GolfStinks

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The Current State of Golf Suggests Now’s the Time for Deals!

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golf saleLooking at some recent research results by NGF (National Golf Foundation) and paying attention to sports media or media in general, there has been a downward trend in golf participation as well as media coverage. I’m pretty sure anyone involved in or a fan of golf has probably noticed (especially with our own most recent posts, including the Dick’s layoffs and pondering if golf is a dying sport in general). The bottom line is golf is in a slump.

So the question is how do we get out of this slump? I’m pretty sure it’s cyclical just like everything else. I also believe it is a multi-faceted equation. The factors that make golf rise in popularity could be a young new superstar that sweeps the nation. It could be Hollywood lending a hand or perhaps even a political figure.

All of these factors do help but it also comes down to money. Has the game gotten too expensive to stink at it? Obviously as the popularity goes up so do the prices and vice versa. Considering golf seems to be in a lull at the moment. Now is the time to buy!

Checking online there are some amazing deals out there. Sites such as BigDgolf.com show some super deals. This is what golf needs. A good ol’ sale to kick-start the passion. Hey, if I got a super deal on some golf stuff, I’d want to use it ASAP. So, go get out there, find a deal, and hit the course!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Golf Pros Dicked Over By Dick’s

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dicksIt’s no secret our country and perhaps 85% or better of the rest of the world is suffering from a down economy. Considering the situation, most turn to basic financial survival instincts and resort to cutting back spending by starting with the luxuries. Unfortunately golf tends to fall into this category.

As a matter of fact, Dick’s Sporting Goods recently laid off around 560 golf pros from their stores (in case you didn’t know, Dick’s employed actual PGA pros at their stores, up until this week that is, to distinguish themselves from an online outlet). Their reasoning for the mass cannings? According to a story by ESPN, Dick’s blames the economy, less people playing, too many products flooding the market and a downward trend in their golf equipment sales.

After hearing of this, we connected with someone (a golf pro who shall remain anonymous) that just happen to be one of the Dick’s casualties this week. Here’s what he had to say:

1. How do you feel Dick’s handled the situation?

“I thought they could have changed our role before they laid all of us off. They still sell equipment that many customers seek advice on. Which ball should I play? What loft is a sand wedge? As it was, I was already one of two people to cover an entire floor. I carried more kayaks down than golf clubs at times. Tennis was given to golf to cover and sell as well. So in my opinion, since your gonna staff it anyways, why not someone who knows what they’re doing? The company strives for a customer service number – who better to service people but a golf professional. I think they should have looked at some of their processes to save money. For example, each week the regional manager would have a conference call with corp[orate], then they would have a conference call with the district managers, then they would have a call with store managers who relay the information to the dept manager, who has an hourly associate do the task. Seems like a big waste of corp[orate] dollars to me.”

2. Dick’s attributed the layoffs to the game’s dwindling popularity – were you able to witness any slow-down at the store?

“I was at the driving range on a Wednesday afternoon and just about all the bays were full. I couldn’t get a tee time because the local course was booked. I think people are still playing. While I was there, everyday a steady flow of people came through the store. In my opinion, the rule restrictions out on clubs years ago changed the market. While the companies all claim that the new models are better etc., in most peoples eyes it wasn’t much better than the clubs they purchase a couple of years ago. If they did like the new models, most buyers realized that the price would be half in 6 months. They should have given the pros more say in what sells. For years I begged them to send me wide shoes. One style was available in wide in the store. So just about every Friday, someone would come in looking for shoes for the weekend and left with nothing.”

Hmmmm. So now that we have (kind of) heard both sides to the story, I almost forgot to mention another reason that Dick’s used as part of justifying their layoffs: The decline of Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods?!?! I mean I kind of get it but it’s a tough sell to say part of the reason a pro lost their job is due to the decline of Tiger Woods. Regardless, we want to wish all those involved a quick return to the job they love.

So, how do we turn this negative into a positive? I like to refer to Warren Buffet’s theory of “Buy when there’s blood in the streets.” Obviously this refers to the calculated purchasing of stocks when everyone is selling, but relating this theory to golf, now is a good time to get in.

Many golf clubs, associations and instructors are dropping their prices to attract more golfers back. So if you’re looking for those golf lessons or club to join, now might be a good time to do so. Hey, it worked for Warren Buffet…

Hit’em long…yell FORE…Hug a Golf Pro this week!!!

Do you want your Driver? No, he’s not my Type.

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The last time I carried a driver in my golf bag: Bill Clinton was impeached, Titanic was number one at the box office and Seinfeld’s famed last episode had just aired. The year was 1998. I was a young, strapping 23-year-old and my driver was a Taylor Made Bubble Burner (see stock photo to the left).

I remember spending at least $300 on the club. I walked into the local golf store, pulled it off the rack, made sure it was right handed and walked to the checkout line. Hey, everybody knew Taylor Made produced quality clubs – that was all the justification I needed.

When I hit it correctly, I could launch one about 280 straight down the fairway (perhaps 300 with the wind at my back). The problem was, hitting “correctly” calculated out to about one shot in every ten. With those odds, I was losing balls by the boat-load.

After just one season, I sold it to an acquaintance…Come to think of it, I don’t even remember who it was. Anyway, for the next 11 years I teed-off with a myriad of clubs: 3-woods, 5-woods, 2-irons, 3-irons and most recently a 17-degree hybrid.

I’ve probably had the most success with the 5-wood and the hybrid. But both of those clubs left me with a long approach on many par 4’s and getting home in two on par 5’s was completely out of the question. So last season I realized I had enough…I was tired of handicapping myself. Thus, I decided that 2010 would be the year I went back to using a driver off the tee.

Spurred on in part by Stinky Golfer Chris’ custom club fitting, I decided to get fitted for a new driver. Unlike Chris however, I didn’t have a sweet deal to get fitted at a local pro shop gratis. Instead, I was going to take my chances on a major retail chain. But as soon I stepped in the simulator at Golf Galaxy*, the annoyance started. The 20-year-old employee doing swing analysis could care less about helping me – he just wanted me to buy his favorite club. After I hit a few balls at the screen, the kid moved me aside so he could show me HIS swing. Now, why would I care about HIS swing? Was I going to pay HIM to tee-off for me on the course? The fact that he was hitting it 330 down the middle was enticing, but more annoying than anything.

Needless to say, I left there and headed up the street to Dick’s Sporting Goods. That’s where I met Ralph. Ralph’s a PGA Professional and works in the golf department at Dick’s (now Dick’s is not paying me a cent for this, but it was really refreshing to learn there’s a PGA/LPGA Pro in all of their stores). Anyway, Ralph put me in the simulator and watched me hit a few balls. Soon, I was trying two or three different clubs and after about 10 minutes, Ralph prescribed a driver with a stiff-flex shaft and a 10.5 degree loft. And about 10 minutes after that, I had found my club.

Funny. The club I hit the best was a 2009 Taylor Made Tour Burner – I had come full-circle. But would it perform out on the course any better than my old Bubble Burner? Well, since it was last year’s model, it only cost me $150 (50% less than my previous driver), so I’ve got that going for me already.

But the best news is I’ve played about 72 holes with it so far and I’m hitting the damn thing pretty good! I’m in the fairway about 30% of the time and just missing (short rough) about 40% of the time. That means I’m in play about 70% of the time – and that’s saying allot for me! I’ve lost some distance over the years (knocking it out there about 265-275, depending on the wind) but I’ll take accuracy over distance any day.

So after years of saying “no” to my driver, It seems I’ve got a renewed relationship with one. But like all romances, only time will tell if it’s a keeper. Thanks to Ralph over at Dick’s Sporting Goods for the advice and patience – while I still stink at this game, he’s helped me stink just a tad bit less.

*It should be noted that Golf Stinks was once an affiliate of Golf Galaxy. This does not change the fact that we here at Golf Stinks call it like we see it. This one particular employee of this one particular Golf Galaxy store was a complete douche. However, in no way does Stinky Golfer Greg mean to imply that all Golf Galaxy employees are douches.

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