Chicago, IL, Sept 16, 2016 – The premium club fitting business is a bright spot in the stagnant golf industry. Nike Golf recently announced they are abandoning the golf club business and now Golfsmith is filing for bankruptcy. Despite this recent news, premium club fitting companies like Club Champion are taking center stage in this soaring segment of the golf business.
Club Champion, the country’s leading premium golf club fitting and building company, recently opened its 16th new fitting studio in August on Long Island. The company has opened five stores this year with another four locations to open by January of 2017 – all of the stores are company owned. According to Club Champion’s CEO Joe Lee, “We are leading an expanding niche in the golf retail space. This year, overall sales have grown by more than 80% and same store sales are fueling a lot of that growth.”
Premium club fitters are different from other golf retailers that perform fittings because they can mix and match any brand of head and shaft. Club Champion rises above the competition because it offers 15,000 combinations, uses highly trained experienced master fitters in conjunction with the most advanced technology, and assembles clubs in-house to precise tolerances. Ranked among the 100 Best Club Fitters by Golf Digest since the list started, Club Champion utilizes an advanced coupling system that can combine any head and shaft, so golfers hit the precise combination to be custom built for them. Lee stated, “Most golf stores or club professionals use fitting carts with limited options; you are unable to mix and match across different brands. Club Champion offers hundreds of shafts, many of which are not available through other fitters and retailers.” The company prides itself on an unbiased approach where no specific vendor is promoted. The only goal is to find the best combination of components to lower golfers’ scores.
Studies by top industry publications illustrate the benefits of premium club fitting and point to reasons why this is a growing trend in the golf industry. A Golf Magazine study concluded that 90% of U.S. golfers are likely playing with improperly fit clubs. A 2013 Golf Digest study found that 8 out of 9 golfers who upgraded to custom-fit clubs by Club Champion added an average of 21 yards off the tee, significantly reduced their shot dispersion and lowered their scores by as much as 6 strokes per round. Results like this are fueling the premium club-fitting boom.
According to former PGA Tour Player, Jay Williamson, “I had access to every brand of shaft and head, but I never understood what they did for me. I didn’t have the opportunity to experiment like I do at Club Champion. They bring the same level of service players receive on Tour, including the newest heads and shafts and the most advanced fitting technology, to the masses. If you are a committed golfer at any level, I highly recommend it.”
Jake Thurm, PGA pro and Kevin Streelman’s swing coach, quickly realized that Club Champion provides access to premium equipment many customers cannot find elsewhere. He believes, “Equipment is a large part of the equation. It’s always better to have the equipment fit you as opposed to you adjusting to your equipment.” He adds, “If you’re a golf geek like me, you just want to get in there. They have everything. They order your equipment, build it for you, and ensure what you’re using is helping your golf game. If they don’t find anything clearly better, they simply tell you.”
Says company Chairman and Co-Founder Keith Bank, “There are more than 24 million golfers and 10 million passionate golfers out there who want to improve their game. The retail landscape is changing and consumers want tailored products that make their lives easier and the game more fun. Club Champion has tapped into that wave of change and we are building a successful retail model that will drive growth for the next decade.”
More information on the company can be found at www.clubchampiongolf.com or by calling (888) 340-7820.
About Club Champion
Established in 2010, Club Champion is a national club fitting and building company headquartered in Chicago, IL. The company has 16 company owned studios in 14 major markets across the country. Their studios carry all the top golf club, shaft, and grip brands in the industry, which allows for 15,000+ equipment combinations for customers to trial. Studios are equipped with advanced analysis technology with highly trained certified fitters and builders that must graduate through an extensive training program – Club Champion University. Services include custom fitting and building for all club purchases, repair services, personalization, and highly engaging corporate and personal entertainment events. For more information about Club Champion, visit www.clubchampiongolf.com.
