VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Japanese golf-club manufacturer Miura Golf-which has been making the world’s highest-quality forged irons for 44 years-has named industry veteran Les Miller U.S. Sales Consultant, the company announced today.
Miller-a native of Antioch, Illinois, who began playing golf at three years of age-has enjoyed a golf-industry career that includes stints in sales and club design, as a teaching professional and even as a golf writer.
Miller’s main charge in his new role is to help Miura Golf increase its sales and presence in the United States.
“Les has had a long, multifaceted career in the golf industry, and we want to tap into his knowledge and experience,” says Bill Holowaty, VP of Operations for Miura Golf in North America. “With all the different areas of the industry in which he’s been involved, I don’t think there’s anyone else who knows as much about the U.S. equipment market as Les does. We’re thrilled he’s on Miura Golf’s team.”
In fact, Miller-a longtime member of the Golf Writers Association of America-most recently has been utilizing his varied, unique industry background to write equipment and course reviews, and instruction for several newspapers and golf publications to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game.
Following a successful junior golf career, Miller’s first foray into the golf business was as a successful Chicago-area teaching professional before embarking on his next career as an Illinois-area golf sales representative in the mid-1980s.
A successful sales career led to Miller’s promotion to several management positions at Cleveland Golf, including Sales Manager, Director of Manufacturing, VP Sales and Marketing, New Product Development and Director of Tour Operations. During his tenure as Cleveland Golf’s VP of Sales, he grew annual company sales from $3 million to more than $60 million over a five-year period.
Working with Cleveland Golf founder and legendary club designer Roger Cleveland gave Miller invaluable insight into golf club design, especially wedges. This experience led Miller to his first designs, both of which became instant sellers-limited-edition Cleveland Golf wedges bearing the names of Byron Nelson and Corey Pavin.
In 1997 Miller joined a start-up golf company, Never Compromise, as VP of Sales and quickly helped them become golf’s fastest-growing putter company.
Miller’s next stop was another start-up company, bettergolf.net, where he created instruction and equipment reviews. The company’s daily e-mail golf publication furnished instruction and equipment articles to more than 1 million opt-in subscribers.
Seeking a return to the golf equipment business, Miller designed a set of wedges that became the world’s No.1-ranked perimeter wedge for two consecutive years as stated by Rankmark, the golf industry’s premier golf-testing company.
“I’m very excited Miura Golf has given me this opportunity to use my experience in the U.S. equipment market to help Miura grow here in America,” says Miller. “Miura has made the best forged irons in golf for many years, so all we have to do is make sure golfers get a chance to see how incredible the company’s equipment is.”
Miura Golf’s corporate office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and Miura Golf clubs are sold at the finest custom-fitting shops in North America. The Miura brand is marketed exclusively by Miura Golf Inc., in the United States and North America. More information on Miura products can be found at www.miuragolf.com.
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