Braves pitcher John Smoltz has said he wants to take a shot at playing professional golf once his baseball days are finished. Now Smoltz has another reason to work on his putting.
Smoltz and some business partners recently acquired Southwest Putting Green Technologies Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz. for undisclosed terms. The company designs and installs synthetic putting greens used for wealthy individuals who want a putting green in their backyard. Southwest Greens, which has a licensing deal with Jack Nicklaus’ golf-design company, also installs turf for commercial clients.
Lawson & Moseley partner William R. Moseley Jr., who was counsel to Smoltz and the investor group, said the investors all knew each other and saw an opportunity to buy a golf company.
“They have what the owners believe is the best artificial turf in the country,” Moseley said.
Moseley’s partner William H. Lawson worked with him on the transaction, as did associate Heather M. Davis. The three attorneys left Davis Pickren & Seydel about a year ago to form their corporate-law boutique.
Smoltz and his partners re-named the company Southwest Greens Holdings Inc. The group wants to expand the company’s sales outside of its core business, Moseley said. Their product can also be used as the turf in athletic fields, on playgrounds and at driving ranges, Lawson said.
Southwest Greens purchases all of its turf from one vendor, Challenger Industries of Dalton.
Lawson & Moseley continues to perform work for Southwest Greens on franchise law and intellectual property law, Moseley said.
“Their trademarks are already protected in Mexico, Australia, Panama, Canada and other locations,” Moseley said. “What we’re in the process of doing now is protecting their marks in areas where they want to do business. They want to break into the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.”
The other members of the investor group are former Braves and Pirates pitcher Zane Smith and former Hitachi executive Richard Davis III, who’s serving as CEO of Southwest Greens.
As for Smoltz's golf game, as of May 2 he had a U.S. Golf Association handicap of +2.