Travel Michigan Golf

GOLF DATATECH SURVEYS CUSTOM FITTING, REPORTS ON SALES AND ROUNDS PLAYED

Golf World Business reported that of the 1,396 golfers polled by Golf Datatech, 51% said they have been custom fitted for golf clubs at least once. Of those who had been fitted, 31% were fitted within the last year and 70% had been fitted within the last three years. A breakdown by handicap revealed that 69% of those with handicaps of 10 or less have been custom fit. That number drops to 34% for golfers with handicaps of 20 or more. Static fitting (42%), dynamic fitting with a professional (41%) and outside demo (39%) rank closely among the fitting methods used.

Golf Datatech also reported rounds played in the U.S. fell 2.5% in August compared to August 2000. Year to date, rounds played have dropped 2.4%, and rounds played have shown declines in seven of the first eight months of the year versus the same month of the previous year. The only month in which rounds played rose in 2001 versus 2000 was July. In August, the only increases in rounds played were in the South Atlantic region (up 0.6% including Florida and up 2.1% without Florida) and in California (up 1.2%).

Iron sales at on- and off-course shops fell 5% to $42.9 million in August compared with August 2000, and unit sales rose 1.5% to 678,740, according to Golf Datatech. Sales of woods rose 5.3% to $65.7 million and unit sales increased 3.5% to 313,270. Putter sales rose 2.6% to $19.1 million, but unit sales dropped 2.2%. Wedge sales rose 1% to $8.2 million, while unit sales were down 1.1%.

Footwear sales decreased 2.8% to $20 million in August, while unit sales rose 3.6% to 240,490 pairs sold. Sales of gloves rose 2.9% in August, and unit sales increased 1.2%. Sales of bags fell 2.1% in August to $15.4 million, and unit sales fell 1.5% to 123,720.

"NSGA Research Newsletter" highlights information from NSGA research as well as from other sources.

Taken from NSGA Research Newsletter, Thomas B. Doyle tdoyle@nsga.org