Rare Raphael Jacquelin putter in Abu Dhabi

Raphael Jacquelin's stylish ValGrine Dandy Haute Creation putter from the rear

(Image credit: Paul Severn)

published 14 January 15

Delving into the bags of tour pros sometimes produces a real pearl. Jeremy Ellwood uncovered a rare Raphael Jacquelin putter in Abu Dhabi today

The tour bags of the top pros are understandably generally crammed full of their sponsors’ very latest gear, but just occasionally you whip a headcover off to find something a little older or more unusual.

We uncovered a real pearl this morning while talking to amiable Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin about the contents of his TaylorMade tour bag. Working down from driver to putter, it started off with a mix of TaylorMade’s very latest and more recent products. But the putter headcover then came off to reveal an exquisite work of art the like of which I’ve rarely seen - a ValGrine Dandy Haute Creation No. 1/3 putter.

Jacquelin told us that it had been made by an engineer friend of his, and he was currently trying it out. As well as looking extremely stylish, with its unusual curved carbon-fibre neck, it also boasts a number of other really neat little touches that had all those in attendance paying extra attention as the ‘What’s in the Bag’ interview drew to a close.

Jacquelin's putter features both his logo and that of its creator, ValGrine

The milled face features Jacquelin’s logo towards the toe as well as that of its creators, ValGrine, towards the heel. The rear flange then has Jacquelin’s name etched into it, while the sole bears the names of the Frenchman’s four sons – Hugo, Roman, Melvil and Numa. The grip is made of luxurious grey leather.

The sole bears the names of Jacquelin's four sons

As soon as I got back to the media centre I checked out the ValGrine website, and would advise anyone with a special interest in the club that we all use most to do the same. I’m afraid I can’t confirm the pricing, but can confirm that this is a putter range blessed with rare elegance and style.

Jacquelin’s putter may be a thing of great beauty, but does it work? We shall be looking at the Frenchman’s putter stats for this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with particular interest come Sunday night.

Jeremy Ellwood

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly across the whole spectrum from courses and Rules to equipment and even instruction despite his own somewhat iffy swing (he knows how to do it, but just can't do it himself). He also edits The Golf Club Secretary Newsletter, has authored or co-authored three books and written for a number of national papers including The Telegraph and The Independent. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 89 of the Next 100. He has played well over 900 courses worldwide in 35 countries, but put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content. On his first trip to Abu Dhabi a decade ago he foolishly asked Paul Casey what sort of a record he had around the course there. "Well, I've won it twice if that's what you mean!" came the reply...

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf