Oak Hill Validation for New Pro V1 and New Pro V1x

By Rick V., Team Titleist Staff On 12 May 2023 Balls Tour

  

Our Oak Hill validation players make their way up...
Our Oak Hill validation players make their way up No. 14 on the East Course. Just one of the countless, majestic views at Oak Hill that truly define "Major Championship Golf".1/18
White box 388 prototypes (left) and 348 prototypes...
White box 388 prototypes (left) and 348 prototypes (right) on the putting green at Oak Hill. Only after receiving the stamp of approval from thousands of players around the world would the 388 design advance, becoming the new 2023 Pro V1. Player validation would also send the 348 design into production as the new 2023 Pro V1x.2/18
A 388 glamour shot from photographer Nick...
A 388 glamour shot from photographer Nick Hamilton. 3/18
Oak Hill member Carter Lucas tees off with the 348...
Oak Hill member Carter Lucas tees off with the 348 prototype on No. 3, a 230-yard par-3. Carter told us, "I’ve been so fortunate to have spent 53 of my 56 years walking the fairways of one of the greatest clubs in America. Other than family nothing else has been as big a part of my life as Oak Hill."4/18
Carter's tee shot on No. 3 found one of the...
Carter's tee shot on No. 3 found one of the steep greenside bunkers. No trouble for the 12-time Club Champion at Oak Hill. An easy up-and-down followed for Carter, who also captured an Oak Hill Junior Club Championship and three Senior Club Championships. The one constant? "I won every one with a Titleist golf ball," Carter said.5/18
Senior Assistant Golf Professional Greg Beringer...
Senior Assistant Golf Professional Greg Beringer hits a fairway metal approach shot on the 615-yard par-5 4th hole - one of just two par-5s during championships on the East Course. Nick Hamilton took this photo from the 3rd green, which is situated in the southeast corner of the course. Recent tree management restored beautiful views, like this one, of the holes surrounding No. 3.6/18
Greg takes aim at the 180-yard par-3 5th hole....
Greg takes aim at the 180-yard par-3 5th hole. Named "Little Poison", this hole was a big part of the 2019 East Course restoration. Golf Course architect Andrew Green reconstructed a near-replica of Donald Ross' original No. 6 hole, tucking this island green in a clearing beyond the fourth green.7/18
A common feature at Oak Hill - severe run-offs...
A common feature at Oak Hill - severe run-offs into steep-faced bunkers.8/18
Tim Saur tees off on No. 6, a 503-yard par-4 that...
Tim Saur tees off on No. 6, a 503-yard par-4 that has been restored to its former glory as one of the greatest two-shot holes in golf. Hitting the green in regulation requires two exceptional shots, but playing to the fairway short of the green is not a bad play.9/18
A picture-perfect strike from PGA professional...
A picture-perfect strike from PGA professional Greg Beringer. Greg on the flight of the 348 prototype: "The 348 was more consistent than the current model Pro V1x. Specifically into the wind, the ball maintained trajectory while still having enough spin to hold greens."10/18
Greg tees off on the the 482-yard, par-4 ninth...
Greg tees off on the the 482-yard, par-4 ninth hole, sending his 348 prototype on the perfect line, the U.S. flag at the crest of the hill.11/18
No. 10 on the East Course is a downhill version of...
No. 10 on the East Course is a downhill version of No. 1. The open throat of this green will give players at the PGA Championship one of the few real scoring opportunities during the competition.12/18
Tim splits the fairway on No. 12, a 399-yard par-4...
Tim splits the fairway on No. 12, a 399-yard par-4 with a green well-protected by deep bunkers.13/18
Another beautiful view of the 320-yard 14th hole,...
Another beautiful view of the 320-yard 14th hole, named "Bunker Hill". This hole is one of the best examples of a Donald Ross imperative - a drivable par-4 that presents players with a great risk-reward dilemma. 14/18
Greg rips another drive. "It was a cold, fall...
Greg rips another drive. "It was a cold, fall day when we played," Greg shared. "Not the best for testing, but my driving distance with the 348 prototype was impressive. I covered a fairway bunker on No. 4 East that I though had no shot of covering when the ball was in the air."15/18
Greg on the East Course: "The East Course at...
Greg on the East Course: "The East Course at Oak Hill is special because it demands your best for 18 holes. It is simply the most challenging, enjoyable experience you could ever ask for. Many prominent players have called the East Course "the toughest, fairest course they've ever played."16/18
The final tally - It's Tim by a nose!
The final tally - It's Tim by a nose!17/18
From left to right - Carter, Greg, Tim and Gene....
From left to right - Carter, Greg, Tim and Gene. After we shared Nick's photos with the group, Carter had this to say: "The photo of us shaking hands just reminds me all all the people I’ve met through golf, all the courses played and most importantly all the life lessons that were learned along the way. And the one consistent aspect of those 53 years? It's been Titleist. 18/18

Next week we welcome the second major championship on the 2023 calendar, the PGA Championship. The 105th playing of the PGA has a special feel this year because the championship returns to historic Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, NY, a suburb of Rochester. Players will compete on the East Course, widely regarded as one of the toughest venues in major championship golf.

In the lead-up to this event, the East Course underwent an extensive renovation, clearing out encroaching tree growth and reshaping greens and bunkering to revive the strategic nuances of Donald Ross' original design.

In the lead-up to one of our own major events at Titleist – the launch of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x – we targeted Oak Hill as a perfect location to test and validate our newest designs. After all, what proving ground could ask more from a golf ball than Oak Hill?

In planning our Oak Hill Validation photo shoot, we reached out to the Senior Assistant Golf Professional at the club, Titleist staff member Greg Beringer. Greg was excited to host us and eager to the try out the new products himself – the 388 prototype (the late-stage iteration of what would become the new Pro V1 golf ball) and the 348 prototype (the design that would become the new Pro V1x).

As it turned out, we got the round in just under the wire. As Greg told us, "The opportunity to play the East Course a few weeks before it was going to close ahead of the 2023 PGA Championship already made it an exciting day. To spend the day with a few of our members and the Titleist team made for a great environment and lots of camaraderie."

It was late September when Greg and three skilled Oak Hill members, Carter Lucas, Tim Saur and Gene Baldino put the 348 prototype through its paces. This event was part of a vast testing and validation effort that ensured that the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x would perform for all types of golfers, under any playing conditions, throughout every corner of the globe.

Tim described how he felt heading into the round: "From my perspective, I was cautiously optimistic.  The truth is, I liked the current Pro V1x, and while I, like nearly everyone, particularly as they reach 50, need more yardage, I lean heavily on the ability to control my irons and good wedge play around the greens. The weather was not particularly good the day we played. A little cold and damp, perhaps what will be similar for the players at the upcoming PGA, so 348 was also about to be tested in less-than-optimal conditions."

The difficult weather didn't seem to affect the scores. There's an adage that says, "Steel sharpens steel" and Oak Hill certainly created some strong players in Greg, Carter, Tim and Gene. Greg is a pro's pro with a fluid swing – one of those guys who makes it look easy. Gene is a board member at the club and is a steady 10-handicap. Carter is a 12-time club champion at Oak Hill and recently defeated Tim in a playoff to win the 2022 senior (50+) club championship. But in the friendly validation match, it was Tim who would come out on top. He needed a birdie on 18 to shoot even-par for the day. He had to settle for a four, but it was good enough to seize bragging rights.

Tim had this to say about the 348 prototype after the round:

"The wedge play around the greens was excellent - possibly even an improvement vs. the prior version of Pro V1x - and that is quite an accolade!  I could flight the ball as in the past, and it felt the same coming off the putter.  Overall, the ball seemed to be 2-3% longer off the tee, spin control with wedges even better, and no sacrifice on iron control or putting."

Check out the slideshow gallery above for some more detailed feedback on the 348 prototype that the Oak Hill gang provided after their round.

•••

Thank you to Greg, Tim, Carter and Gene for helping us bring the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x to market. We'd also like to extend a special thank-you to the members and staff at Oak Hill Country Club for their gracious hospitality. We can't wait to see the world's best compete next week at this magnificent club!

Have you had a chance to experience the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls? Please weigh in and hear what other players from around the world have to say on on our Pro V1 and Pro V1x Validation page.