Golf shops and lack of stock

Trampas

Was in 3 golf shops (Golf Works x 2 and Premier golf) today looking a few things as I am amazed with the lack of stock in the shops.

Very few sets of clubs and golf balls mostly had golf clothes and rain gear.

The golf balls was very poorly stock. Literally only the balls you have a dozen for €20.

Are most golf shops gone like this.

Any reason why shops are like this. I thought they would be full of stock since its the start of May.

Didn't go to Mc Guirks as a bit out of the way

stooge

I believe that golf works is more or less closing down. The spawell shop is shut and the dundrum branch is on the verge of shutting.

Mcguirks is overpriced IMO but they may have some sort of sale soon. Cobra and Callaway have brought out new irons so they may be looking to get rid of the older ones.

Marcus-Aurelius

yep,golf works in lucan is closing down aswell, one of my mates was working there for the last year and a half, said a few weeks ago that people from mc guirks were in looking to take over as far as i remember!:rolleyes:

milltown

Yay!
By far my localest shop, and the only handy one since Mc.Guirks in Celbridge shut. A pretty useless shower over the years I've tried to deal with them. Wouldn't drop €25 off the list price of a premium driver when I told them what Mc.G's were doing it for.
Be nice to have a decent shop nearby, and the company discount will make it all the sweeter. Hope it's true.

steelbar

Trampas wrote: »

Was in 3 golf shops (Golf Works x 2 and Premier golf) today looking a few things as I am amazed with the lack of stock in the shops.

Very few sets of clubs and golf balls mostly had golf clothes and rain gear.

The golf balls was very poorly stock. Literally only the balls you have a dozen for €20.

Are most golf shops gone like this.

Any reason why shops are like this. I thought they would be full of stock since its the start of May.

Didn't go to Mc Guirks as a bit out of the way

The lack of stock on the club side of things is probably because the majority of irons and wedges thes days are all custom fit and ordered only on demand.

Why would a shop carry stock when they dont need it?
They industry is competitive enough, esp with the likes of eBay, so it only makes sense that the shop will try and keep its costs down.

Trampas

cheers for the replies.

even with custom fitting they should have a set of each model to try.

Didn't see one set of Taylor Made, Titlesit or Nike irons.

So literally its going to turn into Mc Guirks vs pro shop for bricks and mortar places.

I would never buy a club or set of clubs without trying and getting custom fitted.

steelbar

Well most companies Titleist,Taylormade,Mizuno,Cobra,etc have fitting centres, where they will have all the different set ups,lie loft. Shaft. Grip size all wit the same club, either a 6 or a 7 iron and you try them and decide what works.

Par72

The Golfworks in Deansgrange is gone now too. It wasn't a great shop but I don't like the idea of McGuirks having a bit of a monopoly.

stooge

can understand wanting to try out and custom fit clubs before buying but it makes more sense to try out the club you want in store and then order online or buy up north (with the exchange rate it works out much cheaper).

Current clubs I'm looking at are 400E in mcguirks and 249GBP up north. thats about a 80E saving i think before bartering . Saw them online with an inch taken off the shaft (which would suit me) for 142GBP.

If shops were a bit more competitive on price I'd be inclined to buy there but until then it looks like their only use is for testing clubs.

One Cold Hand

It is a pity to see other stores going out of business, the competition would be healthy.

Golf stores make flip-all profit on set of brand name irons and drivers (hard to believe, I know!). They make a lot more on clothes, rain gear, accessories etc. This is why it's kinda hard to bargain them down a few quid on set of irons.

psorrento

There's an ok golf shop on the phibsboro road, plus 4 sports.
Also Halpenny Golf in Airside Swords has a large selection of brands and decent range of golf balls. On the Southside Leopardstown Golf Driving range have a decent shop. I don't think Mc Guirks have a monopoly with two shops.

Par72

psorrento wrote: »

There's an ok golf shop on the phibsboro road, plus 4 sports.
Also Halpenny Golf in Airside Swords has a large selection of brands and decent range of golf balls. On the Southside Leopardstown Golf Driving range have a decent shop. I don't think Mc Guirks have a monopoly with two shops.

McGuirks actually have three shops (Howth, Blanchardstown & Leopardstown). They don't have a monopoly but in terms of large shops they don't really have much in the way of competition now.

copacetic

Par72 wrote: »

McGuirks actually have three shops (Howth, Blanchardstown & Leopardstown). They don't have a monopoly but in terms of large shops they don't really have much in the way of competition now.

green 18 in sandyford is a fair bit of competition for the leopardstown shop, since it is only 5 minutes away and is bigger if anything.

WHIP IT!

copacetic wrote: »

green 18 in sandyford is a fair bit of competition for the leopardstown shop, since it is only 5 minutes away and is bigger if anything.

What's that place like? Was thinking of getting my irons custom fit... would this be a decent place to get it done?

Par72

They seem pretty expensive from the browsing I have done there. I don't think they are likely to get into price wars with McGuirks.

stooge

Par72 wrote: »

They seem pretty expensive from the browsing I have done there. I don't think they are likely to get into price wars with McGuirks.

exactly my thoughts, but the staff are very friendly and there is a swing analyser there too. When I was there the guy was very helpful and said they could almost match mcguirks price. PLus he would do a free swing analysis to see which clubs suited my swing.

Not a big fan of mcguirks tbh, but like all golf shops you do get the odd bargain.

Kicking myself that I didnt buy a set of clubs in the nevada bobs liquidation sale before xmas :mad:

Kaisr Sose

Where is the best place to get fitted-and not the best place to buy? Thinking of buying in the US -or just getting a set of clones custom built in the states-gigagolf or similar.

copacetic

Par72 wrote: »

They seem pretty expensive from the browsing I have done there. I don't think they are likely to get into price wars with McGuirks.

they seemed about the same as mcGuirks full prices, but possibly more than them after barter. I wasn't saying they were cheaper/better, simply that they were competition, being newer and stocking clothing ranges etc and features that McGuirks don't have.

jampotjim

I got a few new bits n bobs off ebay the last while and saved quite a bit.

redarmy

work in golworks mit b all closeing in nex 2 weeks no stock

slumped

have heard from sources that even McGuirks are feeling the pinch albeit not as bad as others.

When you consider that general retail sales are down - golf retailers must be feeling the pinch

redarmy

think premier are going 2 b the best around

stooge

redarmy wrote: »

work in golworks mit b all closeing in nex 2 weeks no stock

Redarmy,

Do you think golfworks will have a sale before they close to get rid of whatever is left?

milltown

redarmy wrote: »

work in golworks mit b all closeing in nex 2 weeks no stock

Did you text that in?

redarmy

maby but all stock left is crap u should get get a deal on it any way

redarmy

milltown wrote: »

Did you text that in?

ye i did:D