A Santa Ana, CA, Federal District Court has denied
Spalding & EvenFlo Companies' motion to dismiss a lawsuit
brought against it by Callaway Golf which claims Spalding
violated federal and state trademark and false advertising
laws in connection with the sale of its "System C" golf
balls. The court's ruling permits Callaway to move forward
with its legal action against Spalding, which markets its
"System C" balls as a companion to Callaway's Big Bertha
drivers, and grants Callaway the right to seek access to
Spalding's records through discovery (Callaway).
TEN-YEAR ITCH? Chi Chi Rodriguez, who has been
"featured prominently" in Callaway ads over the years, said
that his ten-year relationship with company will end August
1. A report in GOLFWEEK notes that at last week's Ford
Senior Players Championship, Rodriguez "had already taken"
his Callaways out of his bag, and he has "not used a
Callaway staff bag most of this year." Rodriguez, who is
currently playing MacGregor irons, said the split with
Callaway, which was confirmed by Callaway VP/Advertising,
Press & PR Larry Dorman, was "amicable," and added that he
"is not looking for a new club contract" (GOLFWEEK, 7/18).
LOB WEDGES: TearDrop Golf has added PGA Tour player
Doug Tewell, and Senior Tour players Billy Kratzert and Buzz
Thomas to its '98 Tour staff (TearDrop)....GOLFWEEK's
"Forecaddie" reports Bridgestone may manufacture Nike's new
golf balls, set to debut at the PGA Int'l Show in Las Vegas.
Bridgestone Marketing Manager Kelly Ellis "would not confirm
or deny" the report (GOLFWEEK, 7/18 issue).
