Ben Hogan Launches New Colonial Forged Wedges
Designed with Jim Furyk and Tour Players for Up and Down Control
Chicopee, MA, January 29, 2004

The great Ben Hogan once said, "The secrets, the answers (to golf) are in the dirt." Ironically, 50 years after Mr. Hogan's superlative wedge and iron play led him to win the U.S. Open in 1953, Furyk mirrored Hogan's heralded statement with fine wedge play of his own en route to his first major. Furyk's prototype wedge was the first of a series of new wedges under development under the BEN HOGAN COLONIALT forged wedges.

"The design elements of the COLONIAL Wedges came directly from popular wedge characteristics that appeared in many of our PGA Tour Professionals' bags," stated Tim Seitter, vice president of marketing. "The COLONIAL wedge line features softer lines and profile along with increased offset for the shot making control preferred by better players.

The BEN HOGAN COLONIAL wedge, "U" shaped grooves with radiused edges and the maximum groove width allowed by the USGA, provides superior spin and green-side control. The forged 1020 carbon steel construction offers incredible soft feel.

The versatile BEN HOGAN COLONIAL wedge, available in six loft and bounce angle combinations, has a special trailing edge grind that provides great playability for all types of sand, soil, and turf conditions. Lightweight Apex steel shafts provide optimum control and consistency. The "pulled heel" grind feature allows the leading edge to sit close to the ground when laying the blade open.

Available in January, the suggested retail for the BEN HOGAN COLONIAL FORGED wedge is $155.00 each. The satin chrome finish provides contemporary beauty with reduced glare and long-lasting finish. In addition to the COLONIAL wedges, the BEN HOGAN wedge line features the RIVIERA and CARNOUSTIE, providing golfers with state-of-the-art great variety in technology, classic styling, and unsurpassed beauty.

For 50 years, the BEN HOGAN brand has been inspired by Mr. Hogan's ability to grasp the mechanics of the game and translate them into the finest instruments. The Ben Hogan Company was formed in 1953, with a quest to make golf equipment "as close to perfect as modern tools and technology would allow." Today the team of Ben Hogan craftsmen continues to build Ben Hogan golf equipment one club at a time, ever mindful of Mr. Hogan's vision of perfection for the equipment that bears his signature. Ben Hogan Golf manufactures BEN HOGAN APEX, APEX EDGE PRO, APEX FTX and EDGE CFT* irons, BEN HOGAN special wedges, featuring the new COLONIAL, RIVIERIA and CARNOUSTIE wedges, BEN HOGAN by Bettinardi putters, and the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball. To find more information on Ben Hogan Golf call the Consumer Relations Department at 800-772-5346.