DCB
Well-known member
Can I ask a question, the Pro Shops which seem to get the worst review, are they attached to private members clubs or are they attached to pay&play/municipal courses ?
Pro shop versus internet
- Thread starter bobmac
- Start date
lobthewedge
Challenge Tour Pro
I get everything from our club pro, wont go past him even if he is slightly (5-10%) more expensive. Reckon I get my money back through quality of service and free tips/hints/pointers throughout the season.
In my opinion thats what being a club pro is all about, look after your members and they'll look after you.
In my opinion thats what being a club pro is all about, look after your members and they'll look after you.
kid2
Money List Winner
Our Pro shop aint too bad...A loittle pricey on some stuff but for the most part reasonable...When i was thinking of buying my ping i15 irons my pro told me that instead of me buying them from a shop in town he would get them for me and he would only charge me cost plus carriage and a score for himself which i thought was very good of him...
One thing i would change is that seeing as our shop is fairly small i would try and get them to sell more over the internet and in bulk....They would clean up i reckon.
One thing i would change is that seeing as our shop is fairly small i would try and get them to sell more over the internet and in bulk....They would clean up i reckon.
Whereditgo
Journeyman Pro
1. Expanding range of manufacturer's - only Ping irons available at ours for example.
2. After sales service - bought a push trolley from ours last autumn, have got 2 minor faults with it and despite several requests for the Pro to contact his supplier, nothing, zip, nadda!
3. Listening to what the membership want - that's his market for heavens sake!
4. Encourage the benefit of lessons in developing the game of the members.
Personally I use the shop attached to the range, which is where the pro I use for lessons teaches from for pretty much all my golf related purchases.
In fairness the club pro is leaving shortly and I imagine his enthusiasm has declined in light of this!
2. After sales service - bought a push trolley from ours last autumn, have got 2 minor faults with it and despite several requests for the Pro to contact his supplier, nothing, zip, nadda!
3. Listening to what the membership want - that's his market for heavens sake!
4. Encourage the benefit of lessons in developing the game of the members.
Personally I use the shop attached to the range, which is where the pro I use for lessons teaches from for pretty much all my golf related purchases.
In fairness the club pro is leaving shortly and I imagine his enthusiasm has declined in light of this!
GB72
Money List Winner
Would also be interested on any insight as to why pro shops chose the brands they stock. Is it because thats what the members want, is is mark up, is it how well the pro is treated by the rep? We have Ping and Cleveland, all very well but I would at least like a budget brand in there as well. Why do all pro shops seem to push Titleist balls? Number 1 on the pro tours they may be but also damned expensive.
0
Guest
Good post and I have been an advocate of "support your local pro" since I started golf........
The main issue or reason most are poor or fail is down to one simple fact, a golf professional is exactly that, a Golf pro NOT a retail shop manager, that's not what they do nor want to, show me a pro who wouldn't give his eye teeth to be on the tour earning big bucks!
That, and I also believe that most club committees don't support the pro enough commercially and just want their cut, but then most golf club committees are usually run by individuals who have no commercial acumen or awareness..
Golf clubs and pro's need to work together for the good of the club and it's members, they need to bring in retail and Internet experts for advice and guidance, it's not that expensive when you see the return, speculate to accumulate but you have to WANT to do it in the first place..
Apart from the above I agree with the 'extra' customer service a pro can give, that's worth any increase over t'interweb prices but you've got to have the product and competitive prices as well.
"if you build it they will come"
The main issue or reason most are poor or fail is down to one simple fact, a golf professional is exactly that, a Golf pro NOT a retail shop manager, that's not what they do nor want to, show me a pro who wouldn't give his eye teeth to be on the tour earning big bucks!
That, and I also believe that most club committees don't support the pro enough commercially and just want their cut, but then most golf club committees are usually run by individuals who have no commercial acumen or awareness..
Golf clubs and pro's need to work together for the good of the club and it's members, they need to bring in retail and Internet experts for advice and guidance, it's not that expensive when you see the return, speculate to accumulate but you have to WANT to do it in the first place..
Apart from the above I agree with the 'extra' customer service a pro can give, that's worth any increase over t'interweb prices but you've got to have the product and competitive prices as well.
"if you build it they will come"
StrangelyBrown
Tour Winner
As I've said in another thread, i've recently ordered some new irons through my pro. He pricematched the cheapest internet price and also matched what golfbidder were giving me for my Wilsons.
Our pro is young, enthusiastic and helpful. The shop is well stocked and, as he will pricematch, very competetive. He also gives very good lessons at a reasonable price.
He seems like the antithesis of the normal club pro. Our gaff needs to hold on to him as it's one of the factors in me staying a member.
Our pro is young, enthusiastic and helpful. The shop is well stocked and, as he will pricematch, very competetive. He also gives very good lessons at a reasonable price.
He seems like the antithesis of the normal club pro. Our gaff needs to hold on to him as it's one of the factors in me staying a member.
SteveBonners
Assistant Pro
I think we need at accept that as with all walks of life there are good pro's and bad pro's. Some have more customer service skills than others.
I have always used a pro local to me when it comes to buying clubs, although it is not the club I am now a member at. I trust his advice and recommendations. I have recently purchased new Mizuno JPX800's and he has matched the internet price plus also included a free lesson.
At the end of the day some people prefer to shop online or at a big store that is their choice.
For buying clothing etc I do tend to use the internet as there is wider choice and prices would normally be cheaper.
I have always used a pro local to me when it comes to buying clubs, although it is not the club I am now a member at. I trust his advice and recommendations. I have recently purchased new Mizuno JPX800's and he has matched the internet price plus also included a free lesson.
At the end of the day some people prefer to shop online or at a big store that is their choice.
For buying clothing etc I do tend to use the internet as there is wider choice and prices would normally be cheaper.
Evesdad
Tour Winner
Our pro is also doing a deal on ping where buying 7 irons they will custom fit(which you would want to do anyway) and throw in a couple of lessons to help with bed clubs and improve your game. I also use my local range, it's a European golf store attached which I think is also part of sportsdirect, they are very helpful will price match and have a wide selection of brands from dunlops-benross- to top end brands.
19thagain
Head Pro
I would say the best tool a Pro has is 'addressing the fear factor'.
We can all buy where it is cheapest BUT (says the Pro)how do you know it is correct for you?
With his expertise he can tailor the gear for YOU, not the 100 others that buy from the same internet site/discount house who cannot all have the same swings and therefore one club does not suit all!!
Buying and trading in, when the clubs do not do what it says on the packaging, can be more expensive than an initial few pounds extra to the Pro instead of being 'fitted' by a spotty teenager with his ear phones on!
The Pro should then show willing and be interested in your post-sale progress which could mean a wee freebie on the practise area to maybe tweak something in the swing to provide a better result out on the course with the new gear - you may also meet the spotty youth out there with his client and I don't think!!
Pros should win if the golfer is interested in progressing his handicap but the internet/discount house will win if all the golfer wants is to parade on the first tee with the latest piece of kit.
We can all buy where it is cheapest BUT (says the Pro)how do you know it is correct for you?
With his expertise he can tailor the gear for YOU, not the 100 others that buy from the same internet site/discount house who cannot all have the same swings and therefore one club does not suit all!!
Buying and trading in, when the clubs do not do what it says on the packaging, can be more expensive than an initial few pounds extra to the Pro instead of being 'fitted' by a spotty teenager with his ear phones on!
The Pro should then show willing and be interested in your post-sale progress which could mean a wee freebie on the practise area to maybe tweak something in the swing to provide a better result out on the course with the new gear - you may also meet the spotty youth out there with his client and I don't think!!
Pros should win if the golfer is interested in progressing his handicap but the internet/discount house will win if all the golfer wants is to parade on the first tee with the latest piece of kit.
S
Snelly
Guest
I always get everything major in terms of golf gear from Sheffield Pro Golf. They are a big independent and have loads of stock, great prices and good advice. It is also my friend's business so he usually looks after me very well too. I have shopped there for 25 years without a single issue.
That is specific to me though I suppose. In general terms, it is difficult for a pro shop at a course to compete as they can't hold as much stock or choice. That said, wherever I go, I always try and buy something from the pro shop to support them; hat, ball marker, jumper or something. This is because I appreciate that it is not easy in these times to make it work as a club pro and I like to support where possible as they generally do a superb job.
I am wary of buying anything significant over the web as I would be concerned over fake gear. I also avoid American Golf and the like as there's something that I can't put my finger on that I don't like about their stores and the shopping experience they provide. Their staff are usually well-meaning but are invariably young and inexperienced so why would I want their opinion?
Cheers,
Snelly.
That is specific to me though I suppose. In general terms, it is difficult for a pro shop at a course to compete as they can't hold as much stock or choice. That said, wherever I go, I always try and buy something from the pro shop to support them; hat, ball marker, jumper or something. This is because I appreciate that it is not easy in these times to make it work as a club pro and I like to support where possible as they generally do a superb job.
I am wary of buying anything significant over the web as I would be concerned over fake gear. I also avoid American Golf and the like as there's something that I can't put my finger on that I don't like about their stores and the shopping experience they provide. Their staff are usually well-meaning but are invariably young and inexperienced so why would I want their opinion?
Cheers,
Snelly.
DCB
Well-known member
Having read this thread I really don't know what people really expect a club Pro to be able to provide. Speaking as a member of a private club, we are lucky enough to still be able to afford a good club pro. The club pay a retainer every year and supply him with the premises to operate from. For that, he is responsible for acting as the starter, for taking visiting group bookings and making that run smoothly, for coaching our Juniors, for running a shop with the right stock for the member who visits once in a blue moon. He's also got to deal with the flak and grumbles from members about people cutting in, people starting to just before a competition is due to start and to be generally a font of all knowledge about golf to anyone who asks a golf related question.
Our man is a member of TGIGolf which gives him some better buying powewr, however, as stock is money sitting on the shelf, he normally keeps a small range on show and can get most things in a fairly quick turn around.
On the club front, he is a TM contracted player, so naturally most of his stock is TM equipment. He does stock a small variety of lower end stuff, but his main drive is to C/F and sell TM kit. He's got the Vector Equipment and can do a good C/F for anyone looking to buy new kit.
He doesn't have the buying power of the big internet golf sales players. He's got overheads and less storage than they'll have in their mail room ! He will however give a reasonable price for most items you are looking to buy.
I for one would certainly miss our man if he decided to move on. It can't be easy for him, running a small business, 7 days a week, 12 hour days in summer and maybe lasting 7 hours in the depth of winter in the hope someone may come in to buy something.
Things are different now compared to 20 years ago, I just hope in another 20 years we'll still be able to have a discussion like this about Pros and their shops. I'd hate to think we were discussing an extinct species in twenty years time.
Our man is a member of TGIGolf which gives him some better buying powewr, however, as stock is money sitting on the shelf, he normally keeps a small range on show and can get most things in a fairly quick turn around.
On the club front, he is a TM contracted player, so naturally most of his stock is TM equipment. He does stock a small variety of lower end stuff, but his main drive is to C/F and sell TM kit. He's got the Vector Equipment and can do a good C/F for anyone looking to buy new kit.
He doesn't have the buying power of the big internet golf sales players. He's got overheads and less storage than they'll have in their mail room ! He will however give a reasonable price for most items you are looking to buy.
I for one would certainly miss our man if he decided to move on. It can't be easy for him, running a small business, 7 days a week, 12 hour days in summer and maybe lasting 7 hours in the depth of winter in the hope someone may come in to buy something.
Things are different now compared to 20 years ago, I just hope in another 20 years we'll still be able to have a discussion like this about Pros and their shops. I'd hate to think we were discussing an extinct species in twenty years time.
