Meet Kyle Kramer, who combines his love of golf and craftsmanship at DEUS Golf Co. What started as a passion for fixing up his own clubs has turned into a full-on restoration and customization business. Not too long ago, we sent him a Ping Zing 2 in need of some TLC. Here’s his story, his process and an update on the putter.
Q&A with Kyle Kramer, founder of DEUS Golf Co.
Tell us about DEUS Golf Co. and how it all started.
I’ve always been obsessed with golf. Not just playing but geeking out over the tech, the feel, the history. I also love working with my hands, so I figured I’d just mash those passions together. That’s how DEUS Golf Co. was born. Deus means god in Latin, and that felt like the right level of dramatic for a golf brand. Plus, I’ve always been inspired by Deus Ex Machina, my favourite motorcycle brand. So the influence is definitely there.
What started out as tinkering my own putters quickly turned into fixing up my friends’ gear. Turns out, there’s a whole community of golfers who love the craftsmanship side of the game. Now I’m making custom divot tools and one-off ball markers and restoring clubs that have way more personality than anything off the shelf. I’ve got a background in mechanical engineering, so precision is kind of my thing.
What are some of the skills you need to restore a golf club to its original condition?
You’ve got to understand materials: how they behave, how they wear down, how they respond to different tools and finishes. Stainless steel, carbon steel, brass and aluminum have all got their own personality. Some are soft and forgiving, others are stubborn and love to fight back. It’s part science, part art and definitely part profanities.
Being good with your hands is also huge. There’s a feel to this kind of work you can’t learn from a book or a YouTube video. You develop a sort of intuition: knowing how much pressure to use, when to back off, when something feels right. It’s like the difference between swinging a club and playing golf. Craftsmanship matters.
Are there any golf club brands or models you see more of because of their historical value or craftsmanship?
Scotty Camerons, hands down. People are obsessed, partly because of the craftsmanship but let’s be real, Tiger Woods could make a garden rake look elite. There’s a cult following. If I’m being totally honest, I think they’re a little overrated (I’m probably going to get hate for that). That said, they do clean up beautifully.
How did it go with our Ping Zing 2?
First, I inspected the head to see what I was working with and sketch out a plan. Then I removed the head and started dealing with the cosmetic stuff—nicks, dings, scratches—using a Scotch-Brite belt on the sander. Tight spots get the Dremel treatment. After that, I hit it with the bead blaster for that nice matte look and finished it off with a hand-brushed Scotch-Brite for a clean look. Then it all went back together, better than it was before.
What’s the most sentimental piece you’ve ever worked on?
It’s gotta be my TaylorMade TM-180, the first putter I ever restored. I threw everything at that thing. I made a new copper insert, welded and blanked out the sole, stripped the PVD finish, gave it a matte bead-blasted look, hammered the sole texture, custom paint fill, leather-wrapped grip... It was a beast, and I loved every second of it!
More recently, I had the honour of doing a putter for a guy who beat cancer not once but three times. We themed the whole putter around that, with lasered-in cancer ribbons and meaningful details. Projects like that remind me why I do this.
What does golf mean to you?
Golf is life. It’s therapy, it’s frustration, it’s joy. It’s the only sport that’ll humble you and heal you in the same round.
What are you currently overspending on?
Tools. But hey—quality tools make quality work! It’s an investment, not a problem. That’s what I keep telling myself...and my bank account.
What is the last thing you saw that made an impression on you?
I saw someone line up a 40-foot putt, do the whole AimPoint routine, practice strokes, breathe deep and then leave it 12 feet short. Golf is the most humbling form of cardio.
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