Dick's out of the golf business all together?

[RonTheSavage]

Dicks blames Tiger and not Taylormade huh? [URL=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-19/dicks-quits-golf]http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-19/dicks-quits-golf[/URL]

[Golfingdad]

Hmmm ... Do I need to hurry up and use all of my Golf Galaxy gift cards that I have lying around??

Quote:

... and started folding some of its 79 stand-alone Golf Galaxy brand stores into its larger “Dick’s” locations.

Are they going to close all of their golf stores soon?

[Judah Ben-Hur]

I think I have a few rewards bucks sitting around in an account somewhere on the internet.  I better start digging and use them on some FootJoys.

[imsys0042]

Makes me think that Dicks is run by a bunch of idiots. It makes business sense to change course with a perceived downturn in golf, especially considering the amount of inventory they have. But this is an over correction. Not knowing the contacts and deals they made, I would have offered streamlined (less offerings from the companies that over saturated the market) the clubs offered and not invested as much into the higher end clothing. There are 3 sides to "golf is in decline" 1 - tv ratings are down 2 - rounds are down 3 - golf industry is in trouble I don't think 2 and 3 Are very related at all. Rounds are generally down in my region because of the weather. Not because Adidas and Dicks profits are down. Other regions might vary,.

[Missouri Swede]

Yeah, that mini-trampoline industry must be a lot more lucrative.

[Mr. Desmond]

The cartoon, sharpie "writing on the wall" style informercial type commercial never resonated with me.

Nor did the displays in their stores...

I think the "finding magic in clubs" marketing is overblown and overdone.

Make the game easier and faster to play.

From a well known book, "Golf is hard."

Find a a credible way to educate those who might want to play.

Stores may need to go that way ... and Dick's probably wants nothing to do with that type of sale.

Maybe they ought to market a "Top Golf" Package -- high lofted irons and a martini glass.

[Dave2512]

DSG is a nightmare. Can't say I spend much there anymore. They try to do too much without doing any one thing right. Junk bikes, low end fitness equipment, over priced apparel and athletic gear and awkward customer service. The flagship stores are okay but the smaller ones like the Walmart of sporting goods.

[Grndslmhttr3]

Am I a bad person for trying shoes on in their store and then ordering them off of Amazon? This is all my fault, isn't it?

[boogielicious]

I just bought a shirt at Golf Galaxy.  Sounds like an over-reaction from a CEO.  Typical short term gain mentality.

[caniac6]

This may be wishing vs reality, but I hope a small, independent golf shop returns to our town.

[rkim291968]

I do most of my golf "stuff" shopping via E-Bay.   Perhaps, that is contributing to the decline in revenue?

I also think there are glut of products out there.   Who needs a $400 new driver every year?  Why are there 500 different golf balls?

Anyway, I sure hope golf does not go the way of bowling.   Bowling alleys & leagues have been disappearing.  It's now relegated to a place for a 7 year old birthday parties.

Perhaps, there will be some positives.   I need a new pair of golf shoes which I don't want to by through E-bay.   I am ooking forward to clearance/going out of golf business sale on that.

[rkim291968]

Am I a bad person for trying shoes on in their store and then ordering them off of Amazon? This is all my fault, isn't it?

Yeah, you and millions of golfers.   Like Walmart, don't they have lower price on some items if ordered through on-line?

[Hammer 4]

This may be wishing vs reality, but I hope a small, independent golf shop returns to our town.

Kinda funny, when a big retailer like Dick's can't make their golf section work. My local pro shop has been in biz for about 25 yrs and going strong. Then again, they have Great customer service, and pretty good prices, and a pro fitting is included with the price of a set of irons, a driver or fairways woods/hybrids. They also have a Free try before you buy any club, demoing a club on the course or range helps to sell clubs imho. All of this is what you need to do to survive in any retail biz, I suspect dick's fell short in more than 1 area.

[Chris223]

Well, that leaves... ZERO places in my area to buy golf equipment now then.  Save for one or two of the mom and pop shops that pretty much ONLY sell Mizuno and PING

[BrownCoast]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Golf is getting what it deserves! From companies to courses. All these years of acting like they were on such a high horse with elitist courses, attitudes, and a general not giving a f*ck  about people who don't fit into those categories. Yet its the everyday people that buy rounds of golf on many different courses. Buy the equipment. Yet golf still is thought of as a posh ritzy game that is played in country clubs and even smaller muni courses forget who it is giving them money and generally try and over charge for basically nothing.

Sometimes I think it would be better if ever company, course and tour just shut down completely. Burn it down in order to build it up once again. and maybe game the game a face lift starting with the USGA and the R&A.;

[rehmwa]

I would like an article with more golf terms scattered in it.  they need to push the writing style to over 90% of those...yeah,  that would do it

[Wally Fairway]

I am interested in this news - hoping they have a going out of business sale for their golf departments.

[Braivo]

I am interested in this news - hoping they have a going out of business sale for their golf departments.

^^This - completely out of self-interest.