ABOUT

mike lytle

Michael Lytle is the president and owner of LRDC®, a micro OEM focusing on innovation and new product development within the golf industry. After a twenty-five year career as a physician and business owner, Dr. Lytle has turned his focus and energy to the development of a unique paradigm in golf equipment, the EQUS® line of golf clubs. As a graduate from both the University of Kansas and George Washington University, his diverse background in science and technology has provided him with a unique perspective in the pursuit and development of this non-traditional concept. Over the past six years he has parlayed his leadership and small business experience with several well-known golf industry experts in an attempt to provide a simpler more efficient way to play golf. Visit Michael Lytle on LinkedIn.  

Jeff Sheets is a well-known golf club designer, author and owner of both Jeff Sheets Golf (JSG link) and Jeff Sheets Manufacturing. In his twenty-eight year career, he has used his expertise in designing, fitting and customizing golf equipment for over sixty of golf’s major winners including more than twenty Hall of Fame inductees. Following his graduation from the San Diego Golf Academy in 1988 (now the Golf Academy of America), Jeff began his career with Brunswick Golf (currently known as Rifle/Royal Precision under the True Temper umbrella), followed by Founders Club, Spalding, Wilson and Golfsmith where he developed multiple designs for MacGregor, Lynx and Snake Eyes. Jeff is probably best known for his 1999 Hogan re-launch with the Apex and Apex Plus designs. With over twenty patents, multiple club head designs, as well as personal experience with Nick Faldo, Lee Janzen, Lee Trevino, Payne Stewart, Lanny Wadkins, Dave Stockton, David Frost and Arnold Palmer, Jeff has solidified his reputation as a master craftsman and club designer in the golf industry. Jeff’s recent work includes Brainstorm Golf, Knuth Golf, Scor wedges (now Ben Hogan Golf), Mantis Golf and now EQUS Golf, a division of LRDC. Visit Jeff Sheets on LinkedIn.

Dan Tagtow is a partner with Innovate, a boutique engineering firm specializing in both industrial design and mechanical engineering. Dan’s twenty years of experience as both lead engineer and project manager, has allowed him to apply the industrial design process to mechanical engineering and product development. He obtained graduate and post-graduate degrees from both Oklahoma State University and the University of Illinois, and then began his career with Texas Instruments followed by Design Edge and the Federal Group. During his career he has been responsible for thirteen patents. With expertise in SolidWorks CAD, Advanced Surfacing, COSMOS and Finite Element Analysis, his experience in consumer and industrial products has proved invaluable in the development of the EQUS product line. Visit Dan Tagtow on LinkedIn. 

Nick Aquilino is a patent attorney specializing in golf equipment innovation and design. With over 400 golf patents to his name, Nick has become a fixture in the golf industry. He attended Villanova University where he obtained a degree in electrical engineering, while captaining the Golf Team, followed by a second degree in law from The Catholic University. After graduation Nick worked for the prestigious law firm Pennie, Edmonds before forming his own patent law firm in Alexandria, Virginia. His clients have included, Adams Golf, Dave Pelz, Guerrin Rife and Jeff Sheets in golf as well as Proctor and Gamble and Motorola in non-golf areas of technology. With patent experience spanning several decades Nick Aquilino is one of the most prolific golf patent attorneys practicing today. His insight, objective observation, knowledge and thoroughness have provided important intellectual stature paramount to the success of EQUS Golf. Visit Nick Aquilino on LinkedIn.

Jeff Sheets Manufacturing: JSM was formed in 2014 as a partnership between Jeff Sheets Golf and Lytle Research and Development Corporation (LRDC). With facilities in Austin, Texas, this manufacturer hand assembles and builds to order OEM golf products. Led by Jeff Sheets, JSM provides the backbone for all EQUS Golf assembly and customization. Visit Jeff Sheets Golf.

Lytle Research & Development Corporation: LRDC is a micro OEM devoted to the precision engineering and development of elegantly simple, yet sophisticated golf club designs capable of improving the game of golf for both accomplished players and non-players alike. Based in Arizona with facilities in Texas, Their mission to address consistency, repeatability and playability for golfers of all levels is led by Michael Lytle, President, LRDC. Visit LRDC on LinkedIn.

The Augusta Country Club is a semi-private golf course located in Augusta, Kansas. Coinciding with the Kansas Oil Boom and Prohibition, this post-war development was designed by Charles Bland and subsequently established in 1922.  Over its 94 year history, the Augusta Country Club has provided inspiration to tens of thousands of golfers. EQUS Golf was one of those examples.

In the early 60’s local engineers, architects, businessmen and builders took this privately owned 9 hole sand green course and created a local treasure. Located next to the runway of the local municipal airport this 6,289 yard renovation featured bent grass greens, occasional sand and the signature two pins per hole with corresponding tee boxes. This unique vision created an 18 hole experience, novel in its forward thinking.

Over the next 50 years, renovations and a dedicated golf community allowed this visionary course to evolve into a mature mix of past and present. 

The images used represent a modified depiction of this course, created by a nostalgic Augusta native who grew up learning the basics of golf and its gentleman’s ways on this hidden gem of the Midwest.