Ed Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Golf, is celebrating his 50th anniversary as an active member of the PGA of America. Coming full circle, he’s back in Jackson, Michigan where his love of golf and the industry began at age 11 as a caddy at the Country Club of Jackson. This is also where he did his professional apprenticeship and served as an Assistant Professional for 8 years. After being elected to PGA membership in 1967, Ed went on to serve as a head golf professional at a number of clubs in Michigan and Florida.
In 1983, Ed and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio where he started a successful indoor learning center. It was there that Ed discovered the challenges of fitting clubs. Specifically that existing loft and lie machines on the market at that time were incapable of reliably adjusting clubs with offset hosels or that were made with cast iron. It was with that realization that he set out to solve this problem and created Mitchell Golf in 1988. Ed and his wife, Gwen, built and ran the company for 28 years. They built a solid reputation for quality and Mitchell Golf became the industry standard for angle machines.
Ed says he was fortunate to have two careers within one profession: being a club professional and an equipment manufacturer. Ed’s favorite memories with Mitchell Golf are the relationships he has built with people throughout the industry – from tour professionals to club professionals to those in club making, club repair and custom fitting. It’s his love for the game and interacting people that have motivated him all these years. An entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity and creativity are revealed in any conversation with Ed Mitchell!
Now that Caster Concepts has acquired Mitchell Golf, Ed will remain with the company in a consultant position to help facilitate a successful transition of service, manufacturing and product development. He enjoys playing golf where it all began at the Country Club of Jackson. When he isn’t working or on the course, Ed is busy spending time with Gwen, their children and their nine grandchildren.
Ed, thank you for your commitment and contributions to the golf industry! We’re proud to carry on the tradition of quality and service that you established nearly 30 years ago. If you’d like to share a memory or a note of congratulations, please email him at ed@mitchellgolf.com