The clubs, known as Bobby Jones by Jesse Ortiz, indeed merge the classic styling of his father’s persimmons with the technology required of today’s high-performance clubs. The drivers have the same Russian beta titanium body that Ortiz used at Orlimar because he feels it’s harder and stronger than other materials. A graphite crown enables him to move weight away from the hosel, face and crown to other areas. The hybrids and fairway woods have a thin, maraging metal face and crown, and a stainless steel body. That lets Ortiz transfer 20 to 30 grams into the sole for a lower center of gravity.

“They perform well,” says Robbins. “It’s as good a club as any out there. He’s staying true to what he wants to do: hybrids, fairway woods and drivers.” Of course, designing clubs always was the easy part for Ortiz, who grew up helping in the workshop next to his father. During Orlimar’s explosive growth, it was everything else that he found difficult to handle.

“I don’t care if you were a Harvard MBA honors graduate,” Ortiz says. “Nobody can possibly be prepared or so arrogant to expect that you’re going to come up with something that takes you from $1 million to $100 million in 18 months. Nobody.”

As at Orlimar, Ortiz, who has an equity stake in Bobby Jones, is more than the designer. “At least half of what I do is CEO-type stuff,” says Ortiz, whose title is Vice President, Design. His previous experience—good and bad—should help his new company expand properly. Presently a $3 million company that Ortiz expects will grow fivefold next year and reach $40 million in five years, Bobby Jones Golf will remain a niche player, focusing on woods. But irons, wedges and other clubs are possible in the future.