Exhibit 10.44

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Agreement, is made effective January 27, 2000, by and between TearDrop Golf
Company, ("TEARDROP") a Delaware Corporation, with its principal offices located
at 8350 North Lehigh Avenue, Morton Grove, Illinois, and Mr. ANDREW M. KAIREY
individual, ("EMPLOYEE") with his current address being 25737 Simpson Place,
Calabasas, California 91302:

                                   WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, EMPLOYEE shall be employed by TEARDROP as President and Chief Operating
Officer of TearDrop Golf Company, for a period of three years from the date of
execution of this document.

WHEREAS, TEARDROP has determined that it is in the best interest of TEARDROP to
obtain the services of EMPLOYEE in order to better assure the continued success
of TEARDROP, and;

WHEREAS, TEARDROP desires to insure, to the extent feasible, that for a time
certain from the date hereof, EMPLOYEE will be given the opportunity to continue
in the employ of TEARDROP for the mutual benefit of the parties hereto.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants
contained herein, the parties have agreed and do hereby agree as follows:

      1.    Term: TEARDROP hereby agrees to employ EMPLOYEE, and EMPLOYEE hereby
            agrees to be employed by TEARDROP as President of TearDrop Golf
            Corporation, from January 27, 2000, through December 31, 2002.
            EMPLOYEE shall give his best efforts to carry out his duties in an
            efficient, timely and workman like manner and in the continuing best
            interest if TEARDROP. Additionally, EMPLOYEE shall be awarded a seat
            on TEARDROP'S Board of Directors (Details to be determined by
            EMPLOYEE and The Board in another document).

      2.    Compensation: TEARDROP shall compensate EMPLOYEE during the term
            hereof as follows:

            a)    Annual Salary: Year 2000 - Salary shall be based on an annual
                  salary of Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($225,000),
                  beginning January 27, 2000; Year 2001 - Two Hundred Fifty


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                  Thousand Dollars ($250,000); and Year 2002 - Two Hundred
                  Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000);
            b)    Bonus: The current bonus program shall be used for the year
                  2000 and subsequent changes may be made to the bonus program
                  in subsequent years of this Agreement. Said program, with
                  respect to EMPLOYEE, shall be targeted at Fifty Percent (50%)
                  of EMPLOYEE'S base salary and will be prorated upwards or
                  downwards depending on the actual results when measured
                  against the established targets. The program shall be
                  determined by the executive management team and attached to
                  this Agreement and incorporated herein as Exhibit A.
            c)    Medical Insuruance/401K Benefits: EMPLOYEE shall be entitled
                  to the same medical and 401K benefits that current President
                  and CEO is entitled to and shall have the option to defer
                  medical/health insurance until his current benefits from his
                  previous employer have expired (TearDrop shall contribute to
                  payment of EMPLOYEE'S medical/health insurance if EMPLOYEE
                  chooses to maintain his current insurance coverage in an
                  amount equal to that amount which TearDrop would contribute if
                  EMPLOYEE chose coverage under TearDrop's plan);
            d)    Stock Options: EMPLOYEE shall receive One Hundred Thousand
                  Stock Options at the option price of Two Dollars and
                  Twenty-Five Cents ($2.25), which was the price of the stock at
                  the close of the market on January 27, 2000, the date EMPLOYEE
                  began working for TearDrop. The options shall vest in favor of
                  EMPLOYEE in equal 1/3 installments at the end of each calendar
                  year during the term of this Agreement. Additionally, EMPLOYEE
                  shall be eligible to receive additional stock options
                  annually, if approved by the board of directors;
            e)    Automobile: EMPLOYEE shall receive a One Thousand Dollar per
                  month automobile allowance, plus automobile insurance;
            f)    Country Club Allowance: An annual allowance of up to Twenty
                  Thousand Dollars ($20,000) per year for actual expenses shall
                  be given to EMPLOYEE each year during the term of this
                  Agreement (however, TearDrop shall not contribute any funds
                  for EMPLOYEE'S initiation or entry fee); and
            g)    Relocation Package: EMPLOYEE shall be reimbursed for all
                  moving expenses incurred in moving all of the contents of
                  EMPLOYEE'S home from California to Illinois. Estimates of said
                  moving expenses are from $15,000 to $20,000. A three bid
                  process shall be undertaken at the time of the move to
                  determine the most efficient and well equipped company to
                  handle the move. Additionally, EMPLOYEE shall be awarded
                  Fifteen Thousand (15000) Vested Stock Options at the option
                  price of Two Dollars and Twenty-Five Cents ($2.25), in order
                  to assist EMPLOYEE with closing costs on his home.


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      3.    Performance: During the term of employment under this Agreement,
            EMPLOYEE will devote his entire time during reasonable business
            hours to the performance of his duties hereunder (reasonable sick
            leave and vacations excluded).

      4.    Employment Termination:

            a)    In the event EMPLOYEE'S employment with TEARDROP is terminated
                  due to his death, incapacity, disability, retirement, and/or
                  EMPLOYEE is discharged for "good cause", (which for the
                  purposes of this Agreement, shall mean substantial or repeated
                  failure to meet minimum job standards, willful misconduct,
                  serious negligence, and/or acts or omissions harmful to
                  TEARDROP), or EMPLOYEE voluntarily leaves employment without
                  cause, EMPLOYEE shall immediately tender the resignation of
                  his seat on TEARDROP'S Board of Directors, to the Board.
            b)    Additionally, In the event EMPLOYEE'S employment with TEARDROP
                  is terminated for any of the reasons stated in paragraph a)
                  above, EMPLOYEE waives any and all rights to the severance
                  benefits contained herein.

      5.    Severance Pay: TEARDROP shall pay to EMPLOYEE, as severance and as
            consideration for EMPLOYEE'S agreement not to compete with TEARDROP,
            beginning promptly after termination, except if Paragraph 4 (a)
            applies, the following: (1) six months salary equal to EMPLOYEE'S
            current salary, paid to EMPLOYEE by TEARDROP during regular pay
            periods throughout the calendar year following termination. If
            EMPLOYEE is terminated during the 2002 contract year, EMPLOYEE shall
            receive the remainder of his annual salary as severance and as
            consideration for his non-compete agreement. The amount of any
            payment provided for herein shall not be reduced in any manner as
            the result of EMPLOYEE obtaining other employment after termination.
            Also, payments hereunder that would be included in a determination
            of any "Excess Parachute Payments" as defined under IRS Code Section
            280G, shall not exceed three (3) times the "base amount" as defined
            therein, to thereby enable TEARDROP and any such participant to
            avoid triggering any of the special tax disincentives related to any
            such Excess Parachute Payments as therein described.

      6.    Insolvency: insolvency, EMPLOYEE shall remain entitled to severance
            compensation as determined by the Bankruptcy Court. If Company is
            purchased by another entity out of Bankruptcy, this Agreement shall
            remain in force, and purchasing entity shall be bound by the terms
            and conditions stated herein.


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      7.    Competitive Employment: During the term of EMPLOYEE'S employment
            hereunder, and for one year after termination of EMPLOYEE'S
            employment, EMPLOYEE agrees that he shall not become employed by any
            third party in North America which directly competes with TEARDROP.
            The severance provision of this Agreement shall be consideration for
            this non-compete. In the event EMPLOYEE is terminated for cause and
            company chooses to enforce this provision, EMPLOYEE shall receive
            six (6) months salary as consideration for his agreement not to
            compete. This provision shall not apply if EMPLOYEE is
            constructively discharged due to the company's insolvency.

      8.    Severability: The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable
            and in the event that any provision is hereafter determined to be
            inconsistent with the law, or is found by any court or be invalid or
            unenforceable, the unlawful portion shall be void and of no effect
            and the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the other
            provisions of this Agreement, and all provisions not affected shall
            remain in full force and effect.

      9.    Applicable Law: The laws of the State of Illinois shall govern this
            Agreement and both parties shall be bound by all applicable State
            and Federal Laws.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
      duly executed as of the effective date set forth herein.

      TEARDROP GOLF COMPANY


      By:/s/ Rudy Slucker                       /s/ Andrew Kairey
         --------------------------             --------------------------
            Rudy Slucker                        EMPLOYEE
            President and CEO                   Andrew Kairey

      Date: January 27, 2000                    Date: January 27, 2000


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