Written by murfandturf on June 6, 2019

Expensive Putters-Invaluable Experiences: Lamb Jam III

Events

Temperatures in Texas are beginning to heat up and close to 50 golfers, from 3 countries and 36 states are making their way into town. Its Lamb Jam week. One of the golf industry’s hottest brands celebrates its top customers to an invite-only event to say thank you. I have been fortunate enough to watch the brand evolve in so many aspects. The event has grown to extreme heights that are almost hard to comprehend in just 3 short years. This Lamb event will be different, this event will foreshadow what’s to come, this year we close the door on what was-and kick open the door of what will be.

Invite Only

I look down at my phone and see a request. You have been invited to a Group Chat- Lamb Jam III. Names begin to appear and excitement starts to radiate through everyone’s comments. For most, being selected for this event is a dream vacation filled with golf, laughs, friendships, and everything in between. I know it certainly is for me. An hour goes by and I have to silence the chat because it sounds like I am carrying an electric toothbrush in my pocket. This year was different, I hardly recognized anybody in this thread of eager golfers. More than half of this year’s Jammers were “rookies” or first-timers if you will. The group was a hodgepodge of young, distinguished, tall, short, American, Australian, white, yellow, brown, male, female, hacks, sticks, walkers, riders-you name it, we had it.

One of the greatest aspects to having a hobby, Lamb Crafted more specifically, is that you immediately have a common interest with someone. It is one of the more inclusive hobbies I have ever been a part of. Golf lead us to Lamb Crafted, and Lamb Crafted has become a foundation for lifelong friendships to be made. So it didn’t matter that most of the group had never met, everyone had about a month of chatting to share pictures of their family, terrible jokes, and pictures of them golfing with some of their most prized Lamb possessions. This day in age, social media affords us the luxury of getting to know someone pretty damn well without ever meeting. So by the time May rolled around, all of these strangers-hardly felt like strangers at all.

Practice Round

One tradition that seems to get more and more popular each year, is squeezing as much time out of Lamb Jam week as possible. Many arrived a couple of days early to golf and explore Dallas before the event started. Think of it as an emergency 9, but backward. One of the Texan jammers set up a Pre-Lamb golf outing at The Tribute in the Colony, TX. We had just shy of 20 golfers who came in early and participated. We had stacked tee times and were playing ready to golf. Many scurried in like ants, flying around the parking lot as travel days never go perfectly as planned.

But it didn’t matter in the slightest, as the setting resembled the first day of school after the summer break. Friends were yelling across the course as they saw one another, carts driving to meet up to greet other pairings for a hug and handshakes. Instagram handle names were finally put to a face and everyone couldn’t have been nicer. About halfway through the round, 4somes turned into 8somes. You could hear music in every group as golf carts and players carrying their bag all played in unison. It was a special kick off treat for everyone who was able to make it.

Lobby Takeover

Let’s get this party started. At this point, everyone has arrived, settled in and are meeting in the private banquet room that is reserved for our welcome reception. I hope check-ins were light that morning for the hotel because we inadvertently took over the lobby. As everyone had more introductions, the Lamb fam worked the room with pure excitement. They get genuinely excited to see everyone. More hugs and handshakes for new friends and old. Moments later, the double doors open and we are invited inside of the banquet room. The entire Lamb family stands at the front, with smiles ear to ear, as they welcome everyone and pass out this year’s Lamb Jam goodies. Each year Lamb Crafted tries to top the year before, and this year was without a doubt the best goodie year-by a mile.

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As Tyson and Tana go over the agenda, Tana plays a quick little game. “Stand up if this is your first ever Lamb event.” An astonishing number of folks jumped up proud as ever. “Ok, now stand up if this your second Lamb Jam!” Much less stood up. “Ok guys, if you have attended all three events- will you please stand up!” A total of three people stood up. I was fortunate enough to be one of those three. And as the three lone soldiers stood, the room went nuts and clapped and shouted. You could bottle the adrenaline in the room. I knew at that moment as I sat back down, that even though I was going to have fun participating, this year was different. This year I could not wait to sit back and let someone else be the new guy/girl. This was going to be the year I received my joy in watching others experience Lamb Jam for the first time.

The table full of limited access merchandise behind them had the room chomping at the bits to take a sneak peek of what would later be available for purchase. The family continued to review the agenda while the energy in the room continued to climb. With his entire family standing behind him, Tyson started to thank everyone for being a part of something so special to them. This is a family with no large crew of workers and no big OE financial backing and has accommodated thousands of customers worldwide.  

Golf-Castle Hills

About Castle Hills:

Rather than alter the landscape to accommodate the golf course, each hole was carefully designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography accentuating the streams, lakes and 60-ft. of elevation change. Whether playing from the Back Tees or the Forward Tees, this course requires as much precision as it does power, as the closer you play to the fairway hazards, the better your angle will be to the green.

The group made its way over to Castle Hills for a beautiful day of golf. Groupings had handicaps ranging from singles to double digits. And everyone could care less. Some of the biggest collectors out there just started playing within the past few years. While other collectors look like they should be playing on the web versus their day job.

 Everyone’s group was full of encouragement as we played a shamble (Shamble- the group plays the best tee shot, and their own ball the remainder of the hole). So it made it enjoyable for everyone because odds are, one of the players hit a big bomb or cute cut in the fairway. All this did was speed up play and build even more comradery as players fired in approach shots standing next to one another.

Golf concluded and we made our way over to Legacy Hall. Legacy Hall is a 4 story food court. Filled with privately owned boutique eateries. No chains. Sushi to BBQ, all under one roof. The food was incredible and everyone ate plenty. After all, we did need plenty of energy for game night.

Game Night

Game night has become a Lamb Jam staple. It is no secret the founders behind the brand, absolutely love games, and some friendly gambling. Game night is held in the same banquet room near the hotel lobby and is BYOB. Imagine a scene in soul train as people walk through the doors to enter game night. Outfits of all kinds roll in, usually carrying a rack of their favorite ice cold beverage over the shoulder. The game night includes trivia around the brand, left right center, and made up Tana games. Going into the wee hours of the morning, this room gets LOUD. I mean why wouldn’t it be loud? You have the top Lamb Crafted customers in one place, gaming for unknown mystery items as a prize. No rest for the wicked.

Shop Day- New & Old

Another staple for Lamb Jam is shop day. In years past, we all cram in the Lamb Crafted shop and start playing with tools. Literally. Stamping ball markers and divot tools, while Tyson works in the background on a putter or three. CNC machines running and torches torching, it’s a putter collector’s dream board. Corn hole boards were set up out back and cold beer was on tap. Putters were on display, including the first-ever proto mallet. Every head cover Lamb Crafted has designed lined the walls. Jammers scurried around a crowded shop trying to take it all in. This would be the very last Lamb Jam held at this location. Many know by now, that Lamb Crafted has out scaled their current operation in a few short years and currently renovating a facility about 10 times the size of its current building.

This year Tyson had an enormous piece of aluminum in place that he requested every attendee stamp and it would be displayed in the new shop. When it became my turn to stamp the metal placard, it really sunk in how much this family has achieved in just a few short years. Both professionally and the community they have made. I was surrounded in a room full of great people, from all walks of life. And this brand brought us together. As Christian Hafer scaled the roof and did his best at cattle herding, we all crammed in the best we could to get one final group picture in the old shop.

On our way to night-golf, we stopped at the new shop. We walked around the enormous building and got a verbal architectural layout from Tyson and Tana.  It was much larger than I ever anticipated, which spoke greatly to where the brand is headed. When Tyson explains they are addressing getting inventory in more golfer’s hands, this monster building left me with no further questions.

Golf Under the lights- Lake Park

About the course: goat farm with soft greens

Lake Park is as muni as muni gets, and that’s why it’s incredible. Sun goes down, lights come on. The music turns up and everyone starts throwing darts! Golf comradery at its finest. Total mayhem as five people teed off at once, all while laughing and carrying on. You take all skill levels and make it fun when playing 9 holes at 130 yards and under. While everyone enjoyed playing a 4-person scramble for the lowest score, I think the more memorable event was the putter challenge. Of course, an event around a putter maker has to have a putter competition right? Well, likely different than you may think. Tyson built a quick Frankenstein club out of a scrap putter head and brought it to the course. Everyone stood on the tee box of a hole that Tana selected, and got two chances to hit the green with said franken-putter. If you got your balls on the green, free mystery item! If not, pay up! Luckily, we didn’t put the Lambs out of business with only two people landing balls on the green. Everyone in the group had gone but the crowd did not yet feel satisfied. They cheered for Tyson and Tana to have a turn. Tysons efforts ended abruptly and were shamed back to video man duties. Tana, however, gave us a taste of the Cinderella story. Almost too bashful to try her luck at all, knocked her last ball right onto the center of the green. The group went nuts. The atmosphere mimicked a football team celebrating its quarterback after a game-winning throw.

Final Day

After multiple days of golf, most of us needed a relaxing Saturday morning and a nice full body stretch. So luckily, the group made its way over to Whirly Ball. Slamming into your peers in a bumper car, while playing a no-contact version of lacrosse is my very best description I can offer you here. Most coordinated often prospered at Whirly Ball or the ones with the best carts. Win or lose this activity is always hilarious. After we had our equilibrium shaken up for breakfast, Tyson gathered us all to hand out our mystery gifts from the night before. Which worked out well, because new custom ball markers and divot tools were going to be put to great use later that afternoon, at Old American.

Old American

About the course: Designed by Tripp Davis and 12-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Leonard, Old American Golf Club began with the natural beauty of the prime landscape along the shores of Lake Lewisville.

In keeping with the authenticity of the land, Davis and Leonard crafted a course design that is representative of classic American golf. From naturally formed bunkers and native grasses to strategically designed holes that leverage varying wind conditions, the architects endeavored to create a course with exquisite balance.

This course is packed with challenging holes and beautiful views. To this day, it hosts one of my favorite golf bridges. A rustic steel masterpiece transports you from hole 2 to 3. As we crossed the bridge and approached the tee box for the next hole, we noticed a gentleman with a bucket hat and a large camera occupying the tee box. Christian Hafer had set up shop and was photographing everyone as they hit big bombs and cute cuts into the fairway. The same photographer who walked The Masters with the top golfers in the world was about to snap our best efforts in finding the fairway. That experience in itself is one not many amateur golfers will ever repeat again.

Last Meal

It is actually against the law to come to Texas and not eat barbeque at least once while you are here. Luckily, we had a private room rented out for the crew at Hard 8 BBQ. One of the best meals I have had all year, Hard 8 did not disappoint. With meat and sides stacked to the ceiling, everyone enjoyed one last night of storytelling and carrying on. Some reflected on the round at Old American, while others talked about their families and how work was going. At this point in the trip, not one person was a stranger any longer. It was a room full of golfers who became friends through a brand. A brand that is doing things their way and no matter the challenge, continuing to grow.

Free Experiences

It comes without question that the Lamb Crafted brand is a premium good, with a price point you would expect from an artisan making everything by hand. The internet goes wild when new products are released. Feelings of excitement and disappointment rain from every social media channel when products sell out in moments. Speculations are made on the brands business model and what the future will or won’t look like. What you don’t see is the invaluable experiences that these otherwise strangers get to experience together on this platform that the Lambs have provided for them.

The brand is built around making over-engineered products and having fun. The experience side of this brand is what I am most excited for in the evolution of this company. The very best of friends form at these golf trips or through brand forums. Travel is arranged to visit one another in different parts of the country. Families become introduced and Dad’s golf buddy is welcomed for long weekends. Golfers just learning the game are encouraged and coached by better players to feel included and welcome. This kind of experience happens very seldom in brands, especially ones the size of Lamb Crafted.

The positive and dynamic following that has been created in such a short time, is more impressive to me than how they plan to scale their business. A building has been acquired that shows clearly the scale this brand intends to achieve. At a rapid pace, more golfers and collectors will own and game products designed and built by Tyson over the next couple of years. I believe that is when you will see the true power behind this brand.

As more people have the opportunity to own products, it will become more evident in what this brand is all about. Growing the game of golf through friendships and experiences will be one of the more remarkable accomplishments that this family will ever achieve.  

Closing

If you are looking for a new golf brand to get involved in, I will give you some framework on what to expect from Lamb Crafted. An enormous community full of accepting individuals that enjoy their hobby together on a golf course. The customer service department is made up of two individuals, who will likely get to know everything about you, your family, and your pets. You should expect to be patient and research the various avenues on how to get involved in the brand. Know that every item is hand finished and logistically managed by Tyson’s sister and grandmother. You will be supporting a small family run company that cares more about putting a smile on your face, than a P/L statement. And by involving yourself in this brand, you will be part of a shift in the golf community that has been needed for a long time.

-Murf

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