We have had the honor of interviewing Per Emdén from PE Golf. We know that Per is very talented at making headcovers and we are curious to learn more.
Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Per Emdén. I have been playing golf on and off since I was 7, so just over 35 years.
I live in Linköping with my wife and two teenagers. During the day, I work in a construction company, and in the evenings and on weekends, I work on PE Golf.
I usually don't have much time left over, but I manage to squeeze in 4-5 rounds per season. I promise myself every year that the next season will have more rounds...
What does PE Golf do?
PE Golf makes handmade golf accessories. Mostly headcovers, but also yardage book covers, stick covers, and some other golf-related items.
I basically do everything myself: design, sew, embroider/print, pack, and everything else required.
Can your products be seen out on the "big stages," i.e., any professional tours around the world?
I have had some things out on the tours; no huge quantities, but some, and that is, of course, a lot of fun. Most recently, it was Kotte Broberg who has a set of headcovers, which also got a lot of TV time when he won the Dutch Open.
Otherwise, Justin Rose, Antoine Rozner, Pep Angles, Camilla Lennart, Robert Karlsson, Carmen Alonso, and others have had or currently have headcovers/stick covers or yardage book covers.
Is there any product you are particularly satisfied with?
Not really; I am usually satisfied with most things. I don't send anything out that I am not happy with, and I am probably my own harshest critic.
But it's always fun when you develop and find a better solution, either in how things are manufactured or the design.
But of course, the ones I have put a lot of work into and where the result turns out well—I made a Frankenstein and a Nutcracker a couple of years ago that turned out really well.
If I have an idea for a headcover design, how do I go about realizing it with you?
Ideally, the customer uses the form on my website; nothing complicated, but it's a good start. There, you check off what you are looking for and briefly describe how you want them to look.
Based on that, we usually bounce ideas back and forth until a design is set. Sometimes the customer knows exactly what they want, and sometimes it takes longer to arrive at a design and solution that works.
What do you think about dress codes on golf courses?
I'm not much for dress codes. I think you should be allowed to wear what you feel comfortable in, although it should be neat and clean, at least. I've played many rounds myself in jeans and a t-shirt, and I've probably received an annoyed look or two for that.
What changes do you think golf can make to attract more people to start playing?
I don't know, but it should be easy to get started. I think many are discouraged because it feels cumbersome and expensive to get into.
However, I believe that the recent rise of indoor golf in simulators contributes to increased interest, as you can test and get a feel for the game without being on an actual golf course.
We say a big thank you to Per and ask you all to visit www.pegolf.se!