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Fitted for a round of play

 
Roger Hedgpeth, president of Factory Direct Golf has moved his store from Falkenburg Road to the Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview, where he will build you a custom set of sticks including “illegal clubs” to help you “whip your buddies.”
Roger Hedgpeth, president of Factory Direct Golf has moved his store from Falkenburg Road to the Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview, where he will build you a custom set of sticks including “illegal clubs” to help you “whip your buddies.”
Published April 2, 2015

RIVERVIEW — If you are part of the 26 million people who enjoy golf enough to contribute to the nearly $70 billion the sport takes in annually, you have no doubt tried everything to shave a few strokes off your game.

Expensive putters, oversized drivers and fancy hybrid clubs all can certainly help you break 100 or play bogey golf.

Roger Hedgpeth has seen golf gimmicks galore. Hedgpeth is the president of Factory Direct Golf. He recently moved the store he opened in 1999 on Falkenburg Road to Winthrop Town Centre. He offers a very straightforward reason to visit the new location that is close to Publix and behind EATS! American Grill:

"We make illegal clubs if you just want to go out and whip your buddies," he said.

Hedgpeth, a 7-handicap from Arizona who began working in the golf industry in 1992, offers custom drivers starting at $39 that can be as large as 750cc — which translates to a much larger sweet spot. To put that into perspective, the United States Golf Association imposed a 460cc limit on club head size back in 2004.

Factory Direct Golf will get you fitted first, taking wrist to floor and swing speed measurements. You can choose from steel or graphite shafts and when the customization is complete in a few days, you can have an entire set of nonbrand name clubs starting at $150. Hedgpeth said brand names are available, but that significantly drives up the cost.

Factory Direct Golf offers all the accessories you can think of and some, like antislice clubs, that perhaps you wished you had every time a hole doglegs left. The store also customizes clubs for children and ships worldwide.

Call (813) 689-0008 to ask Hedgpeth more about your golf game.

Eric Vician, Times correspondent

Paper Seahorse brings back writing

In a historic 1917 bungalow on S Howard between Platt and Cleveland streets sits a new paperie and makerie that proves technology hasn't taken over the world.

The Paper Seahorse offers stationery, envelopes, handmade cards, pens and much more.

Owner Tona Bell "loves paper and everything about it." She enjoys keeping pen pals, writing, DIY projects, origami and typewriters and can now share her passion with the Tampa Bay area.

The Paper Seahorse not only sells the materials, it serves as a spot for classes and events, such as the Writing Expo it will hold on April 25 in honor of National Card, Letter and Poetry Writing Month. The expo includes a creative writing class, a typewriter class and an introduction to mail art class.

"I started to seek out these kind of conferences and classes but found there was nothing in Tampa," Bell said.

The classes are educational as well as a social event.

"People can step away from the computer and make connections," Bell said.

In addition to classes she will hold, such as jewelry, felt making and collage, customers can also rent out the shop for private parties.

"We just hosted a wedding shower party where they made party favors for the actual wedding," Bell said.

Another unique aspect of the store is the old-fashioned typewriters she and her husband buy and refurbish. Like everything in the store, it goes right back to the basics, before the time of font colors and the back button.

"I think everyone needs that balance and to slow down a little," Bell said.

Though it is open for business and classes at 211 S Howard Ave., they will hold an official grand opening in the near future.

Arielle Waldman, Times staff writer

Kahwa Coffee continues expansion

WESTCHASE — Kahwa Coffee has its sights set on the suburbs.

The St. Petersburg-based coffee company will open its eighth cafe on the ground floor of the Altis Highland Park apartment complex in Westchase this spring.

Husband-and-wife team Raphael and Sarah Perrier opened their first Kahwa Café in St. Petersburg in 2006 to showcase their signature coffee roasts. They have since added three St. Petersburg locations and three Tampa locations.

"Westchase is an area we have been interested in for quite a while. It is a great match for our brand," Raphael said. "I think there is a demand there for a good cup of coffee," he added.

In addition to their special roasts and quality coffee drinks, the Westchase Kahwa Café will serve a selection of pastries and sweet treats. The 1,100-square-foot space will offer ample indoor and outdoor seating. Construction is currently under way with plans to open by mid-May.

The Westchase Kahwa Café will be located at 11588 Fountainhead Drive. For more information, visit kahwacoffee.com.

Karen Ring, Times correspondent

If you know of a new business or one celebrating a landmark anniversary, please send information to Arielle Waldman at awaldman@tampabay.com.