How many of us have come up with an idea for an amazing new golf product? I bet lots of you are nodding your heads. We saw a need and came up with the idea for a product to address that need.

And then the idea died.

Most ideas were stillborn. Perhaps yours lived a bit longer, making it as far as a sketch on a napkin. Some of us made rough prototypes. However, very few made to the consumer. Even for the products that did make it to retail, true success stories are few and far between.

At some point, nearly all of us abandoned our amazing ideas.

Rather lament about our lost opportunities as makers, today we are going to explore a success story.

Not too many years ago, Jesús Cázares, the owner of Stogies N Bogeys also had an idea for a golf-themed cigar holder. The difference is that his product has taken off.

Stogies N Bogeys: Turning a Concept into a Company

If you are a fan of a cigar on the golf course and have an Instagram account, you may already be familiar with Stogies N Bogeys. The cleverly drilled-out golf ball cigar holders are eye-catching and very functional.

In a relatively short period of time, Cázares was able to take his cigar holder from the silly idea stage to the available at a national retailer stage.

How was he able to accomplish this?

How did Stogies N Bogeys begin?

This whole thing started right around late 2016. I was a welder and had just started golfing and enjoyed the occasional cigar. One day I was curious about what the inside of a golf ball was made out of. I remembered sawing one in half as a kid and it being filled with rubber bands so I was curious if they still were. I had access to a lathe and as I was drilling one, one of my co-workers said, “Hey! You can put a cigar in that!”. Just like that, the seed was planted and the R&D began. A lot of very dangerous and costly prototypes were made but we finally nailed it and we keep improving on the design.

At first, I made a few for my friends, then I started getting asked where I got it. I started selling holders out of random balls I found on the course on Etsy and offer-up before I came up with a logo on ‘Paint’ which looked ridiculous. One of my first big purchases was the logo we have now. The second biggest purchase was our own lathe so we can continue to hand make these and provide the best quality control possible. 

Once we had the name, we drunkenly started an Instagram while wine tasting with friends on Saturday. We figured we might as well buy the domain as well. As I said, we were wine tasting… so we own about 4 similarly spelled domains because we kept misspelling it. But we finally nailed it. This might show you how little to know experience I had when it came to starting or running a business. To be fair, I still feel like I don’t. Everyday seems to show me that the learning never stops and it’s something I look forward to… What lesson am I going to learn today?

We’re extremely thankful for our customers who have been there from the beginning and everyone who’s new to the family. Social media has been a blessing as well as all the word of mouth from our satisfied customers. 

What makes your holder a must-have for the cigar-smoking golfer?

I realize we’re talking about cigars, not the healthiest choice, but if you already indulge in this pastime, we have something to help you from adding pesticides, animal feces, spit and all the other wonderful things that are found on a golf course.

These cigar holders can hold up to a 60-ring gauge cigar and with the stabilizing pin in the middle, it can ensure your cigar doesn’t simply fall out. Another thing, they’re customizable for any event you may have whether it be a bachelor party, charity scramble, your cigar lounge, pro shop, etc. They’re great mementos, gifts and work as a business card when you hand it to someone. One thing for sure, you’ll always be reaching for it when enjoying a cigar on the course.

How has your brand grown since inception and what’s next?

This was never meant to be anything more than a hobby/ side hustle. After receiving great response from social media and full support from my wife, friends and family, I decided to take it a bit more seriously. Thankfully, it’s continued to do well with the help of social media and our own form of marketing. Because of that, we’ve been able to work alongside some great public figures and companies & Courses (DJ Khaled, Canelo Alvarez, Vessel, LAB, Malbon, Paynes Valley, Half Moon Bay) We recently got into all the PGA TOUR Superstores nationwide, which was a goal of mine ever since I went full time. Why not shoot for the moon, right? 

Because our staple cigar holder had done so well, it didn’t require much improvement, “If it ain’t broke…” type of thing. After listening to some suggestions and wanting to further show the versatility of our product , we decided to add a magnetic attachment. Now you can stick it on the cart frame, irons or the BBQ grill. Furthermore, we just added a suction cup attachment as well. Now you can take it with you pretty much anywhere!

We also have quality leather humidors to keep your cigars safe and ready to spark up whenever you are. (Usually as soon as I make a double bogey, which is pretty early in the round) These too can be customized with any logo, name or both as we laser engrave them in-house. I take a lot of pride in our 24/48 hr turnaround time on these. Go ahead, test it. 

We plan on making and branding our own blend of cigars with a proper line to satisfy anyone from a cigar aficionado to someone enjoying their first smoke. We want Stogies N Bogeys to be a part of your entire cigar smoking experience on the golf course. 

I truly feel blessed to be able to turn a hobby into a career and extremely thankful for all the support. 

Stogies N Bogeys Proves It Can Be Done

There is nothing more heartwarming and inspiring than a success story. Hopefully reading this today will motivate some of you to dust off those old drawings and give your golf product a second look.

Maybe you are sitting on the next Stogies N Bogeys cigar holder.

By the way, the holders are great on the course. The tee fits perfectly into a power or push cart tee holder. You can either leave your stick in the cart when you swing or take the holder with you and spike it into the ground. For the cigar smoking golfer, these holders are essential tools, not novelty items.

Use one of these cigar holders, and stop tossing your stogie on the ground like a heathen.

Check out the latest gear from Stogies N Bogeys at StogiesnBogeys.com

(If you are looking for more Follow Your Dreams inspiration, you can always reread this guy’s story.)

The post Stogies N Bogeys: From Idea to Essential Golf Accessory appeared first on MyGolfSpy.