Willowbrook, IL – On January 16, 2018, the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the only trade organization that works with every sector within the golf industry, released its inaugural list of the Top 100 Businesses in Golf. This list recognizes the successful companies, organizations and associations that are of fundamental importance to both consumers and facilities involved in the game of golf. With eight different industry segments represented, the U.S.-centric NGF GOLF 100 offers comprehensive insight across all sectors.
“The diverse list of companies and organizations contains not only the well-known brands that golfers see on TV but celebrates a host of other innovators and influencers throughout various business segments that contribute to golf’s almost $70 billion impact on the economy,” said Joe Beditz, President and CEO of NGF. Financial success was a key component based on an evaluation of annual revenue, overall growth rate and trajectory. Additionally, companies were assessed on their influence throughout the golf industry, innovations, prominence and leadership both within the sport and their category plus their contribution to the growth and vitality of the game.
According to NGF, “Club Champion is positioned at the forefront of the fitting and premium club sales business, with overall revenue growth near 100 percent in 2017. Because Club Champion’s products are fitted or customized and can’t be replicated by online stores, they don’t compete against web-based retailers. Since 2014, Club Champion’s revenues have grown more than 450 percent and it plans to open a minimum of 30 stores over the next two years. The company’s success shows how the industry’s education on the benefits of club fitting is working and how this approach just might be the best way to “buy” a better game.”
This dynamic company with a creative vision is bucking the retail trend with a story of success and growth that truly stands out. Club Champion has risen to become the #1 premium club fitter, builder and retailer of the best brands in golf including Callaway, TaylorMade, PING, Titleist, PXG, Fujikura, Golf Pride and many more. The company delivers a Tour-quality fitting experience with over 35,000 hittable head and shaft combinations. According to Club Champion VP Jay Hubbard, “The results speak for themselves. Our golf club fittings produce longer, more accurate shots with nearly a 100% satisfaction rating for golfers of any caliber.”
The company targets locations in communities with a heavy saturation of golfers. The typical store footprint is approximately 3,000 square feet and includes two fitting bays equipped with TrackMan launch monitors, a SAM PuttLab, a build shop and features an extensive equipment wall with more choices than any other retail chain. Company founder Nick Sherburne says, “The shaft wall, coupled with our master fitters’ knowledge, is where a lot of the magic happens.”
Club Champion was chosen by GOLF Magazine to conduct a study on custom fitting, the results of which were published in August 2017. The question answered: does custom fitting really matter? According to GOLF Magazine, it does. “Based on data from the TrackMan, SAM PuttLab and SkyCaddies along with tester interviews, it’s clear that correctly matched clubs can help golfers of all skills. And remember – you actually can buy a better game with properly fit clubs.”
Equipment manufacturers hold back nothing with their praise for Club Champion. TaylorMade CEO David Abeles commented, “Club Champion truly is one of the most innovative club fitters in the business. They provide a consumer experience that is undeniably helpful for all golfers to play better. We couldn’t be more thrilled with our partnership with Club Champion.” Tom Olsavsky, VP in charge of R & D at Cobra Golf related, “At Cobra Puma golf, we love working with Club Champion. They’re really the future of the business at getting the right equipment into people’s hands. We know when golfers get fit, they get better. The average core golfer is going there, and we love working with them because they give Cobra great representation in our golf clubs.”
Hubbard reveals, “Other people sell golf clubs, we sell improvement. We not only solve golfers’ equipment problems, but we show and explain why each particular piece of equipment (shaft, head and grip) works for their unique swing.” Sherburne adds, “Our customer service, club fitting process, assembly of clubs and the unbiased nature of how we fit golf clubs is the Club Champion difference. Our basic formula really hasn’t changed since the outset. We’ve just added a lot of talent, invested more heavily in training, and optimized our operational and sales approach to help us expand and scale.”
About Club Champion
Established in 2010, Club Champion is a national club fitting and building company headquartered in Chicago, IL. They have 28 locations around the country. Their studios carry all the top golf club, shaft and grip manufacturers in the industry, which allows for 35,000+ equipment combinations for customers to test. Studios are equipped with advanced analysis technology and highly trained certified fitters and builders, all of whom must graduate through an extensive training program. Services include custom fitting and building for all club purchases, repair services, personalization and highly engaging corporate and personal entertainment events. For more information about Club Champion, visit www.clubchampiongolf.com.
Contact:
Leonard Finkel
glfgd@aol.com
760.822.3465
Jay Hubbard
jay@clubchampiongolf.com 630-386-5584
