Otto Hackbarth worked as a professional at Oconomowoc Golf Club but also had a mind to play tournament golf. In 1903 he entered the Western Open. He made golf clubs for the members. Hackbarth studied the game and knew the strong and weak points of clubs from his skill at club making. If there was a weak point in his game it was his putting. Otto designed a new style putter which he was convinced would improve his putting. He manufactured his new putter and it began to develop a following. In 1914, Otto received a United States patent for his putter which became known as the “Hackbarth Putter.”