Just when you think you've seen all the golf gadgets out there  

 

I have a smartphone and use it on the course as a GPS, but I keep score with a pencil and scorecard.

Does the graphite give you added distance?

I probably wouldn't use the product because I would imagine that one of these would cost more than a normal tee, and would break on just about every hole, like a tee.  So why not just use the normal tee, and the free pencil they give you?  I think the video is well done though, and I enjoyed it.

I would imagine that it wouldn't write very well even if it survived a tee shot after being stuck in the ground over and over.

 

According to their website - 100 cost $15.99.  100 regular tees cost about $5.  I can get 500 tees for $15.99  http://www.amazon.com/Intech-Pack-4-Inch-Natural-Tees/dp/B0013EKTJO/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1353993127&sr=1-5&keywords=Golf+tees

 

*If* I break it?  I don't think I'm alone in that I break the tee on almost every shot.  In fact - I don't even bother getting a tee out unless I'm hitting driver - I just pick up one of the million broken tees laying around the tee box. 

I liked the video.  It was well done and might even get me to try it as I often break the lead in the free pencil and don't have a spare.  But I suspect it would be more costly than just carrying another pencil and as stated above it is likely if used as a tee it would break just like a tee.

It's innovative, and I like the vid.

 

But I really don't see the product filling a 'need' - as other posters have said, you get a free pencil whever you play, and if you're in a cart, it's clipped to the steering wheel.

 

Another thing - wouldn't the lead end of the pencil get dirty from pushing it into the ground, making writing difficult?

 

Not trying to poo-poo the product; perhaps it will catch on. Good luck!

Edited by zipazoid - 11/27/12 at 10:36am

From the perspective of your marketing class, you did a nice job on the commercial.     It is very difficult to show what a product does and why someone might want it in a way that is catchy and memorable in a short 30 second ad spot, and you've accomplished that.      I hope you got an "A"!    

 

From a consumer perspective, I wouldn't find this to be a product I'd buy for the reasons others have mentioned.    It doesn't solve a problem I have or provide any advantage to me, and the price point isn't attractive enough to be an impulse buy, so I would not purchase the product.     I don't think it would succeed at retail. 

 

However, that doesn't mean that it might not find some market success.    While I don't picture individual consumers buying the product, I can see that this could be sold as a marketing tool itself, i.e. it might be purchased by a company or organization that wants to hand these out to current or prospective customers as part of their own marketing efforts.      My home course has a basket with tees, pitch mark repair tools, and pencils sitting at the starter's booth, all imprinted with the course name.   I could see this fitting in there - it's unique and would catch someone's attention.    Similarly, I could see company's handing them out at a trade show with their name embossed on them.   

 

So, from a marketing perspective, I feel the target segment isn't at retail for the end user but instead should be marketed as promotional items to companies.   

 

Again, nice job on the commercial!

I'll ask what every VC asks me during my pitch.

"What problem are you solving?" I don't get that from your video.

I get from your video that you are going for an Apple like feel in your video. Which is good, but if you watch Apple videos they are usually solving problems, like how to use the phone to find things, view pictures on your iPad (pictures are tied to emotions). I need to understand the problem you are solving. Right now you are a solution looking for a problem.

The breaking tee problem is a objection, sales related, if you solve a problem people will forget about that "may" be willing to pay more.

 

You guys should've tried hitting one with a golf club :)

 

I take it this commercial is supposed to be funny because you are obviously missing the device with your attempts to break it . . .I will meet anyone at any driving range in Las Vegas and break it with one shot :)

i don't see the point of the product.  plus i see a myriad of issues with it both as a pencil and a tee.

I've rarely, if ever, found myself wishing I had another pencil.

I grab about 5 pencils every time I golf. My bag is full of them because I break a couple usually every round. Glad I'm not the only one who pushes too hard with the little pencil. 

 

You guys are about a half a post from being banned and your content removed as spam.

I think this product is a dud. It fills no practical need (pencils are free) and costs more than tees, as others have mentioned. I don't know about you, but I usually buy a yardage book or a ball marker or a golf ball as a souvenir. If I wanted a pencil or tee with the club's name on it, it's free. I think you're trying too hard to make it marketable.

I was given one of these at a school golf tournament. First hole stick it in the ground grab driver. Break it. I don't think it's worth the extra money