What are the $2,000 irons? They're the Maruman Metabio irons. And they're the cheap ones in the Maruman lineup - another Maruman set costs $6,000. This ultra-premium manufacturer is well-known in Asia, but is returning to the North American market after a decade's absence. Read more

More equipment notes:

• Cleveland Golf says it's "tickled pink" to introduce the W-Series CG11 wedges (pictured). Good one. Here's an even better one: a portion of the purchase price on each wedge will be donated to breast cancer research.

The W-Series CG11 also marks the first women's clubs from Cleveland to incorporate the company's CMM metal. These wedges features a slightly larger sole, wide toward the heel and toe and narrower in the middle; combined with its perimeter weighting, this helps create more stability. The W-Series CG11 wedges will hit retail stores in February, 2006. MSRP will be $139 per wedge with steel shafts and $149 with graphite shafts. More info

• West Coast Trends, Inc., the company that produces the Club Glove and Club Glove-branded bags, is turning to the military for its latest. The Aficionado III is a full-sized stand bag that is extremely lightweight and durable thanks to the material used to make it.

That material - known as Military Spec PIA-C-7350 - is the material employed by the U.S. military in parachutes that are used to drop supplies, including armored vehicles, from cargo airplanes. The material is water and stain resistant and will not rip. The Aficionado III stand bag carries an MSRP of $179. Club Glove website.

(Photo courtesy of Cleveland Golf, used with permission)