Accessories are, or should be, the life blood of all pro shops.
Whether you have a full-service pro shop that includes clubs and clothing, or are just a basic mom and pop operation that has a counter and not much more, accessories are what you really need to pay attention to.
Remember that the vast majority of golfers, regardless of whether they are members or greens fee players, are only in your pro shop for just a short period of time. And they are impulse buyers. They will check in, pay their greens fee…”and oh, give me a sleeve of balls, oh and I’ll need some tees as well.” They might not remember they need those items unless they are front and centre on your counter.
This is especially true if your course hosts charity or company tournaments. Many players in those types of events only play one or two rounds a year and quite often they’ll show up without any of the things they need except a credit card.
If you are a resort course or a high-end destination public course, make sure that you have some balls, as well as souvenirs like divot tools with your logo on them. Don’t forget those gift items for those special days.
Merchandising is the secret to any successful pro shop and part of your merchandising strategy has to include accessories from the small items like tees to larger items like GPS systems.
TaylorMade
When you think of TaylorMade in the pro shop, it’s drivers and irons, or perhaps it’s their wide variety of excellent golf balls that are probably top of mind.
But if you take the time to look you will find TaylorMade has an impressive collection of golf accessories including gloves, bags, hats and umbrellas.
Here are a couple of accessories that any pro shop would be smart to feature: The Cart Lite Bag and the Tour Preferred Glove.
At just 5.5 pounds the Cart Lite delivers everything you expect from a full-sized cart bag in an easy to transport lightweight model. You’ll have space to store all your golf essentials, along with a 14-way top and individual club dividers. The cart-optimized top and base are engineered for a better fit.
Features in the Cart Lite also include eight pockets, two full garment pockets, and a ball pocket with a zip-off panel for custom embroidery.
The Tour Preferred Glove is made with AAA Cabretta Soft Tech Leather and has engineered perforation for breathability, and a contoured fit wrist lining. It also features stretch-fit tab adjustment, a moisture wicking wristband and is antimicrobial.
To check out all of TaylorMade’s products for your pro shop, visit their website at TaylorMadegolf.ca
GOLF TRENDS
Pitch Fix – often imitated but never duplicated.
“Pitchfix is the first company to introduce a switchblade style divot tool that folds to safely be put in your pocket, and they have been one of our best-selling product lines for more than 10 years,” says Lynn Sage vice-president of Golf Trends. “They provide excellent decoration and their corporate and tournament package offering and pro shop displays are excellent.”
Golf Trends provides literally every accessory your pro shop could need including a complete line of Corkcicle Drinkware.
“Corkcicle is a premium drinkware and cooler brand,” says Sage. “They have unique colours and finishes and are regularly introducing innovative new products for an active lifestyle as well as at home.
“One item that they’ve launched that I think is really fantastic is the new Commuter Cup. It has a spill-proof 360-degree sip lid. You can drink from any side and it seals completely. It also has a ceramic-coated interior so it keeps your tea or coffee flavour pure. It doesn’t pick up a metallic taste that drinks in some stainless-steel containers do.”
Golf Trends also offers in-house embroidery on towels, golf bags and travel covers. “We provide full-colour, heat transfer decoration on our towels, umbrellas, valuables pouches and other accessories with quick turn around,” says Sage.
For more information visit Golf Trends website at golftrendsinc.com
Triple Bogey
Triple Bogey wants to bring the party right into your pro shop.
For more than a few years the uniquely named beer has become the go-to post-game refreshment for many golfers from coast to coast.
Golf courses are having great success selling the beer; now your pro shop can also reach new heights by stocking Triple Bogey Merchandise.
That includes Triple Bogey hats, toques, cart bags, stand bags, head covers, polos in green or grey, towels and more.
Your members or greens fee players will want to be the first in their group to be seen with Triple Bogey merchandise.
For more information visit their website: triplebogey.com
MKRAK
As golf clubs continue to remove drinking fountains for health and safety reasons pro shops see an opportunity.
“There’s a steady increase in golfers having their own insulated drinking cups,” says Mark Krakower, president of MKRAK Management Inc.
“Two of our products that we’ve seen a massive increase in sales with over the last year are both in the insulated cup category.”
MKRAK distributes both Tempercraft and Sic Cups.
SIC CUP
Tempercraft is made with stainless steel and has a proven double-wall, vacuum-insulated construction.
“We decorate them with our own five-colour printer here in Montreal,” says Krakower. “Clubs are selling them in their pro shops on a regular basis as well as for tournaments and corporate gifting.”
Sic Cups, which stands for ‘seriously ice cold’, has a very unique design feature.
“It’s dimple shaped. The same dimple pattern as a golf ball,” says Krakower. “They have plain cups as well but they specialize in the dimple cup and that makes it really neat for a golf-related gift.”
Krakower says both manufacturers have cups in various sizes and will keep your cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours.
For more information check out mkrak.ca
G&G Brands
All golfers want one, but many argue they can’t afford a good one.
Pro shop staff can attest to hearing this whenever the subject of rangefinders is brought up.
G&G Brands started to change this misconception when they introduced the Zoom Focus S Rangefinder to the Canadian market in 2021.
“It has received incredible reviews ever since and has quickly become the go-to rangefinder for the golfer who’s looking for all the bells and whistles without the hefty price tag,” says Randee Hermus, director of sales for G&G Brands.
“It features premium optics with 600m of range, slope switch mode, flagpole scanning, target vibration mode, and it even has a rechargeable battery. It also comes complete with a carrying case that you can conveniently clip to your bag,” Hermus adds.
Speaking of accessories you can attach to your golf bag: you may also want to consider the GolfERASER six-pack with tag tether from FTI Brands, the latest and greatest grab-and-go item for your pro shop.
“GolfERASERS are convenient, easy to use and effective for cleaning your club faces, grooves, golf balls, and even your shoes’ midsoles,” explains Hermus.
“With customization available, GolfERASERS have quickly become the new tournament and corporate event gifting item of choice.”
See these items and many others at www.gandg.ca
GOLFING BUDDIES
If some of your pro shop customers are losing distance off the tee as they get older you should think of recommending that they try The Champagne Tee from Golfing Buddies.
“It’s a version of the Martini tee,” says Golfing Buddies president Paul Greenglass. The difference is the Martini tee typically sells for $7.99 and pro shops will be paying $4-5 for it. The champagne tee wholesales for $2.75.”
The large cup allows the ball to travel further because of the aerodynamics. Older golfers, or anyone with a shaky hand, loves the Champagne tees because they can place the ball on the tee with greater ease, and it won’t fall off.
The tees come in individual colour packs or mixed colour packs which make them a real eye-catcher when placed on the pro shop counter.
“It’s a good sale item for pro shops with a good margin,” said Greenglass.
He also recommends The Fix It Divot Tool as an accessory for your pro shop. It’s essentially a stainless steel, switchblade tool and comes with a Canadian flag ball marker on it.
“It’s strong and long-lasting,” says Greenglass. “And if you order 12-24 you will get a free display for it.”
Golf Supply House
If your pro shop is going to be open in November and December Golf Supply House has a couple of suggestions for you.
“We have some great training aids that make perfect gifts for the holidays,” says Tim Middleton, national sales manager for Golf Supply House.
“They’re perfect for your members who are looking to improve their short game over the winter.”
The products, all aimed at improving putting, are The Tour Mat and accessories by Gareth Raflewski and the Player Putting Mat and accessories from Dave Pelz.
Raflewski is a London, Ontario based short game and putting guru.
“We’re so excited that we are able to partner with him and to see the success that he’s having with LPGA and PGA Tour players,” says Middleton.
“His Tour Mat has all the bells and whistles to perfect your putting and you can pair this up with his putting programs.”
The Pelz mat is very similar and has additional aids as well.
“The PuttOUT Pressure Putt Trainer and the Putting Mirror are great stocking stuffers for golfers,” said Middleton who added that all three putting aids are also great teaching tools and potential revenue generators for teaching professionals, and all are in stock!
More information at shop.gshcanada.com
Bushnell
A great accessory for your shop next season is to offer your golfers the best in rangefinders. The Bushnell Pro X3 is trusted by PGA Tour players and provides golfers with consistent yardage readings within a yard to flags at 600+ yards.
The new locking slope-switch lets golfers easily switch the Pro X3 in and out of slope mode to give you slope when you want it, and a tournament legal device when you need it. The dual display allows users the ability to toggle between the bright red or crisp black display setting based on your personal preference and lighting conditions.
Also included is PinSeeker with Visual JOLT technology that allows you to both see and feel that you have locked onto the flag.
For golfers who use a cart the integrated BITE magnetic mount allows you to easily mount your Pro X3 directly to the cart bar.
The Pro X3 is the most powerful golf laser rangefinder ever made and a great accessory for your shop.
