LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- If you have seen Avatar, James Cameron's epic record-breaking motion picture, less than 20 minutes into the movie you will notice a Louisville Golf wood mallet putter prominently used by actor Giovanni Ribisi. In addition, Ribisi's character, Parker Selfridge, has his own action figure, and the packaging includes the Louisville Golf putter.

"We first found out about the action figure including our putter when Ribisi was interviewed on the Jimmy Kimmel TV Show," said Josh Fischer, marketing director for Louisville Golf. "When we first spoke with the Avatar production buyer we had no idea it would have such a prominent role in the movie, and an inclusion in the action figure. All this is a major thrill for us, just to be associated with a movie on the scale of Avatar is a real honor, and pretty hard to believe."

Over four years ago the Avatar production team called Louisville Golf and placed an order for a group of clubs. Louisville Golf is the world's largest manufacturer of wooden golf clubs. Made in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville Golf mallet putters are handmade with over 100 hand operations. The 36-year old family-owned business is best known for its Persimmon woods. Louisville Golf once manufactured Persimmon woods for golf companies such as Hogan, Wilson, Spalding and Tommy Armour.

Executives at Louisville Golf nearly forgot about the association with the groundbreaking movie. "It must have been four or five years ago that we sent the putter to James Cameron's team. I had no idea what they needed the clubs for, but they said they were working on Avatar, so it sounded cool and I made a mental note. We still charged them for the clubs, but looking back I might have sent them the putter for free if I had to do it again," added Fischer.

"We have worked on, and been involved with, some exciting projects over the three and a half decades we have been in business," said Mike Just, Louisville Golf president. "The driver we made for Tiger Woods in 2004, the Discovery Channel segments on How It's Made and the Ryder Cup Cherry mallet putter come to mind from the recent past. Being in Avatar ranks right up there with those projects." Louisville Golf has been making putters since the early 1980s, and is best known for their line of Persimmon woods and Hickory-shafted playable golf clubs. Visit www.louisvillegolf.com for more information. Call toll free 1-800-456-1631 M-F 9 to 5 EST.

CONTACT: Josh Fischer, Marketing Director josh@louisvillegolf.com