As much as I hate to start a review with a tired cliché; there are two kinds of golfers in this world.  You have the guys who take the headcovers off their woods on the first tee, and don’t put them back on until after they’ve sunk their putt on 18.  Then you’ve got guys like me, guys who are religious about putting the cover back on the club after each and ever shot (we’re talking about woods here, I’m not one of those creepy guys who keeps covers on his irons).  I have my reasons for keeping my woods covered.  I could tell you it’s about keeping them in as good of condition as humanly possible.  I could tell you that I’m trying to preserve resale value.  I could tell you a lot of things, some of which might actually make some sense, but the truth…well, the truth might sound just a bit strange. 

I keep my headcovers on because I don’t want to risk angering my clubs.  I mean, I have enough trouble hitting the ball straight without having to worry about whether or not my driver is vexed because I couldn’t be bothered to put the cover back on.  It might sound superstitious, but a covered club is a happy club.  At least that’s what I believe.

So if you’re one of those guys who drives around with a bag full of naked clubheads, well, this review isn’t for you.  If you’re like me, at least in the sense that you can appreciate a well designed headcover, by all means, read on.

While I was recovering from an unfortunate run-in with a tick, I received some product samples (I’m come to think of it as a care package) from a company called SUMI-G.  SUMI-G is relatively new to the golf scene, but their collection of high end golf accessories (which debuted at the PGA Merchandise show last January), has already earned the company a devoted following of style-conscious golfers.  In addition to the headcovers, the SUMI-G lineup features a variety of on-course accessories including a divot tool, money clip, club brush, towel, hats, totes, and a couple of really sweet belts (review coming soon).  Today though, I’m focusing on the headcovers.

Before we get into the details, here’s a quick rundown of the SUMI-G headcover features, which, as I so often do, I shamlessly lifted from the company website:

• Unique mechanical closure
• Convenient one-handed operation
• Rigid exoskeleton protects both club and shaft
• Easy to pick up from ground with club
• Fits right-handed clubs only
• Fits 460cc drivers (not all square clubs)

Here’s a clear case of where a little bit of research could have saved me a ton of trouble.  I spent a good bit of time trying to track down both left-handed, and square clubs to see if the headcover would fit, and all along the info was right on the SUMI-G page.  I swear, sometimes I’m a complete hack off the golf course as well.  Anyway…

SUMI-G sent me one each of their driver, fairway, and hybrid (a bit of a rarity in the aftermarket world) covers.  The three are functionally identical with size being the only distinguishing characteristic between them.  The covers are different from most others in that they don’t rely on foam or stuffing to protect the club.  Instead, they use a rigid, yet ever-so-slightly-plush material to protect the face and sole.  It’s good design because, not only does it effectively protect the clubhead, but it also reduces unnecessary bulk in the bag.  The same mechanical closure that makes the cover so easy to pop on further protects the crown of the club.  The exoskeleton provides additional support and protection while functioning as the mechanism to allow the cover to snap securely to the shaft.  It’s also worth mentioning that the covers themselves look really, really good in my golf bag (no reason I can’t look good, even while playing poorly).

What I find really cool about the design is that the exoskeleton provides an appendage which extends long enough into your bag to keep the headcover firmly planted in the divider you just pulled your club out of.  It’s a minor thing, but at upwards of $40 for the cover, you won’t have to worry about losing your SUMI-G cover because your playing partner decided to take your cart off-roading.

Minor Gripes

As SUMI-G plainly states in their feature list, their headcovers won’t fit left-handed clubs.  This isn’t a problem for me since I’m right-handed.  Besides, lefties completely freak me out.  It’s like they’re swinging backwards.  When I see one on the fairway in front of me, I always think he’s hitting at me.  Quite frankly, I don’t think left-handed clubs should even exist.  They also don’t fit square clubs, which I found out for myself while trying to squeeze my SUMI-G cover on to one of those 460cc panini makers Nike is passing off as a driver.  Again, not a problem for me since I don’t play square clubs.  In fact, I don’t think any respectable golfer should either (I’m going to get hate mail…).

Since the two most obvious perceived (I say perceived because, personally, I don’t think we need square clubs or left-handed golfers) shortcomings don’t affect my life, I’m forced to find something else to complain about.  While the feature list mentions “convenient one-handed operation”, my experience has been that it’s one hand to put on, two hands to get off (not that it takes major effort or anything). 

For me the biggest potential issue is the fact that there is absolutely no identifying mark on the cover.  No tag for 3, or 4, or 5, or even X.  There’s absolutely no way to distinguish one club from another without looking at the club.  I carry two fairway woods.  Some people carry two hybrids. I could definitely see where the lack of a tag or any other sort of identification could cause some annoyance.

One other thing…the SUMI-G headcover is too pretty.  The SUMI-G headcovers are the end product of a complete devotion to craftsmanship, but that causes its own set of issues.  Yeah, as they claim, and as Tony over at HookedOnGolfBlog has illustrated, it’s easy to pick the headcover off the ground with your club, but in my mind, tossing a SUMI-G headcover to the turf is an act of blasphemy.  It’s something no deserving owner would ever consider doing.  I’m not alone in my thinking either.   I showed the covers to my buddy Wee Mike (I call him “Wee Mike” because he’s small…he’s actually not all that small…he’s like 5′8″, but he’s skinny, and something about him projects the illusion that he’s only about 4′9″, but I digress).  Mike took a look, said that he thought they were really nice, and then asked if the headcovers came with covers.  Seriously, headcovers so nice they ought to have a cover of their own…and I’m supposed to toss them on the ground?

Final Thoughts

My feeling is that when you spend $400 on a club…heck, even $200, is should come with a nice headcover.  The problem is, they never do.  In the relatively short time I’ve been playing I’ve owned 4 drivers, 4 fairway woods, and 2 hybrids.  All of them came with headcovers.  None of those covers were worth a damn.  Don’t even get me started about putters (the headcover on my Bettinardi BC-1 popped off.  Mizuno wants $35 to replace it.  The irony is that if the cover weren’t complete crap to begin with, I wouldn’t be in a position of having to buy another nugget of the same).  The covers that have come with my clubs have been a mix of the ugly, the poorly constructed, the too difficult to put on, and the too hard to get off.  Thankfully, SUMI-G headcovers are none of those things.  They look great, and I can all but guarantee they over better protection for your new club than the garbage headcover that came with your new FT-9 (not that I’m singling anyone out – there’s plenty of blame to go around).

SUMI-G Headcovers retail for $38 (driver), $32 (fairway), and $28 (hybrid).  For more information, or to place your order, visit www.sumi-g.com.