When buying clubs, do you support your pro or buy elswhere.

[welshjim22]

Since joining my new club i haven't bought any new clubs from them as i prefer to test them on a range first. We just have a spare fairway with alot of trees on the right so perfect for slicing. Having said that it is good for shorter clubs. They only seem to stock two brands Mizuno and Titleist. If they had a bigger choice a range with vector launch monitors and were still competitive on price i doubt i would go elsewhere. Big purchases i tend to leave to my holidays in the US, when exchange rates work in my favour. For example presently in the USA you can buy a Callaway Diablo driver for $299 and get the matching fairway or hybrid for $1.

 

[KeefG]

They only seem to stock two brands Mizuno and Titleist.

Job sorted then fella, do you really need anymore? lol

 

[CrapHacker]

I can see his point though Mr Hacker, £40 saved in these demanding times is £40 saved, and £40 is a decent wedge of money no matter how you look at it.

Yes if you look at it as £40 saved on a set of clubs that last you 2-3 years then it isnt a lot, but even so, its here and now that is more important and if someone can save £40 today then 99% of those 'someones' will, regardless of whether a pro's life depends on it or not!

Yup.

If it's a case of keeping a pro in a job, or putting food on the table for your kids, then there's no question where anyone's priorities would be.

I was trying to point out, though, that what looks like an extra £40 outlay will actually save you money in the long run.

I think it was Homer who said that because he uses his pro, then when he bumps into the guy on the practice ground, he'll often get a freebie tip to help his game, without paying for a formal lesson.

Obviously, if you never have lessons, or if your pro is one of those insular non givers that JOuk mentioned in another thread, then of course you're not getting value out of that £40.

But if £40 is a huge thing to you on the day you are buying your clubs, then I'd suggest you don't buy them. Cheaper clubs are available, or an older set will get you out on the course and let you play to within a whisker of the standard of your nice new shinys.

We're talking the cost of a box of Pro V1s, don't forget.

Do you tip when you eat out ? I used to drink with a mate who refused to if we went for a post beer curry. We're talking about sticking an extra £5 on a £40 meal for two. For my own piece of mind I used to pay it for both of us, because I think the waitress deserved it. Now money is tight, I don't go out drinking with this bloke, but I buy a couple of bottles of wine and stay in with HID. Who is worse off, me or him ? Hopefully neither. Ok, so I'm Noddy no mates nowadays, but my wife and family are more important to me than that - for the time being, at least

It shouldn't be about helping the pro, but about helping yourself to the best way to spend your hard earned. I'm just saying, don't be shortsighted, look at overall value, and what will benefit you most in the long run.

 

[KeefG]

I agree with you mate, if it was me and the way I get on with the pro at my local track i'd pay the extra £40 to be honest, or at least speak to him first and give him the option to price match....you know what I mean.

In these testing times I think a lot of pro's are going to be going out of business, and there isnt really a great deal you or I can do about it

 

[CrapHacker]

I agree with you mate, if it was me and the way I get on with the pro at my local track i'd pay the extra £40 to be honest, or at least speak to him first and give him the option to price match....you know what I mean.

In these testing times I think a lot of pro's are going to be going out of business, and there isnt really a great deal you or I can do about it

Exactly. It costs nothing to talk to the pro, and see what he can do - I've said myself that if the discrepancy is too much, I'd reluctantly go elsewhere.

But I used to be in retail, like I said, and loads of people would wonder why the local greengrocer went out of business, whilst buying their spuds from Asda. Nowt wrong with that, just don't complain when the high streets disappear - which they will, no question.

Similar with pros. If you ( me / everyone ) don't support them, then as long as we don't complain when they aren't there. No problem. Long live the internet, and big businesses.

 

[JustOne]

I generally buy from the proshop. The only thing I ever got somewhere else is my putter which I got off ebay because I needed it within 48 hours.

 

[theeaglehunter]

Since joining my club, I have always used my pro for the 'larger' purchases such as my clubs etc (although I have only bought my irons since joining, but I will give my pro the custom for a set of custom fitted wedges etc) but I do tend to purchase my balls off the internet as my pro can often not match the prices. I feel that I am better off spending the say £50 more I paid for my set of irons purely for the security / trust of knowing they will be correctly fitted, and I will possibly be able to reap many of the other small benefits others have alluded to, during the course of the year.

To be honest anything I buy except balls is currently from my pro. His prices are pretty competitive on everything else.

 

[Herbie]

Because we have a very decent pro, we get his advice very often for free on many issues to do with golf and he is the kind of guy who would offer a free lesson or two after a good sale, but when you can save as much as 100 quid (not just 40) people are thinking more about a big purchase these days.

If you are lucky enough to have the income to not worry about spending money to support your pro then fill yer boots, not everyone can do this these days.

 

[USER1999]

As an aside, when I win (rarely) and get vouchers to spend in the pro shop, why can't I use them for lessons. They have to be used on stock items. If the pro makes 30% he is probably lucky, but if it could be spent on lessons, then it is all money in his pocket. Odd.

 

[Smiffy]

As an aside, when I win (rarely) and get vouchers to spend in the pro shop, why can't I use them for lessons. They have to be used on stock items. If the pro makes 30% he is probably lucky, but if it could be spent on lessons, then it is all money in his pocket. Odd.

Maybe the club have negotiated a deal with the pro where they purchase the vouchers off of him at a heavily discounted rate?
On the basis that he won't discount his lessons, he is in line to get the full whack off of you for them?

 

[Parmo]

Whoever is cheapest gets my business, simple as. I don't buy into the blackmail of "if you don't use your pro they will be gone" attitude, Pro's need to evolve to sell their kit and reduce their costs and be competitive and stop thinking of 30-40% mark ups on each piece of kit, nothing stopping them opening up online shops or selling kit on JamGolf or EBay. My local pro has turned around one of his shops and is making a killing, its about taking your business out to the golfers not sitting on your behind waiting for business to come to you, that way is a proven road to failure.