Callaway Golf introduced a new wrinkle in club marketing a couple weeks ago that, if nothing else, is pretty innovative. They’ve become the first manufacturer to sell their clubs and accessories online directly to consumers.
But perhaps the bigger news is that they’re attempting to channel those sales through traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.
Among those I know in the golf retail business, Callaway hasn’t engendered a lot of love. Their sales policies are often viewed as restrictive and unhelpful in achieving reasonable margins. The new concept sounds good, but will it work? Here’s the story…
With the 
Nothing gets your blood boiling more than a showdown between two stodgy golf executives. And because I love to give people what they want, you get a front-row seat to our second celebrity deathmatch. This time LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem square off in the battle of the golf execs.
2006 was marked by extrordinary play from a number of players. Some we’ve come to expect it from, and some we wouldn’t. This week in The Numbers Game, I thought I’d show some facts and figures from these players and just how impressive and sometimes ugly it got.
Annika Sorenstam decided to play golf with the men this past weekend. The world’s number one female golfer teamed with Fred Couples at the Merril Lynch Shootout and finished in last place. While Sorenstam was playing a silly season event, 
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. and Golf Galaxy, Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger whereby Dick’s will acquire Golf Galaxy. Under the terms of the agreement, each outstanding share of Golf Galaxy common stock will be converted into the right to receive $18.82 per share in cash, without interest. The Merger Agreement also provides for the assumption of outstanding employee stock options and warrants of Golf Galaxy, except that, the holders of vested in-the-money options and warrants will be permitted to elect to cash out such options and warrants. The Merger Agreement contains a provision related to limited solicitation of third-party proposals and a customary fiduciary out for unsolicited proposals.
Pinemeadow Golf has been around since 1985, but I didn’t know much about them until this year. After checking out their website, it’s easy to see they are looking out for the “average” golfer. Most of the die-hard golfing fanatics want the most expensive and popular golf clubs, whether it’s TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, etc.