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Tour Edge Template Series Putters
Tour Edge is updating their Template Series of putters with four new models and updated versions of three of the originals. The seven models will be available in black PVD and silver PVD finishes. Overall, the new Template Series includes a broad range of shapes, both classic and unique. Each putter is named after a template golf hole.
Key Takeaways:
Tour Edge is releasing seven new Template Series putter models. All models are available in black or silver PVD finishes. Named after template golf course architectural designs. At shops Nov.1 for $129.99What is a template hole?
For those of us not familiar with the elements of golf course design, a template hole is an iconic hole design that is often incorporated into new courses. Writing that out, it makes sense. Imagine that you had a plastic template for drawing circles. With that template, you could draw the same circle over and over, wherever you wished to draw it.
The template concept gets tweaked a bit when you talk about golf holes. Unlike the circle example above, the golf hole still needs to fit into the landscape. As such, the original template must be modified for a specific course while maintaining the key elements of the original template. The most famous template hole is likely the Road Hole at St Andrews. Versions of the Road Hole exist at other courses, modified as needed for the location.
After learning this, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’ve played on any of these template holes. There are more than 20 of them, after all. As it turns out, I played a whole bunch of template holes when I played the Old Macdonald course at Bandon Dunes.
Appropriately, that course was named after and designed to honor Charles Blair Macdonald, the course architect who brought inspiration from iconic holes from around the world to his design of the Chicago Golf Club in 1896.
OK, enough history. I’m starting to sound like Barba. Back to the putters.
The Tour Edge Template Putter Template
Having the putter names represent iconic golf hole designs is a cool idea but what about the designs of the actual putters? The Tour Edge Template Series putters feature the following design elements.
Specifications: Tour Edge Template Series Putters
Material: 304 stainless steel Construction: Cast, then the faces are CNC-milled Finish: Black PVD or silver PVD Heads: Seven (Narrows also comes center-shafted) Lengths: 34”/35” Alignment: Contrast Technology Alignment aid Loft: 3° Lie: 71° Lefties: Eden and Narrows Grip: Lamkin Deep Etched Pistol MSRP: $129.99Tour Edge Template Putter Technologies
Though the Tour Edge Template Series putters come in at the lower end of the putter price range, that does not mean they don’t include some helpful technologies. The first is their Contrast Technology Alignment aid. At the center of all of the Template putters you will find a white aiming line surrounded by a black background. Tour Edge says this design helps increase contrast between the putter and the green, allowing the golfer to aim more accurately
Tour Edge Template Series putters also feature Tour Edge’s Micro-Groove face milling. This new milling is 20-percent deeper and wider than previous Template models and should, when combined with the 304 stainless steel construction, make the impact feeling softer.
All of the Tour Edge Template putters will be available in black and silver versions. That’s not really a “technology”, but the alignment scheme definitely looks different on the two colors. You may find one is more suited to your eye than the other.
Tour Edge Template Series Putter Models
Alps
Longer wings on the Alps make it a conventional mallet putter with a higher MOI, while the double bend hosel provides greater accuracy for a pendulum straight back and through stroke. Face balanced stability with less twisting in the face is the calling card of this design.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: Prestwick (Hole #17)
Notables: Fishers Island (Hole #4), National Golf Links of America (Hole #3), Gibson Island (Hole#4) The Greenbrier- Old White (Hole#13), Yale (Hole #12)
The Alps is the long-fanged model in the Template series. As with all fang designs, the positioning of the material at the edge of the putter head helps boost MOI. Tour Edge’s interpretation is interesting in that the fangs are very flat. This positions the center of gravity very low to the ground. This should also help improve stability.
Biarritz
The high MOI mallet design of the Biarritz provides extreme forgiveness, while the double bend face-balanced hosel is designed for a pendulum straight back, straight through putting stroke due to the face of the putter rotating less during the putting stroke.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: Golf de Biarritz (Hole #3)
Notables: Chicago GC – (Hole #8), Camargo (Hole #13), Mid Ocean Club (Hole #13), Fox Chapel (Hole #13)
The Template Series Biarritz reminds me of the old Rife Barbados. Obviously, it is not exactly the same shape but the designs share elements. Of the three putters I was able to review, the Biarritz was easily the most stable. Pretty accurate, too. Though round, the long central alignment channel provides excellent linear aiming assistance.
I also found the Biarritz to be the most balanced feeling of the models I tested. This was a little surprising as it was significantly bulkier than the other two. Regardless, I would give this one a Must Try rating for players who like traditional-feeling larger mallets.
Eden
The lone blade putter in the series, the Eden features a classic design with a plumber’s neck that suits players with an arc-straight stroke.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: Old Course at St. Andrews (Hole #11)
Notables: Fishers Island Club (Hole #11), Essex County CC (Hole #11, Camargo Club (Hole #5), St. Louis CC (Hole #3), Old Macdonald (Hole #2)
The Tour Edge Template Series Eden is the classic “Anser” blade in the bunch. It’s a heel-toe weighted blade. You know lots about this design and probably know if this is the head for you. Reasons to give Tour Edge’s version a shot are threefold: feel, alignment system and price.
Maiden
The mid-mallet design features a forgiving plumber’s neck hosel that helps players square up the putter face. It matches extremely well with an arc-straight style stroke and is suited for a player who tends to leave their putter face open at impact.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: Royal St. George’s Golf Club (Hole #6)
Notables: Essex County CC (Hole #12), Southampton Golf Club (Hole #3), CC of Charleston (Hole #7), Yeamans Hall Club (Hole #11)
The Tour Edge Template Series Maiden was the one that initially caught my eye. It piqued my curiosity. I want to get one in my hands so I can truly know its size. I see it is a wide blade but it is a little difficult to estimate the dimensions from the stock photos. Is it compact, like a deck of cards, or massive like a skateboard deck? All in all, it’s cool to see such an interesting head in a putter line that costs $130.
Narrows
A winged mid-mallet design that features a slant neck with a mid-toe hang that is ideal for a putting stroke with a slight arc, where the closing angle on the forward stroke is moderate and compensates against hitting pulls as your hands will naturally be set up in front of the ball.
-Tour Edge
Narrows CS
The winged mid-mallet design is coupled with a center shaft in the Narrows CS model that creates an alignment-oriented face-balanced putter suited for players who keeps their eyes directly above the ball and takes the club straight back and swings straight through the ball.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: Muirfield (Hole #15)
Notables: National Golf Links of America (Hole# 15), Metairie Country Club (Hole #6), Forsgate Country Club (Hole #2)
The Tour Edge Template Narrows is the budget-friendly version of PING’s Prime Tyne 4. Both feature squared-off, flat rear wings and slant necks. I actually had the same thought with the Narrows that I had with the Prime Tyne 4: “This is the putter I want to putt with.” Unfortunately, like the Prime Tyne 4, the Narrows does not suit my eye or stroke. That’s too bad because I love its looks.
Punchbowl
A rounded full mallet with a forgiveness- and accuracy-enhancing high MOI and plumber’s neck hosel, an ideal choice for arc-straight style strokes that tend to push putts to the right for a right-handed golfer.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Holes: Royal Liverpool – Hoylake (Hole #9) and Royal Cinque Ports (Hole #3)
Notables: National Golf Links of America (Hole #16), Creek Club – (Hole #6), Chicago GC (Hole #12), Sleepy Hollow (Hole #15), Streamsong Black (Hole # 9)
Initially, I assumed this putter was named after the Punchbowl at Bandon Dunes, possibly my favorite place on Earth. There have been trips there where I was willing to skip the afternoon 18 just to spend more time putting at The Punchbowl. Nope, the putter is named after the Punchbowl template hole. (The Punchbowl at Bandon is probably named after the template now that I think about it.)
Jon Rahm would dig the Template Punchbowl. It’s a small rounded mallet with a short flow neck. This putter will gate open and closed as you swing the club. For some of you with stronger arcs, it should mesh nicely with your natural stroke.
Valley
The mid-mallet design features a forgiving plumber’s neck hosel that helps players square up the putter face. It matches extremely well with an arc-straight style stroke and is suited for a player who tends to leave their putter face open at impact.
-Tour Edge
Original Template Hole: National Golf Links of America (Hole #1)
Notables: Mid Ocean (Hole #8), Blue Mound Golf and CC (Hole #6), Friar’s Head (Hole #1)
The Valley is another interesting head design. A mid-mallet with a plumber’s neck would be noteworthy but Tour Edge also made the plumber’s neck a slant version. Not to keep focusing on the price of these but can you imagine what a mid-slant plumber’s neck half-mallet would cost you if it came from Cameron or Bettinardi?
I use those two companies as examples because that is who I would expect to make this head, not Tour Edge. I’d also expect it to be “Tour Only”, not something you’d find at retail.
Final Thoughts on the 2023 Tour Edge Template Signature Putter Line
Bang for your buck, the Tour Edge Template Series putters are solid. Ignoring the price, they check off a lot of boxes. They feel good, have helpful putting technologies and have a mixture of classic and exotic head shapes. No, they are not fully milled. We can see that they are cast in the photos. The post-casting face milling does its job, though. These feel much softer than a purely cast putter.
It’s worth noting that the Tour Edge Template Series putters all come with a Tour Edge-branded Lamkin Deep Etched Pistol putter grip. This is the same grip on much more expensive putters. The headcover quality is on the lower end but getting a headcover at this price point is a plus.
If you are in the market for a new putter and don’t want to spend a bunch of money, go roll the Tour Edge Template Series putters.
Find out more about the 2023 Tour Edge Template Signature Putter Line at TourEdge.com
FAQ: Tour Edge Template Series Putter Line
The MSRP for the Tour Edge Template Series line putters is $129.99. Should be in retail shops on Nov. 1.
These putters are not fully milled. Initially, the putters are cast into molds. Next, the Micro-Groove face grooves are milled. As I said, the new grooves are 20-percent deeper than the previous Template putters. Tour Edge reports that this new groove depth provides a soft feel and improves top spin and accuracy.
Not at all. While many associate Tour Edge with their exceptional woods and hybrids, they have also been making putters for quite some time. Last year, they released the Wingman 700 mallets, for example. I remember the Exotics David Glod Tour Proto milled putters from a decade ago (or more) being excellent milled putters at a very competitive price.
Duh. First, I am going to research all of the holes, committing the designs to memory. After some vigorous self-quizzing, I will be searching high and low for Punchbowls, Redans and Hog’s Backs.
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