Doug,
Your question will have many long and complex answers so I won't try
here. First, I would suggest you join the PCS. I chaired the committee
that established an entry level that you can try the PCS out, for about 2
years. Second, I would be a bit more positive on the GC location. You
also have something to give a golf course. On course repairs. Of course
your benefits are the fitting and sales of new custom clubs. You may be
able to work a deal such as very low or no rent in exchange for doing the
repairs they drum up at a discount. etc etc. (read, they make a profit on
your repairs) Of course your particular skills will come in to play also,
but heck, talk is cheap and fun. ;-)) Good luck.
Al
At 11:19 AM 9/13/2003, you wrote:
Hello all,
I am a hobbyist clubmaker with about 5 years experience. I am considering
opening a retail shop.
My question is, what would any of you say is a rule of thumb for the size of
a town/city/area needed to support one storefront clubmaking operation?
I have a lot of retail business experience. I sold my retail non-golf
business and am now in semi-retirement, but I am wishing for more contact
with customers again. I could probably start another non-golf business and
just keep my clubmaking as a hobby. But talk is cheap and fun, so
I am talking about a retail storefront, not my garage. My midwestern USA
county is rural but on the expanding fringe of a large metro area. We are
talking basic midwest, not Myrtle Beach or some other golf mecca.
The total county population is probably, oh, 40,000. There are no
clubmaking retail shops in the county. If there are any professional
basement/garage shops, they are unknown to me. My particular town is
~6,000, and has about 20,000 (including the 6,000) within 15 minutes drive.
The biggest town in the county has 2 country clubs, about 20 minutes from
here, and each of those has an in-house club repair guy. I don't gather
that they get a lot of business from outside their members/golfers. There
are a few other courses in the area and out to a half-hour away, such as
munis, daily fee 18's, 9-holers, etc. I don't see any of them doing
anything significant in clubmaking and repairs.
It is possible, but I don't know how likely, that I could rent a basically
vacant building of approx. 500 sq feet that is on the grounds of a nice 18
hole daily fee course. They don't do much of anything, pro-shop wise.
There is no club pro to speak of, although one does have an arrangement to
leave business cards and travels 45 minutes to the course to give lessons by
appointment. I mean, in the clubhouse, they sell golf balls and caps and
such, no clubs!
The building I could MAYBE rent, if the owner goes along with it, is right
by the first tee, practice green, and driving range. I think it served as a
temporary proshop while the main building was under construction. It's a
nice little building that looks to be a junk bin right now. :)
If there appears to be any merit to it, I'll have to get more training and
certification, plus more research on the business end of things. But for
now: What is your seat-of-the-pants opinion on whether or not this is a big
enough market to support a one-man retail storefront? Or, does being on the
18 hole course trump all the other considerations?
Thank you very much,
Doug Clark
