Search
 

Golf Galaxy Seeks Hole-in-One

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN-A former Best Buy executive has created an "everything under one roof" golf retailing store that he's taking nationwide.

By Dees Stribling | Updated on October 21, 2004

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN-Golf Galaxy Inc. officials say they have one ambition: to be all things golf to all golfers at its “highly interactive” retail stores. So far, golfers seem to be buying into the concept, fueling the chain’s expansion from one store in Minnesota in 1997 to 29 in 13 states this year, with expansion plans for 12 to 15 more by the first quarter of 2006. Right now, most of the company’s stores are in the Midwest, but it’s aiming to be a national brand.

Tom Stine, co-founded of the Florida-based Gold Datatech, a golf research firm, calls the company one of the top golf specialty stores in the country. “Customer service is at the heart of it, along with its remarkable variety and scope of products,” he tells GSR. According to Stine, the privately held Golf Galaxy is among the top three chains of its kind in terms of sales, the others being Edwin Watts Golf (Florida) and Golfsmith International (Texas). Golf Galaxy’s stores typically boast about 70 styles of golf shoes, nearly half of those for women.

But Golf Galaxies are far more than places to stock up on equipment. The interactive features of the store include large putting greens with artificial turf, golf simulators (electronic driving ranges for trying out clubs), and on-site club-repair services. Each store also has equipment called “ball-launch monitors,” which take high-speed photos of golf balls leaving the club face, measuring the spin of the balls and its launch angle. These shots show which driver works best for the customer: no small thing when making a $400 or $500 investment in a driver.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.