Premier golf retail chain in Salt Lake City-area becomes Edwin Watts Golf Uinta; acquisition adds to the company’s stable of more than 90 retail locations, expanding golf retail operations further into western U.S.
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., March 29, 2012…On the heels of opening its first-ever store in Iowa, Edwin Watts Golf Shops, LLC, one of the world’s largest specialty golf retailers, today announced the acquisition of Uinta Golf’s five stores in Utah, further expanding the Company’s national footprint towards the west. Located in the north-south corridor of central Utah, Uinta Golf is the premier golf retail chain in the state. As part of the acquisition, the five stores, located in Salt Lake City, Sandy, Riverdale, Orem and St. George, will become Edwin Watts Golf Uinta, with the Salt Lake City location serving as Edwin Watts Golf’s new western regional office.
The five Uinta golf shops in Utah will operate as full-service Edwin Watts Golf Shops, while maintaining the heritage and consumer brand recognition of Uinta Golf. Associates currently working for Uinta Golf will maintain their positions within the new Edwin Watts Golf Uinta stores, while the new western regional office will ensure the seamless integration of operations as well as management training between the two entities.
“Uinta Golf has an unmatched history of golf retail excellence in the state of Utah for more than 40 years, and we’re proud to bring the Uinta brand into the Edwin Watts Golf portfolio,” said John Watson, CEO, Edwin Watts Golf. “Recognizing the strong heritage and the established reputation throughout the community, we will preserve the brand as Edwin Watts Golf Uinta.”
All Edwin Watts Golf Uinta stores will continue to feature the latest technology, including a launch monitor & club repair facility, and will feature a wide selection of golf equipment & apparel, electronics and related golf accessories from top brands such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Mizuno, FootJoy, Cleveland, Nike, Adams, Cobra, Wilson, Champions Tour and others. Additionally, as the golf apparel market continues to enjoy steady growth, Edwin Watts Golf Uinta will carry an assortment of apparel items for men, women and juniors, highlighted by Edwin Watts Golf’s new E Whitley line, a fashionable, yet reasonably priced collection of women’s apparel, and great selections from Nike, Adidas, Oakley, Puma and more.
As part of the acquisition, Edwin Watts Golf will obtain Uinta Golf’s state-of-the-art RoboFit equipment testing center including an advanced swing robot similar to what the USGA utilizes for their product testing. Plans call for Edwin Watts Golf to use the facility and equipment to complement special events throughout the portfolio, while establishing a presence at the Company’s popular TGIF TOUR events.
Additionally, as golf club and ball custom fitting is a priority at all Edwin Watts Golf Shops, the “Watts Guys” custom fitting experts will be working closely with the fitting experts at Uinta Golf to ensure the fitting operations remain unmatched in the golf retail sector. In fact, by utilizing the Company’s in-store launch monitors and swing analysis software, the Edwin Watts Golf Uinta store associates and field representatives from the leading equipment brands will continue to provide golfers of all ages and abilities with a superior custom fitting experience.
This acquisition of Uinta Golf adds to the Company’s stable of more than 90 domestic retail locations and enhances an overall golf retail operation that is supported by direct catalog sales and a popular eCommerce Internet business at www.edwinwattsgolf.com.
About Edwin Watts Golf
Edwin Watts Golf Shops, LLC (an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners, Inc.), headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is one of the world’s premier specialty golf retailers. The company operates as an integrated, multi-channel retailer, offering the freshest assortment of brand name golf equipment, apparel, and accessories through its 90+ domestic Retail Locations, eCommerce Internet site (www.edwinwattsgolf.com), Telephone/Catalog/Direct Mail sales (1.800.874.0146) and Digital Catalog (www.edwinwattsgolf.com/catalogs). Edwin Watts Golf touts a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable sales associates who can assist customers of all skill levels with lessons, performance fitting, special orders and repair services. The combination of the highest level of customer service, price match guarantee and reputation as the most trusted retailer in golf for over 43 years has earned the organization the right to be known as America’s Golf Club.
About Uinta Golf
For more than 40 years, Uinta Golf has built and maintained a reputation as a pioneer in the retail golf equipment industry. With an unwavering commitment to superior value and service, the latest fitting and testing technology, and the world’s best golf equipment, the Company exists to improve every customer’s game and fuel every golf lover’s passion for the sport. Today, Uinta Golf has grown to include five successful retail shops, a convenient web store that offers one of the world’s best online club fitting tools, and a state-of-the-art RoboFit equipment testing center. This new facility includes an advanced swing robot that collects objective, scientific performance data on the clubs sold.
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Michele Cooper (michele@mastrocomm.com)
Ari Edelman (aedelman@mastrocomm.com)
Mastro Communications, Inc. @ 732-469-5700
