Nike: Out of the golf equipment business

[jsgolfer]

Nike Golf getting out of equipment business.  I never liked their equipment anyway, at least they will still make apparell

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-03/nike-to-stop-making-golf-equipment-in-latest-blow-to-the-sport

[Elrey Desol]

Rory to TM? or Titleist?

[jbishop15]

http://www.businessinsider.com/nike-ends-golf-equipment-business-2016-8

Nike will transition out their selling of bags, balls, and clubs, but will still sell apparel and shoes. 

 

[Kalnoky]

Fascinating... I believe Adidas is selling (or has already divested) TaylorMade.

Millennials like going to TopGolf and playing WGT Golf on their phones, from what I can tell. 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2016 by Kalnoky

[DeadMan]

I'm not sure I've ever swung a Nike club. I've never used a Nike ball except as a water ball. Might be time to try them out and get something on the cheap. I imagine their clubs and balls are just as good as any other of the big manufacturers.

[jbishop15]

4 minutes ago, Kalnoky said:

Fascinating... I believe Adidas is selling (or has already divested) TaylorMade.

Millennials like going to TopGolf and playing WGT Golf on their phones, from what I can tell. 

 

 

 

Millennials (like myself) would like golf more if it wasn't so expensive. So many fixed costs: balls, clubs, green fees, cart fees. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm still covered under my parents membership, I wouldn't be able to afford to play anywhere. Not consistently, anyway. 

[Kalnoky]

Golf was already in decline before Nike and Tiger. Here where I live we have lost one (1) Par 72 Course a few years ago and are about to lose another (very nice) course. 

 

[Kalnoky]

3 minutes ago, jbishop15 said:

Millennials (like myself) would like golf more if it wasn't so expensive. So many fixed costs: balls, clubs, green fees, cart fees. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm still covered under my parents membership, I wouldn't be able to afford to play anywhere. Not consistently, anyway. 

Very interesting. 

I also think they way the game is taught needs to change. My millennial daughters would be terrified to go to a range and humiliate themselves in front of strangers, much less learn from an old PGA Pro. 

[jbishop15]

1 minute ago, Kalnoky said:

Very interesting. 

I also think they way the game is taught needs to change. My millennial daughters would be terrified to go to a range and humiliate themselves in front of strangers, much less learn from an old PGA Pro. 

Yeah, there needs to be a change in the PGA teaching program. But I think a lot of these problems could be fixed within the next ten years, if only because millennials will age into the sport. Golf is played by those with disposable income, and most people (in this day and age, anyway), don't get that until around 30-35. 

It would also help to have a star on the Tour. The dirty secret of golf's success (the excess part of it, the wild amount of money being made) was because of Tiger Woods and his ridiculous cross-appeal and otherworldly skills. Regardless of what people may say, everyone tunes in to watch Superman, even if you hope he loses.

[Patch]

15 minutes ago, Kalnoky said:

Very interesting. 

I also think they way the game is taught needs to change. My millennial daughters would be terrified to go to a range and humiliate themselves in front of strangers, much less learn from an old PGA Pro. 

I have always thought when learning how to golf, the idea of getting good at the easier, more fun  shots first was the way to go. I'm in the minority thinking like that, but it is my opinion. 

[Jeremie Boop]

Maybe I can find a nice clearance Method putter

 

[Hardspoon]

Huh. I hadn't heard about this.

Rumors of golf's decline are greatly exaggerated. It is just no longer profitable for what is basically an apparel company. 

[dennyjones]

Makes one wonder what becomes of the tour pros that use Nike products.   I'm sure they will be courted to go other places.   Nike gambled on Tiger and Rory and it hasn't turned out the way they envisioned.

[onthehunt526]

So is that why retailers are firesaling Nike equipment?

[Hardspoon]

1 minute ago, onthehunt526 said:

So is that why retailers are firesaling Nike equipment?

Yes. 

[Piz]

Even though they made some nice stuff; I never thought of Nike as a golf company.  I mean, I'd buy a set of Craftsman irons tomorrow.  Nike not so much.  Paying Tiger, and Rory, all that dough only reinforced the idea.  

[jamo]

I guess my bag is all of a sudden full of antiques!

[billchao]

18 minutes ago, jamo said:

I guess my bag is all of a sudden full of antiques!

One day someone will look in your bag and think you're playing a bunch of knock-off clone clubs