So it will be interesting to hear the company's reaction after developments today on a rain-shortened Day 1 at the Ryder Cup. With significant rain being whipped around by strong winds, the American rainsuits just didn't work well.
And it didn't just start today, as the UK paper The Guardian noted:
"They absorb too much water, which means they are too heavy. The American caddies have been complaining about them all week and so have the players," said one source inside the European camp.
Tiger Woods chose to go without his rain jacket, preferring a full soaking to wearing the uniform. The issues seem to be both that too much rain is getting inside the gear, and that the rainsuits are retaining water, weighing down the players.
The PGA of America visited the Ryder Cup merchandise tent at Celtic Manor and bought a whole bunch of new rain gear - what they could find that most closely matched what Team Europe is wearing.
Meanwhile, the Twittersphere is exploding with commentary and updates, including some digs from members of Team Europe. Some examples:
@KellyTilghman: Corey Pavin on rainsuits: "We're disappointed with the performance of them."@JasonSobel: There are actually two different 2010 Ryder Cup logos -- one for USA, one for Europe. Confirmed: New USA raingear will feature Euro version.
@dougferguson405: Nice to see the PGA of America contributing to the merchandise sales. Bought all rain suits it could -- with Ryder Cup logos.
@pgatour_brianw: Best line I've heard so far re the US uniforms: they look like something your grandmother would buy you if she heard you liked golf.
@FootJoy: Just to clarify, the USA rainsuits are definitely NOT FootJoy.
@McIlroyRory: Just have to say our waterproofs are performing very well!
@rydercup: Spies tell us that the TeamUSA gear is letting too much of the Welsh rain in, they're in the store for some new kit. How will we spot them!?
@Oliver_Wilson: Just seen some US waterproofs up close, they're terrible! They feel like they retain moisture, not good quality!
@ronsirak: Going to be a long few days for Corey Pavin. How can US team have rainsuits that don't work? Nonfunctional & ugly. Nice combination.
Wanted: Your Rain Gear Reviews
Do you own rain gear or other bad-weather gear? Add your reviews.
Comments
I have Forrester’s Gore-Tex pants and jacket. For rain and wind.
I have Forrester’s Gore-Tex pants and jacket. Works for me in rain and wind. Doesn’t make the swichy sound when you swing the club.
My ProQuip suit is fantastic got one when I was over in Scotland. You can’t beat the quality, very lightweight but still keeps you dry.
Zero Restriction is great.
Pro Quip was the best…too bad the owners ran the company to the ground. They went out of business over a year ago..
I got a Proquip as well in Scotland at Tralee and it made it through with shining colors. They are still in business, and that is the suit the Euros are wearing.
Without a doubt, ZERO RESTRICTION golf raingear is simply the BEST on the market !!!
Theirs only one name that matters in GOLF rain gear ZERO RESTRICTION ! ZERO RESTRICTION !
Is anyone embarrassed by this failure of US technology? Having said that both the Proquip and Sun Mountain Soggy suits were probably made in China. Do we know where they were manufactured?