Newton High School senior Taylor Rickard has turned his passion for machining and engineering into a striking display of craftsmanship: a custom-engineered golf putter. As a student of Clayton Baughman’s machining class, Taylor’s journey began last year with a basic prototype. 

“It was kind of rough, but it worked good enough,” he said, reflecting on his first attempt.

Taylor’s efforts caught the attention of his colleagues at Sand Creek Station Golf Course, where he’s worked for over a year and a half. While telling his colleagues about his project, his boss suggested he create a putter to display in the pro shop.

Determined to refine his design, Taylor tackled the project with creativity and precision. Using both CNC machines and manual mills, he optimized the “feeds and speeds” to perfect the club’s construction, including the textured face milling. One of the biggest challenges was engraving the club’s base, a feat complicated by its curved surface.

“It’s really cool because you can be creative and make whatever you want,” Taylor shared, highlighting the innovative aspects of his work.

The process involved more than just machining—it required engineering know-how, too. Taylor modeled and programmed the putter in his engineering class, testing various revisions to make the design manufacturable. Key adjustments included achieving the correct shaft angle of 70.5 degrees and a clubface angle of 3.5 degrees. 

“It took some engineering to figure out what we could actually achieve in the machine shop,” Baughman noted.

Taylor’s polished creation, crafted from stainless steel, is now poised to become a unique feature in Sand Creek Station’s pro shop. This accomplishment underscores his growth as both a machinist and an engineer while at Newton High.

His efforts have even gained attention beyond the classroom and golf course. Taylor regularly shares updates on his Instagram account, Taylorgolf, which has attracted semi-famous golfers as followers.