Where do you buy your golf gear?

[bobmac]

In the olden days, there was only one place to buy golf equipment, the pro shop.
Then came along high street shops, JJB, AG etc
Finally, the internet started and Ebay now has a huge selection of new and 2nd hand stuff.
At first, the pro shops suffered as they had it so good for so long.
I do see more and more pro shops now catching up by offering Price match and other deals so my question is
If you were going to make a substantial purchase (over £200),
where would you spend your money and why?

 

[Parmo]

In this current climate it would be the cheapest. Usually I buy my golfing clothes from TK Max as they offer great prices on top brands and balls usally from EBay as I was getting 3 dozen AD333 for £33 inc p+p, golf kit I once again buy from the cheapest but if there was nothing or little in it I would buy from the pro IF he stocked the item and not had to order it.

 

[need_my_wedge]

It depends on what it is. Something like a trolley I'd be fine buying online, but clubs I'd prefer to get from a pro, or at least be advised by a pro before purchasing elsewhere. Before purchasing my last set of clubs two years ago, I went to a custom fit center and paid for a two hour session to try clubs and woods. After finding everything was regular and no need for change, I then looked around for best price on the items that I'd decided on, eventually bought online from the US.

I'm now a member of a club, which I wasn't at the time. I feel a sense of loyalty to our pro, so will always give him the chance to source and price match items I'm looking for. He was unlucky on shoes the other week as couldn't supply the brand I wanted, but I have bought a wedge from him recently, and a new putters not far away.

 

[Smiffy]

I've just purchased my G15 and bought it through the club pro. I checked on-line to see what the prices were and once I had made my mind up what I wanted, I approached Mike to ask what the best price he could do was.
He matched the average internet price for me so it was a no brainer really. I know if I get any problems with it, he will be there to help me out.
Smaller items like balls, gloves that sort of thing I will buy off the internet as I don't have to "test drive" them and with the average price of a pack of three balls in the pro shop around £6.00 I know that he won't be able to supply me a dozen for £12.00!!
One thing I would not do....use my pro to "test drive" clubs and then buy elsewhere. If I have made the decision to buy something major somewhere else, then I haven't got the cheek to bother him.

 

[USER1999]

Most of my stuff has been c/f'ed by Titleist. You can only arrange this through your club pro, so I have bought my irons and driver from him, I previously bought my fairways from him, and bought a wedge two weeks ago. Don't remember the last time I spent any money in AG. I haven't bought a ball for two years either (apart from some Pinnacles to drown in FL). Still got more than two dozen ProVs to get through before I have to worry about balls, and by then something will have turned up.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
There is no pro shop at our club so i usually go for a custom fit either at a shop and once from a pro then find what i want on the internet have bought most of my clubs second hand and am very happy with everything i have bought.

 

[chipsandegg]

I mostly buy my stuff from the Internet now apart from bits and bobs which i get from the pro shop at my club. The last time i went to buy anything from a big shop was a Driver from American Golf and to be honest, that was the straw that broke the camels back. The Pro didnt have a clue. After speaking to him for 2 minutes i thought you dont know what your talking about.. All he wanted to do was sell me a driver, he didnt give a toss about whether it was right for me or not,he just wanted the sale. The driver i mentioned i was thinking of getting he said their was no such club????
I feel that it is unfortunate that more and more people are turning to the internet to buy there golf gear and it is putting an end to the Humble Pro shop but Imho i dont think a lot of pro shops do an awful lot to help themselves and compete. They just put a price on and thats it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to go to my local AG to test drive any clubs I'm, interested in and then order via my club pro. He'll try and match the internet as close as possible but to be fair knowing the service I get throughout the year (and there are normally some balls chucked in with club purchases) I'm not too fussed if hes £20-30 more

I'll tend to buy balls and clothes of the internet as there is a much bigger choice, no need to try stuff out and to be fair he's not that interested in ordering one off for members. He did do a great deal on my FJ myjoys though.

 

[DCB]

Interesting post bob, waiting to see where this goes as the day goes on, but here's my tuppence worth

Firstly I'll admit I have bought at all three options in the survey. Most likely now however are my local Pro Shop and t'internet. Balls and other consumables I tend to get on line nowadays.

If I'm buying something of the value in the OP then I'd got to Neil the pro at our club and see what he has. I've had demo clubs from him in the past and had plenty of time to get to grips and make a decision on whether the club is for me or not. Pricewise, well, it's the service you get. the chance to have a demo club for a week to try it out, your not going to get that at AG are you ? The pro doesn't have the luxury of buying in the economy of scale as a group like AG, but the service outweghs that I think. Especially on a large purchase. The pro knows my game, and can advise better than other places..

Now for those who use the internet for buying clubs, that's all fine and well if it works for you, but if it doesn't I'm afraid it's your own fault after all you wouldn't buy a car or a house on the internet without looking and trying before sealing the deal would you.

 

[colint]

Always the cheapest for me, I paid £25 for a custom fit at a local shop but then ordered the clubs online as they were over a ton cheaper. I'll try and buy from my pro, but if he's more expensive then I go elsewhere

 

[chipsandegg]

[
Now for those who use the internet for buying clubs, that's all fine and well if it works for you, but if it doesn't I'm afraid it's your own fault after all you wouldn't buy a car or a house on the internet without looking and trying before sealing the deal would you.

[/QUOTE]

If im buying something off the internet like clubs then i go and try them out at the range first.Obviously if you need a proper custom fit you cant get that off the net.

 

[CVG]

I buy most of my golf attire from pro shops, I'm lucky that through my society we play a number of different venues through the year and almost all seem to have offers on right now. As for any major purchases over £200 I'd seek proffessional assistance as I did with my driver earlier this year. However I have also bought on the internet once I have something in mind after talking to the pro and the proshop can't compete on price.

 

[Junior]

AG has always been the most cost effective for me, and has the best choice of gear to try. I'm afraid the only time i spend money in the pro shop is on lessons, and, when i'm adding to what I have in winnings whereby i'll pick up some clothes or new shoes.

 

[birdieman]

Usually internet but I did buy irons from my Pro recently.
Normally prices in pro Shops are just too high imo, if they were competitive I'd buy there. Golf is expensive enough without paying £100 extra for a driver just because it's from your pro shop. If it was only £15 or £20 more in the Pro Shop then that wouldn't be a problem.
I still feel some Pros are angling their selling of kit towards the older generation who always got golf gear from the Pro and dont do 't'internet'. The younger IT literate generation have perhaps less money to spend but better knowledge of where to look to spend it.

 

[Ethan]

Pro shop or internet. I try hard not to buy from high street stores.

 

[Twire]

I buy a lot of my gear from a local pro shop. Unfortunately it's not the pro shop at my course. My pro charges list price and won't budge, and doesn't know how to deal. My last purchace 3-4 months ago was a new set of irons, and my pro wanted £500 for them, I got them up the road for £399.

So most of my gear comes from a local pro shop. I get some balls and maybe training aids from the internet.

 

[DCB]

If im buying something off the internet like clubs then i go and try them out at the range first.

So the local guy, who has the clubs to try and the facilities to test the clubs doesn't get the business ?

How long will he remain around supporting the local golfers if they all did that ?

If you're going as far as trying them, then at least you can do is give him a chance at pricing them for you. Internet traders don't often have large overheads like normal shops so they can be cheaper. But, how many times have we seen a post on here decrying an internet trader 'cause they dont have stuff in stock when the order is placed and people are too impatient to wait on a back order ?

 

[Tiger]

This is an interesting one. I have only started playing and being 6' 4" needed to be custom fit. However, my pro is ace and I will happily send my club buying business in his direction. I agree with the other posts that they provide much more of a service than you get from AG or t'internet.

However, balls, clothing, bag etc all bought online as there's loads more choice and it's much cheaper. At the end of the day the local pro makes more of a margin on the expensive items like clubs and stocking clothing and footwear is a nightmare, I know from experience!

 

[thecraw]

I avoid the likes of AG or Nevada Bobs etc, mainly cos I cant be arsed trailing into Glasgow to go there. I do my research online in relation to prices and go to the pro and tell him thats what it costs at X,Y +Z. If he wants my business he can match it. I have seen him match it and throw in 3 balls or if he cant match it I have been given a couple of "free" lessons.

I have just ordered a Skycaddie thanks to the generousity of our assistant pro who gave me his for a trial.

(however I bought a new towel today as the wife did a stupid thing and took my golf towel and washed it! Phfffft! I bought a Taylor Made Burner towel then got charged £13!!! FFS I could have bought a premium Egyptian cotton bath robe cheaper.!!!!

 

[USER1999]

And TM will be bringing out a new improved towel next week.