It seems like everywhere you look nowadays there is a new putter boutique popping up across the USA. With all of these new options who needs to go down to their local big box store and grab the latest mass-produced OEM offering.

We all want something personal and something no one else has.

For many years customers in the USA have been able to access custom boutique putters such as Mann Krafted, Piretti, Tyson Lamb, Artisan, Scratch, Xenon, APC, and the list goes on from there. These brands are all phenomenal in their own rights but come at a high cost to us North of the border once you add exchange and duties.

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Sneak peak of some new product! Lefty Alert ????! Keep posted for more! #sgcputters #putterporn #golfwrx #golfcanada #golfchannel #morningdrive #pgatour #lpgatour #pgaofcanada #pgaofamerica #puttercover #milledputters #puregrips #golflife #leftylove #lefthandedputters

A post shared by Stuart Cox & SGC Putters (@sgc_putters) on Aug 4, 2018 at 5:43am PDT

I am sure that many a Canadian has wondered what if we could get something milled in our own country that we could take pride in like our neighbours to the South. We did have this option at one time through Daito Putters till they went out of business.

There is a new option, and I am fairly certain that if you are not from Truro, Nova Scotia, or the surrounding area you have most likely never heard of SGC Putters.

Staurt Cox, the founder and inspiration behind SGC Putters, never intended to get into putter manufacturing business. In speaking with Stuart, he actually got his start in the putter business was through refinishing. During his University days, he would buy refinish and resell all types of putters. It was this process that peaked his interest for milled putters. Like any true club lover, his time was slowly taken over by researching the stories and processes of many different milled putter makers. Stuart remembers that “Piretti was just getting started when I was in university and I actually contacted them (and other makers about info). I bought a few Early Piretti putters just out of curiosity.”

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Another sneak preview of a new release! SUS303 and Dark Nickel Carbon! #sgcputters #putterporn #golfwrx #golfchannel #morningdrive #pgatour #lpgatour #golflife #milledputters #golfcanada #pgaofcanada #pgaofamerica

A post shared by Stuart Cox & SGC Putters (@sgc_putters) on Aug 7, 2018 at 3:13pm PDT

After doing his research and dedicating himself to school studies as well as the putter industry Stuart decided to download some cheap CAD software and teach himself how to use this technology. He made a few designs at first and just let them sit for a few years.

Stuart decided to take the plunge after university was done. In late 2012, he had a few heads milled. Following this, he went all in in 2013. Stuart remembers, “I started SGC Putters….one head style…limited options…. eventually as I sold some I added another head, etc. I taught myself everything as I went from design, stamping, shaping, finishing, making my own headcovers, website, etc.”

The growth of his business was slow but he did still have the refinishing aspect to fall back on as well. As the years went by he decided to invest more in his hobby and started having both grips and headcovers made professionally to go along with his growing number of head styles.

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Clean and simple! #sgcputters #customputters #milledputters #handstamped #handstampedputters #milledincanada #madeincanada #madeinnovascotia #pgatour #lpga #golflife #golf #puttercover #puregrips #golfcanada #pgaofcanada #pgaofamerica #golfwrx #putterporn #golfchannel #morningdrive

A post shared by Stuart Cox & SGC Putters (@sgc_putters) on Jun 4, 2018 at 3:13pm PDT

I asked Stuart about his design inspirations and he told me “I like clean, classic designs. I’m not out to reinvent the wheel but eventually, I likely will grow to offer more complex head styles.” I also inquired about why milled putters when there are so many other types of clubs. “What intrigued me about milled putters were the fine lines and sharp edges so my earlier putters had sharp lines and edges… eventually I’ve come to appreciate softer finishes on edges, but will leave them if a customer wants them less softened.“

Stuart does still consider this a business a “hobby” but at the same time realizes how important customer input and interaction is to his success. He can at times feel limited in comparison to other putter makers as he doesn’t have the time, money and resources available to them. He went on to tell me that “I only invest what I have available into heads, covers, grips, shafts, etc. I have small batches of head milled so if I have a logo on the head, I have to work with that on a customers design… the same with my face mills, I just offer the pattern on the face and don’t get into offering different patterns. This allows me to keep my costs down and my prices lower than some other makers.”

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???? #sgcputters #golfwrx #putterporn #golfdigest #golfchannel #golf #golflife #milledputters #golfcanada #pgaofcanada #pgaofamerica #pgatour #lpga #sneakpeak

A post shared by Stuart Cox & SGC Putters (@sgc_putters) on Apr 27, 2018 at 6:30pm PDT

Stuart won’t let being a small maker get in his way when it comes to a special request from a customer. He is very forthcoming with his customers and says “I will push myself on some special requests from time to time – it’s all a learning process. I have always been good with my hands and making things so sometimes taking a risk or chance on a design becomes less scary once you have the experience and understanding to know that you can fix the problem if you screw up. Customers are always great and very understanding when I explain what I can and can’t do currently.”

When asked about the future Stuart says he “hopes to continue to slowly grow the brand. I have realized that if I want to grow things I couldn’t do it making every putter individually. So I’ve started to come out with a line of putters more focused on retail, but still customizable.”

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Finishing up this centre shaft Okee, then onto refinishes! #sgcputters #putterporn #golfwrx #golflife #offseason #golfcanada #golfns #milledputtera #milledincanada #madeincanada #shcputterstmc #madeinnovascotia #pgaofcanada #pgaofamerica #pgatour #puregrips #weldporn #driveforshowputtfordough

A post shared by Stuart Cox & SGC Putters (@sgc_putters) on Jan 14, 2018 at 4:09am PST

Although not his day job, it seems as though Stuart is creating a niche for himself within our large industry. In addition to his putter crafting, he is an Operations Manager as a PGA of Canada Club professional in Nova Scotia. More importantly, he is a husband with an exceedingly patient wife and a father of two small children.

It is always an exciting thing to a gear junkie to be able to find something that is playable, exceptional quality, and that none of your buddies have. Stuart provides this through SGC Putters. I know that my all-blacked out model is ready to hit the course this spring!

See Stuart’s site and creations on the SGC Putter website