Really stupid question.....what is a pro shop?

[ochmude]

Okay, I'm in the market for some new irons to upgrade the Snake Eyes I've been playing since I was 15 years old.  Like any responsible consumer, I'm doing my research.  As expected, I searched this forum for recommendations and ideas.  One thing I keep reading is to go to a golf retailer or pro shop to get fitted for clubs.  My question, though, is what exactly is a pro shop in this context?  When I hear "pro shop" I think of the building at a golf course where I pay my greens fee.  I've never seen anyone do anything at such places other than pay their greens fee or maybe buy a shirt or sleeve of balls.  I certainly haven't seen anything which could even remotely be described as a good selection of clubs for sale, at most maybe one or two display sets of irons and a small rack of putters and wedges.  Is there some secret back room where fittings take place and more clubs are available, or is my understanding of a pro shop erroneous?

I apologize if this is a completely stupid question, but it has actually been something I've been wondering about for quite awhile now.  Thanks!

[WUTiger]

In broad terms, the pro shop is the operations center for a golf course. Some of the things the pro shop area handles could include:

• Office space for head pro and his/her assistants
• Center for scheduling tee times and golf-related events, and lessons, paying greens fees
• Place to sell golf consumables (balls, tees) and hard goods (clubs, bags)
• Sometimes (but not an ideal set-up) a snack bar - not usually the case at a country club

In recent years at municipal or public courses, the merchandising has often been cut back to consumables like balls and hats. You need to have a fair selection of golf clubs inventory to be able to compete with the off-course golf shops.

Some basic public courses have a used club bin, or a few used sets on consignment, but decline to invest the money in a new-clubs inventory.

Some people use the term "pro shop" for the golf stores like Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith.

[aschroeger]

I find around my area anyways, the price of clubs and sets at the proshops are significantly higher than at retail like Dicks Sporting Goods.  For instance, a set of Burner 2.0's at the proshop were $100 more expensive than Dicks.

Also, places like Dicks offer trade-in incentives as well..  So dollar for dollar on equipment you will be better off retail, but you will probably get better service at a decent pro-shop.

Not to stoke Dicks anymore than I already have, but right now they are offering $100 + trade value to you if you buy a new set of clubs that retail for $300 or more.  So if you get $50 trade on your current set that's 1/2 off the price of a new $300 set of clubs.  Proshops here will not touch that offer.

[ochmude]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

In broad terms, the pro shop is the operations center for a golf course. Some of the things the pro shop area handles could include:

Office space for head pro and his/her assistants

Center for scheduling tee times and golf-related events, and lessons, paying greens fees

Place to sell golf consumables (balls, tees) and hard goods (clubs, bags)

Sometimes (but not an ideal set-up) a snack bar - not usually the case at a country club

In recent years at municipal or public courses, the merchandising has often been cut back to consumables like balls and hats. You need to have a fair selection of golf clubs inventory to be able to compete with the off-course golf shops.

Some basic public courses have a used club bin, or a few used sets on consignment, but decline to invest the money in a new-clubs inventory.

Some people use the term "pro shop" for the golf stores like Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith.

That describes my local pro shops very accurately.  I've never been to any of the country clubs in my area, though.  Are pro shops at private clubs better stocked and able to conduct proper fittings?  I plan on keeping my new irons for several years, so it's definitely something I'm willing to invest in upfront and I'd like a quality fitting.  As such, the better service aschroeger mentioned is very appealing to me.  I have just never seen such inventory or services offered at the muni's I frequent.  If country clubs offer these services, would that be something a non-member can partake in?

If push comes to shove, there is a Golfer's Warehouse about 45 minutes south of me in Hartford.  But I would like to keep my purchase local and avoid a big box store if at all possible.

[stealthduffer]

Even many private clubs have trouble competing with prices at the big boxes or on line.  One draw they do have is to have manufacturer "fitting days" at the club - where you can be fit by a factory rep.  At least some of the club makers are offering these at a variety of locations around the country.  It would be a reasonable expectation that you would pay more for clubs at such a site in return for the custom fit - but if you are keeping your clubs for a while it is probably a good investment.  If you have some idea of what brand you want I'd look up on their website for local spots to get fitted.

[ohiolefty]

It's one of the places, along with your local golf megaretailer, where you can look at things that you will later purchase on the internet at a much better price.

[nevets88]

When I think pro shop I think impulse purchase.

[jamo]

It seems to me that the only pro shops that actually sell clubs are private courses, semi-private courses, and upscale public course. Munis and crappier public courses don't generally sell merchandise.

[meenman]

Our pro shop (private club) is actually cheaper than any of the major retailers. A new box of Pro V1s is $38. Basically we get everything at 10% over cost. So we get those $25 Titleist hats for something like half price.

The shop is not fully stocked but they can order almost anything and it is usually there in less than a week.

[GoCobbers95]

Originally Posted by aschroeger

I find around my area anyways, the price of clubs and sets at the proshops are significantly higher than at retail like Dicks Sporting Goods.  For instance, a set of Burner 2.0's at the proshop were $100 more expensive than Dicks.

Also, places like Dicks offer trade-in incentives as well..  So dollar for dollar on equipment you will be better off retail, but you will probably get better service at a decent pro-shop.

Not to stoke Dicks anymore than I already have, but right now they are offering $100 + trade value to you if you buy a new set of clubs that retail for $300 or more.  So if you get $50 trade on your current set that's 1/2 off the price of a new $300 set of clubs.  Proshops here will not touch that offer.

The trade in plus program only applies to iron sets over $400 and loose woods over $150. Still a great deal imo.

[jamo]

The trade in plus program only applies to iron sets over $400 and loose woods over $150. Still a great deal imo.

Do you guys have a link to this deal? Or did you get it in an email? I can't find it on their website.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by stealthduffer

Even many private clubs have trouble competing with prices at the big boxes or on line.  One draw they do have is to have manufacturer "fitting days" at the club - where you can be fit by a factory rep.  At least some of the club makers are offering these at a variety of locations around the country.  It would be a reasonable expectation that you would pay more for clubs at such a site in return for the custom fit - but if you are keeping your clubs for a while it is probably a good investment.  If you have some idea of what brand you want I'd look up on their website for local spots to get fitted.

Excellent point.  With major national stores like Dicks and Sports Authority focusing on golf equipment, it's hard for smaller shops to compete.  Lets not forget the massive online stores such as Golfsmith and TGW.  It's both good and bad for the players.  Good that we can get equipment at cheaper prices, bad that specialty stores are losing business.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by jamo

Do you guys have a link to this deal? Or did you get it in an email? I can't find it on their website.

I was at Dicks this past weekend, there's a postcard ad above all the sets that this deal applies to.  Not sure it's advertised online though.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by ochmude

Okay, I'm in the market for some new irons to upgrade the Snake Eyes I've been playing since I was 15 years old.  Like any responsible consumer, I'm doing my research.  As expected, I searched this forum for recommendations and ideas.  One thing I keep reading is to go to a golf retailer or pro shop to get fitted for clubs.  My question, though, is what exactly is a pro shop in this context?  When I hear "pro shop" I think of the building at a golf course where I pay my greens fee.  I've never seen anyone do anything at such places other than pay their greens fee or maybe buy a shirt or sleeve of balls.  I certainly haven't seen anything which could even remotely be described as a good selection of clubs for sale, at most maybe one or two display sets of irons and a small rack of putters and wedges.  Is there some secret back room where fittings take place and more clubs are available, or is my understanding of a pro shop erroneous?

I apologize if this is a completely stupid question, but it has actually been something I've been wondering about for quite awhile now.  Thanks!

Many golf course pro shops do professional club fitting and custom orders.  When they do that it isn't necessary to carry a large inventory of clubs.  One nice thing about most course pro shops is that you aren't locked into someone else's idea of a "set".  I order through the shop and get just the irons I want.  That way I don't get stuck with a 3I or 4I which I neither want nor need.

[ochmude]

Well, yesterday afternoon I called the course I typically play and it turns out that they do offer static fitting so you can learn what your specs are, but can't do much more than that.  The guy I spoke with was actually quite open about it and said that I'd be paying $45 for something Golfers Warehouse does for free with the purchase of a set of irons.  Not much of a salesman, but definitely honest.

[GoCobbers95]

Originally Posted by ochmude

Well, yesterday afternoon I called the course I typically play and it turns out that they do offer static fitting so you can learn what your specs are, but can't do much more than that.  The guy I spoke with was actually quite open about it and said that I'd be paying $45 for something Golfers Warehouse does for free with the purchase of a set of irons.  Not much of a salesman, but definitely honest.

If that is what your course has to offer, I would recommend doing it yourself or going into a Dicks, Golf Galaxy, Austads, etc... and getting a dynamic fitting session.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

... Are pro shops at private clubs better stocked and able to conduct proper fittings?  ...  I have just never seen such inventory or services offered at the muni's I frequent. ... If country clubs offer these services, would that be something a non-member can partake in?

First, let's decide between muny and public (access) courses. Muni courses are those run by cities (or sometimes counties).. basically a government operation. Public (access) courses are privately owned operations where anyone can show up and play. Some courses are semi-private: they have members of various sorts, but allow non-members to play on a space-available basis.

better stocked addresses what product lines any course chooses to offer. Many public courses have a moderate inventory of new clubs and equipment. Often these operations focus on a couple of major manufacturers - one offers Taylormade and Nike, another offers Cobra and Titleist. It seems muny courses are offering less since the recession started.

Country clubs tend to offer a wider range of club lines and merchandise, and would probably be better fitters because a high-care experience $$$ is what they offer overall.

Non members: You'd have to call individual country clubs and ask. A key aspect of the pro's contract would address outside (non-club) business ventures. I lost an excellent teaching pro to a local country club in 1977 - his contract stated he could only give lessons to club members.

At public and muny courses, the fitting experience depends on the skill of the fitter, and how much practice he or she gets. Somebody who only fits a couple of sets a month probably isn't going to be as sharp as someone who does several fittings a week.