Golf Business Monitor: Golf Equipment

Golf Equipment

08/04/2015

In 10 days will arrive Srixon's 3rd generation Q-STAR golf ball

The 3rd generation Srixon Q-STAR golf ball is designed for mid to high handicap golfers who demand premium performance. Srixon believes that the new Q-STAR golf ball delivers exceptional performance in all aspects of the game at every swing speed unlike other all-ability golf balls.

The new Srixon Q-STAR golf ball comes with:

next generation SpinSkin to give golfers unmatched feel and control: The 2^nd generation SpinSkin increases frictional force by 18%;
the Energetic Gradient Growth core and Speed Dimple technology combine to deliver exceptional ball speed and distance: The 324 Speed Dimple technology combines higher dimple uniformity and surface coverage to create a more aerodynamic ball with less drag, creating increased distance and better performance in all wind conditions.
Compression: 77 (this far behind Wilson Staff DUO (29) and Callaway Golf's Chrome Soft golf ball (65)

This latest generation Q-STAR is currently available for pre-booking and will be in stores on August 14, 2015 with a MAP price of $24.99.

Aug 4, 2015 9:53:18 AM | Golf Equipment

08/03/2015

SkyCaddie's SkyPro gets attack angle feature

The battle rages on among golf swing analyzers. Early this year Cleveland Golf launched its Cleveland Golf Wedge Analyzer fitting system powered by Swingbyte technology and Epson their M-Tracer golf swing analyzer.

I think I do not have to introduce you SkyCaddie's SkyPro (it was launched in 2013, just a year after the product category evolved at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show). The new feature of SkyPro golf swing analyzer is the Attack Angle feature (added it in July 2015 upgrade). Unfortunately, Attack Angle is only available now for SkyPro users with Apple iOS smartphones and tablets.

This came a little bit late since Epson M-Tracer and Swingbyte already have it. Swingbyte launched this feature in 2014.

My biggest concern how will SkyCaddie help SkyPro users to obtain the maximum knowledge from the device...I think there are quite a lot of people whose digital literacy is really poor. Until they solve this issue SkyPro will be a niche product.

Aug 3, 2015 10:50:31 AM | Golf Equipment

Troy Merritt won the Quicken Loans National

How shall I start? Tiger Woods finished the Quicken Loans National at T18 (at 8-under 276). This was probably his best performance for a long time.

But, what is more important is the victory of Troy Merritt. He got Wilson Staff back in the winner's circle. Troy Merritt joined in January the Advisory Team of Wilson Staff. He finished the game with 11 birdies.

Troy Merritt won with:

Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: TaylorMade R15 460, 9.5 degrees
3-wood: Callaway XR Pro, 14 degrees
Irons (2, 4-PW): Wilson FG Tour V4
Wedges: Wilson FG Tour (50, 54, 58 degrees)
Putter: Yes! C-Groove Mollie Tour

Aug 3, 2015 8:23:01 AM | Golf Equipment

07/22/2015

TaylorMade Golf VIP event at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel

As part of TaylorMade Golf’s 15 years of Driver dominance a VIP event was held at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel. Junior golfers from Scotland were invited to celebrate with their heroes including Stephen Gallacher, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson.

These kids were invited as part of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts' close relationship with Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher, who is golf brand ambassador for the hotel group.

During private Q&A sessions VIPs and media were able to ask about their experiences and give insights. Hopefully such up-close experience will bring kids closer to golf or motivate them to play more. I keep my fingers crossed for them.

Jul 22, 2015 3:16:13 PM | Golf Equipment, Golf Tourism

07/21/2015

Wilson Golf's "Driver vs. Driver" crowdsourcing campaign is coming

Couple of years ago I asked why don't we have crowdsourcing campaigns and project among well established golf equipment brands like Callaway Golf. I still think that it is an untapped source of growth and tactic for content marketing (good examples: P&G's Connect+Develop; Lego's Mindstorms).

To utilize the power of crowdsourcing Wilson Golf launches a new television show called “Driver vs. Driver.” This show, scheduled to air on Golf Channel in Fall 2016, is being created to open the door for valuable insights, generate buzz around the brand and to enhance customer engagement with the Wilson Golf brand.

To enter, individuals and/or teams need to submit a short video on their concept, why they think it can work as the next driver innovation, and a brief synopsis of who they are. Entries can be submitted at www.wilson.com/drivervsdriver. The deadline for entries is 11:59 PM CT, August 15, 2015.

A set number of contestant concepts will go through prototyping and vigorous testing within Wilson Labs and the individuals and/or teams will work alongside the Company’s engineers and designers to refine the concept until a winner is determined.

The winner of the contest will get $500,000 grand prize and an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Wilson Golf’s Wilson Labs innovation team of engineers and designers. The winner's concept will be a Wilson Staff 2017 branded driver and it sold at golf shops around the country (=US).

What can Wilson Golf to maximize its "Driver vs. Driver" crowdsourcing campaign?

Give participant a common place they can gather so they feel connected in a meaningful way. It can your intranet page, Facebook page.
We should have an end-to-end process for it.
enable two-way communication --> also listen what they say + answer to questions!
be transparent;
Putting yourself in their shoes so you can communicate clearly.

Jul 21, 2015 5:53:00 PM | Golf Equipment, Golf Marketing, Golf Media

07/20/2015

93% of the players used Bushnell Golf at The Open Championship

The 144th Open Championship is ending soon and we start to collect interesting stats from the event. One of them is the stunning achievement of Bushnell Golf. According to my sources more than 96% of caddies and over 93% of players using Bushnell rangefinders to prepare for their week at St Andrews. We can see significant change since last year’s Open Championship, where 83% of caddies and 90% of players used Bushnell rangefinder.

Early this year at The Players Championship, 99% of players and 94% of caddies used Bushnell Golf rangefinder, among them Rickie Fowler.

Jul 20, 2015 5:52:16 PM | Golf Equipment

07/14/2015

American Golf National Academy is coming to High Legh Park Golf Club

On 21st July will be opened the American Golf National Academy at the High Legh Park Golf Club in Cheshire. American Golf is promising to help golfers to hone their golf game by providing PGA Professionals in store and on the range and the latest golf equipment.

At first glance the opening of the American Golf National Academy we might think it is another American Golf golf retail complex, but we could also consider it as an interesting counterattack of a golf club to compete with local golf clubs. This way High Legh Park Golf Club will have not a mere golf pro shop, but a full service golf pro shop.

In the region of High Legh Park Golf Club we can find 7 golf clubs:

Lymm Golf Club,
Dunham Forest Golf and Country Club
Altrincham Golf Course
The Mere Golf Resort & Spa: with an impressive golf shop that won "Best Pro Shop in the UK" in the past. It only provides apparels, footwear (FootJoy, Adidas) and golf clubs (Titleist, TaylorMade, Cleveland/Srixon).
The Warrington Golf Club: partner of Foremost, custom fitting and repairs are available as services of the golf pro shop
Antrobus Golf Club
Heyrose Golf Club

Now they just have to improve their digital services (e.g. mobile app, online tee time booking etc.) to enhance tee time sales, customer experience + to facilitate customer dialogue and engagement (e.g. social recommendations for earlier decision-journey touch points). It is little bit "old school" to drop an email to the golf club or give them a call....

Jul 14, 2015 6:10:25 PM | Golf Business, Golf Equipment

07/13/2015

In Gee Chun won the 70th U.S. Women's Open Championship

In Gee Chun (World #10, became professional in 2012) won the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open Championship held at the Lancaster Country Club, in Lancaster, Pa. This was In Gee Chun's first appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship and becomes just the third player in history to win in her debut joining Birdie Kim (2005) and Kathy Cornelius (1956). She is the 3rd youngest golfer to win the U.S. Women's Championship.

She won by shooting a 4-under 66 in the final round for a one-stroke come-from-behind victory. Chun began Sunday’s final round four shots off the lead, but birdied three of her final four holes to finish the tournament at 8-under par 272.

With the $810,000 first-place check, In Gee has now earned $1,023,011 in her eight career starts as a non-meber on the LPGA Tour. In Gee Chun played Srixon’s new 4^th generation Z STAR golf ball, and wore a Srixon glove.

I think we should pay more attention to South Korean professional golfers. 10 of the last 17 majors dating back to the 2012 season have been won by South Korean golfers. On the Asian Tour we can find 28 South Korean golfers (vs only 4 Chinese, 35 - India, 46 - Thailand). South Korean golf should be better exploited from business perspective as well.

They are the top professional golfers:

Se Ri Pak
Mi Hyun Kim
Grace Park
Hee-Won Han
Shi Hyun Ahn
Jeong Jang
Soo Yun Kang
Christina Kim
Meena Lee
Seon Hwa Lee
Gloria Park

Jul 13, 2015 9:50:42 PM | Golf Equipment

07/09/2015

Powerscourt Golf Club gets interactive Club Car fleet

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club was the first venue in Europe to have implemented in early 2014, Club Car’s new Precedent i3 vehicles. After The Belfry, The Grove and Gleneagles, now the former Irish PGA Championship venue upgraded its existing Club Car fleet with 16 new Precedent i3 golf cars, all fully equipped with the market-leading interactive touch screen ‘connected’ technology, Visage.

The user-friendly touch screen system is designed to connect the vehicle to the golf operation, while providing golfers with hole-by-hole information, electronic scorecards as well as messages from the golf shop. I think it is a good solution to generate extra F&B and golf equipment sales and at the same time providing unique, real-time customer experience.

Gavin Hunt, General Manager at Powerscourt Golf Club said: "The importance of high service levels was not only critical for maintaining the customer experience at Powerscourt Golf Club, it was also one of the deciding factors in adopting the Club Car fleet."

Now I just want to know how will Powerscourt Golf Club maximize Visage technology to achieve incremental sales and favorable customer experience.

Jul 9, 2015 3:22:26 PM | Golf Club Management, Golf Equipment

07/07/2015

Callaway Golf MD3 milled wedges

Callaway has just launched its new Callaway Golf MD3 milled wedges. Their promise is that the MD3 Milled Wedges have the versatility and selection for every shot, every course condition, and every swing. What a brave statement!

Available Lofts: 46*, 48*, 50*, 52*, 54*, 56*, 58*, 60*
Pricing: $129.99
Product At Retail Date (nationwide): September 4, 2015.

The new wedge line is leveraging 3 unique grinds (S-Grind, C-Grind and the new W-Grind). The so called Progressive Groove Optimization system that optimizes spin for each loft. This enables us to adjust our wedges to our game.

W-Grind - is ideal for all types of bunkers. Callaway Golf recommends this version for those who play in softer conditions or want to come in with a steep angle to the ball.

S-Grind - it is for quite general usage. It’s great for a wide range of conditions (normal, soft or firm), shot types, and swings (moderate to sweeping attack angles).

C-Grind - it is for firmer conditions and versatility around the green.

Can you tell me the difference between Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges and these ones? Can we say that the new Callaway Golf MD3 milled wedges are the advanced version of Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges?

Jul 7, 2015 10:22:35 AM | Golf Equipment

Golf Business Monitor

The purpose of this blog to discuss the business side of the golf industry, including golf architecture, golf club management and marketing, golf tourism, golf and health, golf equipment trends.