Louisville Golf putter stars in "Avatar"

December 21, 2009 (Louisville, KY)  -- If you have seen Avatar, James Cameron's new epic motion picture now in theaters, about 30 minutes into the movie you will notice a Louisville Golf wood mallet putter prominently used by actor Giovanni Ribisi. Several years ago the production team called Louisville Golf and placed an order for a group of clubs. Louisville Golf is the world's best-known manufacturer of wooden golf clubs. Made in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville Golf putters are handmade with over 100 hand operations.

Executives at Louisville Golf nearly forgot about the association with the groundbreaking movie.

"It must have been four or five years ago that we sent the putter to James Cameron's team. I had no idea what they needed the clubs for, but they said they were working on Avatar, so it sounded cool, but I hadn't thought about it until recently," said Josh Fischer, marketing director for Louisville Golf. "When the movie opened on December 18 Andy Just (Louisville Golf founder Elmore Just's oldest son) called me and excitedly told me that our putter was in the movie. When I finally saw the movie over opening weekend, I was thrilled to see the putter get some solid screen time.

"The actor wielding the putter, unfortunately, is one of the villains, but we aren't complaining. In the movie he says twice: 'I love this putter!' as he is putting on a practice mat. And the movie is in brilliant 3D, so to see our wood mallet putter in 3D, on one of the most anticipated movies ever, was extremely exciting."

"We have worked on and been involved with some exciting projects over the three and a half decades we have been in business," said Mike Just, Louisville Golf president. "The driver we made for Tiger Woods, the Discovery Channel segments on How It's Made and the Ryder Cup come to mind recently. Being in Avatar ranks right up there with those projects, although we had little to do with the putter being included in the movie, other than making it and selling it to them."

"If you haven't seen the movie, make sure that you do - it is more than a movie, it's an experience," added Fischer. "And he makes both putts with it incidentally." Ribisi is seen with a wooden mallet putter (polie XL model) in hand, and after making a putt exclaims: "I love this putter!" twice.

Louisville Golf has been making putters since the early 1980s, and is better known for their line of Persimmon woods and Hickory-shafted playable golf clubs. Visit www.louisvillegolf.com for more information.

Josh Fischer, Marketing Director
www.louisvillegolf.com

e-mail: josh@louisvillegolf.com
toll free:               800.456.1631         800.456.1631
local:               502.491.5490         502.491.5490

About The Louisville Sports Commission

The Louisville Sports Commission is dedicated to attracting, producing and supporting sporting events that have a positive economic impact, enhance the image of the greater Louisville area as a premier destination for sporting events, and improves the quality of life for area residents and sports enthusiasts. The Louisville Sports Commission is a 501-C-3 Non-profit organization.

In recent years, the Louisville Sports Commission has attracted the Ford Ironman Louisville, the National Senior Games, the U.S. Transplant Games, AVP Volleyball and the National Masters Cycling Championships.

Louisville Sports Commission
Brooke Ballard

email
              (502) 587-7767         (502) 587-7767

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