damn golf deal I’ve ever seen.  Simply buy a set of Cleveland irons, play those irons for up to the next two and half years or so (you don’t have to wait that long if you don’t want to).  When a new Cleveland model catches your eye (or when your game has improved to jump from the Tour Launchers to the CG Tour irons), simply mail Cleveland your old set and they’ll mail you a brand new set.  Oh, that new set…yeah, there’s no charge for that.  You don’t have to deal with all that trade-in value crap.  You’re old irons get you new irons.  How awesome is that?

As with any good deal, there is a little bit of fine print, although I must admit, I’m impressed by how simple and straightforward Cleveland has made all of this.  First, you have to buy a qualifying set (which is pretty much every iron – both men’s and women’s – that Cleveland makes).  The deal starts now and runs through December of this year, so you have some time.  Second, that set has to consist of at least 7, in-line (contiguous) club.  Third, you have to register your clubs online, and provide Cleveland with a proof of purchase.  Cleveland will send you a confirmation number, which you’re going to want to hold on to.  All of this seems reasonable enough to me.

As far as getting your new set is concerned, that process is pretty simple too.  When you’re ready for some new clubs, give Cleveland a call, tell them your confirmation number, and provide them with the specs for your new set.  They’ll send you a box for your old irons, along with a pre-paid shipping label.  Once you’ve got the box, mail your clubs off to Cleveland for verification and inspection.  Assuming everything checks out, you’ll have your new clubs in 5 to 7 business days.

The redemption period starts 1/1/10 and runs through 12/31/11.  The offer is good only once, so don’t expect to swap out your clubs every six months.  Nevertheless, this is an awesome deal, and I wish more manufacturers would offer something similar.

In my day job as an IT professional I find myself constantly purchasing software and hardware assurance contracts.  Costs run about 20% of the original purchase price annually, but our agreements entitle us to “free” upgrades every time a new version is released.  I’ve always thought it would be cool if the golf industry offered something similar.  Would you be willing to spend an extra $300 on a set of irons if it meant you could trade in your old set after two years for a new set at no additional charge?  Just thinking out loud, I guess.

Cleveland has become the latest golf equipment manufacturer to offer up an almost too good to pass up deal.  If I didn’t have a new set of Mizuno MP-52 irons in my immediate future, I’d be all over this deal.  More information and specifics can be found on the Cleveland Golf website.