ELKINS, WV – SafeTees Pouch, Inc., of Elkins today announced plans to unveil its pocket tee holder to the golfing world during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando Jan. 24-26.
George W. Moore, founder and president of SafeTees, said, “We’re thrilled by the opportunity to showcase our tee holder at the premier golf equipment event of the year.
“We’re going to meet some great people, we’re going to have a lot of fun – isn’t that what golf’s all about? – and we’re going to demonstrate how our pocket tee holder can improve play and even player safety.”
The three-day Merchandise Show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, one of largest convention venues in the nation.
Some 1,000 golf industry companies will fill the more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space at the center, and more than 40,000 professionals, retailers and industry leaders from around the world will see what’s new in golf.
The show is a trade-only event and not open to the public.
Moore explains that his SafeTees Pouch is pocket-sized (3″ x 3 ½”), made of clear vinyl and capable of holding five tees of various styles and lengths.
“With the pouch, golfers at the tee box can easily pick the perfect tee for any situation. And as a bonus, the pouch holds the tees securely and safely in the pocket. No more bloody fingers when reaching into a pocket for a ball or tee.”
The company’s story goes back to the fall of 2015 and Moore getting ready to tee off at the 14th hole of a course near Franklin, WV. He reached into his right pants pocket for a ball and tee, and that’s when it happened.
His right ring finger caught the sharp point of a loose tee.
“I said ‘darned,’ or something like that, and as I tried to stop the bleeding, I thought, ‘There should be something ….'”
That evening, Moore says, he searched the Internet for something to safely hold his tees in his pocket. There was nothing. So he thought some more.
He knew he wanted a pouch of some sort. It also would have to accommodate several tees of various lengths, it would have to be somewhat pliable, and it would have to be clear so golfers can see which tee is which.
It would have to be like…ah ha, a pocket protector.
Moore did a rough drawing and returned to the Internet to search for “pocket protector.” That led him to Erell Manufacturing Co., an award-winning manufacturer of vinyl products in Elk Grove Village, IL. The company was started in 1947 and is the first known domestic manufacturer of the pocket protector. (The company still makes them.)
Erell said on its website that providing quality products and developing partnerships with its customers remains the “cornerstone” of its business. Moore liked that, so the next day, he contacted the company.
That led him to Randy Silton, third generation president of Erell. Moore told Silton that he had an idea, and Silton listened.
Over the next several months, Moore formed SafeTees Pouch, Inc., and he and Silton put their heads together to manufacture seven progressively better prototypes.
They finally settled on a durable, high-tech tee holder that can be customized with logos, etc., to satisfy customer needs.
The final product will be available for inspection in the new product section of the PGA Merchandise Show, and more information is available at www.safeteespouch.com.
More information about the PGA Show itself also is available from Sherry Major, 716-662-3855 and smajor@reedexpo.com.
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