How to buy golf club online

It is becoming common nowadays for golfers to purchase their equipment and other golf-related items online. Buying online is certainly convenient, and it can be a great way to expand the choices. You could probably save some money compared with buying from high end retail stores. However, you need to understand the risks of buying online. Apart from the scams and fraudulent site that are taunting us to buy now, you can even have a bad experience from a reputable site, ranging from late delivery, wrong item being delivered, defects and poor customer service. Many sites also collect your email address and bombard you with endless email advertisements.

Before you make the decision to buy online, make sure you are certain what you are looking for. Unlike offline retail shops which allow you to view, feel and sometimes even try the actual product, you can only rely on the information on the website to make you buying decision. The best way to do that is to visit a local golf shop, visit golf club demonstration event and hit a bunch of clubs to see what suit you best. This will also help with the type of shaft, flex, lie and length of the club. Having this information will provide you a better chance of getting the right club.

Next, investigate the websites you are looking to buy from. The following are some key signs to determine if a site is reliable:

(a)  They have a professional looking site with contact number, address and company information clearly stated

(b)  They offer warranty on their product, even if it is shipped to an overseas location

(c)  They post a Hacker Safe or similar logo

(d)  They accept payment from established payment gateway like PAYPAL, WORLDPAY

(e)  Many online retailers also operate in online marketplace like eBay and Amazon.com. You can see the feedback from their customers in these marketplaces. Typically, it is best to buy from those who at least 98% positive ratings from more than 500 customers.

Below are some major online golf retailers which you could possibly explore.

If brand is not a major concern for you, there are many sites out there selling clones of the major name brands. Many of these clubs are excellent alternatives to the name brands, especially when you consider the cost savings. One such sites that offers the latest golf technology at affordable price is www.gigagolf.com. Instead of spending large sum on advertising and endorsement, they chose to focus on product quality, and direct selling to the end consumers through their web site. The heads are made in many of the same foundries that make heads for big brands. Likewise, the shafts are specified to be premium quality made by only the best shaft manufacturers.

If you are wondering the performance of clone versus the branded club, a good site to go is http://www.mygolfspy.com/clone-golf-clubs-vs-name-brand/

Golf Direct - The Rising Star in Singapore Golf Retail Scene

If you are familar with the golf equipment scene in Singapore, you would probably heard of Golf Direct. Managed by the former team from now defunct Golfers Network, Golf Direct has been rather aggressive in pricing their products since day 1 they started, sometimes to the extent of selling below the cost which the local authorized dealers could get from the brand owners and distributors.

The low price high volume business model throught regular golf sale seems to work well for Golf Direct. Started with just one outlet in Kakit Bukit in 2009, it has now grown to 3 and taken the local golf retail industry by storm. Golfers are happy now that they have one good option when considering their purchases. Unfortunately, their success also means that the other retailers which follow the conventional business model of buying from brand owners or authorized distributors are hard hit. Among the hardest hit are brands such as TaylorMade, King Cobra and Callaway. More information of their sale can be found on the following link: http://singapore-promotions.com/sports/golf-direct-new-year-sale-offers-1-9-feb-2013-57711/attachment/golf-direct-1-feb-2013/

How do Golf Direct manage to sell at such a low price and yet substain it's business ? Are the equipment authentic ? These are the questions which golfers sometimes wonder. I analyze their business model and I think there are 3 main pillars supporting their success:

(a) One of the key success formula I believe is their excellent network of business partners who are able to supply them the items at an attractive price. The current Golf Direct team are formerly from Golfer Network, which has been in the sports and golf wholesale, export and import business for many years. The team could easily ride on their past network to bring in the supplies.

(b) I don't believe they could make a lot of margin from the branded products which they bring in and sell in their retail outlets. Golf Direct do have their other house brands like Giga, Slazenger, Dunlop and accessory products such as gloves, shoes, bags, apparels which they retail in Singapore and distribute in the region. That will give them the margin to substain their business. By using the branded products and the regular sale as lure, Golf Direct is able to build a brand name for itself and expand its network and contact further.

(c) And finally, in order to do this business at such a scale, Golf Direct needs to have the funding, which I believe they have. 5 to 10 millions dollars is probably the minimum needed to run this business.
Whether their products are authentic, I think the answer is obvious. Will any sensible business person spend millions of dollars building a golf business selling counterfeit golf clubs especially in Singapore where intellectual property rights are well protected by the laws?

Every year, there would be on an average of 2 new golf shops entering the smalll, saturated and extremely competitive golf retail scene in Singapore . Incidentally, there would be on an average of 2 golf shops turn belly up and exit the industry, Golfer Network, Grand Bigwin, Golf Zone, Heritage Golf, Golfers Place, just to name a few. I believe in order to survive in this cut-throat competition, one has to be innovative, resourceful and constantly looking out for new opportunities to create their own niches, just like what Golf Direct has done!