Most Recognizeable Club Logos in Golf?

[Matthew Mollica]

How recognizeable is this? By people in and out of the golf worlds?



I don't like the graphic, but it has a lot of cut-through...

[Tim Gavrich]

Re: the wordless logo, here's the way I see it:

Say I meet someone somewhere by chance and he or she is wearing a shirt with what is clearly a golf course logo.  If it looks interesting to me and there are no words to mark it, I'm almost definitely going to politely ask what logo it is, which will lead to at least a brief chat during which we discover a mutual love of the game.  If there are words with the logo, the entré is obscured, that conversation never happens and neither of us is any the better for it.

If I'm the operator of a public facility like Tobacco Road, I want to at least give people the option of wearing a hat with just my logo, which I know is a distinctive one, because I trust it could be a conversation piece.  On top of that, the "naked" logo look lends an air of exclusivity (without pretense, I'd argue) to the item, which increases perceived value.

If anything, I would put some distance between the logo and the words, if no one will budge on that.  On a shirt, maybe put the club name on the sleeve and on a hat, put the club name on the back or side of the hat.

[John Foley]

How recognizeable is this? By people in and out of the golf worlds?



I don't like the graphic, but it has a lot of cut-through...

Huge fan of this Great White Shark Logo - it is simple - it's bold and it's morph's (from the bold version you show to the simple outline on the newer items.

I think it's 100% recognizable by folks in the golf biz - how could it not be.

[David Cronheim]

Re: the wordless logo, here's the way I see it:

Say I meet someone somewhere by chance and he or she is wearing a shirt with what is clearly a golf course logo.  If it looks interesting to me and there are no words to mark it, I'm almost definitely going to politely ask what logo it is, which will lead to at least a brief chat during which we discover a mutual love of the game.  If there are words with the logo, the entré is obscured, that conversation never happens and neither of us is any the better for it.

If I'm the operator of a public facility like Tobacco Road, I want to at least give people the option of wearing a hat with just my logo, which I know is a distinctive one, because I trust it could be a conversation piece.  On top of that, the "naked" logo look lends an air of exclusivity (without pretense, I'd argue) to the item, which increases perceived value.

If anything, I would put some distance between the logo and the words, if no one will budge on that.  On a shirt, maybe put the club name on the sleeve and on a hat, put the club name on the back or side of the hat.

Tim, I think you've struck on something there. Some clubs have logoed merchandise both with and without words. Chechessee Creek comes to mind. They have the feather logo on some belts and hats, but also has the logo surrounded by the circle of "CHECHESSEE CREEK GOLF CLUB" text in others. Perhaps the answer is have a logo that looks good in 2 forms, one with and one without text.

It seems the consensus is that, generally, people do not like text when that text is incorporated inartfully into the logo itself. When it accompanies an otherwise good logo, people are more accepting, but may still choose the logo without the text.

[Mark Pritchett]

I too prefer an icon without words, however I think there is a huge market for the logos with the club/course names.  You think the guy who just dropped a mortgage payment for a few days at Pebble/Pinehurst, Kiawah, etc. does not want to make sure the world knows he in fact played there?  Might has well have some shirts with blinking lights.  I doubt they care about being "In the Know" with just a tree on their Peter Millar. 

I have friends who scoffed at a Peachtree shoe bag because the logo was too small and that had no interest in Seminole shirts sans the "Seminole" script.  It seems subtlety is rapidly vanishing from the American landscape. 

[Tim Gavrich]

I too prefer an icon without words, however I think there is a huge market for the logos with the club/course names.  You think the guy who just dropped a mortgage payment for a few days at Pebble/Pinehurst, Kiawah, etc. does not want to make sure the world knows he in fact played there?  Might has well have some shirts with blinking lights.  I doubt they care about being "In the Know" with just a tree on their Peter Millar. 

I have friends who scoffed at a Peachtree shoe bag because the logo was too small and that had no interest in Seminole shirts sans the "Seminole" script.  It seems subtlety is rapidly vanishing from the American landscape. 

Mark--

It must be vanishing indeed. I would have guessed the "guy who just dropped a mortgage payment" at PB would rather give himself the opportunity to declare to a member of the unwashed "Oh, this logo? Oh, you know, it's just a little token of my trip to Pebble a few weeks/months/years ago. Really mint place. Those mansions on the golf course are gorgeous."  But you are probably right that most would prefer to make it explicit.

David--

Interesting about Chechessee Creek.  I'd be curious to know what their sales breakdown is between same-price "worded" and "wordless" logoed merchandise.

[David Cronheim]

Tim,

I'll see if I can't find some sales figures before and after our logo change. Obviously, I prefer the new one, but then again I helped design it so I'm biased.

[Howard Riefs]

If some guy goes and plays his weekly skins game with a hat with a giant steer skull on it, someone might think it was a ranching company or the local AA baseball team. But if it says TOBACCO ROAD in prominent print, then it's free advertising.

As for merchandise at a private Strantz design...

At Bulls Bay they sell merchandise with and without the text. 



I bought a white hat without the text, just the steer skull. The most common comment I receive about the hat? "What year did you graduate from Texas?"

I don't mind.

[Cristian]

From my neck of the woods:

Best 19th century:




Best 20th Century:




Best 21st Century:





others:








My favourites: Maidstone, Bethpage, Rye

Modern: Kapalua

Most hideous: Blue Monster

[rjsimper]

New nomination for worst logo I have ever seen. ::shiver::

[Marty Bonnar]

Self correction - the RDGC logo is a green bordered shield with a golden tiger holding a horseshoe in the center.

John,
if it's Dornoch you're referencing, that ain't no Tiger - that's a Scottish Wildcat. Very rare beast, but more common in the unpopulated areas of the Highlands.
cheers,
MB.

[Joe_Tucholski]

A logo I saw on another site that is great...interestingly enough I couldn't find info the club on a google search.

It's not in the most recognizeable club but in my mind it's a winner in the best category.

[Sean Leary]

A logo I saw on another site that is great...interestingly enough I couldn't find info the club on a google search.

It's not in the most recognizeable club but in my mind it's a winner in the best category.

It's clever, anyway...

[Patrick Kiser]

Perhaps not the most recognizable per say, but I thought I'd post it anyway ... since I'm not seeing it yet on this thread.

Hint: Josh had something to do with this version...

[Blake Conant]

No mention of Sand Hills yet?  Simple, yet indicates a sense of place (cow branding)

[Niall Hay]

Perhaps not the most recognizable per say, but I thought I'd post it anyway ... since I'm not seeing it yet on this thread.

Hint: Josh had something to do with this version...

Cal Club

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Perhaps not the most recognizable per say, but I thought I'd post it anyway ... since I'm not seeing it yet on this thread.

Hint: Josh had something to do with this version...

I played with one of the asst. pros there about two months ago... he was sporting apparel featuring a logo of just the bear with 1918 under it.  Liked it for its simplicity.

[Derrick Vest]

Finally, someone mentions Sand Hills.  One of my favorites, for sure. 
 I like Congressional's logo a little bit.
 
I also like Wequetonsing Golf Club's logo, golfer lining up behind a tree.  Classic.

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Golf.com has entered the discussion: http://www.golf.com/photos/worst-and-best-golf-club-logos/chardonnay-golf-club