About us
"The worst-case scenario: a few thousand balls stacked in my apartment basement in Frankfurt. At my skill level, that would've kept me supplied for the next few seasons. No drama." — Patrick Honeck, Founder
Hi, I'm Patrick
I'm the guy behind Red Lobster Golfing — and I'm the only guy behind Red Lobster Golfing. No agency, no team, no tour pro lurking in the background. My day job is in international logistics. Evenings and weekends, I work on Lobbie.
Home club: Golfclub Neuhof in Dreieich. Handicap: 28.9 — which means I'm the exact player I built these balls for. Not the tour pro with the perfect swing. The golfer who wants to get better and isn't sure why a decent dozen has to cost as much as a green fee.
How it started
Summer 2022, Algarve. Four friends, one week in Portugal, and somewhere between the pool and the seafood we decided to actually do something — get our golf license at Pinecliffs Golf Resort. Four days on one of Portugal's most beautiful courses. All four of us came home licensed.
I came home with a problem I couldn't name yet.
If you start playing golf in Germany, the first thing you hit is the ball jungle: Lake balls for €20. Wilson Ultra for €30. TaylorMade TP5x for €50. Titleist Pro V1 for €70. And no brand, no pro shop, no YouTube review answers the one question that actually matters: Which ball fits my game — and why does the premium one cost four times more than the entry option?
That question stuck with me for weeks. Then came the thought most people kill before they finish thinking it:
"I could just have balls made myself. Worst case: a few thousand sitting in my basement. And honestly? At my level, I'd use them up eventually."
Six months later, the first Lobbies were actually sitting in my basement. The dining room became fulfilment HQ. March 2024: Lobbie PURE went live. October 2025: Lobbie BOLD joined — this time with a UV printer in the house, because I wanted to do custom editions down the road.
Why "Red Lobster"
I tried to find the name on a second trip to the Algarve. Holiday house, walls full of flipcharts, ChatGPT for brainstorming — lots of output, no real hit. After two weeks, everything was sorted. Except the name.
Flying back to Frankfurt, I'm sitting on the plane with a shortlist of seven names. An hour of back-and-forth, no decision. I look out the window at the sea — and then the name is just there:
Red Lobster Golfing.
I turn to my wife in the next seat: "What actually argues against it?" Her answer: "Just the US restaurant chain." Nothing else.
Lobster was working-class food before it became a luxury — and today it's both. Premium quality that isn't out of reach. That tension is the whole point of the brand. Plus: a lobster makes a way better mascot than another typographic tech logo.
That's how Lobbie was born — the red lobster with a club in his claw, sitting on every box, every ball, and every velvet pouch.
What I do differently
Packaging that earns its space. Standard golf balls come in a square box with four 3-sleeves inside. Lobbies come in a cylinder with a black velvet pouch holding all 12 balls. The pouch stays in your bag and keeps the balls sorted. The cylinder is giftable out of the box. No cardboard mess, no plastic overload.
A mascot instead of another tech logo. Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Srixon, Bridgestone — all running typographic, technical logos. Very functional, very interchangeable. I wanted something warmer, more recognisable, less sterile. So: Lobbie.
Honest about where the balls come from. Lobbies are produced in Asia, in factories that — to my knowledge — also work for established premium brands. But I don't make public claims about which specific brands, because I don't have written confirmation from the suppliers. A promise I can't keep, I'd rather not make.
Tested on a hitting robot. Before launch, I had the Lobbie PURE tested at SGS Fresenius Institute on a robot, against the Titleist Pro V1 and the Callaway Chrome Soft. Distance, dispersion, multiple swing speeds. The numbers are very close to both market leaders — and in single categories actually beat the Chrome Soft. Full test data is on the product page.
Direct-to-consumer, without the noise. I sell primarily through my own shop — which saves the wholesale margins other brands hand over to middlemen. But I don't make a campaign out of it. Lobbies are also available at Flight In Alzenau (indoor golf venue, Bavaria). Partnerships where we can actually shape something together matter more to me than blunt reach.
What I'm not trying to be
- Not a tour-pro sponsor. McIlroy, DeChambeau, Schauffele won't be playing Lobbies anytime soon. My marketing budget covers a range session, not a caddy bag.
- Not a mass producer. My order volumes don't allow for a flood — and that's fine.
- Not the next "disruptor." I'm not attacking anyone. Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Srixon, and Bridgestone spent decades building tech that justifies its price. Sponsoring pros costs money. Full respect for what those brands have built.
I just want to be the other option. For golfers who want tour performance without paying the tour markup. More players in the market = better choice for everyone.
Who I run with
In March 2025, a Sunday hit and orders from the US started coming in. Took me three days to figure out where they came from — turned out the first US buyer just sent me the link: Golfball Addict had ranked the Lobbie PURE #13 of 100 in his international ball test. Pretty good moment.
Otherwise, Red Lobster Golfing grows by word of mouth — and through three active partnerships with creators from the DACH golf scene:
Plus regular sponsorships at club tournaments in the Rhine-Main region and Franconia.
Try the Lobbies
If you've read this far, there's really one obvious next step: play them yourself. That's what the Test Pack is for — 3 Lobbie PURE in the velvet pouch, €9.50 including shipping. Low risk. Honest feedback welcome.
Where I'm going
What I'd love long-term: a steady roster of partner clubs running their own custom Lobbie editions — packaging, print, branding. Lobbie as the mascot of a team, a tour, a community. Alongside that, a proper B2C operation that doesn't run out of my dining room forever.
USGA and R&A certification comes once volumes justify it. The balls are already built to pass.
What I'm explicitly not trying: to become the "Snocks of golf." I want to be the brand DACH golfers know because it's honest — not because it has the biggest ad budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Lobbies tournament-grade?
The balls are built to specs that would pass USGA and R&A certification. They aren't officially certified yet — that pencils out at higher volumes. Practically: at an official DGV tournament you'd currently be disqualified. For private rounds, club tournaments without DGV scoring, and practice they're fully playable.
Why are your balls cheaper than Titleist?
Three reasons: I don't pay a tour pro. I sell directly — no wholesale margins. My marketing budget is modest — growth comes from word of mouth and honest reviews. All of that drops the retail price at the same product quality.
Where can I test the balls?
I don't sell through traditional retail. Instead, there's the Lobbie PURE Test Pack for €9.50 including shipping — 3 balls in the velvet pouch. Enough to play the ball at the range and through a round. Indoor: you can also play them at Flight In Alzenau (Bavaria).
What if you don't like the balls?
First: tell me what's off — I read every email personally, and honest feedback makes the next ball better. Second: 14-day return policy applies, send them back and get the full purchase price refunded. Used balls I can't take back for hygiene reasons.
"At the big brands, a dozen balls costs as much as a green fee. With us, it's the other way around." — Patrick Honeck
Email me directly
Questions, partnership ideas, a club tournament, a custom edition for your home course — or just feedback on the balls: get in touch.
📧 patrick@redlobstergolfing.de 📱 Instagram: @redlobstergolfing · TikTok: @redlobstergolfing
Red Lobster Golfing Frankfurt am Main · Germany