Golf retail hurting

[mu03eng]

As a golfer myself, golf's biggest obstacle to overcome to reach a new audience is current golfers.

Classic example, noise on the golf course. The people I usually golf with want to have music playing (we all have bluetooth speakers for the cart and/or bag) and don't really care about talking in the back swing. We're not obnoxious about talking during the swing i.e. talking to the person swinging or being loud but we also don't worry about stopping a conversation during play.

I'm guessing we are in the small minority, and after having made this change, it is very painful to play with people who observe the "traditional" courtesies of golf. 

[keefe]

Air Combat Command holds its week-long annual Weapons & Tactics conference every Oct - Nov in Tucson. I made the fatal error of leaving the agenda sitting out where my wife could find it. After reading it she hunted me down and  commented, "Looks like you guys squeezed in a few meetings between all the golf..."

I think golf as a pastime is highly situational. If you are a fighter pilot then golf is part of your world. The service academies actually have a mandatory golf class as part of its curriculum.

I would be curious to know if golf is on the wane in Asia. I lived across Asia for PepsiCo and GE Cap and golf was not only a core part of the corporate culture but also a wildly popular avocation among the host nationals. In fact, golf was de rigueur for doing business throughout Asia.

[mu03eng]

Air Combat Command holds its week-long annual Weapons & Tactics conference every Oct - Nov in Tucson. I made the fatal error of leaving the agenda sitting out where my wife could find it. After reading it she hunted me down and  commented, "Looks like you guys squeezed in a few meetings between all the golf..."

I think golf as a pastime is highly situational. If you are a fighter pilot then golf is part of your world. The service academies actually have a mandatory golf class as part of its curriculum.

I would be curious to know if golf is on the wane in Asia. I lived across Asia for PepsiCo and GE Cap and golf was not only a core part of the corporate culture but also a wildly popular avocation among the host nationals. In fact, golf was de rigueur for doing business throughout Asia.

Yep, only time my dad ever played golf was when he had to do events/meetings at the TAC level. My mom use to joke it was bad opsec because she knew who he was meeting with depending on whether he took his flight bag (squadron/wing exercises) or his golf bag (TAC)

[warriorchick]

Perhaps a gritty reboot of "Caddyshack" might spark some interest with the youngsters.

[4everwarriors]

Dodgin' keefe's question, hey?

[real chili 83]

I bought the War Department a set of clubs for Christmas. 

I'll let you know how that goes. 

[🏀]

One point to add is the personalization of golf equipment. Most golfers know better than to pick up sticks off the rack at Dick's. Fitting has become necessary for anyone trying to have a legit game.

Additionally, the golf market was oversaturated in my opinion. Dick's didn't need half their stores dedicated to golf. Golf Galaxy didn't need a store in every commerically dense area.



As for TaylorMade, adidas broke them. They wanted to churn out driver after driver after driver to keep revenue up. Most golfers aren't buying a new driver every year, nor should you. Titleist does one metalwood set every two years, this model is very successful. Callaway and Cobra have been pulling back their reigns on releases as well.

TaylorMade has two other problems. No one wants to play their ball, Titleist reigns supreme on the ball market. Outside of their metalwoods, no one is buying their irons or wedges. They finally made a decent putter, but before then no one was buying those either.

Callaway, Titleist, Cobra, Srixon, PXG, Mizuno....doing just fine.

[tower912]

Classic example, noise on the golf course. The people I usually golf with want to have music playing (we all have bluetooth speakers for the cart and/or bag) and don't really care about talking in the back swing. We're not obnoxious about talking during the swing i.e. talking to the person swinging or being loud but we also don't worry about stopping a conversation during play.

I'm guessing we are in the small minority, and after having made this change, it is very painful to play with people who observe the "traditional" courtesies of golf.

I have played with (mostly much older) guys who simply cannot handle music on the course.    I enjoy it.    The only time 'noise' is a problem is when it is a sudden unexpected noise during your swing.     A cough, velcro ripping, a club dropping.     If there is a conversation going on that started before I got over the ball, carry on.   Don't yell, cough, start a belly laugh as I am taking the club back.   Courtesy. 

[tower912]

One point to add is the personalization of golf equipment. Most golfers know better than to pick up sticks off the rack at Dick's. Fitting has become necessary for anyone trying to have a legit game.

Additionally, the golf market was oversaturated in my opinion. Dick's didn't need half their stores dedicated to golf. Golf Galaxy didn't need a store in every commerically dense area.



As for TaylorMade, adidas broke them. They wanted to churn out driver after driver after driver to keep revenue up. Most golfers aren't buying a new driver every year, nor should you. Titleist does one metalwood set every two years, this model is very successful. Callaway and Cobra have been pulling back their reigns on releases as well.

TaylorMade has two other problems. No one wants to play their ball, Titleist reigns supreme on the ball market. Outside of their metalwoods, no one is buying their irons or wedges. They finally made a decent putter, but before then no one was buying those either.

Callaway, Titleist, Cobra, Srixon, PXG, Mizuno....doing just fine.

Callaway makes the same mistake, getting a new driver to market ever few months rather than once a year or more.     Everybody wanted Taylor Made balls when they were packaged as Kirkland's and sold 2 dozen for $30.   I personally will not buy Pro V1's.     The cost/value ratio is all wrong to me and my game.   I can count on one hand the number of times I have played a course with greens so firm that high spinning Pro V1's are actually desirable.  Paying $45 a dozen when there are balls at half the price that I score just as well with or better because they are longer and straighter off of the driver just doesn't work for me.    I know the 'experts' say that to choose a ball start around the green and work back to the tee box.    Shenanigans.     Find a ball that goes the straightest for you off of the driver.   If that happens to be a ball that is low spin off the irons and wedges, allow for it and don't play for your approaches to spin back with that tour english. 

[Lennys Tap]

Callaway makes the same mistake, getting a new driver to market ever few months rather than once a year or more.     Everybody wanted Taylor Made balls when they were packaged as Kirkland's and sold 2 dozen for $30.   I personally will not buy Pro V1's.     The cost/value ratio is all wrong to me and my game.   I can count on one hand the number of times I have played a course with greens so firm that high spinning Pro V1's are actually desirable.  Paying $45 a dozen when there are balls at half the price that I score just as well with or better because they are longer and straighter off of the driver just doesn't work for me.    I know the 'experts' say that to choose a ball start around the green and work back to the tee box.    Shenanigans.     Find a ball that goes the straightest for you off of the driver.   If that happens to be a ball that is low spin off the irons and wedges, allow for it and don't play for your approaches to spin back with that tour english.

Curious, Tower - what ball do you play?

[4everwarriors]

Even I'm knot goin' der Lenny Man, hey?

[#UnleashSean]

Classic example, noise on the golf course. The people I usually golf with want to have music playing (we all have bluetooth speakers for the cart and/or bag) and don't really care about talking in the back swing. We're not obnoxious about talking during the swing i.e. talking to the person swinging or being loud but we also don't worry about stopping a conversation during play.

I'm guessing we are in the small minority, and after having made this change, it is very painful to play with people who observe the "traditional" courtesies of golf.

As a guy who golf's once a year and loves to talk and party. Never understood why everyone wants to be quiet and not talk in the back swing etc.

[tower912]

Curious, Tower - what ball do you play?

Free ones and found ones.  .  Seriously, though, Wilson Duo's and Duo Spin's.  For me and my swing, consistently 7-10 yards longer off the driver.  One club less in to the green.  A well struck iron, one less than with a Pro V, stops well enough.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I used to golf with friends but prefer to spend a nice day burning through a tank of gas on a scoot than spending 10 X as much on greens fees and frustration with my (lack of) game..

[MUfan12]

As a guy who golf's once a year and loves to talk and party. Never understood why everyone wants to be quiet and not talk in the back swing etc.

In a 4 hour round of golf there's plenty of time to BS with people. Being quiet for 20 seconds while someone takes a shot isn't a ton to ask.

[rocket surgeon]

Classic example, noise on the golf course. The people I usually golf with want to have music playing (we all have bluetooth speakers for the cart and/or bag) and don't really care about talking in the back swing. We're not obnoxious about talking during the swing i.e. talking to the person swinging or being loud but we also don't worry about stopping a conversation during play.

I'm guessing we are in the small minority, and after having made this change, it is very painful to play with people who observe the "traditional" courtesies of golf.

i've played falcon dunes a few times-it's right next to lukes airforce base.  you think music is a distraction?  try a knee knocker with f-35s firing up.  first time i've seen a sign axking you to please replace your divots on a green.

     actually, i feel privileged every time i play falcon dunes as it's a military course by invite only and the guy i golf with is a retired officer and it's just cool as hell.  front row seat to the air shows.  golf almost becomes a distraction.  no flying on weekends though

[mu03eng]

As a guy who golf's once a year and loves to talk and party. Never understood why everyone wants to be quiet and not talk in the back swing etc.

One guy I golf with, is so quick over the ball that it is impossible not to talk in his back swing, which got me in the habit of just not caring unless we're on the green

[mu03eng]

In a 4 hour round of golf there's plenty of time to BS with people. Being quiet for 20 seconds while someone takes a shot isn't a ton to ask.

Depending on who you are playing with, 20 seconds is fast.

Golf is the only amateur sport where you have to follow the same courtesies as the professional game. We ain't professionals why do we have to act like it?

[MUfan12]

Golf is the only amateur sport where you have to follow the same courtesies as the professional game. We ain't professionals why do we have to act like it?

Why replace divots? Why fix ball marks?

I mean, we ain't professionals, right? Why do we need any courtesies out on the muni links?

[mu03eng]

Why replace divots? Why fix ball marks?

I mean, we ain't professionals, right? Why do we need any courtesies out on the muni links?

[warriorchick]

Why replace divots? Why fix ball marks?

I mean, we ain't professionals, right? Why do we need any courtesies out on the muni links?

Professionals have someone to do that for them.   

[keefe]

Free ones and found ones.  .  Seriously, though, Wilson Duo's and Duo Spin's.  For me and my swing, consistently 7-10 yards longer off the driver.  One club less in to the green.  A well struck iron, one less than with a Pro V, stops well enough.

Pro V1 is a stellar ball. For wedge play the Bridgestone B330 is superb.

A lot of guys play lost balls. I think this is a big mistake. Another thing is to not overplay a ball. Open a new sleeve on the first tee. You will see a difference in your score

[rocket surgeon]

In a 4 hour round of golf there's plenty of time to BS with people. Being quiet for 20 seconds while someone takes a shot isn't a ton to ask.

or replace their divots.  it's bad enough to land in the sand in someone size 14 UN-RAKED shoe imprints

[rocket surgeon]

i don't mind me a long and soft every now and then...FORE!!!

[Lennys Tap]

Free ones and found ones.  .  Seriously, though, Wilson Duo's and Duo Spin's.  For me and my swing, consistently 7-10 yards longer off the driver.  One club less in to the green.  A well struck iron, one less than with a Pro V, stops well enough.

Thanks for the tip. Wilson is a brand that wasn't on my radar before now.