Guide to Using Golf Equipment

Implementing golf club sets into various business prospects

By Michelle Cramer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take your golf gear to a course for networking with investors

Playing golf is a very popular means of wooing investors and clientele. It's a relaxing environment, which provides a great way to make conversation and get to know their interests and perspective on various aspects of your business. It also helps if you're good at the sport, but you may want to consider allowing your investor/client the chance to win in order to boost his or her ego and help seal the deal.

I recommend: Play Golf America offers helpful information on implementing golf equipment and games as a part of your corporate business strategy. Consider becoming a member and taking your golf equipment to course networking events all over the world that are organized by Fore Networking.

Offer discount golf clubs in your sporting goods store

f you're a sporting goods distributor, you should consider offering customers discount golf equipment. Most brand-name golf equipment distributors sell expensive golf gear. As a sporting goods store owner, offering a variety of clubs at a cost that the average golfer can afford will help boost your overall store sales. Additionally, be sure that you make general golfing supplies available, such as tees and golf balls.

I recommend: Obtain inexpensive golf equipment to provide in your store at RockBottomGolf.com. Consider selling overstock or used golf equipment on websites like GolfExchange.com or establish your own golf equipment sales website.

Teach lessons with golfing equipment

There is always someone out there who needs golf lessons. If you're good at the sport, you should consider providing golf lessons for hire. You could start a company with various instructors available. As an alternative, consider providing lessons all on your own and at a more affordable rate than other businesses, so that more people can afford your service, resulting in more clients and better success.

I recommend: Use the information on LearnAboutGolf.com to teach clients about the golf equipment they need and to find the right supplies to start the learning process. Offer clients personalized golf balls as a gift, which you can purchase through golf equipment distributors like GolfDiscount.com.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Typical golf club sets include one wooden driver, three woods, irons three through nine, a pitching wedge and a putter.

1. Staff your business with knowledgeable experts who know the latest products.
2. Offer a wide range of golf clubs that are sure to fit your customer demographic.
3. Cultivate productive and valuable relationships with golf professionals and manufacturers who will keep you informed of the latest trends in golfing equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify manufacturers and wholesalers that can help you start your golf equipment business

While your business is in the planning stage, you'll need to cultivate contacts that will help you get up and running as well as develop your business. Not only will you need to find golf equipment distributors, you will need a way to contact potential clients, such as golf facilities, golf professionals, and services you will need along the way.

I recommend: The National Golf Foundation’s website features a Golf Database & Lists Service, which lists the contact names for 40,000 golf professionals, managers, superintendents, and owners of U.S. golf courses; 1500 golf driving range managers and owners; 10,000 golf business contacts; and 5 million golfers all over the country. They also offer a Database of Golf Businesses, which allows you to search for manufacturers in your area of interest.

Choose a wide range of golf clubs that will attract loyal customers

Consult with sales representatives from a number of golf equipment suppliers in order to procure a broad selection of golf clubs for all skill levels and ages. Be aware of your customer demographics and find innovative, high-performance items that will earn the loyalty of your customers.

I recommend: Callaway is one of the top manufacturers of all kinds of golf gear. They are best-known for their outstanding selection of golf clubs for men and women as well as a range of Top-Flite golf balls. Nike Golf is another leading golf equipment supplier. They manufacture men’s and women’s golf clubs and other golf equipment. Ben Hogan also offers a well-regarded line of irons, hybrids, wedges and balls. Vulcan Golf manufactures the popular Speedlite driver.

Offer high-performance balls and other golfing supplies that appeal to the competitive golfer

Aerodynamic golf balls with attractive dimple designs that offer long distance and greenside playability are the key to attracting golfers who are serious about maximizing their game performance. Be sure to offer a selection of discount golf equipment for less competitive golfers looking for affordable but high quality products.

I recommend: Titleist is one of the leading manufacturers of both golf clubs and golf balls. They also customize golf balls with corporate logos, family or country club crests, or commemorative messages. PG Professional Golf Services is not only the world’s largest golf ball retrieval company, but also the supplier of Reload recycled golf balls. Another golf ball recycler, Rawhide Golf Ball Co., specializes in the distribution of both wholesale and retail sales of recycled golf balls to golf businesses.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Golfers will play better golf with clubs that are properly fitted, attuned to a golfer's size and golf swing. Customer service is an integral part of matching golfers with the proper equipment. Finding excellent consultants and salesmen is critical to having a successful golf equipment business. What's the use of having excellent and affordable equipment if you can't make the sale?
• •  There is a strong market for discount golf clubs, cheap golf equipment and used golf equipment. Infrequent players may not want to spend a lot of money for golf gear they will rarely use, so be aware of the demographics in your area and address the needs of your customers accordingly.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about basic golf equipment

With so much golf equipment available from a golf equipment supplier, it is best to start by learning about the basics. Articles about things like clubs, balls and shoes explain how the equipment is made and how it can improve a golfer's game.

I recommend: The Equipment Insider webpage from The Golf Channel contains articles about all types of golf equipment. From the balls used by Tiger Woods to ECCO designer golf shoes, you can learn about it all. Articles from Golf Digest, published by Conde Nast, discuss topics such as new technology for drivers, new-look irons and how to pick a putter.

Educate yourself about specialty golf equipment

These days, specialty golf equipment is changing rapidly. New technology means new products are being introduced to the marketplace at a dizzying rate. That's why it's important to stay educated about what's new, what's hot and what's not.

I recommend: Golf.com from SirenServ has a blog with articles about many of the newest golf accessories. You can read about training clubs, yardage books and radar devices to track your ball speed and distance. The Golf Equipment Shopping Guide has a section dedicated to specialty equipment and accessories, including practice clubs, indoor putting greens and environmentally-friendly golf equipment.

Use reviews to further your education about golf equipment

Professional reviews are a great way to learn about all types of golf equipment. They can be especially helpful when you are trying to find out about obscure pieces of equipment or new equipment that has just come on the market.

I recommend: Check out GolfLink for user reviews of hundreds of golf products. The site fills you in on everything from golf clubs to golf accessories such as carts, GPS devices, practice aids and even towels. Tees2Greens provides reviews of equipment that are written by website members and staff.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The best way to learn about a piece of golf equipment is to try it out yourself. Some pro shops will let you borrow golf gear so you can take it to the driving range and give it a test run.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Drivers

A driver is a type of golf club that golfers typically use for the first shot of each hole. Drivers provide maximum distance, and most players can hit the ball further with their driver than with any other club. Manufacturers made older drivers out of wood and make newer drivers from various types of metal, such as titanium.

I recommend: Worldwide Golf Shops provides pictures of dozens of types of drivers. Click the pictures to read detailed descriptions about the benefits of each one.

Irons

Irons describe the series of clubs in a golfer's bag that he can typically use for approach shots to the green and for difficult shots out of the rough or a sand trap. Irons allow the player to hit the ball with more accuracy but less distance. The length of the shaft and angle of the club head classify irons. Shorter shafts, which have a more angled club head, allow a player to strike the ball with more loft.

I recommend: The World of Golf shows examples of irons from several manufacturers. Click the pictures for more information.

Putters

Golfers use a putter to hit the ball across the green and into the hole. Putters have short shafts and flat heads. Their design makes them good when golfers need to roll the ball a short distance across the ground.

I recommend: Check out Global Value Commerce for pictures of some of the many types of putters. Click the pictures for an explanation of the benefits of each putter style.

Tees

Tees are small pieces of wood or plastic used to hold a golf ball slightly off the ground. Tees help a player strike the ball better and hit it further. Under the rules of golf, players can place their ball on a tee for the first shot of a hole.

I recommend: Take a look at Golfsmith International for examples of dozens of types of tees, including specialty tees.

Ball markers

Ball markers mark the spot of an in-play golf ball when it a golfer must move his or her ball so that another player can hit. The most common place to use ball markers is while putting on a green, when the balls of several players are in close proximity to each other.

I recommend: Ball markers come in an endless variety of shapes, colors and designs. Check out GolfCow to see some examples.

Pull carts and push carts

Pull carts and push carts are golf bag holders on wheels. The carts hold a golfer's bag upright and allow him or her to easily wheel it around while walking the course.

I recommend: The Golf Collection has pictures of pull carts and push carts, along with more detailed descriptions.