About our Founder

3DP Design is the passion project of me, Al Vikmanis.  People often ask if I have an engineering background but no, my formal education is actually in economics and finance.  In my prior life I was a strategy consultant in the international energy industry and an investment banker on Wall St.  Golf was always my passion, putters in particular, so when the time came to do something fun with my life, this is what I chose.  And aside from a brief sidetrack working at a golf-related tech startup (Arccos Golf) helping them develop and launch their product, I’ve spent much of my time since leaving the corporate world (more than a decade now) designing putters, building putters, developing new ways of making things, playing golf, and basically living the dream.

My first foray into the putter business was actually making CNC milled putters under the brand name of Round 4.  I started down the rabbit hole of teaching myself CAD expecting it to take a few weeks.   It took considerably longer.  But over time my CAD models started to come together and I found a talented machinist to work with and started making some heads.   But not long after that a friend asked me to join his startup and I loved the business concept so I tabled my putter project for a couple years.  In that time I discovered 3d printing in metal and the seed for what would become 3DP Design was planted.   After my stint at Arccos I returned to my putter project and was just starting to socialize my first 3d printed prototypes when I met the partners behind National Custom Works.  They were as excited about 3d printed putters as I was and I joined forces with them and made putters under the NCW brand for several years.   Eventually I decided to spin 3DP Design off as its own brand, but I still collaborate with NCW on putter projects and make metal ferrules in collaboration with NCW’s sister company, BB&Fco.  Both are amazing brands run by amazing people and I’m proud to be associated with them.  If you somehow found this brand but are unaware of either NCW or BB&F, go check them out. Best irons/wedges/ferrules in the business.

I’m based in South Florida, am about a 2 handicap, and still love to play golf and love what I do.   I particularly enjoy getting to meet and play with clients so if you’re ever coming to South Florida and want to tee it up, drop me a note.