Biggest problem on the golf course today?

[newtogolf]

What the course owner and managers fail to realize is that the pro shop is a revenue source.  If they approached it differently they might keep some customers from going to Walmart, Target or even Golfsmith to buy their gear.

We all know how much money we spend on golf, so the fact they ignore a good income source reeks of really poor management.  Unlike Walmart they have their target market walking past their doors every day - all day- why not cater to them and make them want to stop in and buy something rather than drive to Walmart?  I wouldn't mind paying slightly higher prices for new grips, or even gear if  the customer experience was worth it.

The same holds true for the food concessions, rather than robbing customers and discouraging their business by charging $8+ for a beer and $5 for a water, they should lower their prices a bit, improve customer service and they would likely see an overall increase in profits.

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Exactly.  I think I have posted the same thing a few times.  But we keep hearing that there is nothing wrong with Wal Mart or Target, so we should just be happy with what we get at the pro shops in the new era of non-green grass retailers.

I miss the days when the pro shop was a pleasant experience.  A gathering place where everybody knew each other's name, and service was a priority and quality was a plus.

[RPMPIRE]

Some course managers probably want to keep their money "on the course".

Today, pro shops probably treat golfers like it's a tourist trap. Just don't be the tourist that forgets to load up on golf balls, tees, gloves, etc or you'll pay the premiums at a pro shop.

Originally Posted by newtogolf

What the course owner and managers fail to realize is that the pro shop is a revenue source.  If they approached it differently they might keep some customers from going to the Walmart, Target or even Golfsmith to buy their gear.

We all know how much money we spend on golf, so the fact they ignore a good income source reeks of really poor management.  Unlike Walmart they have their target market walking past their doors every day - all day- why not cater to them and make them want to stop in and buy something rather than drive to Walmart?  I wouldn't mind paying slightly higher prices for new grips, or even gear if  the customer experience was worth it.

The same holds true for the food concessions, rather than robbing customers and discouraging their business by charging $8+ for a beer and $5 for a water, they should lower their prices a bit, improve customer service and they would likely see an overall increase in profits.

[Dave2512]

Still can't figure out how any of that translates to a problem on the course. That said the problem isn't the pro shop. I'm sure they would stock more if they could. In todays big box economy the small shop isn't on the big manufacturers radar. They can't buy enough to make it worthwhile for anyone involved. Is anyone really surprised their local muni pro shop isn't a superstore? I get it, I loved the glory days too. Every generation does. But this isn't 1975, the world is a different place and not just on the golf course.

Anyway back to...I'm out, got a 6:27 tee time.

[MrSandman]

Back in the 1990's, one of the most coveted jobs in the golf industry would be as a sales rep for these golf club companies.  The titleist/foot joy rep would spend all day covering his territory, going to the pro shops, stocking the store and interacting with the staff.  They would bring new merch displays, demo clubs, etc...  Ping would have somebody doing the same thing.  Kind of like a coca cola rep going to a store and trying to get their product in the best position on the shelves.  The pro shops were the only place these companies would distribute, so the commissions for these sales reps were great as they had a monopoly, and the revenue was great for the pros who ran the shop as their own small business.  The staff would learn more about the products and would be more helpful to the customers.

Now what do pros make their money on?  Cart revenue, vending machines, golf gloves and lessons?  That was only about 30-50% of their revenue not too long ago.

The new golf retailers are great.  I loved going to Chelsea Piers, hitting as many clubs as I wanted for as long as I wanted, and walking away with a product I liked.  But I do miss the days of more sophisticated pro shop staffs.

Now you have to be at a private, or higher end greens fee course with some regular customers, to have that type of service.  My parents will only buy from their local pro, as will many members of the club.  But that is a private course where money gets tossed around a bit more and the premium you pay for your golf merchandise is seen almost as a tip for the quality service from a pro who performs so many other functions for the club.

In today's big box society, I guess there is nothing that can be done.  But I don't have to like it any more than I appreciate Wal Mart driving down the quality of america.

[slodsm]

Definitely minorities and women on the course.........    (sarcasm).

The main place I play is a public course is a very small town and you will find t shirts and camo shorts often but it is maintained perfectly and the other golfers are the most considerate and helpful people I've been around. At a couple of the other courses I play occasionally I'd say the staff is the main problem/complaint. They are either elitest or idiots. I prefer not to associate with either.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

Still can't figure out how any of that translates to a problem on the course.

It doesn't.  He is just using that as a red herring to circumvent his original poor argument.  He is suggesting that if they didn't allow quality golf clubs to be sold at non-green grass pro shops, that somehow the golf consumer would benefit from excellent customer service.  The problem is that is completely false.  Sure, maybe they could pay the staff more and they could tell us something about golf clubs (that we could still read on the internet...which wasn't useful then), but we would also not have the same pricing options we have now.  So we've traded (via collusion) good pricing and access for some higher paid and more knowledgeable pro shop attendants?  Thanks, but no thanks.  That tradeoff is of no benefit for me.

[MrSandman]

I like having gthe golf galaxies and ny golf centers.  I'm not arguing against them.

But there is no doubt they have created a brain drain in the pro shops.

And I understand financial restrictions on pro shops these days.

That said, the brain drain in the pro shop staffs is not a good thing, albeit an understood phenomenum.

[ghalfaire]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Slow play.

Don't care what you wear.

Don't care what you smoke.

Don't care what you drink.

Don't care if the pro shop isn't stocked.

I do care if my round is 5 1/2 hour long though.

Yup, what zipazoid said and I would add I do care about course condition also.

[Wally Fairway]

Other - poorly stacked beer cart girls...errr I mean poorly stocked beer cars

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

The dumbing down of pro shops is a major negative in the game today.  However, I'm not surprised that somebody defending Wal Mart is defending the dumbing down of pro shops as well.

You just don't understand.  No one is defending the 'dumbing down' or defending bad service.  You seem to be the only one experiencing it to the degree it is hurting your golf, and have a differnt expectation than the rest of us.  Just because it effects you completely differently than pretty much everyone else, doesn't mean we're all low class imbeciles as you continue to insinuate.

[Dave2512]

Exactly. My experience in the pro shop, good or bad, doesn't affect me on the course. Is bad customer service annoying, hell yeah. Not just at the course but everywhere and it's more and more prevalent with each day. But I've never thought the golf pro shop experience was the gold standard for customer service. Not 30 years ago, not 20 years ago and certainly not now. Those types of jobs don't offer enough pay to appeal to the professional concierge types that can make more money elsewhere. Especially at the muni level where the staff has always been the seasonal county employee.

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

I like having gthe golf galaxies and ny golf centers.  I'm not arguing against them.

They are no different than Wal Mart...

[zipazoid]

Here's what I want from the pro shop -

1. A quick transaction so I can get to the first tee.

2. A Halfway House in case I wanna grab a hot dog at the turn. Again, quick transaction. I'm up on the 10th tee.

3. A stock of balls in case I forgot to bring some...or if I had a tough front nine. Tho having said that, can't tell you the last time I bought balls at the course.

Outside of that, don't really care how many $85 shirts or $25 towels you're selling. That doesn't enhance my experience, nor does it detract from it if you don't have any.

[phillyk]

I haven't read all the posts, but most of the answers could be summed up I think, to learn GOLF ETIQUETTE... skim the rules book or whatever you need to know how to play respectfully, but enjoy the game!!

Carry a ball repair tool, replace divots if you don't have the mix, keep up with people in front of you, and be respectful to others around you (simplest etiquette).  It sounds so simple, yet very little people actually take care to do these.

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

You just don't understand.  No one is defending the 'dumbing down' or defending bad service.  You seem to be the only one experiencing it to the degree it is hurting your golf, and have a differnt expectation than the rest of us.  Just because it effects you completely differently than pretty much everyone else, doesn't mean we're all low class imbeciles as you continue to insinuate.

You don't understand.  You don't have to vote for this as a major problem.

But then you make comments that since you aren't experiencing it, that nobody else should complain about it.  Then you state that you shop at a place like Wal Mart or Target.

All good.  You do what you want.  But I don't shop at Wal Mart or Target, and I expect more from my pro shop staff.  You can expect less, I don't care. I don't even know what you are arguing about at this point, besides trying to explain to me that Wal Mart is great.

And NYC Golf Center is not like Wal Mart.  It is a high end retail distributer with a fantastic selection focused on a wealthier market (it is not a heavy discounted inventory).  It is not a jack of all trades discount store targeting the lower class.

[RPMPIRE]

This wasn't on the poll, but I would definitely vote for this.

Originally Posted by phillyk

I haven't read all the posts, but most of the answers could be summed up I think, to learn GOLF ETIQUETTE... skim the rules book or whatever you need to know how to play respectfully, but enjoy the game!!

Carry a ball repair tool, replace divots if you don't have the mix, keep up with people in front of you, and be respectful to others around you (simplest etiquette).  It sounds so simple, yet very little people actually take care to do these.

[Dave2512]

PGA Superstore is the Walmart of golf, and I like it. I get the Walmart backlash, their business practices are unethical at best. I avoid it if possible. Some folks can't afford to avoid it and that's okay, things are tough out there. But these days there's not much that can be done about it. Macy's is selling goods made in Asian sweatshops just like Walmart is. I don't attempt to fool myself that spending more for the same junk puts me any higher up in the caste.

[MrSandman]

Spending more money for the same stuff doesn't put somebody in an elevated status.

Spending a little extra for quality service is something that people with means tend to do.  If the service is no better, then I won't spend more.  But I will go to a place with a knowledgeable and attentive staff and pay an extra 5-10% for my goods if that's the case.  Drop $200 on some merchandise, we're only talking about an additional $10-20.  Well worth it for some quality service.

My bet is that gresh is not exactly known as a desired loop on the caddy bench at the club.