What percentage buy all the gear and then never play???

[medwayjon]

This came into my mind the other day when out shopping at Lakeside.

There is one of those sportsworld shops there that sells cheap gear and basically, walking around the centre, I must have seen a dozen blokes carrying those sexy dunlop sets that are reduced from £299 to £99 or something.

I just wondered how many of the people making these purchases ever get further than the pitch & putt? You see so many of these at boot fairs without a mark on them so my guess would have to be not a lot.

At the price they are sold at I can see the temptation of an impulse buy for somebody who decides "£99 - I'm going to take up golf!" and then eventually consignes them to the cupboard forever.

Incidentally, I see a few of these sets in adtrader where people say rrp £299, yours for £179. Wonder if they make a profit at it?

 

[pjaz]

Good question.

I was at AG in Sheffield last week and two guys were kitting themselves out, nothing fancy just a cheap full set (irons, woods, bag etc but stll £100+ each) and trolleys etc. I would imagine there are those who plan holidays/stag weekends with playing golf in mind and buy some cheap kit for the trip which never leaves the garage again.

 

[DCB]

I've played corporate golf with someone who had ALL the best of gear, I mean everything you could imagine. Yet, he couldn't his a cows backside with a banjo!

 

[theeaglehunter]

got to be quite a few of those DCB-'all the gear and no idea'

 

[backwoodsman]

On the other hand, there are those who can't afford £500 for a set of irons or £200 for a driver, who may still enjoy the game, and indeed may be better at it than many of us. And my £6 Dunlop driver from World of Sport still holds the record for my longest drive - I've nowhere near matched it with my new Taylormade.

 

[medwayjon]

Nobody is talking about how much somebody spends.

The point of the thread is people who buy these package sets as they seem like good value and then never use them.

 

[GB72]

Neary had a similar situation with my wife. Bought a complete Ram set and was just about to quit because she simply could not hit them and assumed thatgofl was not her game. When out shopping with me in AG she was persuaded to try some MD Blackhawks whilst waiting for me and they she was hitting them just fine. If it was not for that chance outing her clubs would have never made it beyond the Par 3 course.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Silvermere in Surrey is a haven for the Japanes golfer market (lots of them live out that way). They have a large pro shop attached and every time I go there I see them in there. If they aren't buying the latrst driver or putter they are in the clothin section stocking up on Ralph Lauren polo shirts at £50+ a pop.

The funny thing is when you then see them playing towards the green on the 18th. All dressed up with shiny new clubs they aim towards a green surrounded by water and set right in front of the clubhouse patio. Its hard to eat or drink without choking as you see each one of them take short jerky swings... wait 4 or five seconds and listen for the plop. You can smell the fear as they come to play.

Funnily enough you never see these all the gear merchants in the clubhouse afterwards (I've noticed that at other courses too). They never come in and regale how they hit a great drive here or holed a monster putt there. Straight into their cars and scuttle off until the following weekend where they will hack it round again

 

[HTL]

I know exactly what you mean Homer, My range is in New Malden and every week I see Japanese/Korean golfers trying out any new equipment and handing over megabucks. Most of them are awful!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

HTL

I know that range very well. I am from that neck of the woods (Merton Park). It is another prime site for spotting the "lesser proficient all the gear player"

It is also the habitat of the female of the species the "I've got to have that as it matches my jumper"

 

[HTL]

Beverly park in New Malden has got to be the worst in Surrey for it, They charge an extorsionate price for range balls and gear in the shop. Its suppose to a JJB outlet but the prices aint reflecting this.

They are constantly improving the facilities, so I cant grumble too much.