Limited-edition golf clubs are made out of carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum, and feature styling cues from the Bentley Continental GT.
The term “automaker” is kind of misleading. Companies such as Audi, Maserati, and Bentley don’t just produce cars and SUVs. They also sell a variety of lifestyle accessories, from shirts to pens to fragrances. This year marks Bentley’s 100th anniversary as a brand. Instead of just creating one special car, the EXP 100 GT grand touring concept car, to celebrate it, it’s releasing a variety of items to mark the occasion, including an array of writing instruments from Graf von Faber-Castell and a signature set of Bentley golf clubs.
It consists of irons, a pair of wedges (52” and 58” loft), four woods (driver, fairway, utility, and hybrid), and a putter with designs inspired by the Continental GT. According to Bentley, “the details on the range of clubs reference Bentley’s distinctive diamond knurling, which adorns the club grips, and the iconic haunch exterior styling-line is outlined across the club heads.” As you would expect of anything wearing the flying B, they’re made out of high-end materials, such as carbon fiber and titanium. Centenary Gold accents add highlights and match the accents on the vehicles Bentley builds during this significant model year. Even the club covers and bag are made out of carbon fiber panels and accented with Centenary Gold.
The irons consist of a titanium face mated to a carbon fiber back, a combination which Bentley states provides “unrivalled power and distance.” The CNC-milled teardrop-shaped wedges feature a rounded base and full face grooves and back cavities.
If you look closely at the woods, you’ll see the rear fender line of the Continental GT. Those screws on their heads and grip ends are replicas of the wheel caps on Bentley’s Le Mans-winning EXP Speed 8 race car. An aluminum panel with diamond knurling makes up the putter’s face; the body is made out of steel and aluminum, and accented with carbon fiber.
In keeping with its 100th anniversary, Bentley will only offer 100 of these special edition sets of clubs, each at a price of approximately $14,920.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
