DES PERES, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Golfers in the St. Louis area will benefit as the competition between golf stores heats up with the entry of the country’s largest golf retailer. Golfsmith Golf & Tennis officially opens the St. Louis area’s largest golf retail experience on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 8:00 AM. During the grand opening on Friday and Saturday, March 18 & 19, dozens of golf enthusiasts are expected to camp out to claim more than $40,000 worth of free merchandise and giveaways.
“The St. Louis market was vastly underserved by retailers who offer the technology, products and expertise to empower everyone to play better, until now. We’re proud to provide a whole new retail experience to golfers and tennis players,” said Golfsmith President and CEO Marty Hanaka. “This is one of our most technologically advanced stores featuring custom fitting studios, a free indoor driving range, a huge putting green and exclusive deals golfers won’t find anywhere else. We welcome all to stop in and experience how Golfsmith can help improve their game.”
Golfsmith’s entry into the St. Louis market signifies a major shift in the way players are outfitted and served. The 25,000 square-foot store, located in the Des Peres Center at 11955 Manchester Road, is a golfer’s interactive playground. What differentiates Golfsmith is the ability for customers to test-drive the hottest new clubs right inside the store. It features a five-bay indoor golf driving range (free for anyone to use), a large putting green, two hi-tech custom-fitting studios, and thousands of golf accessories in addition to the latest styles of men’s and women’s fashions. Instead of buying off-the-shelf, Golfsmith’s focus is to use high-tech golf analysis and custom fitting systems to custom-fit players to enhance their game with just the right equipment at guaranteed low prices. The new Golfsmith is located on Manchester Road near Lindeman Road, approximately one mile east of the West County Center Shopping Mall in the former Schnuck’s Shopping Center.
“This is a golfer’s paradise. We have made our new Missouri store the kind of place golfers do not want to leave,” said Hanaka. “The Golfsmith experience is like none around because all of our associates have a passion for the game and offer the best advice coupled with an expertise to custom fit golfers with the most precise equipment to help improve their game. We even guarantee our clubs and custom fitting process will make our customers’ games more enjoyable.”
Custom fitting is the process where a Golfsmith club-fitting specialist uses computerized swing analysis systems to study every aspect of a player’s swing and then recommends the best types of clubs. Golfers can be custom-fit, free of charge, for any type of golf club.
“Our new Golfsmith store offers every golfer and tennis player unprecedented levels of service combined with huge selections of the best products and clothing for players of all abilities. We are unlike anyone in the St. Louis market because we offer performance guarantees when purchasing certain clubs, offer free club fitting services and other programs, all designed to provide just the right gear for our customers to play better,” said Jason Sutton, Golfsmith’s Des Peres GM.
About Golfsmith -Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOLF), is a 44-year-old specialty retailer of golf and tennis equipment, apparel and accessories. The company operates as an integrated multi-channel retailer, offering its guests the convenience of shopping in more than 78 stores across the United States, through its Internet site and from its assortment of catalogs. Golfsmith offers an extensive product selection that features premier branded merchandise, as well as its proprietary products, club-making components and pre-owned clubs. Visit www.Golfsmith.com.