The Nicolette Story
Mike Nicolette is actually a past United States specialist golf player that succeeded competitions at numerous degrees throughout his progress. As an amateur Nicolette succeeded the Pennsylvania Condition Junior Name and also as an university golf player the NCAA Branch I Champion.
Nicolette succeeded several mini-tour activities just before obtaining the PGA excursion where he completed for 9 years (1979-1988) and also obtained 9 top-ten coatings. His very most distinctive success came with the 1983 Gulf Hillside Invitational.
In 1989 Nicolette allowed a task along with PING. In the course of his 23 years along with the firm Nicolette created groups that have actually been actually utilized to succeed numerous Major
Championships, in addition to plenty of PGA, LPGA and also International PGA Excursion activities. He likewise resulted in virtually 150 golf associated licenses.
Nicolette was actually offered to Bob Parsons during the course of a laid-back cycle of golf and also both came to be close friends. When Parsons determined to look into establishing a tools firm, Nicolette was actually the 1st individual he communicated to. Today, Nicolette is actually PXG’s Sr Supervisor of Golf Irons Experimentation. He is actually called on manies PXG licenses for golf nightclubs that have actually been actually participated in and also succeeded at every degree of the video game.
The Nicolette Journey
I devoted 9 years on the PGA SCENIC TOUR, and also what that opportunity provided me was actually a deeper understanding of the video game struggling. When you’re completing full week after full week, you begin to acknowledge just how tiny variations in devices may affect assurance and also efficiency.
Some full weeks you’re exploring, some full weeks every little thing clicks on, yet you find out extremely promptly that the nightclub in your palms must make your depend on. That expertise molded just how I check out golf devices today. I’ve based on sufficient tee containers and also over sufficient putts to recognize that efficiency isn’t academic—it must delay when it matters.
When my having fun occupation began to wane, I was actually astonishingly blessed to become offered a possibility at PING. I wasn’t a degreed developer. I was actually a trip gamer along with inquisitiveness regarding why particular nightclubs operated far better than others. Karsten Solheim and also the crew there certainly provided me one thing that, in knowledge, was actually a correct instruction. I managed to find out the trade of nightclub concept from scratch—components, weighting, acoustics, just how smalls potatoes affect reception trip and also experience.
They depended on a gamer’s point of view and also enabled me to become the design edge of your business. I’ve constantly been actually thankful for that possibility due to the fact that it presented me that comprehending the video game and also comprehending the resources that form it must reside in the very same spot.
Over the years that operate triggered concepts utilized to succeed primary champions and also manies licenses connected to golf devices development. Yet the true groundwork for every one of that was actually the possibility to find out your business the proper way through listening closely, trying out, and also never ever forgeting the golf player. The most effective concepts commonly stem from fixing a true concern a gamer is actually experiencing.
When Bob Parsons and also I began discussing PXG, it was actually crystal clear this would certainly be actually various. Bob wished to create a firm where efficiency steered every selection, certainly not set you back restrictions or even custom. That sort of setting is actually unusual in devices concept.
From the beginning, the objective was actually straightforward, make use of every resource accessible in modern-day design to create far better drivers, and also never ever quit pressing. What thrills me regarding PXG is actually that the job is actually never ever ended up. Our company’re still finding out, still trying out, and also still attempting to create drivers that offer golf players the very same trait every gamer is actually searching for when they tower above a go: assurance and also excellent end results.
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You get up in the early morning, what’s the steering enthusiasm?
I affection this video game. Consistently possess.
By the opportunity I entered into competitions at grow older 14, I was actually connected. Golf is actually hard, and also’s specifically why I adore it. It requires one thing coming from you each and every time.
Now my enthusiasm is actually developing nightclubs that in fact assist golf players participate in far better. I place on my own in their footwear. What are they battling? Where are they dropping movements? Just how perform our team secure distribution? Just how perform our team gain ground without compromising command?
If our team may assist an individual attacked it straighter, even farther, and also even more constantly, that’s energy for me. That’s what obtains me up in the early morning.
How challenging was it transitioning coming from PGA excursion gamer to functioning responsible for the settings in OEM?
Honestly? It thought all-natural.
When I got on excursion, I was actually constantly playing. I was actually the individual in the vehicle talking to inquiries. I liked to know why one thing operated, certainly not merely that it operated.
I’m certainly not a degreed developer, yet I possessed the opportunity of finding out under among the best nightclub professionals ever before. He showed me the basics of mass homes, CG positioning, power transactions, and also producing facts. That learning was actually valuable.
I’ve gone to PXG for nearly thirteen years currently. What creates it exclusive is actually the flexibility. No manacles. No “our team can’t perform that due to frame.” If it creates the nightclub do a lot better, our team perform it.
That’s unusual.
You’ve converged along with Karsten Solheim and also Bob Parsons. What links all of them? What divides all of them?
Both are actually disruptors. Time frame.
Karsten was actually a designer’s developer. He handled complications no person else also viewed. He depended on arithmetic and also instinct. He transformed putters for good due to the fact that he strongly believed there was actually a much better method.
Bob coincides in one crucial method, he contradicts standard. Yet Bob works along with no anxiety. No charge restrictions. No time at all restrictions. If it takes even more machining, even more models, even more screening — our team perform it.
Karsten was actually systematic. Bob is actually a daredevil and also unapologetic. Yet the DNA coincides: introduce or even finish.
You possessed a near connection along with Arnold Palmer. What performed he imply to you?
Arnold Palmer was actually much bigger than golf.
Winning the 1983 Gulf Hillside Standard in a playoff over Greg Norman, at Arnold’s spot, that’s one thing I’ll hold for good.
But what meant more was who he was off the course. He treated everyone the same. Fans. Staff. Players. He understood that the game was bigger than him.
He taught me that character matters. That’s how you represent the game matters.
That’s stayed with me.
What separates PXG from others in the category?
Everything.
PXG is an R&D company that happens to sell golf equipment.
We don’t build to a price point. We build to a performance standard. If it’s not markedly better, it doesn’t ship.
No cost constraints. No time constraints. That’s not marketing, that’s real. It allows us to explore designs other companies won’t even attempt.
And then there’s fitting. We don’t sell clubs. We fit golfers. That’s a massive difference.
Our mission is simple: build the world’s finest golf equipment. Full stop.
Who is harder to fit — a Tour pro or a recreational player?
Neither. They’re just different puzzles.
Fitting is about listening, measuring, testing, refining. When you get it right, you see it immediately in ball flight. That’s the fun part.
What 2026 equipment innovation will resonate most?
Performance you can see.
With Lightning Woods, we introduced Frequency Tuned Face. That’s about optimizing vibration modes to maximize ball speed and tighten dispersion.
Combine that with our Spined Sole Design and you get stability, better acoustics, and more efficient energy transfer. Translation? More speed. More forgiveness. Tighter downrange pattern.
GEN8 Irons introduce Dual Perimeter Weighting. Two independent weight ports that let us fine-tune heel and toe mass for each golfer.
That’s real customization, not just marketing adjustability. Add QuantumCOR and you get explosive distance with a soft, solid feel.
On the USGA/R&A rollback — can it succeed and how will golfers react?
The game evolves. It always has.
Whatever the governing bodies decide, we’ll engineer within those parameters. That’s our job.
One course. Three playing partners. Where and who?
Forest Highlands – Canyon Course (Flagstaff, Arizona).
Paul Obermeyer – My golf coach on TOUR who also taught me to respect all walks of people no matter their standing in life.
Bob Parsons – More fun on the golf course than anyone I have ever played with. He also helped me through many tough situations and gave me the opportunity to be a part of something special – PXG.
Brad Schweigert – My best friend. I need to give him the opportunity to beat me when I’m at my best!
Best advice you ever received?
Bob Parsons: “Great opportunities may only come once in a lifetime. If one is in front of you — take it!”
That stuck. It’s easy to focus on competition and performance. Yet golf gave me a career, friendships, perspective, and now the chance to build a company and equipment that helps others enjoy it even more.
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For more info go to:
Parsons Xtreme Golf | Custom Fit Golf Clubs
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