The 113th US Open at Merion Golf Club is set to begin later this week, but during the weeks leading up to this year’s second major, many of golf’s biggest companies have started debuting their US Open limited edition collections. Similarly, companies also offered a Masters limited edition collection as well back in April.
As you may remember, Taylormade Golf has Major Championship commemorative logos (the golden bear for the Masters) – at the US Open, they’re incorporating a rattlesnake and the Liberty Bell. The 1971 U.S. Open, contested at Merion’s East Course, was decided by a two-man playoff. The rattlesnake refers to the rubber snake that the eventual champion kept in his bag to entertain galleries. He tossed the snake at his opponent’s feet prior to teeing off not, as is widely believed, to unnerve him, but because his opponent asked to see it.
The rattlesnake also evokes the universal symbol for medicine, a snake wound around a staff (Ascepius, the Greek God of medicine and healing, carries such a staff and snake), which is in reference to Merion’s 1934 and 1950 US Open Champions, both who overcame serious health issues to win. The snake’s rattle is also shaped and colored like the red wicker baskets that top the pins at Merion. The Liberty Bell is an icon of American independence and a symbol of the city of Philadelphia, located just 10 miles from Merion – the letters MMXIII at the top of the bell are the Roman numerals for 2013. This is the 10th year that Taylormade has incorporated commemorative logos – check out all of them here and tell us which is your favorite! You can see their Masters inspired logos here as well.
Callaway has also designed a special edition US Open commemorative bag, which many of the company’s touring staff will be using. Some players will also be using a limited edition US Open styled putter by Odyssey. Another company that has got into the limited edition Major Championship collection is Ian Poulter’s IJP Design, which is offering US Open inspired putter head covers and more.
Source: Tour Diaries, Taylormade Golf, Callaway Golf
