American Golf going up for Auction

[RedKing]

American Golf owner tees up Endless sale process

The investment firm which bought Britain's biggest specialist golf retailer seven years ago is lining up Alvarez & Marsal to oversee an auction of the chain, Sky News learns.

news.sky.com

American Golf going up for auction according to Sky News.

Interesting times ahead

 

[nickjdavis]

It was rescued by Endless in 2018 after a sale process which also involved the Frasers Group billionaire Mike Ashley.

Rescued from Mike Ashley's clutches?

 

[RedKing]

It was rescued by Endless in 2018 after a sale process which also involved the Frasers Group billionaire Mike Ashley.

Rescued from Mike Ashley's clutches?

Mike Ashley ends up with American Golf the shops might end up massive and good deals?

 

[Imurg]

The sale process was double price trade-in if I'm not mistaken..
Value from the PGA site was doubled and it cost them a lot of money...
I know I traded in a set of Cobra irons I bought on Ebay for 40 quid...PGA value was 85 so I had 170 quid to play with
Walked out with a new putter....I doubt they ever sold the irons so , effectively, they gave me 170 quid....
And many, many people did exactly the same thing.

 

[RedKing]

The sale process was double price trade-in if I'm not mistaken..
Value from the PGA site was doubled and it cost them a lot of money...
I know I traded in a set of Cobra irons I bought on Ebay for 40 quid...PGA value was 85 so I had 170 quid to play with
Walked out with a new putter....I doubt they ever sold the irons so , effectively, they gave me 170 quid....
And many, many people did exactly the same thing.

Yeah that was years ago, they were bought over after that.

This article looks like the buyers trying to move them on already but going up for auction

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Mike Ashley ends up with American Golf the shops might end up massive and good deals?

In the same way that he did it with Direct Golf and ruined the whole thing

 

[simsini]

I don't get why we can't have shops like Golf Galaxy or PGA Superstore here in the UK. American Golf didn't need to abandon second hand clubs, they just needed to be more sensible about it.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I don't get why we can't have shops like Golf Galaxy or PGA Superstore here in the UK. American Golf didn't need to abandon second hand clubs, they just needed to be more sensible about it.

If American Golf struggles then a PGA Superstore will struggle

We are very well catered for when it comes to pro shoots and especially online

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Mike Ashley ends up with American Golf the shops might end up massive and good deals?

I popped into my nearest one about a month ago, after not being in one for a couple of years. It had become predominantly a golf clothing shop, really disappointed.

If Ashley gets it, it might end up being a slazenger clothes shop and not much else. If you look at the SD golf section now, it's really poor (shoes excepted to be fair)

 

[RedKing]

I popped into my nearest one about a month ago, after not being in one for a couple of years. It had become predominantly a golf clothing shop, really disappointed.

If Ashley gets it, it might end up being a slazenger clothes shop and not much else. If you look at the SD golf section now, it's really poor (shoes excepted to be fair)

Some of the newer Fraser’s/SD stores look great. Business model seems to be changing slightly. Hugo Boss/J.Lindeberg etc. Might be a good thing for AG.

Or could be same fate as Direct Golf, I forgot he bought them then closed them as an earlier poster had said.

 

[Neilds]

If American Golf struggles then a PGA Superstore will struggle

We are very well catered for when it comes to pro shoots and especially online

Online is fine, but a lot of people, myself included, like to feel the items - check the quality and try things on. A well stocked physical golf store, like Tony Valentines down here in Wiltshire (2 stores) but nationwide would be great.

 

[jim8flog]

I don't get why we can't have shops like Golf Galaxy or PGA Superstore here in the UK. American Golf didn't need to abandon second hand clubs, they just needed to be more sensible about it.

My understanding was that American Golf sold second hand clubs when each branch was a franchise. It stopped when the franchisees were bought out.

 

[Tashyboy]

I popped into my nearest one about a month ago, after not being in one for a couple of years. It had become predominantly a golf clothing shop, really disappointed.

If Ashley gets it, it might end up being a slazenger clothes shop and not much else. If you look at the SD golf section now, it's really poor (shoes excepted to be fair)

I posted a few years ago that at Mike Ashley’s flagship stores near Shirebrook, there was a fantastic golf shop opened by him. If it was the same standard today as a few years ago, and American golf was to that same standard. For us golfers it would be brilliant. But it’s not. The last time I went in the flag ship golf shop at shirebrook it was rammel.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Online is fine, but a lot of people, myself included, like to feel the items - check the quality and try things on. A well stocked physical golf store, like Tony Valentines down here in Wiltshire (2 stores) but nationwide would be great.

Those nationwide stores are American Golf

Golf is very much niche and seasonal

The independents survive on regular customers

 

[Deleted member 21784]

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

 

[Deleted member 36742]

My understanding was that American Golf sold second hand clubs when each branch was a franchise. It stopped when the franchisees were bought out.

When was American Golf ever a franchise business?

 

[Skytot]

Should I be worried about my £110 in vouchers

 

[Bunkermagnet]

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

American Golf like them or not, provide many non clubs golfers or those newer to the game somewhere to look at things, try and build their wants.
Just because you or I don't use them doesnt make then pointless. They have their place for many.
If everything was online only, do you really think free returns would be the norm? Since many online retaillers across the board are stopping that even now I doubt it wouldnt take long for everything to be subject to return fees.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

American Golf like them or not, provide many non clubs golfers or those newer to the game somewhere to look at things, try and build their wants.
Just because you or I don't use them doesnt make then pointless. They have their place for many.
If everything was online only, do you really think free returns would be the norm? Since many online retaillers across the board are stopping that even now I doubt it wouldnt take long for everything to be subject to return fees.

Free returns do not exist because of American golf. They exist because of other online sellers offering it, some yes are getting rid however many more aren't because of the other retailers offering it.

The amount of people on here who say "support your local pro" then will stick up for AG just to suit the current argument is hilarious not so long ago AG were "killing the local pro"

The hypocrisy is hilarious

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Free returns do not exist because of American golf. They exist because of other online sellers offering it, some yes are getting rid however many more aren't because of the other retailers offering it.

The amount of people on here who say "support your local pro" then will stick up for AG just to suit the current argument is hilarious not so long ago AG were "killing the local pro"

The hypocrisy is hilarious

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.