While many golfers might be accustomed to buying clubs from cozy local pro shops, two new retailers in Tucson are trying to lure fans of the game with big-box-style shopping experiences.
On Friday, one of those retailers, Minnesota-based Golf Galaxy, opened its first Arizona store in Tucson at 4848 N. Old Oracle Road. The approximately 16,000-square-foot store is less than a half-mile from where Austin, Texas-based Golfsmith Golf & Tennis opened a 24,000-square-foot store at 4439 N. Oracle Road last November.
Both stores seek to dazzle customers with ample equipment choices, clothing sections, club-making and repair stations, high-tech swing analysis and professional lessons. The stores even have sections devoted to golf-themed art prints, coffee mugs, books and gifts.
"It's a nice store," said 70-year-old snowbird Maureen Brown, who was looking through women's clothing racks at the new Golf Galaxy on Friday.
People are also reading…
In Tucson, the big golf stores have moved onto turf that has been previously dominated by smaller regional and independent shops.
While the market for golf equipment nationwide is highly specialized, and has shown little growth over the past several years, the big stores have been successful in taking market share from the small ones, said Greg Maanum, chief operating officer for Golf Galaxy.
"We've had instant market share when we move into a market," Maanum said. "A lot of the weaker retailers go away. It's somewhat survival of the fittest."
Golf Galaxy, which is owned by Pennsylvania-based Dick's Sporting Goods , has 75 stores across much of the country. Golfsmith has 68 locations. A spokesman for Golfsmith did not return calls for comment.
"It's the same exact thing as a Lowe's and a Home Depot," said Marc Carrillo, general manager of the Tucson Golfsmith, about his store and Golf Galaxy. The big golf stores are not far from where a Lowe's, at 4151 N. Oracle Road, stands right across the street from a Home Depot, at 4302 N. Oracle Road.
Despite increased competition from Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith, some small stores don't feel threatened by the big-box golf shops.
Pam Bailey, co-owner of The Golf Stop, at 1830 S. Alvernon Way, said her 5,000-square-foot store offers almost everything that the big stores do, including swing analysis, club-making and club repair. The Golf Stop can also provide professional lessons. Bailey is an LPGA teaching professional, and fellow owners Joann Prentice and Beth Stone are former LPGA tour players.
"Our experience level is very high," Bailey said, adding that she didn't notice any dip in sales after Golfsmith opened last year.
"Maybe we've even seen an improvement in our sales because customers see that we're better," she said.
Located near the big golf stores, at 4144 N. Oracle Road, Van's, part of a regional golf store chain, might lose some sales to Golf Galaxy, said manager Richard Hornfeck. But Hornfeck said he expects the golf market to continue to grow in Tucson and bring his 8,500-square-foot store more customers.
"Golf's definitely growing," he said. "I think a lot of people are moving here."
However, at Randolph Golf Course on Friday, several golfers said they preferred Golfsmith to other Tucson stores and were interested in taking a look at Golf Galaxy.
"I can't wait to go try them out," said golfer Paul Norris, 59.
the new golf emporiums
Golf Galaxy
Tucson store: 4848 N. Old Oracle Road
Total number of stores: 75
Golfsmith
Tucson store: 4439 N. Oracle Road
Total number of stores: 68