GolfSmith's are starting to close

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

 

Stopped by the local Golfsmith yesterday - they'll be shuttered for good by December 31st. Know the manager pretty well there and he had some interesting comments....

 

1. The 30 stores that won't be shutting down will be rebranded Golf Galaxy within the next 2 weeks.

 

2. Dicks is partnering with a liquidator to get rid of the excess inventory. His store is still full and he'll be getting shipments from their main warehouse over the next several weeks.

 

3. Everything is discounted, but not equally. Grips are 30% off, demo clubs 25% off (got a smoking deal on a Cobra Utility iron!), while other items, such as the Scotty Cameron's, are 5% off.

 

4. Expect the discounts to increase as the weeks go by.

 

5. The manager told me one guy who came in was kissed the store was closing - said "now where am I going to try clubs before I by them online?" That may sum up the state of golf retail!!

 

6. A lot of you guys have written about horrible service at GolfSmith, but this location was very different. The team there really knew their stuff and were always incredibly helpful to anyone in the store. I couldn't go 5 minutes while browsing without someone asking me if I needed help or had any questions. Excellent store manager and well trained staff.

 

7. They're selling everything, including the racks, office furniture, coffee makers - everything !

 

 

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[MGoBlue100]

Sounds like when Edwin Watts thinned their herd.  "Everything Must Go", including us!!

 

Also seems I'll have a "Golf Galaxy" in Greenville, SC soon.  Hmmm....

 

(BTW:  #5 made me laugh out loud...)

[Hula Rock]

Its Crazy !!!!!  they closed the Main mega store Showroom in Austin Texas and kept the store open here in San Antonio.....

[JudgeSmails]

i wonder what golf balls will be discounted to?   I don't have a GS near me though

[Jonnythec]

Try and find out how they are liquidating. Where clubs can be purchased after the doors shut. They might send stock to other stores but I'm guessing they are gonna have to liquidate penny's on the dollar somewhere.

 

 

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[Undershooter]

#5 Is definitely a major reason of why its closing. People who do that and then cry when a store closes need to get in touch with reality. 

[MGoBlue100]

Its Crazy !!!!! they closed the Main mega store Showroom in Austin Texas and kept the store open here in San Antonio.....

Maybe real estate costs? Not a short jaunt from Austin to SA, though...

 

 

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[BigtazzGolf]

Anyone have link to list of those closing? Probably missed it if it was posted elsewhere.

 

Tazz

 

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[AH1980MN]

I wonder what they're selling the LM's for...

[Hula Rock]

Anyone have link to list of those closing? Probably missed it if it was posted elsewhere.

 

Tazz

 

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@bigtazzGOLF on Twitter

the list is one their website.....

[mcavoy]

The one in Upland, CA near me is closing as well.  By the time I got there golf balls were pretty much cleaned out.  Did pick up a couple of Snake Eyes quarter zip long sleeve pullovers that I like to use for layering pieces in winter. I'm gonna miss that Snake Eyes clothing brand. Also got a few gloves too although those were picked over pretty good as well.  Picked up a set of Wilson Staff FG5 irons (demo set) for 25% off.  Its funny I think people look at those and think they look like shiat because nobody ever cleaned them up while they were a demo set.  10 minutes spent with a scrubber sponge, some dish soap and warm water and they look like they just had the plastic taken off the heads.  So since the ones that are staying open are being rebranded as Golf Galaxy's they are basically becoming a crappier version of what they were.

[Sconnie]

I'm just like that other customer. I try clubs and then buy online, mostly eBay.

 

 

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[HeathS16]

Knew ours was going to shut down... right across the street from a Dick's AND golf galaxy (they're in the same lot). It's the largest golfsmith and ONLY Golfsmith in OK. Many of the guys I know only buy from this store, I may have to find a local shop now... btw Pro V's sold out within 15 of the mark down... goes those guys haven't seen the Kirkland's test results!

 

 

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[Kenny B]

So since the ones that are staying open are being rebranded as Golf Galaxy's they are basically becoming a crappier version of what they were.

"No more crappy cars!!"  Oh sorry, that's GM.     Well maybe Dick's will get the message and improve all their stores.

[fozcycle]

I Just called my store in North Tampa.....They are one of the lucky ones.....they are staying open.

[Jmikecpa]

The two remaining stores on LI and the newer store in NYC are all closing. I am not even going to stop by since they never carry anything in a X unless it is used.

 

 

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[Kor.A.Door]

Charlotte, NC store is closing in a couple weeks.

[Hula Rock]

Maybe real estate costs? Not a short jaunt from Austin to SA, though...

 

 

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Could be.... It was their headquarters too.  The Golfsmith attached to it was HUGE, with an attached Driving range.  I too was told that the San Antonio store was  top 10 in the nation as far as sales, so that too could be the reason they kept it open

[Lonnie96]

Not surprised at all with these outcomes

[JAGolfore]

Will probably swing by the store in Indy next week.

[fozcycle]

Here is a list of the Golfsmith Stores that will remain open.....

 

http://golfsmith.simpluris.com/stores_remaining.html

[Philly Golf Guy]

Wow, all the stores near me are gone. Here's hoping a pga ss makes an appearance some time soon.

 

 

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[MGoBlue100]

Here is a list of the Golfsmith Stores that will remain open.....

 

http://golfsmith.simpluris.com/stores_remaining.html

I was in the G'ville SC store last week. (New grip for the DST Compressor 8-iron) Clerk verified that they'll be staying open as a Golf Galaxy. She said they will probably become a Golf Galaxy "inside" before the holidays, but wait until after the holidays to change the exterior of the store. Not surprised, it is a fairly new location for Golfsmith. (Maybe two years?)

 

 

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[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Update --

 

Stopped into the Minnesota store - the manager had told me they'd be open till the end of the year and liquidating regional inventory.

 

Well...

 

It seems that Dick's realized they'd be competing against the inventory liquidator for holiday dollars, so they bought up the remaining inventory for themselves and the store will close next week.  They just found out about it on Friday.  

 

Another punch in the gut for the guys who work at that particular branch. 

[Lonnie96]

Eventually all golf purchases will only happen online.There will be no place locally offering a selection of different golf equipment.Even pro shops are carrying the bare minimum now

 

Opening a golf shop or planning to would be such a disastrous business choice.A great game,but the industry needs to look into the major issues.I see it declining pretty significantly in the next 5 to 10 years

[Lonnie96]

Eventually all golf purchases will only happen online.There will be no place locally offering a selection of different golf equipment.Even pro shops are carrying the bare minimum now

 

Opening a golf shop or planning to would be such a disastrous business choice.A great game,but the industry needs to look into the major issues.I see it declining pretty significantly in the next 5 to 10 years

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Got some details from the Bloomington store manager. Apparently the deal was Dicks bought the 30 stores that are going to stay open and be rebranded as Golf Galaxy. 2 liquidators bought the remaining stores and planned to blow out all the inventory through the end of the year.

 

Apparently in areas like this, which have both Dicks and Golf Galaxies, the liquidation sale was killing both stores. Dicks decided to buy up all the remaining warehoused inventory in those areas and announced last week that those stores would shut down this weekend. Kind of a, pardon the pun, dick punch to stores and employees that thought they'd be open through the end of the year.

 

Anything that isn't sold gets shipped off the Dicks and GG Monday. In the meantime, you can get some decent deals - Scotty Cameron's are 20% off, as are all new, current drivers and irons.

 

Just picked up another set of grips at 50% off.

 

 

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[MDGolfHacker]

I was pretty sad to hear the stores closing...especially since I have two gift cards that I had to use.  I wonder if GG will honor them ?  Not holding my breath on this one.  

 

MDGolfHacker

[Golfspy_CG2]

Wow, all the stores near me are gone. Here's hoping a pga ss makes an appearance some time soon.

 

 

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I've been saying for a while I wish one of those would come to our area. Maryland or Virginia side, I don't care I'd drive either way.

 

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