News

GolfSmith Faced With Possible Bankruptcy

BY MyGolfSpy
Aug 4th 2016
Read all comments

The biggest story to hit the golf equipment world in the last 5 years (NIKE Exiting Equipment Business) is barely even 24 hours old and its shockwaves are still being felt.

The next story might have more lasting impact.

Golfsmith is faced with possibly having to file for bankruptcy.

More details to follow soon.

Here is the full report from Bloomberg:

“Golfsmith International, the retailer of golf clothing and equipment, is considering filing for bankruptcy as it looks for a new owner, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Golfsmith hired the investment bank Jefferies LLC to solicit buyers for the roughly 150-store chain, without success so far, said the people, who didn’t want to be identified because the process isn’t public. The company also hired Alvarez & Marsal to help it restructure, according to the people, who said that a sale could come as part of a Chapter 11 filing.

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comments

Join The Discussion

Golf Guru

8 years ago

Personally, I love the Golfsmith store in Warrensville, OH. Like any new retail store the staff was a little shakey 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 so 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 CARPENTAR 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 bad Golfsmith in their home towns. My store is awesome and all the associates there care about golf. We need more of them!

3-wood

8 years ago

I go to the same store and love the people who work there and the store. I will be very sad if they close.

Joe

8 years ago

Golftown no longer able to order from taylormade, nike or Wilson for anything. Went in today and they told me no when I asked to order taylormade irons and some nike shoes.

Wonder why?

Edward werwy

8 years ago

Bad customer service, I go hit clubs I need then go Dick’s sporting goods to purchase

David Lewinski

8 years ago

Golfsmith isn’t filling for bankruptcy…it is speculative bullshit because one sports brand that never produced a club worth a shit in the 15+ years that they had an opportunity, to finally bowed out of the club game

Joe

8 years ago

Go try to order irons from taylormade at golfsmith or golftown

They won’t let you…Wonder why

John

8 years ago

Credit hold is why. They are behind on invoices. Probably not paying them until bankruptcy is final.

Demietrius Green

8 years ago

Went to golfsmith 1 time to get “fitted”. They put me on a monitor and walked away. 20 minutes later and no one came back. I walked out, should’ve taken the driver too. Never been back since. I won’t miss them

Aaron Jones

8 years ago

Prices to high!!!

Bob

8 years ago

Prices are set by the manufacturer, not the store.

Tate Harris

8 years ago

I heard about it but I didn’t know they were so cheap!

Francisco Tamayo

8 years ago

You hear about nike no longer making clubs? Their new drivers are going for 150…

Tate Harris

8 years ago

Shit this would be nice for me haha

Shay Lynn

8 years ago

Nooooooo

Pete the Pro

8 years ago

I hope all of you will take a moment to read my post and digest the facts. Golf retail is complex right now, stores going broke, manufacturers clearing down stock, Nike quitting golf hardware, balls and bags, Golfsmith having problems, etc. Whilst we might hate the awful truth, golf is not being played like it used to be. It’s patchy, of course. Where I am it’s easily 40% down – that is, rounds of golf being played, compared to 7 years ago. So that’s 40% less balls lost, tees broken, gloves worn out, grips, shafts broken in anger or around trees and 40% less potential that a golfer thinks the club must be at fault and needs a new one. Okay, now add the limitations on technology due to that Rules of Golf dictating what can and cannot be done to a ball and set of clubs. It’s a bad time to be in the golf business. What is often left behind once retailers have gone broke is snapped up by the wealthy because it’s a nice business to have whilst losing lots of money (yes, I could name a few of them for you!) plus the opportunists who seize one man’s failure and turn it around. Sadly, many skilled club fitters and specialist retailers are lost to the trade and you might be dealing with Sammy Spiegel on $10 an hour. Don’t ask him about the performance of a Dynamic Gold S300 shaft, it’s weight, bend point, tip and butt diameter. I have a great friend who does fittings and he is constantly mixed up with the lie angles. However, the end user is most often to blame for the demise – you read it here every day – yeah, buy online, get fitted in-store and buy online. Buy on e-bay. Until one day, which we can see is nearing, the range of decent equipment diminishes, good golf shop staff find better things to do with their time and the golfer has won. Or have they?

Billw

8 years ago

I got fotted for clubs at the San Jose, Ca Golfsmith. Bi could not have had a better experience. Service was prompt and courteous. Vthe fitting lasted 2 hours. Not all stores are as bad as some say.

Dom Chucky Salerno

8 years ago

Ya I seen that. Hopefully they have a huge sale

Danny Walsh

8 years ago

You can’t buy a good golf game

Andrew Darington

8 years ago

See this Jason Lee… eBay ate them up… That what happens when you have to make margins in a brick and mortar…

Jason Lee

8 years ago

Yeah I saw this yesterday and it hurts them when all the golf club manufacturers will not let you discount their clubs.

Chad

8 years ago

Just go see your local golf professional to get a set of clubs. Anything new will cost the same anywhere.

Cox Tan-Ngo

8 years ago

Looks like golf town is next

Zan Walker

8 years ago

I’d like to chime in as a former employee of Golfsmith and it will touch on several points I see people tearing into most. One employees, 90% of employees are part time and are only paid to the dollar amount founded up to the nearest 50c of minimum wage with a 1% commission bonus for sales. So that 1000 dollar set of irons we spent 3 hours fitting you for and picking out exactly what is best for you we earn an extra 10 dollars on. So picture us working hard for a bunch of rich pricks with more money than brains and there asking us for a discount when we couldn’t by that set with 6 months pay. You’d be a little disinterested too. Unfortunately that behavior falls to the people who are nice and deserve good service. 2 club prices are not actually that high for what they are the problem falls in quantity. Taylor made makes a new driver every few months and it’s always the next best thing. I know for a fact callaway has 3 years of drivers already lined up and produced just waiting to be launched because people always want the biggest and best. So when one goes cold out comes the new. And in sue lies the problem of club values. 3 is America itself we have gotten greedy and expecting of things. Take a step back tell these companies we don’t want to see them disappear just to not be shoving the next best thing down our throats all the time an just let us get back to playing golf.

Jon Benigno

8 years ago

Admit it…we only go in there for club repair…new grips and hitting on the launch monitor (for free)…who pays full retail anymore in the last 15 years? Brick n mortar is a dinosaur..they are better off keeping their superstores in key big golf markets and stick to an online business model.

Jesus Solis

8 years ago

It’s a sad day great golf equipment…

Gordon

8 years ago

I have always had relatively good experiences in Golfsmith, I must be an outlier though judging by the comments. Always liked the store, and I genuinely hope they do not go under.

They should bring back more of their own clubs. Golfsmith owns the copyrights and patents for Zevo, Snake Eyes and Lynx golf, as well as a few other brands that went out a long time ago. But they have stopped producing those lines in favor of just stocking the same things other big box sports outlets stock. At least that would give consumers a lower priced alternative in the store.

Hopefully they get purchased by a company that will go back to customer service and back to what it was a half dozen years ago or so.

Bob Pegram

8 years ago

Tom Wishon worked as the chief club designer for years for Golfsmith. He must have seen the handwriting on the wall when the Pauls (original owners) sold out some time ago.

Joe Golfer

8 years ago

It’s getting very tough to sell component equipment.
It used to be that the clubs cost much less than a set of new brand name clubs.
Nowadays one can buy a set of clubs from places like Rock Bottom Golf or other such sites.
The clubs may be a model that is one or two years old, but you may pay less than what a set of component irons cost. Even the price of stock steel shafts and basic grips has exploded over the past decade, making it unprofitable for Golfsmith to try to keep selling their own component heads.

Pete the Pro

8 years ago

Hi gordon, customers don’t want Zevo, Snake Eyes and Lynx. They want Callaway, PING, Titleist, etc. Same with many consumer products – take your new “Zevo smart phone” out of your pocket and prepare for laughter. Plenty of golf shops have to stop trading in line with the shrinkage of rounds of golf being played in so many countries. Golfers on this website frequently tell us to by in on E-bay, online… anywhere it seems but in a golf shop, it seems. Always at discount. Until the manufacturers call it a day and retailers get out once contracts are due for renewal. Consumers are looking for lower prices. Two points. 1. Few manufacturers make a profit right now. 2. I work in a store with a second hand department – no problem finding sets galore at amazingly low prices. A top brand name driver costs no more than $150, that’s new. I found a fantastic Callaway driver today for $65.

Jake Thomas Richardson

8 years ago

Golf galaxy is better anyway

Christopher Gilfillan

8 years ago

The staff is pretty disinterested…problematic across the board I guess….not sure why, but online sales are killing these big box stores, esp golf stores…too expensive…

Mike Routzahn

8 years ago

Over priced will do that…

TopPakRat

8 years ago

Nike is out. Cleveland is now only wedges and putters. Taylor Made can’t find a buyer! DICK’s fired all their PGA pros and cut their store square footage devoted to golf by 25%. Adam’s
Golf really no longer exists. Golf Smith has gone through 4 CEO’s in 5 years and is now only days from going under. Golf Galaxy is closing not opening stores.

In short, the golf industry is in a state of decline and will continue until the industry WAKES UP to the needs of the consumer, $500 drivers, $1000 set of irons $150 wedges are killing the industry. The sport is returning to the ONLY RICH can play format and is freezing out the mid income demographic. If this does not change soon you will have only seen the tip of the iceberg for what will come next.

Bob Pegram

8 years ago

Golf Galaxy is smarter. They are reducing expenses so they don’t go under.

Doc

8 years ago

Golf Galaxy is not golf. It is an entertainment center like 6 Flags.

They were not fooled. You do have to use GG’s golf clubs (which is what I hear is the norm, you can’t bring in your clubs). This may change but I doubt it and their clubs are name brands for certain.
GG will be around for decades because it’s year round, drinks, arcade, restaurants, everything you want and your own booth to hit from.
Great marketing.
Golf will not recover for decades no matter how much BS we are given.
They have lied about equipment every year, told people you can buy a game of golf with this ‘Driver!’. Golfers are suckers for the most part.
It used to be a $20 sunday game you could walk and enjoy.
Now it’s $60 to $125 for a round, you can’t walk, you are either waiting behind a foursome that if they were keeping score would be shooting quadruple bogie on every hole or being told to hurry up and hit into the group in front of you.
Courses are shutting down at the rate of 150+ per year.
Beers are $5 and water is $3.
I miss the late 60’s through the 80’s. I’m old.

Pete the Pro

8 years ago

You started well and then your point fell apart. The manufacturers definitely can’t all stay in business delivering drivers for $99 or $149. Right now I can buy a full set of irons, top brand name, driver and wedges under $1000. Second hand, well, it’s amazing how cheap it has become as supply exceeds demand. Sadly, golfers are often asking for the best brands,research and development, demo days, demo clubs, a custom fit department, after sales, two hours custom fitting session in the shop (which must provide Trackman) and all for a mega discount price. Latest model too. Best I have seen recently, Mizuno MP62 8 clubs for $299. Expensive? No way.

Golf Junkee

8 years ago

Couldn’t agree with TopPakRat more. It seems as though not only is the new equipment coming out faster with claims from sources saying that they are 5% longer and straighter, but at prices that are out of reach with the masses. I used to say that Callaway was the working man’s golf club because they seem to go for the middle class and not the elite, but when I saw their drivers going for $500 and their irons for $1300 it all changed. In addition, they are producing a new model about 3-4 times a year. Having worked in the retail golf industry for about 11 years, since my retirement, I have seen the steady traffic flow move from the new to pre-owned clubs and I have had to calm down more than once customers who had bought new clubs within a short period of time and wished to trade them in, only to find that these clubs had been reduced in value by sometimes as much as 60-75%. Worse than the used car market! Now the customer is ticked off at the retailer, though the market is dictating that the value has dropped. They use ebay as the gauge for setting value, though this is merely what people are asking and not receiving for the equipment. They then leave in a huff being mad at not only the retailer, but also the manufacturer.
Another point I would like to make is the thought that has been planted into everyone’s head that all golfers should be fitted for clubs. Granted grip size and to some extent flex can be checked by the fitter, of which I was one, but for someone to come into a facility and expect to leave with a fitted set of clubs, when they have never played the game is somewhat unattainable. Truth be known I would venture to say that only about 5-7% of the golfers, and I use that term to encompass beginners and the rest who partake in the sport, are able to be fit. Many do not have a repetitive swing necessary to be fitted. Many don’t stand the same distance from the ball, necessary to be fitted. And finally many look to the fitter to correct problems they have developed over the years that can only be corrected by the taking of lessons for a period of time. I have told more than one customer that new clubs are not needed, but instead use the money more wisely and take some lessons. Too many people think they can buy a game.
Everyone forgets that golf is not a necessity to exist, but is bought with the descretionary income in the family budget and until the vendors get in closer contact with the public and make inroads with the new generation who is more interested in video games than going outside and participating in the wonderful game of golf, the game will regress, returning to the country clubs and elite of this nation and the world. Knock off clubs will become more prevalent and retailers will continue to go bankrupt.

Adrian Kim

8 years ago

Yeah lots of rumors on this but I believe they’re in process of figuring out new investors, etc. this shouldn’t affect my side of it thank god

Jim Bunsey

8 years ago

Crap! I better use my Golfsmith gift card before it’s useless!

Patrick Diers

8 years ago

Oh man!!! Gonna love that bankruptcy sale!!

Joe S.

8 years ago

I’ve bought most of my golf equipment online… sign of the times. Why would I want to buy a $700 set of clubs when I can get it a lot cheaper online?And it’s not only golf retailers. I travel on business a lot and when there’s a Golfsmith close by I’ll pop in. The stores I’ve been to have more employees than customers… very sparse.

Fred

8 years ago

You can’t get fitted for the right clubs online.

Preston Flick

8 years ago

Pga superstore is so much better

Taylor Welborn

8 years ago

And TGW online is killing them.

Ruben Piña

8 years ago

Store sucked after I learned about eBay.. Way over priced for everything!

Ruben Piña

8 years ago

Does that mean I don’t have to pay my bill anymore haha

Dave Kim

8 years ago

wow .. that is crazy. Dicks, Golf Galaxy subsidy has been on thin ice for a few years as well.

McKay Lyvers

8 years ago

Their used clubs are priced too high, their trade-in values are always on the low end, and their tec is never there. I’ve never been able to walk in and have a club immediately regripped, or a new putter grip put on, or anything. It’s always a “leave it overnight” thing. The one thing i think they do right, is actually have a huge selection of the newest left-handed demo clubs.

TD

8 years ago

I had the sam issues. They never fixed anything while you waited. Always a leave it overnight. Very strange. Also, there used clubs were stupid high. You know they give the poor schmuck that traded those clubs in near what they are asking. It drove me away to local golf shops where I could get service immediately and not get screwed over on used equipment

Fred

8 years ago

Could it be that the reason you couldn’t get your clubs fixed is that there were other people ahead of you who also needed their clubs fixed? Maybe they were just a bit too busy to to get your clubs fixed right on the spot. It happens.

Dylan Lemke

8 years ago

If they had an all you can eat buffet for lunch each day, yes I would definitely blame Ken

Matt Filaroski

8 years ago

I saw this

Gil Bloomer

8 years ago

I hope they’re able to restructure and stay a viable business. I don’t want to see any person lose their job. I’m sure the company can revamp their business model to remain a solid golf retailer. Good luck Golfsmith.

NewBusiness Model

8 years ago

In Cleveland we had Golf Galaxy and Dicks and a couple of courses the sold some clubs. Golf Galaxy was sold to Dicks and they are closing them up. Golfsmith comes to town on eastside cleans up as Golf Galaxy closes Mayfield store. Two stores left in Akron and North Olmstead. I go to work for eastside store, lots of merchandise, pretty store, work there 1.5 years, it was boring. People come in hit balls, buy off the rack, little to no knowledge or customization. The push clothes, balls and other stuff as that’s the sellers not clubs.
Golfsmith open Akron store down the street from Golf Galaxy.
Windmill Lakes was one golf courses that had decent equipment, Windmill golf center opens at the bankrupt Macedonia par3/driving range.

There business model is the future of selling high-end golf clubs. Trackman, Putter Lab, all brands including EPON, PXG, XXIO, etc. custom fitting with a lot of demo clubs and very little inventory. Get fitted, order the clubs. Get clubs.

The stand alone big-box golf store is dead, Dicks can sell off-the-rack to the majority of people who just want a new club or on-line retailers.

But the Windmill model is the future. Makes a great add-on for golf courses, just like it used to be, buy your clubs at the course.

Marty G. Michaud

8 years ago

That’s too bad. Didn’t ever have any problems with this company .

Benzino Wells

8 years ago

This will be our near future.

Conner Cornett

8 years ago

Happening regardless

Eric Cremeens

8 years ago

We can also start a fight club.

Conner Cornett

8 years ago

Played it with wife last night. I’m going pro.

Conner Cornett

8 years ago

We are going to have to diversify and take up knitting with needles if this shit continues.

Eric Cremeens

8 years ago

They weren’t diversified enough…put all their eggs in the Nike basket, now they suffer the consequences.

Eric Coe

8 years ago

I have not paid retail for golf equipment in at least 15 years! Ebay, GolfWRX, Craigslist etc. Times are hard!! If you think I am going to buy $1000 irons or a $500 driver you are on Meth!!! A driver should be no more than $250. Irons $500.

Eric Coe

8 years ago

Greed. The golf industry is a farce. $1000 irons. $500 drivers. $50 balls.

Gerald Jerome White

8 years ago

Good Their prices are way too high

Billy Crawford

8 years ago

Saw this earlier. That would fucking suck. Then we’d really have to open our own golf shop

William Stepan

8 years ago

Love Golfsmith. In MN they are being beaten by large robotic golf stores (Golf Galaxy), sports superstores (Dick’s) and second had retailer (2nd Swing). Golfsmith is still my favorite golf retailer but the golf market is shrinking and when we see a Nike getting out of club making, bankruptcy by golf and sports superstores we should remember the professionals that work at these stores as they are the only casualty of competition that matters.

Joe Gendron

8 years ago

2nd Swing has new gear too. They are not just a second hand store at all.

Jeremy Williams

8 years ago

Their prices are outrageous. Dicks sporting goods is the best place to buy golf equipment as long as you know what you are looking at.

Tom54

8 years ago

Golfsmith’s prices are the same as everyone else’s.

Tawanda

8 years ago

Tiger Wood where art thou?

Ronald Kuntoro

8 years ago

i used to love their Snake eyes heads…. and then they are gone. maybe that’s why…..

George Taylor

8 years ago

They’re all at it now!

Mike Wine

8 years ago

It IS going bankrupt. Just read the headline fool.

James Reding

8 years ago

Jesus

Danny Cope

8 years ago

That’s because no one at goldsmith knows how to sell. Lol. You walk into a goldsmith and the chances are pretty good that the GolfTEC is busy (because those people rely on their sales ability to put food on the table) and if there are people in golfsmith then they almost always wind up walking out with nothing. And all you ever hear from a golfsmith employee is “how are you?” Was just a matter of time

bill

8 years ago

What is goldsmith? Never heard of a golf company named goldsmith?

Staci Zaffuto

8 years ago

These are my favorite golf irons, I bought them last year at Golfsmith they are great. Just broke my 7 iron, do you think they have any left?

Doug Smith

8 years ago

Last year? Never seen those ever. Golfsmith owns Snake Eyes and was selling club heads under the Snake Eyes brand for a few years but habe since stopped producing and sold out most all club heads

Bob Pegram

8 years ago

That model is at least 10 years old. They must have had a new set that was never sold. They are very good heads. They used to be sold as components to clubmakers. A few tour pros were paid to use Golfsmith clubs when they sold components. One was Scott Verplank. He got so good with Golfsmith clubs that Golfsmith couldn’t afford him any more. Another was a Bruce Leitzke (sp?) now on the senior tour (or retired?). He was famous for not practicing much and still making a good living on the PGA tour including winning a tournament now and then.

Kevin Yukichi Shimada

8 years ago

Wow! I can’t believe they made it this long!

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

Check your facts

Paul Lambert

8 years ago

What are they doing with all my money I’ve spent there over the years?

Tim Rice

8 years ago

They spent it all at the clubhouse on drinks.

Olakunle Olatunde

8 years ago

Sad! My go to Golf store in the US! How they get saved!

Bradley Shuppert

8 years ago

Keep voting Democrap and we will all be equally bankrupt!!

Gerardo H. Garcia

8 years ago

Whoa

Paul Schable

8 years ago

The golf industry has become bloated and arrogant. It’s time to lengthen equipment cycles, dial back the golf ball, and shorten the golf courses.

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

How are any of these issues related to retailers?

Paul Schable

8 years ago

Joey Dumont the short retail equipment cycle between club offerings has turned off club purchasers. The long golf courses have turned off many golfers from the game, which leads to lower retail golf sales. Golfs popularity is on a downward trend. Retailers are closing, and golf course closings are not far behind.

Steve S

8 years ago

Mr. Schable, if golf is on a downward trend why are rounds played up 9% and junior golf participation up by 500,000? Yes there are too many courses(in some places) and newer courses are overpriced. But everywhere I go in central Ohio the courses that have 20-40 dollar rounds are busy. We are one of the most overbuilt golf areas in the country. Course are closing here but most are closing because developers are paying stupid prices for the land. Minerva Lake golf course was sold this summer for over 3 million. The course has been open continuously since 1930. I know the owners. The course made money every year of the last 20. They are older and couldn’t pass up the offer because the surrounding area is declining and they never thought they could get that much for it. I think the developer is an idiot, but we lost a fun course.

Joe Dailey

8 years ago

Internet has killed retail.

Kip Yaughn

8 years ago

Worst club trade in policy on planet!

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

What is their trade in policy and why is it the worst?

Jeff

8 years ago

The arms race to have the longest driver is over… GS and GT will likely restructure to an online store until old inventory is depleted and then fade away completely. I work at a mom and pop golf store and we work hard with suppliers to make sure we get a fair shake on pricing and get creative with the yearly buying plans. Golf consumers are educated people and have become even more savvy with purchases. Major brands will get burnt again and I bet you see a 2 or 3 year club release cycle with limited editions in between. Buy local keep the money in your community.

Bob Pegram

8 years ago

Golfsmith became successful as a mail order and then on line company before opening so many stores.

Bobby Bucey

8 years ago

Long overdue, golfsmith is THE worst.

Richard Hairston

8 years ago

Oh crap

FTWPhil

8 years ago

Shop a Golf Headquarters.

Especially a Bobick’s!

Tent sale going on now through Sunday 5 pm est in Ft. Wayne, IN!

Titfit

8 years ago

They have turbulators!

Mark

8 years ago

It’s too bad. The Golfsmith today isn’t what the Paul’s created. I took a number of courses at the Austin location, and bought hundreds of items over the years. The company was built around customer service, its a shame to hear what it has become. What I am reading in the posts was not my experience, however the Golfsmith in Canada closed years ago.

Shawn Shelby

8 years ago

Horrible place to buy golf equipment

Ramsey Rizal

8 years ago

It’s a dying sports

Golfin Gary Crafford

8 years ago

Golfsmith in Greensboro ,NC is where my wife and I had our first date. I have always hade Grade A service from my guy Wayne C. He has always been top notch. I bought her a new driver on that date.

Mike Dindak

8 years ago

Nice. My first wife golfed.

Michael

8 years ago

i don’t know where all of this vitriol is coming from. just about every experience i’ve had with Golfsmith has been a good one. everything from my custom Mizuno irons to regripping my clubs. especially the custom order. i live overseas and there was some issues, but the customer service rep walked me through every step and made arrangements with the finance department so i could complete the order. even the brick and mortar stores, Atlanta, Florida, Texas, all good.

my only issue with them are the worn out grips on the tester clubs, but that’s probably from people like me who stop in to test stuff when i have the time.

i hope Golfsmith can restructure and survive.

Brandon Paulausky

8 years ago

I haven’t met one personable associate all the years of shopping..the arrogance they carry is crazy…I’d wipe the green with every one of them good riddance

Andrew Montreuil

8 years ago

Taylormade isn’t going out of business or anything. Adidas is just looking to sell the company

John C. Thorn

8 years ago

As a lefty, it is FAR easier to purchase items on line at a deep,discount than to travel miles to a retailer hoping that they might have something to try and get fitted for. I get it on line cheap. If I want a fitting I travel to a page store in Myrtle Beach where they have great selection, superior demo facilities and excellent staff. I play many courses other than my home course and none have carried any lefty clubs. My home course pro shop has zero lefty clubs despite a rather large proportion of lefty players. A recent trip to the closest Golfsmith store revealed a severe lack of clubs for my dexterity. shoes and appararel were overpriced. The same product sold in other stores is 30-60% cheaper. Their demise is of their own making.

Michael Wetzel

8 years ago

Golf can be a hefty investment as we all know. The manufactuers depend on turn over. Ive found mostly that my 2004 Nike CPR irons are still the best feeling irons i ever hit. Do the game improvement theory really help ?

Brandon Rigg

8 years ago

Forgot to mention taylormade

Eric A Fletcher

8 years ago

After seeing the bad mouthing Golfsmiths and Nike gear…we seem to be our own enemies? If we don’t change our attitudes or help out the folks who want to pick up golf…we could be limited in making golf available and could effect the majority who enjoys this sport?

Eric Coe

8 years ago

No person in their right mind is going to want to play a game that costs a small fortune. Greed is biting them in the a$$ now!

Eric A Fletcher

8 years ago

Eric Coe so you are saying that golf should just go away? Yes it does cost a price… But attitudes of greed or negative reflection of behavior is what killing this sport.

Chris C.

8 years ago

I find this news most depressing. I like options and GS has always been an excellent option. Unlike other posters, I have always found their staff to knowledgable. More importantly, they have invariably been courteous and willing to provide assistance. I hope that their restructuring saves my local GS and the jobs associated with it.

Dutch Skiver

8 years ago

Well, I guess I’ll never see my product back they received…I’m not surprised and they won’t be the last, feel for the employee’s. #poof

John Magdalene Agel Sjc

8 years ago

You know that manufacturers set the prices and retailers aren’t allowed to lower prices without permission in order to protect green grass operations.

Aleksi Lepistö

8 years ago

Bingo! This is what people don’t get. They blame the retailer for prices that are controlled by the manufacturer.

Aleksi Lepistö

8 years ago

Club markup on the retail side is small. Lile 30%ish.

John Magdalene Agel Sjc

8 years ago

If that.
It’s a hard business.

Jeffery Hughes

8 years ago

I hope they close and the golf industry becomes a more local, family owned industry again. That being said…. I better hurry and spend my golfsmith gift card!!

Myron Ravelo

8 years ago

“I NEED SOMETHING!!!!”

Myron Ravelo

8 years ago

Holy shit

Robert Greer

8 years ago

Sooooooooo the winner is #RogerDunn!!!

Steve Ingerski

8 years ago

Joe Gendron see above the manufacturer sets the price – everyone deals directly with the manufacturer. Prices are set so that box stores like Golfsmith can’t undercut proshops price wise.

For instance heres a sale ad:
Due to manufacturer restrictions, some items do not qualify for discount. Select product families from Taylormade, Callaway and Odyssey are excluded: M1, M2, PSi, Great Big Bertha and Alpha 816, Apex 16, XR 16, XR OS, Mack Daddy 3, Works, White Hot RX. Select items from the following brands are also excluded: Cobra, Nike, Srixon, Ogio, ECCO, Bridgestone, and adidas. All items from the following brands are excluded: Bushnell, SkyGolf, Sun Mountain, Garmin, PING, Titleist, Leupold, Golf Buddy, Scotty Cameron, FootJoy, Mizuno, Clicgear, Oakley, Under Armour, Bat-Caddy, Cart-Tek, Foresight, Pinnacle, Spitzer, SuperStroke, Golf Pride, and YETI. Not valid on previous purchases, exchanges, special orders or gift cards. All custom, logo and personalized special orders are excluded. Additional brand and product exclusions may apply. See the exclusions list for a complete list of manufacturer restrictions. Discounts cannot be combined with other Golfsmith offers or discounts unless specified.

If they had a sale, every retailer had the sale

Lejund

8 years ago

Not a massive surprise here. I buy practically everything from apparel to equipment online these days and I think much of the consumer base is heading that way progressively.

When it comes to equipment I have to think that many consumers are realizing that that iron (insert OEM here) promised would go 3 clubs longer really isn’t any better than the irons you’ve been gaming for the last couple of years.

Hopefully GS can find a buyer soon. I’d hate to see them close their doors for good.

Robert Gaw

8 years ago

Too bad my favorite store

Brandon Williams

8 years ago

Wow. Industry is struggling.

Chris Mendes

8 years ago

That’s what 2 releases per year for almost all the manufacturers does. Saturates the market with $500-800 drivers and no retailer can keep pace. And that just one club. Throw in all the $150 wedges and $300 putters and a small shop has no chance, especially if the large chains are struggling. It’s a sad cycle that I do blame on the manufacturers. Just an opinion.

Brandon Williams

8 years ago

I agree. I bought my latest and greatest driver and 3 weeks later they had a new and supposedly better model. ?

Brandon Williams

8 years ago

I think you would know,you’ve been in the business a few months now

Steve Ingerski

8 years ago

Chris Mendes while agree with the thought, golf gear seems the only product under this sort of negative opinion

Think about new cars immediately depreciate a well but people don’t feel like that’s a bad plan

Its weird mindset that people have that always want the latest and complain that they buy it

And I’m one of the addicts that’s had 5 iron sets in the last two years

Chris Mendes

8 years ago

Steve. I agree completely although I’ve been playing Henry griffitts irons for over 20 years but drivers actually so much that I feel if I skip a model I really am giving something up. I’ve had the last 4 cobra drivers and last year, when they came out with the king and the F6 I was a little discouraged knowing that I would only buy 1 given the $400+ price tag after upgrading shafts. It’s a trend you’ve seen with the big companies and I hope cobra gets away from it but time will tell I suppose. And yes Brandon Williams, I’ve been in the golf game a few months now. Lol. Creeping up on 300 months to be a little more precise.

Christopher James McMaugh

8 years ago

They were purchased by Golf Town from Canada and couldn’t find a good worthwhile president (kind of like the U.S. now lol) they had some very antiquated systems but all in all it’s a good company. In terms of all these haters talking about pricing, that’s set by the manufactures no the company, I used to manage a GS in Va. for a while and we were always uneasy about discounts bc of the threat of manufacture imposed sanctions. The golf industry as a whole has had trouble for years. And club manufactures have come to a point in their designs where there’s nothing left to do! Also Taylor Made as well as other companies dropping a new line every season put a bad taste in customers mouths and made them less willing to drop $300+ on a driver that will be $99 in 6 months.

Golfin Gary Crafford

8 years ago

I believe you hit it right on the head

Anthony Zummo

8 years ago

3 drivers in 1 calendar year! Thanks taylormade

Tom Miller

8 years ago

Yes, the constant churn of equipment is getting old. And $1,000 drivers is a joke. I am in VA too, and we got one Golfsmith in Tysons. Bad location, but with in 6 months, 3 more opened. Just nuts. The one in Fairfax, I think their best location, is never busy. I have bought from them before because the have a better shaft selection then Golf Galaxy. But they are mostly out of stock of regular stuff. Went to get my clubs regripped (buy the grips / installed free). They were completely out of the grip I wanted. Gloves, often have a very mixed bag of sizes. Golf Galaxy down the street has a smaller selection, but always really well stocked. Sometimes I don’t have time to go to 2 different golf shops to pick up the basics. I always go to Golf Galaxy now and haven’t been in Golfsmith for a couple of years. When they first opened, lots of good people worked there. Last time I went in, people were not interested in talking to you.

Paul Ellensohn

8 years ago

Rude and cocky won’t miss it at all

Darwin Aguinaldo

8 years ago

Another downfall from $400+ drivers, $80 shirts, and $175+ shoes. You can only take marketing “the newest, best, technology ever” so far.

Sharkhark

8 years ago

Surprised this article went into no detail about the Canadian ownership. They did review the historical owners but without mentioning omers the group that owns them along with golf town

Darwin Aguinaldo

8 years ago

Oh snap

Matthew Brian Pfeifer

8 years ago

Haha

Shawn Saylor

8 years ago

Over priced. Get rid of it

Grant Pfeifer

8 years ago

Why is this happening to me?

Steve S

8 years ago

Actually rounds played is up about 9% and junior golf is up half a million over last year according to NGF. Bottom line is people are spending money on PLAYING golf not on equipment. Most have figured out that most club technology has maxed out in the last 5-10 years. This especially true for those with driver swing speeds below 100 mph. Which is most of us. I can hit my buddies 2007 Burner driver as far as my 3 year old Rocketbalz. I’ve hit every Ping, TM, Cobra, NIke, and Callaway 2016 driver on a launch monitor and they are all with in 5 yards of my Rocketbalz…. Irons the same…..still using my 2008 Burner Plus irons…. Only new thing I’ve bought is a 3 wood (old one was 13 years old) and a couple hybrids to replace my 3 and 4 iron…

bob carroll

8 years ago

if you believe the NGF, you aren’t in the business. they have cranked out phiney numbers for years. they are part of the problem. when the golf business first started tanking, NGF and PGA kept telling everybody how well the industry was doing, bringing in investors in an already overcrowded business.
regarding golfsmith, how many sets do you have to sell to meet your monthly nut in a 50,000 sq. ft. store. can’t be done, just a matter of time. they have never been profitable.

Drew

8 years ago

True. Some of the tech is better. USGA testing-free XR and C-200 irons are hotter, along with the boron from Mizuno on EZ and MP25 irons. Try those.

Steve S

8 years ago

Drew, the tech is better but means nothing at my swing speed. Wilson sent me a C200 demo set 4-7-PW for “free” (I paid shipping) played 8 rounds with them. Not enough difference for me to spend $800 for the full set.

Dennis Beach

8 years ago

How much did it cost for them to remodel just about all their stores? And why? And what happened to the components they used to sell? And what about clubmaking school? Always thought that when I retire I was going to attend the school. No components at Golfsmith..I have a set of P2 irons that I put away, and I have 2 hybrids that I still play with by the name of Viper, with weight tech that can be switched up for shot shape. Great stuff!! Too bad management just doesn’t see what they do to a company when they start chasing more revenue on the backs of their employees. Always trying to get more with less-its a shame this is the business model in America today…

Tim Luna

8 years ago

High prices. Pawn shop offers on trade ins. I don’t feel bad for them

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

High?

Ben Berry

8 years ago

They are absolutely awful The employees may just as well be working at a Best Buy or McDonald’s. My experience the two times I went into one was so horrible. So we lost the company that made terrible equipment, and the company was terrible at selling it. This is not the worst thing in the world, just sad for the people who are losing their jobs .

Christopher Sadafsaz

8 years ago

Wow!

robin

8 years ago

I once again feel sorry for the true employees of golfsmith…I myself never liked going to golfsmith no one would ever help me .Because I walk with a caine ,due to injuries received in the Marine Corp.

Jefferey Johnson

8 years ago

Nike and now goldsmith…

Regis

8 years ago

They may file for Chapter 11. Technically the filing is under the Bankruptcy Act so one can call it a ‘Bankruptcy” but if and when they file for Chapter 11 it doesn’t necessarily mean they are going out of business. Chapter 11 is Reorganization. Companies use the relief to streamline a business that is overextended or that needs to get out of contracts like leases so as to become viable especially for a new buyer. its actually fairly common in the retail business. Companies that have used Chapter 11 include General Motors, Delta Air Lines, Macy’s, Eddie Bauer. Bloomingdales, the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fred

8 years ago

Some excellent points, Regis. A little education never hurts.

Josh Wilson

8 years ago

Will Stokes

8 years ago

When continual new product launch by the big company’s do not deliver promised gains over previous launched models then eventually you run out of your consumer base. Too much regurgitation! Was just a matter of time. The industry needs a good cleansing on the retail end regardless.

Andrew Montreuil

8 years ago

Goldsmith is crap that’s why. Overpriced, bad customer service

Jason Fronk

8 years ago

Both companies that had no problem paying their shareholders while raping their customers with few alternatives.(Circuit City, Sports Authority, etc.) That’s changing…later.

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

Do private companies have shareholders?

Jeremy Williams

8 years ago

They do! Golfsmith has shareholders also. It is not the same as Best Buy, Coca Cola etc.

Colin Arens

8 years ago

So fucking accurate

Tyler Westover

8 years ago

Wanna pick up a 56 then a 56.2 and a 56.3 my game is soooooooo sensitive

Alvin Arnette

8 years ago

Support your local golf pro

Frank Sallee

8 years ago

The corporate executives are mostly to blame because for the most part they have very little industry experience. They have reduced the stores to serve yourself platforms and hired inexperience floor personnel. Customer service has become a loss prevention program and little more. The store culture is designed to reflect the corporate theme and not to service the stores customers. The rush to open new stores is a major factor in store failures also, this added too much inventory load that was not supported by sales.
When it comes down to blame it’s hard to look to the major hard & softline suppliers because the decision to buy was entirely up to corporate.
It is a shame because early warnings were in the air and attention was not given by the decision makers at GOLFSMITH & GOLFTOWN.

Fred

8 years ago

Couldn’t agree with you more, Frank. Your comment about companies rushing to open new stores being a major factor in why they fail is right on, and the primary reason most retail companies end up in trouble. The news about Golfsmith possibly filing for bankruptcy is sad news. Although we have a great golf tradition (and history) here in San Antonio, we only have one Golfsmith. Maybe it is the exception, but I’ve always been able to get the answers to very technical questions from what I’ve always considered to be a very well-trained staff.

Ben Clabaugh

8 years ago

Better get my Nike clubs from them. Get drivers for 5 bucks. Lol.

Leftienige

8 years ago

Hi Ben , you must be joking , drivers for $5 ?? That’s only 3-woods and hybrids , Drivers are $6 . Cheers , Nige .

Darren Murphy

8 years ago

Shit going cray either way.

Darren Murphy

8 years ago

Think it’s the other way around, GT own Smithy.

Ken

8 years ago

The problem is Wall Street. They thought the golf equipment industry was a big money maker and piled in financing big box golf shops left and right. The local PGA Pro (myself) and the small mom n pop golf shops could have told them it won’t work long term but Wall St. wouldn’t care anyway. So hundreds of successful small shops were driven out of business while big suppliers lived filling these big box stores with their inventory. Now it is resetting back to a more sustainable landscape and maybe, just maybe the local pro will be able to make a decent living for all their hard work promoting the game.
What is good for Wall St. and what is good for golf are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Fortunately the game of golf is great and always will be.
This does not mean it is a long term growth story for greedy financiers.
Golf is a game. A great game.
Wall St. wanted it to grow to the moon. Not possible. Who needs golf shops the size of Home Depot.
I hope this signals a return to the small knowledgable golf retailer.
Sadly hundreds were driven out of business by the powers that be.
After 30 years as a golf pro and retailer I’m glad to say I retired in 2014 before the you know what hit the fan.

Andy

8 years ago

Well said.

Brandon Rigg

8 years ago

Andrew Montreuil first Nike now golfsmith. Is golf unpopular now lol… is that why its back in the olympics after 112 years ⛳

Brett Viboch

8 years ago

Their business model and plan is atrocious…they don’t deserve to be successful

Pdub

8 years ago

#viboched

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

What is their business model?

Brett Viboch

8 years ago

Joey Dumont don’t do a dick measuring contest because you will lose…I know you once worked for golfsmith but we worked with their national accounts from an OEM/R&D standpoint and they are clueless in many ways…feel free to private message me
If you would like to discuss further in more detail

Pat Weathers

8 years ago

#v-botched

Keith Pernal

8 years ago

Thay should have stayed in making components not trying to compete with pgs, vans, etc. Customer service is terrible and they overpriced themselves.

Ng Heng Fai

8 years ago

It’s kill by The internet shopping …

Frank Cruz

8 years ago

Big stores with nice people and friendly policies will always do well. Else they should die!

Damon

8 years ago

Between that, the golf companies flooding the market, Golfsmith asking WAY too much for their used golf clubs, PFA Value Guide ripping people off and being the only source for pricing of used clubs and EBay…. It was going to catch up with them sooner or later

SiteEqualsJoke

8 years ago

Love the comments that blame ONE golf manufacturer for the demise of a mediocre retailer. Feel free to take a remedial Business Administration class so you have a fundamental understanding of the retail industry. And just for clarity, TM has brought to market a total of TWO drivers (M1, M2) and TWO irons (PSi, M2) in the last year. Having correct facts before spewing nonsense may raise your credibility.

adidas (note the lowercase a) has NO parent company. adidas IS the parent company. Have you ever actually experienced shopping for golf equipment at Dick’s? Perhaps a higher level of customer service and equipment knowledgeable staff could create greater sales. And how do we blame a manufacturer for a retailers inadequate Inventory Management? Do you think the buyers at large retailers do not have the schedule of when new clubs are coming to market and by whom? They do – and smart companies do not over purchase product that they then sell at a loss because the “latest and greatest” has arrived. Additionally, if these large retailers have not negotiated a “return” clause in their purchase agreements, that is on them.

#factsmatter

Tom Duckworth

8 years ago

Well that’s sad news They sent me a coupon in the mail the other day. $10.00 off any sale of $10.00 or more just to get me in the door. Not that many people in the store.We may as well face the fact that golf is in for a big correction. We will most likely see smaller custom shops selling more name brands. One that I have been going to sold stuff like KZG and Miura as well as some other high end Japan stuff but now they have Ping, Callaway and Mizuno too. Great place nice people and super service but I don’t think we will be seeing big discounts. Most likely me and many others will be keeping sets longer to get more out of them for the money spent.

eric

8 years ago

Hey Ross Kranz. The DNC discussing the economy has no bearing on a crappy company with terrible customer service going out of business.

Bad businesses go under in all economic climates.

Thanks for being the jerk that brought your political viewpoints into an otherwise benign conversation.

ross

8 years ago

Hey Eric-
Sorry for hurting you feelings.
This is far from an individual occurrence. Retail sales are getting completely smoked in all categories, not just golf. This is something that we all need to get used to because it is just the tip of the iceberg. My political viewpoints (both your girl Hillary AND Trump are BOTH terrible) have nothing to do with the hard data that continues to roll out.

Next time, I’ll be more aware of your ‘safe space’ when commenting.

eric

8 years ago

Give me a break – both candidates are awful. Politics has nothing to do with Golfsmith going under.

And the economy is booming in my neck of the woods – and at the same time Country Clubs and Golf Clubs are suffering. People are just realizing that golf is a dying waste of time activity. It won’t die completely but it’ll go back to where it was in 1990. Something retired people do. Is Elon Musk golfing? Mark Zuckerberg? Howard Schultz? No. These people are busy changing the world and more people are realizing that 4-5 hour door to course is not worth it unless you have nothing better to do, no kids, and your wife is annoying. And you can’t find a good volunteer gig. Never hire a scratch golfer. Most of the guys who used to be great golfers/single digit, have moved on wishing they had their years back.

Joe Gendron

8 years ago

2nd Swing got my Bridgestone Irons to me at way less than market because they are able to work directly with the manufacturer. I could not purchase the irons I did from anywhere else with the specs and everything for under 600. They are authentic as they come too.

Robert

8 years ago

I stopped shopping at Golfsmith a few years back. Their biggest competition is likely online retailers. If I had the guess, like other hobbies/sports, it’s likely that apparel and accessories is where profit is, not the clubs.

James Baek

8 years ago

Well I feel so bad to hear this news. I been buying my equipment from GS & WGS for last 4yrs and now one of my favorite store is going Bankruptcy I hope they find a way out of this.

Steve Ingerski

8 years ago

Joe Gendron
Prices set by manufacturers
If you find a new set at a discounted price their either fake or the seller is risking them being a licensed dealer

Matt Christopher

8 years ago

Please don’t happen. I just started working here and I really love the possibilities since I worked for Sports Authority

Scott Emerson

8 years ago

Customer service sucks at the one here in Memphis!
I went in to see what I could get(trade in) on my set of ping copper Beryllium’s 2 thru PW, great condition he said $29 and I said a club? And he said no for the set lol
I haven’t been back since and never will.

Steve Ingerski

8 years ago

Would be surprised if that was the case. Goldsmith sets their trade in value via the PGA value guide

Either way – pricing policy and customer service are two totally different things

Bryan Rask

8 years ago

How is that bad customer service? Because someone isn’t happy with the prices corporate sets using PGA value guides?gtfo

Bill Zientara

8 years ago

I got $1200 for my Ping eye2 BeCus, 1-LW, from 2nd Swing back in 2000.

Christopher James McMaugh

8 years ago

Scott that’s not bad customer service that’s called you have a 30 year old set of irons that CAN NOT and will not be reproduced due to safety hazards. Hang them on a wall they’ll be worth more that way. Golfsmith isn’t an antique dealer.

Scott Emerson

8 years ago

Christopher and all the others of you that chimed in, I didn’t say that was the reason for my bad customer service did I? Plus you obviously don’t know shit about golf clubs!

Christopher James McMaugh

8 years ago

Well the way it’s written sure does make it sound like it. And I actually know a shit ton, so sorry bro! Eye2’s BeCu ’82 Eye2 Square groove Berylliums ’86-87 I think. Production stopped in ’98 with the ISI’s bc the manufacturing process produces a toxic dust. I’ve worked in the golf industry for 16 years. It’s cool though. Lol

Bret Van Riessen

8 years ago

So why did you tell the story about your trade in if you weren’t trying to say that’s what caused the bad customer service experience? I’m obviously not the only confused one. Lol.

David Price

8 years ago

Rounds of golf are up, but money spent down 9%. Golf in America is in trouble.

Brian Cook

8 years ago

Rounds being up is never bad for golf.

Mathew Kimbrell

8 years ago

Your being sarcastic right? Rounds of golf are up means Golf in America is doing something right. More rounds of golf means more players and more players bring in even more players of whom will buy equipment. However, I do think the price of drivers and some clubs were getting out of reach for some. The good thing for golfers is that there are many choices for great clubs for a good price, that a +15 handicap and above will not notice a difference from the high priced clubs.

So if money spent on golf is down 9% and more rounds are being played, golfers in America are smarter with their money than they have been in the past. Golfers are realizing that buying new clubs every year or two does not make you a better golfer it just makes companies money. Money better spent would be checking in with your local golf pro to make sure your clubs still fit your swing after a year or so. Get some lessons and play more golf.

Randy Kitts

8 years ago

Taylormade is definitely part of the problem,flooding the market with new equipment every 4 months.Just ask Dick’s how much of their crap they have in inventory. We’re going back in time to when there were a handful of good club manufacturers.Most people won’t change equipment every time something new comes around(game improvement???)Just look at the average scores,not any lower than years ago. The average golfer doesn’t break 90. I look for more companies to go belly up. Look at how Adams was destroyed by the parent company of Adidas. Barney Adams new when to get out.No surprise Golfsmith is on the blocks too. Big corporations have a tendancy to gobble up the small guys and then destroy everything they built. I spent 35 years in retail and have seen it happen time and again in golf and in clothing.

Uhit

8 years ago

Callaway released more than twice as much drivers than Taylormade during the last year…
…why not blame them???

Part of the problem is everything…

The economy (priorities for spending money)

The shift of interest (smartphones etc…)

The technology restricting rules…

The uninformed (fanboys, who buy every nonsense) and the greedy customers (always want the cheapest…)

The traditionalists, who always blame everything, which is younger, than themselves…

Experienced people with no idea, but with a lot of advice…

The newcomers, who are not really committed to the game…

Testsites and magazins, with doubtful and often repeating / predictable conclusions…

Envy people, who have always time for a demotivating remark…

Keith Ellis Hart

8 years ago

The impact of has been felt.

Frank Cruz

8 years ago

TW needs to come back to save golf!

Collin Campbell

8 years ago

No surprise here either. After having worked for Golf Galaxy, Sports Authority, PGA Tour Superstore, etc. I’ve seen this coming for 8 years now. These companies are run by people who are completely out of touch with their employees and their markets. But no one wants to listen to me. So I’m just sitting back watching and laughing.

Frank Cruz

8 years ago

Good! Golfsmith in Cerritos CA, people are rude, and stupid. Their policies are very restrictive and their charges for repairs do not make them any friends. Been to GS 2 miles from my house 3 times, never happy or impressed, RD is 15 miles from home but always nice and friendly! I spend all my golf money in Roger Dunn, great return policy and very friendly people. Survival of the fittest!

Jeffrey D. Fish

8 years ago

Good riddance. IMO they won the annual award for worst customer service on a consistent basis (at least locally).

Gary

8 years ago

And the hits just keep on comin’

Jake Krattenmaker

8 years ago

They have the worst customer service

Won Woo Lee

8 years ago

I did notice the emptiness of golfsmith whenever I went…

Jevon Roberts

8 years ago

Well damn

ComeOnSense

8 years ago

Wow ! the Golf Bubble is bursting now, it’s official.

Brett Frimmer

8 years ago

Clubs are too expensive and they were living off the people replacing clubs they didn’t need to change out. Those same people are sick of spending $300-500 bucks on a driver to be told by the pencil neck at golf galaxy his trade in is worth $36. This was inevitable.

Greg Thornton

8 years ago

Sounds like every golf store

MmmmmBuddy

8 years ago

Mad much bud?

No need to name call the kid doing his job.

Here is a news flash. Golf Equipment is NOT and I repeat NOT an investment that you should expect a monetary return on. Buy a club, use it, and when you are tired of it, you sell it for what the market will bear…

Drivers are not gold bars….

Brett Frimmer

8 years ago

Correct.

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

Galaxy?

Brett Frimmer

8 years ago

Sure. I’m not gonna say they’re going under, but how often do you walk in there and see lots of customers? Racks full of clubs that sit for months.

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

Wait! Are we talking about Golf Galaxy or Golfsmith? Maybe this is the problem…

Brett Frimmer

8 years ago

Goldsmith is likely to file for bankruptcy. I expect a similar result as sports authority. Golf galaxy is essentially the same damm store. These places don’t sell equipment. They sell at retail and get crushed by the deals people get online. They just haven’t remained competitive and people have alternatives.

Scott Oxandaboure

8 years ago

Dead on about that trade in scheme.

Steve Arnold

8 years ago

Golf galaxy is owned by Dick’s

Greg Kraut

8 years ago

Manufacturers set prices, not retailers…

Brett Frimmer

8 years ago

Correct. And selling at retail is what killed them. Do you know how much they mark those clubs up?

Bryn White

8 years ago

Everyone one thinks golf clubs are too expensive everywhere… Which is exactly why Nike is shutting its golf club line down and adidas is shopping Taylormade. Golfs expensive, get over it

Jari Hakonen

8 years ago

Something weird happen to this company a few years back and it was never the Golfsmith we all got to know… And what happened to them, it wasnt an improvement.

Jeff Moore

8 years ago

The golfing business is taking a hit lately

Brian Idlebus

8 years ago

I love mygolfspy haha this is absolutely insane man

Chip Hunt

8 years ago

Market correction…clubs, balls, gloves, etc all way overpriced.

Gil'

8 years ago

Chip Hunt, You hit the nail right on the head!!!

chip

Robert Ott

8 years ago

Got too big, got away from club making…

Bob Venekamp

8 years ago

Nobody wants thousand dollar irons and $400 drivers . at least not enough to float all those super stores

Joey Dumont

8 years ago

How much did the Great Big Bertha cost back in early 2000s? Oh yeah that’s right it was $399

Joe Gendron

8 years ago

But the early Big Bertha wasn’t on a 6 month cycle of drivers. Look at Callaway and TMAG they offer so many Drivers each year a normal person can’t afford to keep up. That’s why Titleist and Ping have such loyal followings they are on a much slower cycle. You can’t possibly expect someone who plays 2 times a week or less to buy a 400-500 dollar driver every 6 months to a year.

Bob Venekamp

8 years ago

Great response Dumont

LAbillyboy

8 years ago

Margins on hard goods are terrible and have been for a long time. It’s amazing any golf specialty store is able to stay open on a large scale. Too many customers use the local retailer as a demo facility and then buy online. Major online players, even Golfsmith are constrained by pricing agreements with manufacturers and cannot compete with the gray market where the cost structure is nil with no brick and mortar to support. It will be interesting to see how the industry morphs itself to cope with these realities.

Txgolfjunkie

8 years ago

Irony: I’m reading this in a golfsmith…golfsmith xtreme in the woodlands, tx. Do I inform the employees? Nah.

James Hamilton

8 years ago

Considering Canadian company Golftown owns them, this be good for the Canadian golf industry.

Teaj

8 years ago

Should I be concerned about my part time job now at Golftown?

Jonnythec

8 years ago

I blame Taylormade for all this stuff that’s going on. They make 4-6 different drivers every year when one or two is all you need. Look at Titleist who brings one out every 3 years. Seems to work for them. If they would just stop making so many different clubs every year the retailers wouldn’t feel the pinch of discounting clubs every 6 months. There is no need to continue this practice. Cause nobody switches up irons every year and I only switch drivers every few years. Just got last years Nike vapor and now I find out the new ones are gonna be selling for less then I payed for the old one..just give your heads a shake..

Andrew Han

8 years ago

That is illogical to say that TM is the blame. We would see a lot more big box retailers closing down. I shop solely between Worldwide Golf Shops (WGS) and Golfsmith (GS) in my two years with this game. If anything bankrupted GS, it was overhead cost coupled with the slow down of new entrants to the game of golf. Comparing just the two retailers, GS had a bigger retail footprint than WGS and products were not pushing fast enough to cover that overhead.

ShowMe

8 years ago

Um, Callaway, Cobra, Nike (well, not after this year I guess), Ping, and others do the same thing – release new clubs every year..

The problem is not manufacturers releasing new clubs every year, it’s when they put pricing restrictions on the clubs. Titleist and Ping will take away your license to sell if you sell their clubs below the MSRP (or the golf industry equivalent of that).

In a truly capitalistic industry, I should be able to purchase 50 drivers from Titleist or Ping or whomever, and sell them for whatever I want to sell them for. They are my clubs to sell, as I now own them after buying them from you.

If pricing restrictions were removed, then it would help Golfsmith to price their inventory based on demand – i.e., if the new Ping G driver wasn’t selling as well as expected, then drop the price by $50 to move that inventory.

PCS

8 years ago

Did TMaG inundate the market with product? Absolutely. Is that the reason that Goldsmith is closing? Absolutely not. The golf industry is shrinking. There are less people playing the game. Period. Everyone in the golf industry got greedy when TMaG changed the formula and started absolutely crushing sales numbers year over year. Other manufacturers copied the formula and big box retailers bought into it because they were making a killing too. Everyone got too big too fast and didn’t see the writing on the wall before it was too late. The golf market wasn’t growing. The same core golfers were just buying more because there were more new exciting products and more opportunities to buy at discounts. Consumers are now over it and Nike, adidas, Goldsmith and Dick’s are all paying the price.

Fred

8 years ago

Excellent point, Steve. There are more young people getting into the game than at any other time in the history of the game. As for sales – up or down – I think a lot of golfers today are getting smart to the game companies like Callaway and TaylorMade are playing with the prices of their clubs, especially drivers. Many are now waiting to purchase these items after they’re marked down, getting ready for the new clubs. The smart ones find the right clubs that work for them and stick with them instead of buying new each year. As for Golfsmith, they’re like any other company; some stores are better than others. The one we have here in San Antonio is one of their best.

Uhit

8 years ago

If you would have written Callaway, instead of Taylormade, the content of your writing, would have been a tad more precise…

A diversity of choices is good in a growing market, because newcomers have more choices to start with.

Old rabbits however, already have their stuff…
…in a shrinking market…

…now, who is to blame?

Maybe one should focus, in making golf a more attractive game…
…where one wants to spend more time (and money)?

I want to spend my time and money, where nice people surround me. ;-)

Michael Woods

8 years ago

As much as my bag cost it should keep them in business for years lol

Jeremy Cuff

8 years ago

Holy Crap. Well looks like I may have a chance to buy a crap ton of golf equipment now if they do

Daniel Overbey

8 years ago

I’ll be hitting up the one near me lol

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