If you are the type of person who always carries a knife, but you want to reduce the amount of clutter in your pockets while playing golf, then you’re not alone.
Justin Barnhart founded Golphers with the idea that if you like to carry a nice knife, on and off the course, why add extra stuff in your pocket when you’re playing golf? The Golphers knife is an EDC1 for golfers. Barnhart sought out custom knifemaker Eric Ochs to bring his vision to life. Ochs started making and modifying knives as a hobby, then making them professionally in 2008 and finally becoming a full-time knifemaker in 2011. With Ochs’ experience and Barnhart’s idea, the Golpher EDC was born.
Wichita
There are two different base models, with the Wichita being the first. I use “base” model very loosely, as these are still beautiful, high-quality tools. One of the shared features across all three models is a sealed ball-bearing system, meaning if you drop it in a bunker or get other course-related dirt in the housing, it won’t gum up the blade action. The features of the Wichita include:
- Drop point, 2.5″ 9Cr18MoV stainless steel blade
- Thumb hole open deployment
- Handles made from G10 material
- Stainless steel body
- Stainless steel divot tool
- Liner-lock folding style
- Pocket-clip
- Bottle opener
- Magnetically attached ball marker
It comes in six different finishes: Arctic Blue, Black, Coyote, Grey, OD Green stonewashed black stainless steel (pictured above) and Red.
Launch: December 2019
MSRP: $139
Scottsdale
The Scottsdale is the other “base” model, with a slightly different design. Instead of a thumb hole, it uses a thumb stud for blade deployment. It comes in Arctic Blue (pictured above), Black, Blue on Black, Grey, OD Green and Red.
Launch: December 2019
MSRP: $139
Custom Ball Markers
Golphers wanted to give you options for your ball markers, but they also wanted to give back to charitable causes that are close to their heart. In addition to a number of designs that you can see on their site here, three of those designs are for charities that they donate 100% of the proceeds towards. The first is the Wolf Conservation Center in NY, with the ball marker pictured above attached to the Scottsdale. They also have one for the Australian NSW Rural Fire Service and Golf in Your State. Most ball markers range from $21.95 to $25, but there is a pirate-themed one made out of Damascus steel that is priced at $55.
Ace
The Ace is the third model featuring high-end materials and finishes. This is for the knife collectors who want that custom-style knife with all the trimmings.
Its features include:
- 6AI4V titanium body
- Drop point, 3″ S35VN Stainless Steel blade
- 6AI4V titanium divot tool
- Carbon fiber or G10 handles (see options below)
- Thumb stud and flipper-style tab for blade deployment
- Liner-lock folding style
- Pocket-clip
- Bottle opener
- Magnetically attached ball marker
It comes in two versions: Carbon Fiber with either purple (pictured above) or blue anodized hardware; or G10 handles in Black with gold anodized hardware, Coyote with blue anodized hardware, OD Green with black PVD coated hardware, or Red with black PVD coated hardware.
Launch: September 2019
MSRP: Carbon Fiber: $295, G10: $245
You can learn more about Golphers and see their full line of products on their site, golphers.com.
My full-time job has always been in the IT world, but I’ve also spent the better part of a decade writing product reviews and helping cover large industry-only trade shows. It was only in the latter part of 2019 that I put two and two together and realized I should be doing the same thing for something I’ve loved my whole life — golf. This is the culmination of a hobby that started as a child, a hobby that turned into a passion as an adult, and finally a passion that turned into The Golden Ferret.
