AUSTIN, Texas, June 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shopping for dad can be challenging. But shopping for a golf dad can be even more daunting, especially for those that do not play the game. But not at Golfsmith.
"If you are not a golfer, it can seem overwhelming to shop for one. At Golfsmith we make it simple. Our associates are golf experts and help gift givers select from our huge assortment of gift ideas to fit any budget," said Marty Hanaka, CEO of Golfsmith, the nation's largest specialty golf retailer which sells millions of golf balls in the weeks leading up to Father's Day. And they (the golf balls) aren't all white.
Many Father's Day gift shoppers default to traditional gift ideas year after year – golf balls or a golf shirt. But this year a number of new choices are gaining in popularity, especially high tech gadgets designed to help golfers play better and have more fun on the course.
Technology has invaded nearly every category, from clubs to distance finders, at the company's almost 90 Golfsmith stores from coast to coast and through Golfsmith.com. From GPS devices that give golfers a birds' eye view of each hole on the course to laser rangefinders providing exact distances on every shot, Golfsmith has seen the tech category grow significantly year over year with even smaller GPS devices, like the Motorola MotoACTV and the Garmin GPS Watch, gaining in popularity with golfers.
If you don't have a hi-tech dad, even the traditional gifts are more colorful than ever. Vibrant, neon shades are creating new trends and lighting up fairways and greens. From yellow golf balls to luminous apparel, bright colors are the new statement on and off the course. Yellow, the most visible color in the spectrum, is twice as easy to see on the course compared to traditional white balls and has become a standard color showing up on tour and at local golf courses. In fact sales of yellow balls at Golfsmith increased 125 percent year over year and have become the second most popular colored golf ball.
The color explosion has been popularized by professional golfers wearing bright, bold colors from fluorescent blues to tangerine orange, distinctive plaids and bold patterns. Golfsmith has become a destination for those shopping for non-golfing dads, too, because their unrivaled selection in apparel, all designed for comfort on and off the golf course, cannot be found in traditional stores. Even footwear has gotten more exciting with bright colors invading this very traditional category and casual contemporary street shoes from Ecco, adidas, Footjoy and Nike becoming more popular.
When it comes to the hottest selling clubs, technology and adjustability come standard. With a few twists of a wrench, golfers can adjust face angle, loft and lie, altering a club's specs to deliver their desired ball flight. The TaylorMade RocketBallz Driver, Callaway's RAZR Fit Driver and Cobra's AMP Driver headline the adjustable driver category and new putter designs, like the PING Nome, featuring adjustable length options, are sure to be hot sellers this season.
"There are literally thousands of different options for the golfer at all price ranges. If you're looking for a gift under $50 for Dad, Golfsmith has hundreds of fun accessories from personalized golf balls to golf gloves, hats, golf towels and sunglasses. If you don't know what Dad wants, a Golfsmith gift card is a perfect idea and one of our most popular items during Father's Day. At Golfsmith we make the experience easy and fun, and we will help you find the perfect golf gift," added Mr. Hanaka.
(Editor's Note: To view all the hottest selling Father's Day product gift trends, visit: https://www.box.com/s/38702a1a0e54cb06381f)
During the month of June, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF),expects to see considerably more shoppers visiting its stores and online site Golfsmith.com than the December holiday season, traditionally the most lucrative time of the year for non-golfing retailers.
Journalist's Toolbox
IMAGES: To download high-resolution images of golf gift ideas or images of Golfsmith, please visit:
https://www.box.com/s/6077a2ea07fd29d7ba6f
Video: To download high definition video of some of the hot gift ideas, please visit:
https://www.box.com/files#/files/0/f/286924421/1/f_2348653694
Content Editors: To view and/or re-publish a written interview with Golfsmith's Marty Hanaka discussing some of these product gift trends, please visit:
https://www.box.com/s/02d83638fabb4bce8fa2
About Golfsmith- Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF), is a 45-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 its 85 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, clubmaking components and pre-owned clubs. Visit www.Golfsmith.com.
The Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9492
Cautionary Language Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Important factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Golfsmith (R) is a registered trademark of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc.