$10,000 in prizes and giveaways during March 16 & 17 grand opening; Golfsmith’s aggressive growth strategy bucks industry trend
(Pleasant Hill, CA) March 15, 2012- In the last decade, almost half of all golf retail stores in America closed. Golfsmith is bucking this trend because of its unique experiential retail model and as a result has implemented an aggressive growth strategy that includes 10 new stores and three relocations, including one in the Bay Area.
The new 25,000 square foot Pleasant Hill store located at 120 Crescent Drive in the Crescent Plaza Center replaces the company’s smaller Walnut Creek location and is vastly different. The much larger store now offers more options for golfers — from a wider selection of the best golf gear to more opportunities for golfers to try out equipment in one of the four indoor, high-tech hitting simulators, or on the indoor putting green. Golfers of all levels can also sharpen their skills with a biometric, video-recorded golf lesson taught by a certified GolfTEC coach right inside the new retail location. And when it comes to outfitting golfers and those who want exceptional style from head to toe, Golfsmith offers a selection of authentic apparel brands and fashion not found elsewhere.
“Golfsmith’s experiential concept will make most golfers’ jaws drop as soon as they walk through our doors. Pleasant Hill’s customers can experience a concept not offered by other area golf retailers,” said Golfsmith CEO Marty Hanaka. “We are a golfer’s paradise because our goal is to help golfers of all skill levels play better and find the best solutions for their game. We offer a great product selection with the best equipment from brands like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping and MacGregor. We offer guaranteed low prices on everything we sell and have a commitment to exceptional customer service by the best retail professionals in the business, all of whom have a passion for golf.”
Golfsmith’s five Bay Area locations include San Carlos, Market Street, San Jose, Pleasanton and now Pleasant Hill. The Walnut Creek location closed at the end of February.
According to the National Golf Foundation, almost half of all golf retail stores in America closed by the end of 2012. With the 10 new stores and three relocations combined for 2012, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOLF), will serve customers in 89 locations from coast to coast.
On Friday, March 16th and Saturday March 17th, 2012 the first 500 customers through the doors at 9:00 AM will receive one of the following absolutely free – a round of golf at Dublin Ranch Golf Course, a $20 Golfsmith card, or a free two-pack of golf balls. Customers can also register through the grand opening weekend long for a chance to win incredible prizes totaling more than $10,000 including drivers, iron sets, bags, balls, apparel and much more. Winners will be selected by a random drawing at the close of business on Sunday, March 18th.
In addition to the largest selection of equipment, the new Pleasant Hill store, located at 120 Crescent Drive in the Crescent Plaza Center, will feature the latest custom-fitting technology that will help Golfsmith certified fitting specialists identify the right clubs for a golfer’s individual abilities. Custom fitting is the process where a Golfsmith club-fitting specialist uses computerized swing and ball analysis systems to study every aspect of a player’s swing and then recommends the best types of clubs and the set-up of those clubs, including shaft flex, loft, lie and more.
A recently released study of several thousand golfers found a majority of golfers in America play with clubs that do not fit them properly (www.customfityourgame.com). Golfsmith traces its roots to making custom-fit clubs beginning in 1967 and offers free custom fitting services. When customers get fit for golf clubs, if they do not see immediate improvement in their game they can bring back their clubs within 30 days for an in-store credit. Golfsmith also guarantees product pricing will be the lowest around and offers a 115% price guarantee.
Golfsmith offers a comprehensive online store at www.golfsmith.com where Pleasant Hill area residents can register for special offers and updates on grand opening details by signing up for “E-mail Offers” on the company’s web site. To read the NGF report The State of the Industry, please click here: https://www.box.com/s/yc495selsybg0hbvlmq4
The location will also house four GolfTEC teaching facility bays allowing golfers to learn how to improve their game with a certified professional coach who uses proprietary kinetic and biometric analysis along with video performance equipment to help golfers develop a better swing. GolfTEC is the number one lesson provider in the United States and more than three million golfers of all abilities have taken lessons from GolfTEC.
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About Golfsmith: Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOLF), is a 45-year-old specialty retailer of golf and tennis equipment, apparel and accessories. The company operates as an integrated multi-channel retailer, offering its customers the convenience of shopping in its 80 stores across the United States, through its web site at golfsmith.com and from its assortment of catalogs. Golfsmith offers an extensive product selection that features premier branded merchandise, as well as its proprietary products, clubmaking components and pre-owned clubs. Visit www.Golfsmith.com.
Cautionary Language – Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Important factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Golfsmith ® is a registered trademark of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc.
Contact:
Lynn Luczkowski, L2 Communications 860-313-1426 or Lynn@L2comm.biz
Aubrey Haznar, L2 Communications, 617-549-8792 or Aubrey@L2comm.biz
Chris Miller, Golfsmith, 512-821-4131 or chris.miller@golfsmith.com
