Filling the bag: Rule allows UGA golfers to find right fit for free [Athens Banner-Herald]

[nevets88]

I kind of figured top college teams get their equipment free, this confirms it, but the degree of customization I did not know exactly.

http://onlineathens.com/sports/college-sports/2015-04-24/filling-bag-rule-allows-uga-golfers-find-right-fit-free

Quote:

Almost every Division I school holds a promotional deal with some company across all sports. Georgia is a Nike school, and golfers are required to wear Nike shoes and apparel, but aren’t locked in to using Nike clubs.

The Georgia golf team has 11 players on its team, but features players that hit a variety of clubs. Georgia head coach Chris Haack said most of the golfers on the squad came to college with promotional deals, and those players continue to get free clubs from their respective manufacturers.

To avoid any possible NCAA violations, manufacturers must deal directly with the golfer’s coaches rather than individual players. When Georgia golfers notice that the grooves in their clubs are wearing or see a new set of clubs that they want to try out, they simply communicate that to the coach and he or she puts in the order.

“I’ve never had a guy who hasn’t changed clubs, or at least got a new set of clubs, two or three times when they’re in college,” Haack said.