The Annual ProShop Credit Dilemma

[Tony Covey MGS]

This is my 3rd season at my club. Like I'm guessing most anywhere else, tournament prizes, league prizes, men's association prizes, and basically any prize that isn't Calcutta money (if such a thing as a Calcutta existed) gets paid out as pro shop credit.

 

My first year I did pretty well. I managed to rack up about $230 in pro shop credit. I posted this same dilemma then, and based on my needs and recommendations, I bought a Clicgear.

 

Last year I had what I'd consider to be a down year. My team finished 2nd in the ABCD tournament, I picked up some miscellaneous league and association stuff, but really didn't do exceptionally well. I spent the money a pair of shorts, a few pair of socks, and 4 gloves.

 

This year I'm having a very good year. My team finished 2nd in the ABCD tournament. I won my flight in the club championship. I tied 1st in the member/member. We finished 4th in the first half of the match play league, and 4th overall. I won the 1st half of the handicap league, I'm in good shape for the overall. I've picked up some assorted mens' association cash, and I've decided I'm going to win my flight in the individual match play tournament as well.

 

I'm on pace to finish the season with $500+ plus in credit...and if I don't win another dime, I'm pretty damn close to $400 now.

 

So...given that I don't need anything for the bag, and I don't really want any club logo apparel (although there is a Nike shirt I'm considering), what the hell should I spend it on. My thinking so far is:

 

• See if we have an account somewhere that would let me buy some tools for the shop. I don't do a ton of club work, but it would be nice to do it at home.
• Buy a Scotty Cameron (probably a Newport 2) or maybe a Bettinardi (SS8) putter just because I can.
• Transfer it to one of you guys, and use the money for something we could use around here (my camera, for example, doesn't shoot video...we're going to have to change that).

What would you do? Any ideas, thoughts, etc. are welcome.

[msp1404]

You've earned every bit of that money, so you should treat yourself. But I applaud you for thinking about more than yourself.

[Tyk]

Very nice of you T, if you were going to give it away, perhaps consider giving it to the local golf team. I know the team here operates on a very tight budget and $500 worth of equipment means the world to them.

[Will Par]

There was one thing I always did years ago when I accumulated shop credit: spend it on golf shoes. I always treated myself to a nice pair of Footjoy Classics or maybe a pair of Footjoy dress shoes. That was something I always needed, but wouldn't have shelled out $200 for otherwise.

[BK in TEXAS]

Tools are always handy to have around.

 

You could always get a club and sell it. New stuff in the wrapper re-sells pretty good.

[Matt Saternus]

Shop tools. Nothing better than doing your own club work, IMO.

[RoverRick]

I have not participated this year but last year I won 3 First places, 2 seconds, and a 3d place. I ended up with a set of Callaway Musclebacks and 4 caps and a couple of still have $250. The problem is he has nothing I want. However, I would get the putters if he had some.

[RoverRick]

Our pro shop has no nothing. Just used sets. Of course they can order stuff. I am not sure what it will be like next year when it is in the new building. But right noe things are sparse.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Is there a local First Tee group that could use the help? Congrats on a great year of goffin'! Enjoy reading of your exploits....

[mudfish]

I would buy a pair of shoes, some tools, and donate the rest...

 

a mix of what everyone here has already said...

[Kanoito]

Well congrats to you! Because my proshop credit is about $8

Can't even buy a glove with that LOL

[revkev]

All I can say is great playing. I figured I'd turn hear to read a dilmena over 50 or 100 bucks - not 500.

 

All the suggestions are great - I can't add anyting to it - if you were here I'd suggest a hurricane readiness kit.

[Ice]

Buy some new shoes. XPS-1s will sure make people like your style. GO all orange. Get a new putter. Buy another shaft. Buy 12 cases of Bridgestone balls (3 of each b330) and run a contest here for them.

[GolfSpy Tim]

I've got a $100 credit and plan to get some underwear!!! ;-) - though I'm liking the idea of picking up a few new tools possibly as well.

[Tony Covey MGS]

Over the weekend I picked up what in the grand scheme of things is a relatively small addition to the pot ($10). I also talked to our head pro about my options. He more or less knows what I do for a living, and that his club selection and apparel offerings (basically 100% Nike...not that it's bad, but Hollas, Sligo, PUMA, and Sub70 would certainly spice it up a bit) don't move me either. So...

 

He's willing to work with me on getting some tools (too made we don't have an account with Nikon...those are the kind of things we'll need moving forward) so...here's my follow up.

 

You've got $400 (give or take) to spend on tools and supplies. We're probably looking at GolfWorks, GolfSmith, and possibly Mitchell.

 

All I've got at home right now is a spine-finder, vice, and a gripping station. What would you buy with the credit?

[GolfSpy WD]

Over the weekend I picked up what in the grand scheme of things is a relatively small addition to the pot ($10). I also talked to our head pro about my options. He more or less knows what I do for a living, and that his club selection and apparel offerings (basically 100% Nike...not that it's bad, but Hollas, Sligo, PUMA, and Sub70 would certainly spice it up a bit) don't move me either. So...

 

He's willing to work with me on getting some tools (too made we don't have an account with Nikon...those are the kind of things we'll need moving forward) so...here's my follow up.

 

You've got $400 (give or take) to spend on tools and supplies. We're probably looking at GolfWorks, GolfSmith, and possibly Mitchell.

 

All I've got at home right now is a spine-finder, vice, and a gripping station. What would you buy with the credit?

 

48" ruler

 

Chop saw for cutting shafts. I got mine from Harbor Freight for $40 (I think)

 

Simple swingweight scale (GW version can be had used on ebay for about $80)

 

Frequency scale

 

MoI scale from Wishon

 

Anatomically correct life size Gisele Bundchen doll

[Matt Saternus]

If you can throw in an extra couple hundred, get a refurbished Mitchell loft and lie machine.

[GolfSpy WD]

If you can throw in an extra couple hundred, get a refurbished Mitchell loft and lie machine.

 

You also need a concrete floor to mount it though. For personal use I just don't see these ever being worth it, though they are a LOT cheaper ($800 last I checked).

[Tony Covey MGS]

If you can throw in an extra couple hundred, get a refurbished Mitchell loft and lie machine.

 

You also need a concrete floor to mount it though. For personal use I just don't see these ever being worth it, though they are a LOT cheaper ($800 last I checked).

 

Haven't you heard...I'm standard lenght/standard lie. I don't need to bend anything.

 

Actually...it might be nice...hell, it would be even nicer is the wonderful people at Mitchell would just send me a SCUBA to play with.

 

From a practicality standpoint, it's probably the really cool, nice to own tool that I'd use the least.

 

One other lesser consideration...the workbench may appear as the backdrop in some videos we might one day actually shoot, so we want stuff that looks really seriously shop-like.

[GolfSpy WD]

Haven't you heard...I'm standard lenght/standard lie. I don't need to bend anything.

 

Actually...it might be nice...hell, it would be even nicer is the wonderful people at Mitchell would just send me a SCUBA to play with.

 

From a practicality standpoint, it's probably the really cool, nice to own tool that I'd use the least.

 

One other lesser consideration...the workbench may appear as the backdrop in some videos we might one day actually shoot, so we want stuff that looks really seriously shop-like.

 

The SCUBA does look awesome, man I would love that thing. If you're going to get a bending machine, definitely go with a Mitchel if you want exact measurements.

[RookieBlue7]

Hmm... if you could sell the credit for the value, Golfsmith had a loft lie bending machine on sale for $475 or so. Someone else had a frequency machine on sale for $375 too, but don't remember where.

[Tony Covey MGS]

So what's the consensus on a shaft puller. GolfSmith and GolfWorks (Maltby) have similarly priced models. I like that the Maltby has a load indicator, but I was also thinking I might just use cash to buy the Roberts puller on Ebay.

[GolfSpy WD]

So what's the consensus on a shaft puller. GolfSmith and GolfWorks (Maltby) have similarly priced models. I like that the Maltby has a load indicator, but I was also thinking I might just use cash to buy the Roberts puller on Ebay.

 

The Robert's puller is the one I want, but I'm cheap

[gkatshoots69]

I was thinking golf balls, can never go wrong with a couple dozen of what you like best. I also like the idea of donating it to a high school team or a First tee program, I know the 2 in my area would welcome a donation like that with their arms wide open. Good luck and choose wisely!

[RoverRick]

So what's the consensus on a shaft puller. GolfSmith and GolfWorks (Maltby) have similarly priced models. I like that the Maltby has a load indicator, but I was also thinking I might just use cash to buy the Roberts puller on Ebay.

 

 

I bought one of the $40 pry bars from Golfsmith's and a $12 torch from Lowe's and they are working great. But I would like a belt sander to polish ferrules, and rough up the tip of a shaft. The only problem is since it for myself, I would rarely uses it. As far as a loft and lie machine, try to work out a guys weekend and go hangout at RookieBlues house. He probably has a couple of them. Last years and this years model. He is the Heidi Fleiss of club ho's.

[GolfSpy WD]

I bought one of the $40 pry bars from Golfsmith's and a $12 torch from Lowe's and they are working great. But I would like a belt sander to polish ferrules, and rough up the tip of a shaft. The only problem is since it for myself, I would rarely uses it. As far as a loft and lie machine, try to work out a guys weekend and go hangout at RookieBlues house. He probably has a couple of them. Last years and this years model. He is the Heidi Fleiss of club ho's.

 

This? http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30040097/golfsmith-graphite-shaft-pry-bar

[RoverRick]

This? http://www.golfsmith...e-shaft-pry-bar

 

 

Yes, Obviously, I was wrong about the price. I just put a 2x4 or use the side of the vise and pop it right off. I have not damaged any shafts doing that.

[BK in TEXAS]

I bought one of the $40 pry bars from Golfsmith's and a $12 torch from Lowe's and they are working great. But I would like a belt sander to polish ferrules, and rough up the tip of a shaft. The only problem is since it for myself, I would rarely uses it. As far as a loft and lie machine, try to work out a guys weekend and go hangout at RookieBlues house. He probably has a couple of them. Last years and this years model. He is the Heidi Fleiss of club ho's.

I built my own shaft puller from a pair of old vices...I'll see if I can dig up a picture

[BK in TEXAS]

The frequency machine would be a good tool to have though.

[RoverRick]

Man, I have $675 & I truly don't need anything..Clothing, equipment, balls, shoes, nothing...lol...I think that I'm gonna use it for Christmas gifts..All things golf...Thankfully all thos that are close to me play the game except my GF, however she love the shirtd & shorts..The only thing is, a golf shirt or shorts for Christtmas...

 

Well, everbody but her...lol...

 

 

 

Fairways & Greens 4ever...

Well, if I do not win third place I will send you a

Pm of what you can get me.