The Next Toulon Small Batch Putter Heads Into The Badlands

The new Toulon Small Batch Badlands limited-edition putter began as a geography problem.

Wait, that’s not totally accurate. The Toulon Badlands putter’s name originated geographically.

The Badlands’ center-shafted design originated in the current popularity of center-shafted putters on tour and with golfers in general. Most of that popularity comes from the rise of center-shafted zero-torque putters but more traditional center-shafted putters are more “en vogue” as well.

Hideki Matsuyama used a center-shafted blade to win the event at Kapalua last January. Golfers are notorious for betting the hot horse, so there are lots of center-shafted putters in play this year.

Getting back to the name. Since the putter has its shaft in the middle, Toulon named it “Badlands” since the Badlands located are in the center of the United States.

You may have thought that someplace around Kansas would be the geographic center of the country. I thought that, too. If it was a hundred years ago, we’d have been right.

That whole “Alaska granted statehood” thing shifts the center of the country from Kansas to Belle Fourche, S.D., smack dab in the Badlands.

With every Small Batch putter release, Team Toulon finds a new way to supplement my public school education.

Into the Badlands

Did anyone else watch that series on AMC? Into the Badlands was a great post-apocalyptical drama with a martial arts, Western theme. The show had nothing to do with South Dakota but Sunny was a great character and, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84, we really should have had a fourth season.

The Badlands in South Dakota may not have quite the level of mysticism found in the TV show but they are magical nonetheless.

The name of the region comes from the Lakota phrase “Mako Sica” which translates to “bad land.” If you do a Google Image search of “Badlands South Dakota”, you will see some of the most amazing terrain in all of the United States.

You’ll not find anything that looks like a golf course in the near-alien landscape of the Badlands. However, after just a few minutes of looking at photos, you will quickly see why the Lakota tribe has considered this area sacred for centuries.

Specifications: Toulon Small Batch Badlands Putter

Material: 316L stainless steel Construction: CNC-milled Finish: Chocolate Face: Ultra Fine Triple Fly Cut Loft: 3° Lie: 70° Toe Hang: 30° Weight: 350 grams Shaft: Chrome Stepless steel Headcover: Small Batch Leather Grip: Toulon Pistol Midsized Sunset Orange Production run: 75  MSRP: $1,800

Toulon finds their center

Restating the obvious, the Toulon Small Batch Badlands is a center-shafted blade. Often, golfers assume center-shafted blades are face-balanced. Not this time. The hosel of the Toulon Badlands is positioned slightly toward the heel of the putter. This gives the Badlands just a bit of toe hang (30 degrees) which promotes some rotation through the stroke.

The chocolate finish looks delicious in photos. The gold sole weights, fonts and the saloon-door cavity shape add to the overall western theme. The Thunderbird icon on the sole of the putter is a nod to the Lakota who continue to curate the land.

Not Rolex steel?

One of the tried-and-true features of Toulon Small Batch putters is that they are all made from 904L stainless steel, the same steel Rolex uses to make their watches. It is a great steel alloy for putters as well since it is corrosion resistant.

For the Badlands, Toulon has shifted the steel to 316L. This steel is also used by watch makers such as Tudor and Grand Seiko. The reason behind the material change was that Toulon wanted a softer feel for the Badlands.

By combining the 316L with a new triple-fly cut-face milling scheme, Toulon achieved the desired feel that is a combination of soft and click.

Can you really feel the difference between the steels? I’d like to give you a first-hand comparison of the 904L versus the 316L steels but the number of Small Batch putters I own equals my number of Rolex and Grand Seiko watches.

(Yes, that number is zero.) 

The Toulon Small Batch Badlands putter

I dig the Toulon Small Batch Badlands putter. It’s center-shafted and $1,800, so I wouldn’t ever own one, but I dig it nonetheless.

In my mind, this is exactly what a limited–edition putter should look like. It has an interesting head shape similar to the Toulon Austin, but different enough to make it unique. Release after release, this is something that Toulon gets right.

The putter’s aesthetic pops. If you pull the Badlands out of your bag, people will take notice. Like fancy watches, part of the motivation for owning one is having people see that you own one.

Toulon is unapologetic about the $1,800 price on these. The Small Batch putters are no more intended for the masses than a six-figure Mercedes GT. With only 75 being made, this is not a putter for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t all enjoy checking it out.

Snatch the Toulon Small Batch Badlands at ToulonGolf.com

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