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Post by philknj on Oct 29, 2016 19:21:41 GMT
www.reuters.com/article/us-golfsmith-m-a-dicks-sporting-exclusiv-idUSKCN12L1X5The news is a week old, but it's still worth mulling over how bizarre the golf business is these days. I went to a Golf Galaxy maybe four times in my entire life because their locations were so out-of-the-way for me. From what I saw, they weren't as good as Golfsmith, but it might be the GG brand name that survives in the long run. I always thought it was weird how Dick's owned GG and both places carried golf gear...a lot of overlap in products from what I've seen. I just did a look up on the GG in Woodbridge, NJ...didn't know it was closed in July (per a GolfWrx thread), which is not crazy as Dick's is in the same town! Another GG story...at an LPGA tourney many years ago, I passed a group of people and/or players that included Paula Creamer. I don't know what was discussed, but I remember Paula saying "Golf Galaxy" and laughing. I assume the pros didn't take GG seriously. I have two Golfsmith locations within a 15-mile radius in different directions...it's fairly safe to assume that one of them will be closed, maybe both. I visited one of these locations yesterday...it was quiet, not many customers or employees. The shelves and displays were full with a couple of exceptions...a lot of empty space in the shoe department, as well as in the T/M drivers and woods section. Maybe it's a seasonal business issue...I wouldn't know. The Dick's conglomeration will probably end up not having any competition in central NJ...New York Golf Center had a nice place near Princeton, but they closed it 2-3 years ago and withdrew to Manhattan only. If I had unlimited time and unlimited money, I'd play golf three times during the week and make the 100 mile round-trip to PGA Tour Superstore in Paramus once a week as an unrepentant golf bum.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2016 20:44:48 GMT
The business has certainly changed. In the early 1980's the premier golf shop in Los Angeles was Walter Keller's on Westwood Boulevard. Groups of Japanese tourists would arrive on buses and go crazy buying equipment. Keller had a couple of ratty nets in the back-- that is where he taught Amy Alcott to play golf. The store closed down quite awhile ago. At the time it seemed like an amazing place. Now when I drive by I have to laugh--it is smaller than a corner grocery store.
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Post by mr3putt on Oct 29, 2016 21:29:17 GMT
I've only been to one GG in south Portland...and it was so so at best.
I liked going to GS to buy some grips at a good price.
I had GS build me a 7-PW set in 2008 in Portland with Snake Eye Sensicore and GolfSmith 1/2 cord grips....$135....this is where I heard some fans from Mexico talk about how upset Lorena's parents were she was dating an older guy with children...months later this info became public.
Snake Eyes stuff is good value....I just bought a SE jacket at GolfTown for $30....40% off and I had a $30 GT gift card.
I believe Dick's bought GS because of the inventory...hopefully they paid a dime on the dollar for it...they are also only keeping limited GS stores open.
I'd like to visit a PGA Superstore...I heard they are good.
The best golf store I've visited was in Myrtle Beach...a HUGE ma and pa store....it was disorganized...but there was so much stuff.
Also the best bar I've visited was also in MB.
MB is a great golf destination....played in 94 and 95 on a two cheap golf vacations driving down from Toronto with a bunch of university friends....a lot of fat people in MB.
Golftown has closed a few stores here....I suspect they have 60+% market share here....they destroyed the competition.
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Post by SoYeonFan on Oct 31, 2016 0:55:55 GMT
I hope the Golf Smith store you visit have competent people repairing clubs.
The one I visited the club repair shop was awful.
It's also a half mile from a Dick's Sporting good store.
I am sure it will be closed.
I am surprised they are still in business.
On the other hand the Golf Super Store has competent people in all departments.
They also have a great inventory, so if possible you should visit them.
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Post by philknj on Nov 5, 2016 11:50:16 GMT
Well, I was right to a bigger degree than I expected. Golfsmith is closing all four of their stores in NJ. Here are the 30 that will remain open:
ARIZONA
9-Glendale — 7765 West Bell Rd, Peoria, AZ
26-Chandler — 880 N 54th St, Chandler, AZ
CALIFORNIA
34-Pasadena — 3635 East Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA
44-Pleasanton — 4200 Rosewood Dr, Pleasanton, CA
45-San Jose — 4070 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA
56-San Diego — 824 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA
COLORADO
10-Englewood — 9657 East County Line Rd, Englewood, CO
CONNECTICUT
49-Norwalk — 595 Connecticut Ave, Norwalk, CT
FLORIDA
59-West Palm — 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens, #1116, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
61-Hollywood — 3300 Oakwood Blvd, Hollywood, FL
66-Clearwater — 2753 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL
77-Lutz — 17649 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Lutz, FL
94-Naples — 6428 Hollywood Blvd, Naples, FL
98-Sarasota — 143 North Cattlemens Rd, Sarasota, FL
KANSAS
93-Overland Park — 12020 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS
MASSACHESETTS
112-Reading — 40 Walkers Brooke Dr, Reading, MA
MICHIGAN
27-Troy — 790 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI
86-Lakeside — 15300 Hall Rd, Clinton Township, MI
MISSOURI
96-St. Louis — 11955 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO
NORTH CAROLINA
87-Raleigh — 6254 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC
117-Greensboro — 4217 Wendover Ave, #F, Greensboro, NC
OREGON
80-Cascade — 10263 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR
SOUTH CAROLINA
127-Greenville — 1025 Woodruff Rd, #F103, Greenville, SC
TENNESSEE
104-Nashville — 330 Franklin Rd, Brentwood, TN
TEXAS
5-The Woodlands — 25415 N IH-45, #B, Spring, TX
15-Arlington — 1001 W IH-20, Arlington, TX
25-Austin Arboretum — 10001 Research Blvd, Austin, TX
109-San Antonio — 1211 N Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX
VIRGINIA
129-Richmond — 2000 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, VA
WISCONSIN
91-Brookfield — 16130 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield, WI
*******
I received an e-mail announcing 30% off their stuff at the stores that will close. Better drop by there today.
It looks like they are completely abandoning the Mid-Atlantic region...I remember visiting one of their Manhattan locations years ago, but they're getting out of NY, as well as PA and Delaware (which has no sales tax). Looks like Norwalk, CT will be the closest one for me, which would be a waste gas and time to visit.
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Post by mr3putt on Nov 5, 2016 18:12:44 GMT
I imagine driving to Norwalk would be a waste of time.
Dropped into Golftown in Richmond.BC on my way to play Kings Links yesterday.
Rumors are this store might close ......though supposedly it's the most profitable store.
It's usually busy...but was dead on my last 2 visits.
Suspiciously low on grips and really low on bags.
The annual Nov demo sale is not happening nationwide.....supposedly due to the GS situation.
5 stores in Ont & Que have closed.
Apart from the Fairfax and CI investment of GT...no one knows what's going on with GT.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2016 21:18:23 GMT
The store in Lake Forest, the biggest I saw in Southern California is closing. I liked to stop there on the drive home and hit a few balls into the giant netted area. It is likely only the real junk is 30% off. It was a lousy store but it's too bad, I hate to see people lose their jobs.
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Post by IceCat on Nov 5, 2016 21:35:35 GMT
It wasn't a surprise that the Golfsmith in Northborough closed shortly after the bankruptcy was filed given that there is a Dick's Sporting Goods in the same plaza. I am concerned that the only location they'll have left once they finish the cull will be in one of Boston's northern suburbs.
Kevin
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Post by philknj on Nov 6, 2016 3:06:55 GMT
Ha ha, I didn't read the fine print regarding the 30%. I dropped by the one in East Brunswick and it's only 5% off woods and iron sets, 10% off balls and bags, 20% off shoes and 30% off grips/shafts. It was 30% off for replacement spikes, but they didn't have what I wanted...Champ fast-twist. It was 25% off demo clubs, but the prices looked high on them anyway. It was 25% or 30% off the used clubs. I might go back there for grips, but I want to look over my gear first.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 5:02:11 GMT
The local store has a giant Fathead of Lorena hitting the same Rapture driver I still carry. Guess it will end up in the dumpster.
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Post by mr3putt on Nov 6, 2016 15:51:36 GMT
The local store has a giant Fathead of Lorena hitting the same Rapture driver I still carry. Guess it will end up in the dumpster. The Rapture has good reviews, but it's ancient now....I never liked the head shape. You also play the Ping Eye 2's....I know you're trying to be cool playing these....but the REAL Korean ladies are knowledgeable and know you're just a poser playing the Eye 2's. The Korean ladies also luv the LONG BALL....you're giving up distance with the Rapture...upgrade it. Your local golf sore must be a dump like the Blue Dolphin if they still have a Lorena poster...I'm surprise Trump has not stopped in to the store on his campaign trail. |
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Post by mr3putt on Nov 6, 2016 15:52:14 GMT
Ha ha, I didn't read the fine print regarding the 30%. I dropped by the one in East Brunswick and it's only 5% off woods and iron sets, 10% off balls and bags, 20% off shoes and 30% off grips/shafts. It was 30% off for replacement spikes, but they didn't have what I wanted...Champ fast-twist. It was 25% off demo clubs, but the prices looked high on them anyway. It was 25% or 30% off the used clubs. I might go back there for grips, but I want to look over my gear first. 5% off....LMAO. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 17:58:44 GMT
The local store has a giant Fathead of Lorena hitting the same Rapture driver I still carry. Guess it will end up in the dumpster. The Rapture has good reviews, but it's ancient now....I never liked the head shape. You also play the Ping Eye 2's....I know you're trying to be cool playing these....but the REAL Korean ladies are knowledgeable and know you're just a poser playing the Eye 2's. The Korean ladies also luv the LONG BALL....you're giving up distance with the Rapture...upgrade it. Your local golf sore must be a dump like the Blue Dolphin if they still have a Lorena poster...I'm surprise Trump has not stopped in to the store on his campaign trail. I've upgraded from the Pings to some AP1 714s- although I only play once every two months. I also have a set of Karsten IIIs. I was a better golfer when I played Spalding Elites circa 1972. I still have them as well. I don't have the heart to throw them in the dumpster. You are right, the Rapture doesn't go very far. Of course it might have something to do with my age and general lack of fitness. |
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Post by mr3putt on Nov 6, 2016 19:06:38 GMT
Supposedly the Rapture spins too much.....good for weaklings like yourself who need to get the ball in the air....but as I said....the Korean gals aren't impressed with a driver that goes as far as a PW.
Ah...you've been holding back...nice ......AP1's 714....did you buy them new or used?...how much....The Smiling Buddha is Chinese and they are unwilling to pay the premium for Titleist equipment unless they are knock-off just to impress the Korean ladies as posers.
What shaft are in the AP1's?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 23:30:42 GMT
True Temper X95 R300. I think that's stock. They belong to a friend. Extended demo. He is a way worse golfer than me so I think the clubs are cursed. No price yet. They are nice but wish I was better and could play AP2's.
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