Dick De La Cruz, Legendary Designer for Callaway's S2H2 System and King Cobra Irons and Woods, Joins Orlimar

Business Wire, March 24, 1999

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1999--Orlimar Golf Co., makers of the vastly popular TriMetal(TM) technology golf clubs, proudly announced that legendary club designer Dick De La Cruz has been named director of new product development and will head up Orlimar's new planned research and development facility in Carlsbad, Calif.

"Our family's relationship with Dick dates back over 20 years, he has been a longtime friend and colleague and we feel that this is a dream partnership," said Orlimar President and Chief Executive Officer Jesse Ortiz.

After having worked in the aerospace industry for more than 20 years, De La Cruz became a founder of Hickory Stick which later became Callaway Golf. While serving as the vice president for Callaway, De La Cruz was a designer of the S2H2 system for Callaway's irons and woods that have remained the foundation of Callaway's golf club design to this day.

After leaving Callaway, De La Cruz worked as a consultant for Cobra Golf, where he was a designer of the King Cobra irons and woods which are widely recognized as catapulting Cobra into one of the golf industry's most successful IPOs. "There is very little doubt that the success of both Callaway and Cobra can be linked to Dick's brilliant design work," stated Rich Oldenburg, Orlimar's co-chairman.

De La Cruz's club design credits also include Callaway's Bobby Jones milled putters, (one of golf's first computer milled putters), Callaway's steel core Hickory Stick clubs, Cobra's Greg Norman forged irons, and Cobra's Dick De La Cruz milled putters. Most recently, as vice chairman of Goldwin Golf, De La Cruz was a designer of one of the first computer milled metal woods as well as the innovative ADVP system.

"Dick adds a very important dimension to Orlimar and solidifies what we believe is the most formidable design team in golf," said Ed Dolinar, co-chairman of Orlimar.

"And together we will continue to make clubs that appeal and perform at the highest level with design features that benefit all levels of golfers," added Ortiz.

In addition to the popular TriMetal Fairway woods in late 1998, Orlimar introduced the new TriMetal driver and irons, quickly gaining acclaim from pros and amateurs alike.

For additional information, call 877/ORLIMAR or visit the company's website at www.orlimar.com.