American Golf going up for Auction

[Deleted member 21784]

Theres no hypocrisy.
Where do those new to the game, looking to play the game or casual browsers considering it go?
You may not like them, I may not be keen on them but they provide a service many use and need.

Sports direct, decathlon for trying to get into the game

They clearly don't provide that much of a service anymore of they wouldn't be struggling to stay in business, it's a niche market now.

 

[Deleted member 36742]

Sports direct, decathlon for trying to get into the game

They clearly don't provide that much of a service anymore of they wouldn't be struggling to stay in business, it's a niche market now.

Who has said that they are struggling to stay in business?

Their current owners are looking to sell them on and that may be for a number of reasons.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Who has said that they are struggling to stay in business?

Their current owners are looking to sell them on and that may be for a number of reasons.

They have been struggling for a long long time since the double trade in days

That was done to boost sales to attract a buyer

Their a shadow of what they once were

 

[Arthur Wedge]

American golf fill a space

There are thousands of people playing golf that aren’t members of clubs that will use AG to purchase all golf related items

A number of the stores have been revamped when some being put in alongside a driving range

Believe over the last 2 years it has improved its performance

 

[Deleted member 36742]

They have been struggling for a long long time since the double trade in days

That was done to boost sales to attract a buyer

Their a shadow of what they once were

So in other words you have no idea.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

A number of the stores have been revamped when some being put in alongside a driving range

Believe over the last 2 years it has improved its performance

The move alongside driving ranges, adding cafes, has been a really smart move. Clever stuff. I can see them closing more standalone stores and expanding this model over time.

 

[Burnsey]

80 UK stores is bold in this day and age and as many retailers, some may need to go. Scottsdale have a handful for example.

They were pioneers to be fair and offer a service, mainly to new golfers, but started at a time when the sport was nowhere near as popular as it is today. Many people still like to shop in a physical store and they offer that.

 

[ManinBlack]

American golf fill a space

There are thousands of people playing golf that aren’t members of clubs that will use AG to purchase all golf related items

A number of the stores have been revamped when some being put in alongside a driving range

Believe over the last 2 years it has improved its performance

I spend a lot of time at my driving range, which is on the same property as an American Golf store. The store is very quiet most of the time, despite a high turnover of customers at the range. I see more people going into the store & coming out empty handed than ones buying anything. My last experience with them was when I was in the market for new irons. Their px price was almost half what I got from a local pro/online retailer & he matched AG's price for the new ones. According to an AG employee I "used us to get fitted, then bought them elsewhere". I think they'll continue to struggle.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I spend a lot of time at my driving range, which is on the same property as an American Golf store. The store is very quiet most of the time, despite a high turnover of customers at the range. I see more people going into the store & coming out empty handed than ones buying anything. My last experience with them was when I was in the market for new irons. Their px price was almost half what I got from a local pro/online retailer & he matched AG's price for the new ones. According to an AG employee I "used us to get fitted, then bought them elsewhere". I think they'll continue to struggle.

Their recent financials showed them making significant improvements and turning an operating loss into a profit

American golf will be like most shops - people do go in and browse and come out with nothing - thats the nature of shops

When I went to pick up my trolley from our local one it was pretty busy and people were buying stuff - a number of us have trolleys from there , shoes are always well stocked and it is popular with a few pay and play golf courses in the area but poor pro shops

 

[jim8flog]

When was American Golf ever a franchise business?

I used to use the one in Plymouth (before it moved to the driving range) fairly often about 20 - 30 years ago and knew the 'owner' quite well, one day I noticed all the secondhand stock had gone, chatting to him he told me it was a franchise.

 

[Deleted member 36742]

I used to use the one in Plymouth (before it moved to the driving range) fairly often about 20 - 30 years ago and knew the 'owner' quite well, one day I noticed all the secondhand stock had gone, chatting to him he told me it was a franchise.

I suspect he was kidding you on.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

The move alongside driving ranges, adding cafes, has been a really smart move. Clever stuff. I can see them closing more standalone stores and expanding this model over time.

A Decent driving range with any kind of golf store attached is a good business model .. with cafe etc

I still don't know how American golf lakeside stays in business , it's so out of the way in the shopping centre. It's not in the mall it's in the outlet park but ages away from any other store so you only go there if your planning to

We had direct golf and American golf in Romford at one time.. direct golf went under ag took it on then closed their Romford store as direct golf had the range attached. Much better model. Can offer good fitting outlets on a range aswell

Can see them closing more stores and stream Lining.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

A Decent driving range with any kind of golf store attached is a good business model .. with cafe etc

I still don't know how American golf lakeside stays in business , it's so out of the way in the shopping centre. It's not in the mall it's in the outlet park but ages away from any other store so you only go there if your planning to

We had direct golf and American golf in Romford at one time.. direct golf went under ag took it on then closed their Romford store as direct golf had the range attached. Much better model. Can offer good fitting outlets on a range aswell

Can see them closing more stores and stream Lining.

You don’t need a range to be able to offer good fitting

There are many top club fitters that don’t have a range and are done on simulators

All you need is qualified fitters - which is something that AG have moved more towards as opposed to in the past when they just tried to flog anything

The MK store has two state of the art fitting studios and their selection is better than most pros

 

[RedKing]

You don’t need a range to be able to offer good fitting

There are many top club fitters that don’t have a range and are done on simulators

All you need is qualified fitters - which is something that AG have moved more towards as opposed to in the past when they just tried to flog anything

The MK store has two state of the art fitting studios and their selection is better than most pros

Agree. Driving range balls give terrible number for fittings. Indoor fittings with the correct balls give precise spin readings.

 

[Orikoru]

American golf have been pointless for years. People just use them to try clubs then buy cheaper elsewhere

Online stores are the way forward and you can order things and return for free

Often ill order 2 pairs of shoes , then keep the ones that suit me best.

So much better than going down to AG and paying over the top for low quality stuff.

Nowhere near what they were and local pros with well run shops are better than them regardless

Yeah, I don't know how AG compete with online outlets really. Their prices are always going to be higher for effectively the same stuff. As you say, how many people pop into an AG to try the putters out, or do one of their 'free fittings' just to hit a bunch of different clubs, then buy them online cheaper from somewhere else?

Same as you with shoes, a lot of online stores will give free delivery over a certain amount, so you can order a couple of sizes and just return the ones that don't fit for the cost of one delivery.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Agree. Driving range balls give terrible number for fittings. Indoor fittings with the correct balls give precise spin readings.

The type of customer who uses AG fitting just try what's best rather than go into the numbers per day

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Yeah, I don't know how AG compete with online outlets really. Their prices are always going to be higher for effectively the same stuff. As you say, how many people pop into an AG to try the putters out, or do one of their 'free fittings' just to hit a bunch of different clubs, then buy them online cheaper from somewhere else?

Same as you with shoes, a lot of online stores will give free delivery over a certain amount, so you can order a couple of sizes and just return the ones that don't fit for the cost of one delivery.

The quality of ag products they stock has dropped dramatically.

They always had bargain tops but they don't stock the top brands all the time now

When I ordered my irons last year they didn't even stock them they were still selling the previous model for same price

 

[nickjdavis]

The move alongside driving ranges, adding cafes, has been a really smart move. Clever stuff. I can see them closing more standalone stores and expanding this model over time.

My local AG has been attached to a driving range (and Golf club) for the 20 odd years that I've known it.

Its always been a well stocked outlet with enough gear and accessories for most peoples needs.

 

[Orikoru]

The quality of ag products they stock has dropped dramatically.

They always had bargain tops but they don't stock the top brands all the time now

When I ordered my irons last year they didn't even stock them they were still selling the previous model for same price

Yeah, they seem to have gone down the Mike Ashley route of just trying to flog their own affiliated stuff - mainly seems to be Greg Norman and Stromberg clothes front and centre. Fazer and Ben Ross clubs.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

My local AG has been attached to a driving range (and Golf club) for the 20 odd years that I've known it.

Its always been a well stocked outlet with enough gear and accessories for most peoples needs.

Same with the local one here

Well stocked

AF golf have bought a few of the range ones in the area