Sometimes, the best opportunities arise from the most unexpected encounters—chance conversations or serendipitous experiences. Fueled by innovation, perseverance, and the commitment to stay invested, even when the path ahead feels uncertain, these moments have the power to lead to something greater. Consider the journey of the HammY Putter, for example.
The HammY Putter was born back in 2004, after the founder and owner, Jim Alvarez, hurt his hamstring (a hint to where the name “HammY” originated) on the softball field. Understanding that the putting stance, in particular, would be aggravating to an already injured leg muscle, thus possibly pulling him off the golf course, too, he was determined to overcome this obstacle.
So, through trial and error, he discovered an effective open stance, and developed an innovative center-shafted putter head with a triple bend shaft. That winning combination led to success on the putting green for Jim and, later, for others who put a HammY in their hands to putt.
While the HammY Putter came into existence quite intentionally, Frank Horn’s involvement with the company was happenstance. A slight delay at O’Hare Airport led to some small talk between Jim and Frank, and by the time Frank returned home from his trip, he was a part owner and a full believer in the HammY Putter. Frank wasn’t the only one who bought into this unique putter at the time. It also caught the eye of golf pros, industry insiders, and amateurs alike. Golfers were putting the innovative putter to the test, and it was proving its worth.
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While the HammY Putter was hitting its popularity peak with golfers everywhere, it was also piquing the interest of Natalie Gulbis, a rising star on the LPGA tour. Gulbis turned pro in 2001 and enjoyed moderate success in her first four years on the tour. But with her putting game slowly sinking, she made the switch to the HammY Putter in 2005. That switch seemed to make all the difference. By the end of the 2005 season, Gulbis had jumped to 19th in putting and had qualified for her first Solheim Cup.
And then in 2007, with the putter in the spotlight, Gulbis sank a putt in sudden death and won the Evian Masters in Evian-les-Bains, France. Things were good, really good, for Gulbis and HammY as 2007 came to a close. Putter sales for HammY were on the rise. Career earnings for Gulbis were soaring.
Until they weren’t.
When a big name golf company came calling for Gulbis, promising her a big paycheck and lots of publicity if she would use their putter, she answered the call. Gulbis continued on the tour without the HammY, although she never won another championship. The putter continued on the market, but it never shot to fame like the other giants in the putter industry.
That, Frank Horn thought, was the perfect time to move in on all things HammY. While Jim stayed on as owner of HammY, he stepped away from the day-to-day operations. So Frank decided to step into the role of president and CEO, taking over all of the operations and all of the existing inventory. When asked why he wanted to take all of that on, when he was already busy as the business owner [and sole employee] of his IT company, Frank said the answer was simple: “I completely believe in the concept.” Adding, “I made a commitment to Jim and to myself when I bought into the HammY 20 years ago. Those who know me, know that I keep my commitments. I knew that it would be a challenge to keep HammY afloat, but I also knew that I would do whatever it took to keep it going until there was nowhere else to go.”
Frank did just that. He spent countless weekends at golf shows across the country to get as many eyes and hands on the HammY Putter as possible. He peddled the HammY to local golf courses. He donated it to worthy charity events. Frank sold putters online through the the HammY website, various vendors, and online marketplaces. And then in 2022, fifteen years after Frank took the reins of the company, he was down to an inventory of 50 left-handed putters and was ready to pack it in, knowing that he kept his commitment and saw HammY through until the end.
As it turned out, what seemed like the end was just a new chapter waiting to unfold. Because in October of 2022, while Frank was watching his beloved White Sox take on the Twins, just hoping that the Sox would show some heart that day (they lost 10-1), Frank’s “side hustle” was getting jolted back to life.
It was that fall when Spencer Levin – a professional golfer on the Korn Ferry Tour who was tired of missing putts – pulled a HammY Putter out of his dad’s golf bag and decided to give it a shot. While Frank was watching the Sox get crushed on the field, over 300,000 people were watching Spencer sink putts thanks to a PGA Tour post that went viral. Fast forward a few months to when Spencer won the Veritex Bank Championship in spring of 2023, and the HammY Putter was sprung back to life.
According to Frank, “Social Media is an absolute game changer. I’m able to share the how and why of HammY with people in an instant and in a way that I wasn’t able to do 20 years ago.” Not only has Frank fully stocked his inventory with the original milled-face and polymer-insert blade putters, but he has also added a new line – the mallet-style head – to the HammY family. Ask Frank why he has decided, 20 years later, to take on the HammY all over again, and he’ll tell you the answer is simple once more: “I still believe in it. And, I’m having a lot of fun.” That approach has served Frank well, on and off the green. Frank has high hopes for the HammY Putter. And yes, he’s holding out hope for his White Sox, too.
What makes the HammY story compelling isn’t just its innovative design or viral resurgence—it's the unwavering passion behind it. Frank’s dedication to the putter goes beyond business. It's a testament to the belief that sometimes the best ideas simply need the right time, the right people, and a little bit of luck to thrive again.
"I completely believe in the concept, an those who know me, know that I keep my commitments."
"Over 300,000 people were watching Spencer sink putts thanks to a PGA Tour post that went viral."