Press
PGA trade show offers latest golf gizmos
BY ELSA BONSTEIN
The Carolina Section of the PGA had its annual trade show last weekend and it was a doozy. Over 250 exhibitors showed off clubs, golf balls, bags, shirts, shoes, tees, trophies and a plethora of golf-related items.
While prowling around the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, I found a lot of nifty new golf gadgets...
Autolinx
Ron Hesmer was selling orthopedic equipment until he invented the Autolinx, a system to transport your golf clubs safely outside your car or golf cart. A Wilmington resident, Ron is now president of Feat Firsts Incorporated which manufactures Autolinx.
"The idea came to me because my wife had a small car and our golf clubs would not fit into the truck," he said. "I wondered if I could make a hard case for golf clubs that would fit on a modified trailer hitch and allow people to transport their clubs on the outside of their vehicle."
The Autolinx container is made of high density polyethyne with a top opening. The container sits upright and allows golfers easy access to their clubs.
Ron sees a big market for his new product. "Golfers who own vans and 4 x 4s often travel in foursomes to play golf. They can't fit their luggage and four sets of clubs into one van or truck. Autolinx solves the problem. The hitch will hold anywhere from two to four sets of containers, all of them upright and all of them locked and safe from rain and bad weather."
Ron also believes that people who live in golf course communities and own their own golf carts will use Autolinx. "They'll mount them directly on their golf carts."
Elsa Bonstein is a golf columnist for the Beacon. Reach her at elanbon@atmc.net.