Dean Snell Background

[boogielicious]

Got this email from Snell Golf. Dean has an interesting background.

Quote

It’s Dean Snell from Snell Golf.   Today I wanted to take a little detour and tell you a bit about my background, and why I started the company back in 2015.   Many of you already know my story but perhaps you might learn something new...   So… Would you believe I grew up as a hockey player? (If you’ve met me, I’m sure it’s no surprise at all!)   In fact, I attended UMass-Lowell on a hockey scholarship, and even played in the Philadelphia Flyers’ minor league system for a time.   Obviously, that career didn’t pan out.   But with degrees in plastics engineering, chemistry and math, I landed a job designing F-16 and Blackhawk parts for BF Goodrich.   Next stop: the golf industry.    My hometown company, Titleist, hired me as a product development manager and gave me a project that turned out to be a game-changer – literally.   The task: Develop a cast urethane process to replace balata covers.    No big deal, right?!   Well, we pulled it off – and the ProV1 was born.   I’m proud to say my name is on the patent for that revolutionary product (and 40+ others at last check, see image below). 👇

After seven years at Titleist, I moved to TaylorMade as VP of Golf Ball Research and Development in 1996.   There we created a range of balls for both pros and amateurs, like the TP Red and Black, RocketBallz and Project (a).    By 2014, though, it was time to move on – which brings us to Snell Golf.    I can’t say it was created on a whim. I’d been thinking about starting my own company for several years.   The idea was to use my expertise to make golf balls for folks who wanted great performance, but couldn’t afford high-end models from the major brands (or simply didn’t want to shell out big bucks for them).   I already knew how to make a top-tier golf ball. The key was to keep the price down with minimal spending on marketing, zero spending on tour players – and selling directly to you, the consumer.    That’s what we started doing in 2015, and what we continue doing today.   And while sales have grown exponentially over the years, Snell Golf is a still small company with just six – yes, six – full-time employees at our headquarters in New Bedford, Mass.   The plan is to keep it that way, and to keep bringing golfers like you tour-caliber equipment at affordable prices.   Well, that’s the mini-history lesson from a hockey player turned golf ball guy.    If it’s Wednesday or Friday, I’m probably on the course with my regular group. I hope you’re teeing it up today, too.   Don’t forget to watch your inbox for great content, news and savings from Snell Golf.   Thanks for being a loyal customer,   Dean Snell Founder Snell Golf   P.S.  Keep an eye on your inbox for our #ChristmasInJuly Sale coming this week!

 

[billchao]

I still run into people who don’t know what Snell golf is. I tell them the founder helped create the Pro V1.

[iacas]

4 hours ago, boogielicious said:

After seven years at Titleist, I moved to TaylorMade as VP of Golf Ball Research and Development in 1996.

For some reason I thought he was there until at least near the actual Pro V1 introduction.

[saevel25]

3 hours ago, billchao said:

I still run into people who don’t know what Snell golf is. I tell them the founder helped create the Pro V1.

Yep, it's always fun when someone asks me what ball I am playing if they help me look for it. I can see their brains short circuit as they hear the name. They were totally expecting something else. 🤣

Until I play in TST outings, I hardly ever have to mark my ball. No one else plays them. Which is great. 

3 hours ago, iacas said:

For some reason I thought he was there until at least near the actual Pro V1 introduction.

Same

[colin007]

I thought the Titleist factory was in Chicopee? It was like 2 blocks from my friends house, iirc

[iacas]

20 minutes ago, colin007 said:

I thought the Titleist factory was in Chicopee? It was like 2 blocks from my friends house, iirc

I think that Chicopee is the Top-Flite and now Callaway plant.

Titleist is in Dartmouth and New Bedford.

[colin007]

11 hours ago, iacas said:

I think that Chicopee is the Top-Flite and now Callaway plant.

Titleist is in Dartmouth and New Bedford.

Ahhh yes you're right, I misremembered