Golf still a consuming passion

 PHILIP REIDon how while times may be tough, all the usual suspects still figure in retailers' best sellers list

IF YOU golf, you’ve got to buy golf balls. If you golf, you’ve got to buy clubs. If you’re any way serious about your golf, you’ve got to spend money . . . on clothing, tee pegs, gloves, training aids. The whole shebang. Yet, in these tough economic times, there are mixed messages coming from the retail sector, with announcements of huge growth from some in this specialist sector and, conversely, of closures and liquidations.

While a creditors meeting has been scheduled for Green 18 – one of the largest golfing megastores, based in Sandyford in Dublin, and only two years in existence with a reputed €1.9 million invested in the venture – there is a different perspective conveyed by the news that Nevada Bobs has announced a new partnership agreement with Elverys Sports that will see the golfing franchise expand into each of the company’s 55 stores around the country.

In announcing the agreement that bucks the trend in the industry, Patrick Rowland, the CEO of Elverys Sport, remarked, “we are extremely happy to be joining the Nevada Bobs network and look forward to developing the brand within Ireland and providing a high level of golf expertise and service to golfers of all ages and abilities.”

There’s a common quick fix given to golfers of all abilities to “keep your head down,” and it would seem golf retailers around Ireland have adopted a similar outlook in riding the economic climate.

Michael McGuirk, of McGuirks Golf, admits sales this year are “15 to 20 per cent” down on last year, adding that “things seem to be lulling off, but it is too soon to tell if there is going to be an upturn . . . a lot will depend (on the budget), if they start taxing more, it could have an affect.”

Yet, the general consensus amongst retailers is trading conditions have been tough but that the foot traffic through shops has been, as Brian Condon of Halpenny Golf in Swords in Co Dublin, puts it, “pretty decent . . . we’re ticking over okay and there hasn’t been a dramatic downturn in customer trading. You have to be positive about the trading outlook.”

James O’Dowd, of Nevada Bobs in Tralee in Co Kerry, is another to take the glass half-full rather than half-empty philosophy. “The golf season is coming to a close but it seems that people have had more time on their hands to play this year and, also, products have become cheaper. There have been a lot of products on clearance too, so that has helped consumers.”

So, in tough trading conditions, what have been the stand-out products for 2009? We asked some of the country’s top retailers to give us their verdicts:

Best Sellers 2009

Drivers

Halpenny Golf:Cobra S9-1

The Bumph:Cobra enhanced their "Hotter 9 Points technology" to further increase clubface efficiency. They started by designing the face shape with a 1:1 length-to-width ratio, allowing for a more efficient transfer of energy from the clubface to the ball. This refined Hotter 9 Points technology is also integrated with their Milled Dual Rhombus Face Insert that maximises COR for higher ball speeds and more consistent ball flight across the entire clubface.

McGuirks Golf:Ping PG10

“The PG10, which was unusual because it was a club in its second year,” according to Michael McGuirk.

The Bumph:The driver has a massive following, though. The 460cc driver features a larger profile with a taller face and deeper crown that produces a higher moment of inertia for greater forgiveness and increased ball velocity.

Nevada Bobs (Tralee):TaylorMade R9

The Bumph: The R9 TP features a Fujikura® Motore F1 65-gram low-torque graphite shaft with .335” tip diameter and High Inertia Tip (H.I.T.TM) technology to promote faster ball speed.

American Golf (Belfast):TaylorMade Burner

The Bumph: Super-stable, high-MOI head design, combined with Inverted Cone Technology promotes more forgiveness and more consistent distance on off-center hits. SuperFast Technology includes a 49g shaft measuring 46¼ inches and promotes explosive swing speed, faster ball speed and added distance

Putters

McGuirks Golf/Halpenny Golf/Nevada Bobs (Tralee):Odyssey XG range

The Bumph: Featuring a modified, extended mallet head with weighted alignment wings, a double-bend shaft full-shaft offset, the White Hot XG 2-Ball F7 Putter combines the 2-Ball alignment system, #7 fang design, White Hot XG technology. Inspired by proven, high-performance, multi-layer golf ball technology, White Hot XG utilizes a multi-layer insert for incredible on-green performance. It combines two materials with different properties to take the level of feedback, feel distance control of the already popular 2-Ball Putter to an extreme level.

American Golf (Belfast):Fisher

The Bumph: The Revolutionary Four Seed Talon and RFP Tour Series putters Include 4 Patented KevFlex Inserts. The World’s First Multi-Speed Putters gives you the Choice of four calibrated inserts to dial in your feel and speed control to match your personal preference and or playing conditions. You can easily customize the Talon and RFP Tour Series Putters to help improve your putting for more enjoyment and lower scores.

Irons

Nevada Bobs (Tralee):Deadheat between Ping G10 and TaylorMade Burner

The Bumph:Ping G10 – The 17-4 stainless steel G10 irons are engineered with extreme low toe weighting to increase the moment of inertia for added forgiveness and consistency. The large, perimeter-weighted head features a new cavity shape and wider sole. The centre of gravity is positioned away from the face and low in the club head to promote higher launching, lower spinning shots. By creating a new shape for the Custom Tuning Port (CTP), Ping engineers stabilised the hitting area to produce consistent ball velocity across the entire club face. An elastomer CTP insert helps control vibration for a solid feel.

TaylorMade Burner Distance with Tour Playability: New multi-functional sole with bevelled trailing edge combines the easy launch of a low CG with the extreme versatility of a thin sole; Medium top-line and intermediate offset offers a clean and classic appearance at address and excellent playability; thin and fast face (2.2-millimetres thick) delivers high COR to promote faster ball speed and longer distance.

McGuirks Golf: Deadheat between the Ping G10 and Wilson Deep Red

The Bumph: Wilson Deep Red: Wilson Deep Red Distance II Irons Features: Drawing on the technology and the success of the original Deep Red iron, Wilson has created a completely new game improvement iron – Deep Red II Distance. With aesthetics comparable to the Deep Red Tour iron, the distance combines a host of game improvement, features to make this iron long, accurate and very easy to play.

American Golf (Belfast):Mizuno MX 100s and 200s

The Bumph:The Mizuno MX-200 are designed for forgiveness with feel. They provide great confidence over long iron shots, as well as fantastic feel around the greens, whereas the Mizuno MX-100 provide a different type of result, the larger heads deliver endless forgiveness throughout the set, as well as a high flying ball flight.

Halpenny Golf:Deadheat between TaylorMade Burner Callaway X20s

The Bumph: The Callaway X-20 irons are all about giving serious golfers total performance with enhanced forgiveness for the ultimate in confidence. Using the Progressive Wall Reduction System, Callaway Golf engineers lowered the centre of gravity by six per cent compared to the X-18 irons. Progressive Wall Reduction means that the centre of gravity gets progressively lower throughout the set. The centre of gravity is lowest in the long irons, helping you get the ball airborne more easily. Variable Face Thickness (VFT) Technology maximises ball speed and perimeter weighting for more distance and forgiveness. S2H2 Technology allows weight to be removed from the hosel of the club and placed round the perimeter for extra forgiveness.