The Samurai is probably the most classic, iconic putter, handcrafted by Master Yamada-san.
The putter has ½ shaft diameter offset and and compact blade design for confident aligning on the putting line.
Due to its design it comes with a 60° toe hang and therefore supports an arc shaped putting stroke.
It is made of the highest quality Japanese steel, handcrafted by Master Yamada-san himself, this putter is at the same time masterpiece, rarity and an incredible tool for incomparable putting experiences.
The putter, with the combination of head, shaft and grip is based on 40 years of experience in putter manufacturing.
In the northern part of Japan’s main island Honshu lies the town of Yamagata. The city is home to one of the most legendary putter craftsmen, Mr Tohru Yamada.
Yamada-san is a skilled jazz musician, who in the early 80’s during a musical study trip to the United States by chance came across handmade putters in the city of Los Angeles.
Fascinated by these products he decided to learn all the required skills to build the best version of the most important golf club in the bag: The putter.
He began studying design, milling, welding, grinding, even computer programming and CAD/CAM techniques. And has so during the last forty years become one of the world’s most highly regarded masters of his craft.
Every single Yamada putter is made by Yamada-san himself.
All of them are true pieces of art and fit perfectly into the carefully curated Dragon Golf Family.
In his forty years of putter production, Yamada-san has created more than 250 different putter models. The current line up consists of 10 – 15 putters. All clubs vary in balance and weight. Every golfer will find his perfect match.
In Yamada-san’s own, humble words: „I make simple, good putters. I do not make toys.“
With his vast experience Yamada has created a putting philosophy which he calls “Dream 54”.
Why Dream 54? Well, the world record for the lowest round of golf (played on a Par71 course) is 55 shots. Scored on the River Oaks Golf Club in Edmonton, Oklahoma. This record is held by Australian Pro Golfer Rhein Gibson – and of course, he used a Yamada Putter (Model: Emperor) to score this incredible number.
When in 2013, the former president of Japan, Shinzo Abe, visited Barack Obama, he presented the US President with a gift of Japan’s „national heritage“ to help build diplomatic relations: A Yamada Putter. Back then, the story goes, there was merely one small problem. The chosen putter was only on offer as a right-handed model.
So, it took a little bit over six months to manufacture the Left-handed putter. But you may not worry. Nowadays most models are readily available in a shorter time – and certain models for right and left-handed players.
