Connect with us

Tour News

Golfsmith looking for a buyer, considering bankruptcy

Published

on

Golfsmith, the world’s largest specialty golf retailer, is reportedly looking for a buyer, per a brief Bloomberg report.

The Texas-based company is reportedly also considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a route forward as it looks for a purchaser of the business and its 100-plus outlets. Golfsmith has hired investment bank Jefferies LLC to solicit buyers.

“The company’s management team is focused on strengthening the company and its business operations to maintain and expand its position as a leading golf retailer,” a Golfsmith spokeswoman told Bloomberg.

The news comes just a day after Nike announced its exit the golf equipment space to focus instead on apparel and footwear and in the wake of another giant, Adidas, looking to divest itself of its golf holdings.

Related: OEMs weigh in on the Nike news.

Geoff Shackelford did some legwork with respect to the potential Golfsmith sale, reporting: “After a few calls today, I learned Golfsmith’s primary issue is with terrible leases and real estate issues involving many of its locations. Bankruptcy would make it easier to get out of such deals or to restructure them.”

However, the golf writer doesn’t necessarily see the events of this week as ushering in further doom-and-gloom.

He writes: “There is no question golf faces all sorts of issues in a world with rapidly changing business, recreational and media consumption trends. But as with prior examples in the golf business world, pinning the blame on a sport that has been around for 400 years, when we can point to obvious market overcrowding and bad deals, seems short-sighted.”

Jason Lusk of Golfweek spoke with Casey Alexander, an analyst with Gilford Securities in New York who tracks the golf industry, offered this take:

“Ten years ago I said this business was going to collapse down to a core four at best – Callaway, Titleist, TaylorMade and Nike. I just got one of the names wrong. It turns out Nike is out and Ping is in. … The effects of this have been happening already in the marketplace. If you’ve been to an Edwin Watts or Golf Galaxy and you look for Nike Golf, you will find the most miserly display of mish-mash equipment imaginable. There’s just nothing there.”

Hopefully Alexander’s “nothing there” sentiment won’t soon extend to Golfsmith.

Related: PXG’s Bob Parsons on Nike’s equipment-making exit

Your Reaction?
  • 184
  • LEGIT46
  • WOW60
  • LOL11
  • IDHT6
  • FLOP3
  • OB5
  • SHANK17

GolfWRX Editor-in-Chief

93 Comments

93 Comments

  1. Regular Joe Golfer

    Sep 9, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I’ve worked at GS going on 4 years and 99% of our customers SUCK at golf. That is what we have to deal with regarding customers who want the full fitting “experience”. If I could hand an iron to a customer, let him get loose, then take say 5 shots where each shot flew pretty much the same in terms of distance, direction, height, spin, etc., then put in another shaft with a slight variation that could be measurable, that’s fine. What we see is 2 shots that are wicked slices, one straight but a grounder, a pull, then a pop up what the heck are we to do? Couple that with the fact since last fall everyone once a “deal”. They want to be fitted with discontinued clubs at deep discounts…not possible.

    Our attitude could be better I agree. The problem is dealing with one idiot customer after another so when that 1 customer a day or sometimes a week comes in who is highly skilled and wants fitted it’s difficult to make the adjustment. Especially when a customer is in the next bay who sees his visit as a “destination” and wants to try virtually every head and shaft…just because…AND is not going to buy today anyway, it gets to be more than I can handle.

    Someone else above complained about the stores being too big but another comment about how great the PGASS are because they have everything. I could go on but won’t.

  2. Golf Guru

    Sep 5, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Personally, I love the Golfsmith store in Warrensville, OH. Like any new retail store the staff was a little shaky the first few years but as of this year they have a great management staff, knowledgeable fitters, and I believe all but 2 reps can do regrips or club alterations (cut length, bend lie angles, etc.).
    It sucks to walk in now and see clothing racks scarce! With Nike bowing out, and the industry tanking, the business model of a big box store is changing. Consumers are buying online more but they still need to get fitted. What good is it if you just buy a club based on price, go have a bad round, then blame the club. Duhhhh! It’s the CARPENTER NOT THE NAIL!! At least at golfsmith you can try the new clubs on the course for 30 days (i think it’s 90 in some southern stores) and if you’re not happy, take it back! I know others online vendors offer this but you need to test the club first.
    I feel bad for those with a lackluster Golfsmith in their home towns. My store is awesome and all the associates there care about golf. We need more of them!

  3. Jim

    Aug 16, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    ….16 yrs ago when the boon started it was knobs in Rayban’s, Docksiders (no socks) & untucked button-down business shirts….snortin weasel dust off the cart seats & eatin’ oxy’s like goldfish in the halfway house bowls…

    I think they died off (or OD’d) with Lehman Bros

  4. R C

    Aug 15, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    Personally, I’m quietly waiting/enjoying the “slowdown” in the golf retail industry…

    (I know the article was about another retailer going belly-up)

    Less golfers? BIG plus as far as I’m concerned!

    Means easier to get a last-minute tee time & faster place of play in my experience.

    Sure, it sucks that people are going to have to find new jobs (notice what I said there- “find new jobs,” not just “lose their job,” as they will.) Like most everything, an equilibrium will prevail and we’ll all deal :0)

  5. Bruce Ferguson

    Aug 7, 2016 at 10:34 pm

    When I was a kid in the late 50’s and early 60’s, my father bought his sporting goods at a mom and pop store called The Outdoors Store. It was a fraction of the size of today’s Dicks or Cabelas, but seemed to have about everything. It just didn’t have the expansive brand selection that stores have today; just two or three brands. A fellow could get some inexpensive clubs (Northwestern) or higher-end but still reasonable clubs (MacGregors). The purchaser would play the clubs, and if he wanted his clubs tweaked or repaired, it was done at the pro shop where he played, whether municipal or a private club. The player developed a relationship with the person or persons who worked there, and were most likely on a first name basis. The club pro would know your history of golf struggles, would advise you on your swing, build clubs for you or sell better clubs from the floor.
    Today, the last three sentences might still apply to many private clubs, but it seems that pro shops at municipal courses are often staffed by college kids who only know how to operate a cash register and differentiate between brand names. If you want a shaft change or loft adjustment, they either don’t provide the service or some guy you never see comes in once or twice a week to do it.
    When I go to the local Golfsmith, I feel like I’ve just walked into a car dealership. I don’t think a single person still works there from when the store opened two years ago. After being greeted by the guy on the floor, if I don’t announce what I’m doing there (getting some grips, checking out the gloves, etc.), I’m followed around at a discreet distance, as if I’m going shop-lifting. A really sterile experience.

  6. Mike

    Aug 7, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Nothing surprising here. I live in Sarasota, and the Golfsmith here has the worst customer service imaginable. There are 2 or 3 nice people that work there, and the rest are awful. Not sure why it’s such an epidemic, but typically things like that trickle down from the top. In addition to re working the books, they need an attitude adjustment as well. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked out of that store and just ordered what I wanted online because I didn’t like the negative attitude I got in there.

  7. Gordy

    Aug 7, 2016 at 8:23 am

    So, this is pretty simple capitalism. When economies are good everyone thrives. When economies are bad only the strong survive. GolfSmith has been running terrible for years. My mother is in realestate, when the housing bubble hit a lot of agents left the business because they were never that great to be gone with. Now only the best are in the business

  8. Mad-Mex

    Aug 6, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    I still remember back in the late 80’s when Golf “Discount” Stores came out, i.e. Nevada Bobs, Golfsmith, Roger Dunn,,, before they came on the scene you bought your stuff AT the Pro-Shop, now like it has been said before eBay is taking over,, we the customers screwed ourselves in the name of cheaper prices,,,

    • Jim

      Aug 15, 2016 at 11:19 am

      When they were new, they were heaven! Never gave a thought to the economics of it, it was just great to see a hundred bags to choose from!

      A few dozen visits later, it started to become obvious I wasn’t ever interested in half the clubs there, and then it became 75%.

      It was also better when they weren’t everywhere, and they became “destinations” to look forward to hitting – like on an annual golf trip – be it Myrtle or Orlando – wherever…

      I would save up my money when I was young and we’d hit MB for a couple days on our way to Augusta and I’d buy 3 pairs of ‘last years’ Dry Joys off the lucky size clearance rack for the upcoming season. Display shoes, or damaged/lost box all the better as they were usually the best discount.

      Did we really need super market golf stores full of wasted floor space, mediocre service, barley trained techs and (now) shitty house brands?

  9. KK

    Aug 6, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    Increasing COR and driver headsize would help the equipment industry, playing time and retaining golfers/recruit new golfers. But, I think the true golf revolution will be single-golfer powered lightweight carts. Without this, golf will increasingly become more and more outdated.

    • kolfpro

      Aug 6, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      What are you talking about? Did you post by mistake?

    • KK

      Aug 6, 2016 at 10:22 pm

      Have you seen how popular “hoverboards” are with kids? And golf just takes too much time. Best way to cut that down is single-golfer carts that promotes ready golf and can get closer to the tee box/green. It will also make the golf experience feel faster. The two-player golf cart is really the core problem with modern golf because of our faster and more independent culture. First company to deliver the solo cart will save golf.

      • 300 Yard Pro

        Aug 7, 2016 at 1:34 am

        Retail is dead.

        • Jim

          Aug 8, 2016 at 9:50 pm

          Superior customer service, attention to detail, less crap & wasted floor space, and state of the art fitting technologies have saved top quality smaller boutique off course pro shops from complete annihilation. Within a 1hr drive from our shop there are 7 other independents. 3 are at driving ranges. In the same circle there are 2 Dick’s (who’ve pretty much abandoned golf) a PGA super store, a Golf Galaxy and 1 Golfsmith – there were 2 but one closed about 6 months after the Super Store moved into town.

          This is without including the NYC or LI stores technically within the circle, but additional toll bridges & traffic apply.
          This is also a seasonal area geographicallyn so we certainly are not lacking choices of where to shop.

          The indies have all survived the onslaught of mega stores, ecommerce, stupid marketing practices by large OEMs and the terrible economy because the glitz & novelty of super market sized golf stores overloaded with midpriced and lower end leftovers has worn off.

          The constant barrage of over-hyped new
          releases has erroded the trust and confidence of buyers and many only shop there for the low prices on accessories but have been steadily turning to the smaller shops comitted to better service, better fitting technologies, better actual fitters, and technicians that maintain a better inventory of shafts (Golfsmith, Dick’s & Galaxy all have them in their catalog or on line, but never on hand) for same day or overnight
          emergency repairs.

          Many golfers are turning to higher end, very well fit merchandise that will last a lot longer than this quarters “Greatest Driver ever made!”

        • cgasucks

          Aug 9, 2016 at 5:29 pm

          Tell that to Walmart…

      • Dave

        Aug 7, 2016 at 9:34 am

        They already have a solo means of transport and it’s far cheaper and better for you. It’s legs.

    • Jay

      Aug 6, 2016 at 11:41 pm

      Yeah, we have this…its called your legs and a push cart. Depending on the region of the country you live in, people are just plain LAZY. You can walk 18 just as fast as you can cart it since you don’t have to drive to every individual’s ball, usually sprayed all over the course. Just walk up and hit the dang thing. Americans have just become increasingly more over-weight and unable to place one foot in front of the other, and people want everything as easy as possible. The sedentary lifestyle is rotting the US.

      And how the heck big do you want club heads? Just make them 10,000cc’s so it’s impossible to miss hit anything? Maybe make it so getting it on the green counts as getting it in the hole.

      • KK

        Aug 7, 2016 at 5:53 pm

        Making everyone walk will save golf? Let’s be serious.

      • Jackruss02

        Aug 8, 2016 at 8:59 am

        But where will I keep my beer cooler if I walk?

  10. Forsbrand

    Aug 6, 2016 at 1:54 pm

    I think the likes of Ebay has also spoilt the golf industry

  11. Forsbrand

    Aug 6, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    And the meek shall inherit the earth!

  12. sg

    Aug 6, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    You would know all about that rock, don’t you Smeagol? Go back to the mountain hole from whence you came. Now there’s a good Smeagol Gollum!

  13. Michael

    Aug 6, 2016 at 8:09 am

    Lame attempt at trolling. Try again.

  14. GolfNut

    Aug 6, 2016 at 6:53 am

    I see this to coming to be more of what we will see in the golf industry. The amount for golf clubs and playing golf is to much money for the younger generation (20-35 years old) with the cost of living going up and not there pay.

  15. BIG STU

    Aug 6, 2016 at 6:40 am

    If they are like the two stores in Myrtle Beach I can see why they are going bankrupt. They came in here like a storm. They bought property in one location built a new store etc. The other location they bought two locally owned family stores and remodeled one and sold the other. When they first came in they had plenty of club making supplies and then it dwindled down to nothing. PGA SS is kicking their butts down here. They also do not pay their employees well and they have constant turn over. I know several folks that have worked there and they tell me this. They have offered me a job several times in their club repair department but I make a hell of a lot more money driving a truck and a lot better benefits. I quit going there over a year ago when I came in one day and got 2 grips on an emergency deal. After standing there in the check out for 10 minutes of so and being informed someone would get to me in a few minutes I told them screw it and went up the street 10 blocks to PGA SS and got those same grips. I actually have a customer number since I used to order stuff from them before a store came here. I actually called their 800 number and told them to remove me from their mailing list and as a customer. I can get emergency stuff from a locally owned store on this end or I can order off the net from several sources. As far as their coupons and ‘deals” they can shove that too. Hope they do go ‘belly up” they deserve it one lousy company

  16. jimmie john

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    man you must be the best dressed and best fitted 15 handicapper huh.

  17. matthew

    Aug 5, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    the fix is simple, clubs should be purchased directly from the manufacturer. more custom options, faster turn around time, and no middle man should make for more affordable clubs. if you want to be fitted, go to a local pro shop at a course and get fitted outdoors on a monitor. prices have been fixed for years by the oem’s, so why not just order from titleist and be done with it.

    • Stoo pid

      Aug 5, 2016 at 8:14 pm

      So spoketh an eejit

    • KK

      Aug 6, 2016 at 6:25 pm

      Average golfer is 55 years old. How the heck is he supposed to buy direct from the manufacturer? Your fix is simpleton.

  18. TigerWoodIfHeCould

    Aug 5, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    I have a solution for the golf equipment industry. Change the COR from .83 to .90 or more for drivers used by amateurs. (Put the COR in red, right next to the loft). Make the loft 12, 14 and 16 degrees and these will be the only choices. Make the face angle on the top edge of the face to protect from sky marks. Also, create a driver with an adjustable face that you can set for draw (hook) or fade (slice) on the fly (no tool) and make all the shafts say “stiff” somewhere but never say regular or senior. (not so stiff, stiff, very stiff etc.) Let them hit as far as they can is my take on it.

    This is for the guys you see on public courses with a baseball cap on backwards, cargo shorts, Air Jordans and toting a beer. You know them, the guy that is always asking what club did you hit into a par 3. You see the club, especially the driver is analogous to his penis. You know the guys you went to high school with on the football team. When they are asked; “what size jock (strap) do you need” and they always say “large”.

    These guys never practice anyway because the “P” word is not fun. So let them have fun. Once you get these guys hitting long and straight they will be a (golf) customer for life.

    Also, headcovers with “naked women” would help also! Feed the male ego and cash in my friend!

    • TigerWoodIfHeCould

      Aug 5, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      Hey, my favorite troll “Mother Smizzle”!!! I was expecting you. I guess in your “Pee” brain world your post means something to someone … somewhere but not here!

      • Mat

        Aug 5, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        Actually, I agree with Smizzle this time… wholeheartedly.

        • TigerWoodIfHeCould

          Aug 5, 2016 at 6:18 pm

          Sorry, I must have described you in my post. I didn’t mean to offend. Turn you cap around when you play next time and things will get better!

        • kolfpro

          Aug 6, 2016 at 1:45 am

          This looks like a case of the trolls feeding the trolls. Will this ever stop??!

    • kolfpro

      Aug 6, 2016 at 1:42 am

      This must be sarcasm, a joke or your are just plain crazy.

  19. Bert

    Aug 5, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    Remember what they did to “Green Grass”. Maybe they have reaped what they sowed. Price fixing has been long ongoing between the big box stores and OEM’s. Golf shops and small mom and pop golf stores couldn’t compete. The cost of highly paid players is passed on to the buyer. Maybe it’s time for quality equipment at reasonable prices. Maybe times are a changing!

  20. Uncle Buck

    Aug 5, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Gotta love it, Obama and Eldrick to blame for golf’s woes! I mean, “birdy” you are an imbecile!!
    Northwestern’s brand sold at Target is looking like the place to shop for quality golf gear!! Lol! Hmm…think we can lobby for a club repair dept. on the old Home and Garden patio?!!

  21. Bob Diakow

    Aug 5, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Nike has gone through this before with hockey gear. They bought the famous Bauer company and started to manufacture inferior hockey equipment off shore, not exactly what you want for $500+ skates and $1,000+ goalie pads. Once they understood that the couldn’t build a product in Asia that could compete with the pro level gear manufactured in Toronto and Quebec by skilled craftsman, they dumped the company back to investors in Toronto that rebuilt the Bauer name.

    Nike actually leveraged/bowered the “Vapor” name for skates, sticks and goalie equipment thinking that the shared brand equity would escalate sales faster. If you think golf has equipment junkies, you should talk to hockey goalies. They are about as particular as anyone when it comes to equipment, a breed all their own. And they didn’t put up with Nike’s subpar materials and craftsmanship, literally driving Nike out of the market.

    Hockey is in a similar shrinking market a few years ahead of golf, which has resulted in manufacturers either going out of business or companies selling out to larger, more capitalized companies.Both sports rely on a strong economy with high discretionary income families to grow the sport. With the shrinking middle class, both sports seem destined to revert back to their sizes before Gretzky and Tiger.

    • Mat

      Aug 5, 2016 at 6:15 pm

      Close the thread… this is the point entirely. Well said.

    • Tyler

      Aug 6, 2016 at 1:18 am

      Really interesting stuff. I had no idea Nike was into hockey equipment. Well said, I totally agree that the golf market needs to come back to equilibrium.

  22. birdy

    Aug 5, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    What did the price of a driver used to be 8 years ago? Since Obama became president 8 years ago, average wages have declined while retail prices of equipment has gone up. This isn’t political, its common sense. fewer people are spending big bucks on golf equipment and clothes….especially when the new stuff coming out isn’t much different.

    if you belong to a club, are a good golfer looking to get PROPERLY fit, or buy used you probably aren’t shopping at Golfsmith for big purchases.

    • mhendon

      Aug 5, 2016 at 11:46 pm

      I always find it funny people complaining about the cost of the game and equipment. I’ve been playing for over twenty years and I can tell you the cost of a round is about the same as it was then and in many cases equipment is cheaper. For example my Titleist 975 D was 399.99 and so was the 975J and then the 905T. I replaced the 905T in 2013 with a brand new Nike vr pro limited for $150. It wasn’t until the introduction of the 915 that Titleist raised the price of a new driver. 50 dollar increase in 20 years. In 2001 I bought some Mizuno mp33, 3 thru PW for 799.99 I recently replaced them with some brand new Mizuno mp64’s for $370. Yes in both cases the Nike driver and the Mizuno mp64’s where old models but they where still brand new in their original packaging. Point is with a market swamped with equipment and access to it made easy by sites like eBay golf is cheaper than ever. And if your ego will only allow you to have nothing but the latest and the greatest it’s really no more than it was 20 years ago.

    • Bagger

      Aug 6, 2016 at 6:54 am

      If you are going to complain about wage growth act like a real economist and look at 30 year trends… We all could do without your veiled political jabs

      http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/07/06/just-how-stagnant-are-wages-anyway/
      http://www.epi.org/publication/charting-wage-stagnation/

    • Logical

      Aug 6, 2016 at 11:17 am

      Are you currently wearing a “make goldsmith great again” hat?

  23. Dick Johnson

    Aug 5, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    The absence of Tiger Woods is hurting the entire golf industry.

  24. James Bond

    Aug 5, 2016 at 11:58 am

    The internet and much better service and improved selection/custom orders at mom&pop style stores is killing the big box. Only those with exceptional CS will survive.

    • Dead Fish

      Aug 5, 2016 at 12:35 pm

      way more than that…Retail, specifically in apparel, is far more brutal than equipment sales. Stores like GolfSmith rely more on apparel sales because equipment is just too expensive and OEMs can’t figure that out. So now they have to compete with the likes of every other apparel retail shop…To include Wal-Mart, Target, and other non golf related stores. You can go buy Champs golf gear at Target for 1/2 the price of any name brand golf gear. Looking at that, and the lack of sales in equipment, and they suddenly have no business.

      • Marty Moose

        Aug 5, 2016 at 2:03 pm

        And the Champs stuff at Target is legit. I have a couple pairs of the pants. Good quality and only $30 as compared to $100+ for Nike.

  25. cb

    Aug 5, 2016 at 11:05 am

    golfsmith is good for buying gloves and apparel (not hats), and it is good for trying clubs and buying club components. but i never buy new clubs from them, the only clubs i might consider is something from their used section which is usually a pretty good selection.

  26. Weekend Duffer

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:59 am

    Good riddance. Always tried to rip people off with the used clubs. Try to give you pennies for a trade-in but then will put it on the used rack for near full price. I’ll just stick with online stores.

    RIP

  27. Tim

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:54 am

    I went to GS to see equipment, but would buy it elsewhere (“showrooming”). The customer service at the two stores I go to in Colorado is terrible, and that should be a B&M’s differentiator. They seldom had real sales, and their coupons (due to manufacturer restrictions) were useless for the stuff I was interested in. Why do they deserve my business when they don’t give me great service?

    The problem with buying expensive equipment is ensuring it will work for me, which means trying it out at my course, not into a net with a simulator. Golfsmith doesn’t solve that problem, so I go elsewhere. At least PGA Tour Superstore allows me 90 days to try out the equipment for full shop credit (up to 3 times).

    I always get the impression at GS that their under a lot of pressure financially, but they’re not willing to earn your business. The world has changed, and if you’re not going to give great customer service, don’t be surprised if your customer base buys through online retailers, where the price is often better.

    • yd

      Aug 5, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      You mean by service, they just didn’t give you 20% off the brand new golf club you wanted? You’re dumb

      • Tim

        Aug 6, 2016 at 11:07 am

        By service, I mean that you can’t find someone to help you when you’re there, their turn around time for repairs is slower then their competition, and they won’t go out of their way to help you so that you come back the next time.

    • Brian

      Aug 5, 2016 at 2:55 pm

      The Manufacturer restrictions drive me crazy. When you read the fine print, practically everything of any value is restricted from any type of promotional discount. I usually throw the Golfsmith mailers right in the recycling bin as soon as I bring in the mail because I know it won’t apply to anything I want.

    • Logical

      Aug 6, 2016 at 11:15 am

      You are 100 percent correct. Around here Goldsmith is a chain that never really understood its customers, provided poor service, and tried to screw you on the trade in process. Website said your driver was worth $100, but the store manager thinks $25. And yes, their sales were never valid in anything you wanted, just that old training net in the corner that’s been there for 10 years.

      It’s not a surprise, I wondered how they were still open at this point anyway. But your description nails their existence perfectly. Nice job.

  28. Daddy

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:48 am

    And the hits just keep on comin!

  29. brenda

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I buy my clubs onine. I buy recently discontinued clubs at a huge discount and no sales tax. The only thing I buy at Golfsmith are tees and then only when I run out of the tees I purchased online.

  30. Jay

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I love that the guy in the picture is a dude in Wrangler jeans and a cheap polo. Christ. THAT guy. Lol. The epitome of the Golfsmith customer.

    • Ray

      Aug 5, 2016 at 11:31 am

      Jay, please explain what he should have worn and how his clothing shows he is the “epitome of the Golfsmith customer?” Had he been wearing khakis and a $75 Adidas polo, would he not be a “Golfsmith customer?” I’m sorry, but your comment comes off as needlessly condescending.

      • yd

        Aug 5, 2016 at 1:18 pm

        Ray, Jay is saying that the guy in the photo is the may-be-play-once-a-month type guy who really isn’t a golfer

        • Ray

          Aug 5, 2016 at 1:26 pm

          yd, I understand what he’s getting it, but he’s doing it in a unnecessarily snide way.

        • Scott

          Aug 5, 2016 at 3:41 pm

          you mean the guy running around doing errands on a Saturday afternoon that was thinking that he needed a new putter and happened to try them out at Golfsmith?

    • Don

      Aug 5, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Or maybe he’s a guy who is out on other errands and stops into GS to try out putters. You go, Jay, put on your wanna be golf pro look to pop into a golf store.
      By that token, put on hip-waders before stopping at a fishing store to buy a lure. Or take off your tie after work if you need tpo stop by Home Depot for something on the way home for some home handywork on tthe weekend.
      Sheesh.

      • Jay

        Aug 5, 2016 at 2:08 pm

        Here’s the distinction: you see ‘that guy’ wandering up the first tee, straight out of his car, dressed just like that. Every weekend. Any public course. And he goes to golfsmith because it’s quick and easy and they won’t really fit him, but sucker him into whatever the sales person wants to sell him. You don’t see people dressed like that, up to their waist in a stream, fly fishing now do you??

        I’m going to guess by your defensiveness, ‘Don’, that you are that guy.

        • Don

          Aug 5, 2016 at 3:33 pm

          You are wrong, I’m not that guy, but I am Don.

          However, I bet the public courses who have “those guys” guys coming to play dressed however they want, playing whatever they want are damn glad to have them.
          I’m not going to disagree that many big box customers don’t fit for get the best product for their game. A lot of those guys as you said esp are the casual golfers who just want the quick and easy.

        • Mat

          Aug 5, 2016 at 6:22 pm

          When you build a business model around “those guys”, you eventually get to that point of having to con them in to buying the same product year over year. Even “those guys” start using large display areas as playgrounds on their lunch break. It wouldn’t be too bad if there was a “buy a sleeve” mentality, but there isn’t. Hell, I don’t buy new equipment because I can customise slightly used equipment better and more accurately than I can order it from an OEM. Repairs at big box are often done wrong, and while I find the service friendliness fine, there is definitely a “Top Golf” mentality now. Seeing teenagers shooed out of bays instead of middle-aged guys with disposable income.

          • Don

            Aug 5, 2016 at 8:58 pm

            You raise some good points. The same guys that do freebie demoing at such places on their lunch hour then buy off the net will whine when they can’t find a place to try other than a proper clubfitter that charges for service. For the record I’ve bought off the net so I’m not saying in-person is the the only way to go.

            Who is buying, at least new? I belong to a 100 strong seniors group and many of those guys aren’t hurting for bucks. For most, you wouldn’t know that by the age and condition of the clubs in their bags.

            I certainly see a lot of older model drivers etc at the range so I don’t see a lot of new club turnover. Nor do I see a lot of traffic or buying in the local big box stores other than some expensive full set buying in the local GolfTown that I’ve heard keeps it’s head above water with Chinese visitor shoppers.

    • Johnny Muscletown

      Aug 6, 2016 at 9:03 am

      Those are NOT wranglers. They are baggy.

  31. EGDEW Rich

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:45 am

    The last quoted analyst describing the NIKE clubs and their display is way off the mark. NIKE’s new line of putters and wedges are top of the line performers, very competitive with the overrated Vokey’s, and feel wise, right there with the PING forged offerings. NIKE woods are technologically advanced and great performers. NIKE’s new management, taking over from the founder who wrote a very good book about the firm, is likely trying to splash short term profits and margins to get their performance bonuses, a common disease fostered by the venture/private equity guys. TMade ‘s gluttonous releases of very good technology clubs is choking the business IMHO. I wish that NIKE would sell the club business lock stock and shaft to UnderArmor, perhaps?

    • Ray

      Aug 5, 2016 at 11:42 am

      Rich, Nike’s been selling clubs since 2002 so it’s a bit hard to describe this as Nike not letting a product line get its feet under it before pulling the plug. Sales are down, and, according to the releases I’ve read, Nike Golf trails every other Nike sales division. I’m no expert when it comes to business forecasting, but it appears this was a business decision grounded in the reality that the soft goods market for golf is growing but the hard goods market is a tough business, especially without a new Tiger Woods to dominate and attract people to golf.

      With Adidas already publicly looking to offload Taylormade, it would have been very difficult to sell off Nike Golf which doesn’t have the cachet or market share that Taylormade has had over the last 15 years (yes, even with the micro second marketing cycles). Also, I highly doubt Nike would let the name go with the club making business so you also lose out on whatever brand name appeal exists for Nike Golf, unlike if you purchase Taylormade where you get the name and the business unit (I play two elderly Taylormade clubs in my bag but am in no way a fanboy) .

    • Brian

      Aug 5, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      Ping offers forged clubs? Since when? I know they’ve had a few one-off forgings, but that’s the very rare exception.

      • Jim

        Aug 16, 2016 at 3:21 pm

        Ping’s a great company with excellent customer service & protections. Bubba aside, frankly their forged irons have all sucked.
        G’s & I’s, drivers & hybrids are what they’re good at….

        Likewise, I don’t ever recommend Mizuno oversize or ‘game improvement’ irons….

        stick to what you do best…

  32. Joshuaplaysgolf

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:42 am

    As far as fitting goes, especially for higher-level players, no, Golfsmith doesn’t do the greatest job…but for picking up other stuff like shoes, apparel, gloves, balls, etc., there’s nothing wrong with them. I have a good relationship with the people at my local Golfsmith, just because its the closest golf store to me and I’m in there all the time.

    I rode BMX professionally for years in high school and college, and the same thing happened to that sport in the ’80’s. It got popular quick, then that generation grew out of it and it was down to, literally, a couple riders riding at county fairs and no bike companies until Mat Hoffman started building his own bikes. Eventually it came back up, just with a different market structure and it has been alive and well since the mid-90’s. Sort of similar paths here. It’s going to shrink (obviously, since it already is/has been), but like the article says, there will always be a core group of golfers that keep the sport alive. It’s just going to look different than it has the past 10 years. Probably very different. Hopefully slower product cycles, less companies saturating the market with clubs that are all relatively similar, and lower prices that make things a little more accessible for new players.

  33. Locode

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:38 am

    Ah Golfsmith. Once great, they messed up their shot in Canada (I know, I worked for them), and now the giant store concept is bringing them down. I’m surprised it took this long.

  34. Don

    Aug 5, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Didn’t GolfTown in Canada buy Golfsmith several years ago?

    • Philip

      Aug 5, 2016 at 10:26 am

      No, I just checked out an old financial news item from 2012. They merged under the umbrella of Golfsmith International while maintaining their respective branding in the US (Golfsmith) and Canada (Golftown) – http://www.omerspe.com/News/Golf_Town_and_Golfsmith_Combination_Complete.htm – I don’t know about Golfsmith, but the Golftown near me has been moving smaller items to online sales only, reducing the area for clubs and expanding the area for apparel and related items.

      • HP

        Aug 5, 2016 at 7:16 pm

        If they file chapter 11 does it affect GolfTown in Canada too?

  35. KJ

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:59 am

    No surprise. You don’t need 20,000 square foot stores to sell golf equipment. You can buy golf apparel at dozens of different retailers. All of the inventory needed to fill up this space has to be a huge financial drain as well. The smaller more regional stores have all that you need. You want customization, you go get fitted and the product is delivered in 7-10 days…..

  36. steve

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Golf is in a great place right now, atleast that is what they keep saying

  37. George

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:50 am

    Well not shocked I have had some horrible experiences at golfsmith. People that work there think they are doing you a favor for buying a club. They dont offer good service.I would never buy clubs from here again.

  38. Steve

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:50 am

    I never liked Golfsmith. Even their flagship store in Austin had a guy called “Coach” (retired high school football coach) try to “fit” (meaning sell overstock) me for a set of irons. WTF!

  39. Curtis Roberts

    Aug 5, 2016 at 9:43 am

    I disagree with the statement about there are no Nike clubs in these retail stores. I play nike driver, 3 wood, wedges and putter and I got all of them at both an Edwin Watts and Golfsmith. I’ve never had an issue finding them. I would also say that I’ve never once seen Srixon, Edel, or PXG clubs at any retail store.

    • Lou

      Aug 5, 2016 at 10:05 am

      Srixon I’ve seen at Golfsmith but I’ve only seen Edel at the PGA Superstore. PXG wouldn’t make any sense since the target demographic at retail golf stores doesn’t match up with the target demographic of PXG.

    • Joshuaplaysgolf

      Aug 5, 2016 at 10:31 am

      PXG has stated they won’t sell in retail stores. You have to go to a fitter and/or order off their website directly. You can order Srixon through Golfsmith’s website, but they aren’t a recognizable brand to the casual player so they usually won’t carry the overhead on those clubs…same with Edel, although you can find their putters there.

      • HP

        Aug 5, 2016 at 12:09 pm

        Manufacturers should be putting a set of their brand in every store as sales samples. Only way they will get any sales IMO.

        • Joshuaplaysgolf

          Aug 5, 2016 at 9:10 pm

          I’m not disagreeing. I’d probably demo PXG, but I won’t buy a club I haven’t hit first. Just stating the facts.

        • Jim

          Aug 17, 2016 at 12:42 am

          Strange industry. I remember when it started blowing up and Bridgestone EV Spin was hard to keep in stock. They were making huge in roads into the market place. The rep came in with a Titanium driver (let me set the background)
          Ti was still ‘new’ relatively new and aftermarket shafts were just beginning to
          take off. We were a well trafficked custom & retail shop and only place around for most custom work & repairs.

          Factory graphite from Callaway wasn’t real
          good & TM was offering the Bubble shaft (total POS – even by standards then). We were taking brand new drivers – a dozen at a time – out of the box, cutting the factory
          shaft out and installing AJ Tech shafts and putting them on the rack for 499 (100 over reg price) and selling tham as fast as we
          could build them….

          SO, the rep gives us this great talk about how much better made this driver is, blah, blah, so I told him “sure, we’ll try it out – give me a couple and I’ll put it in everyone’s
          hands when they try out a driver.

          The reply – I’ve yet to understand – was, “you have to buy it – I can’t just give you a demo”.

          We’re his number one ball account. wtf… You’re tryin to break into a market where maybe half of our driver sales were made –
          without even being ‘demo’d – guys just knew they wanted one – they tried their buddy’s,
          read about Titanium – whatever…Many called asking to put one aside and the wife picked it up – point being, we didn’t HAVE TO TRY and sell them at all…

          Now, you have a “great product” you believe
          in, we’re selling the crap out of your new-to-the-market-balls and I’m willing to put your product into peoples hands – but I have to
          BUY demos?

          bad business plan.

          Dirty little secret – maybe some of you don’t
          realize the little guy has to pay for the stuff you demo – then drive home to buy on line and save $29….

          support your local pro shops, or maybe one day you won’t have anywhere to touch, try and waggle anything…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Players Championship

Published

on

On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.

We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.

Check out our photos below!

Pullout Albums

 

 

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

on

GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.

We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Your Reaction?
  • 23
  • LEGIT6
  • WOW1
  • LOL2
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic

Published

on

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.

The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.

The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.

Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.

We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Your Reaction?
  • 10
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending