AUSTIN, Texas, June 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If you had an ultimate golf game wish to play a round on Father's Day with anyone, dead or alive, you might think a professional golfer or celebrity would be tops on the list. However, according to a survey of more than 200 golfers in North America, many would choose to play 18 with their dad. Despite the choice to play with such golfing legends as Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, or Woods, family beat out celebrities and golf pros with most golfing dads in the survey opting to also play with their sons, daughters or spouses on the June 17 celebration of dads everywhere.
"Golf is a legacy sport – one shared with family and passed from generation to generation. The survey results reflect golf's powerful, emotional ability to bind families together. There's something special about being on a golf course, playing the game you love with someone you care about," said Marty Hanaka, CEO of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF), the nation's largest specialty golf retailer
Golfsmith conducted the survey, polling more than 200 customers using their proprietary focus group the 19th Hole, an on-line survey group comprised of golfers throughout North America.
What do golfing dads want for Father's Day? Instead of new golf balls or other golf related gifts, 41 percent of the survey's respondents say they'd welcome gift cards to let them make their own golf related equipment purchase and when asked What one Father's Day gift would help improve a golfer's performance on the course? Forty percent of golfers surveyed said a golf lesson would help improve their game most, followed by new clubs or a GPS device. Still, golf balls remain a popular gift choice by non-golfers buying for a golfing dad or man in their lives. Golfsmith will sell more than 2.5 million golf balls in a variety of colors in the weeks leading up to Father's Day. But some surveyed didn't appreciate the gift choice of golf balls. One commented, "Getting golf balls is like receiving a fruit cake during the December holidays. Not much thought and they could go unused," while another respondent said, "I will play any ball and it is the thought that counts."
GOLFSMITH'S SURVEY RESULTS INCLUDE:
FAVORITE GIFT: Which item would be your favorite golf gift to receive on Father's Day? The top four responses, among six options, were:
- A gift card - 41%
- Golf clothing - 17%
- Golf balls - 14%
- Golf club(s) - 13%
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE: Those surveyed were asked to choose which gift item they would like most for Father's Day to help improve their game. The most frequent responses were:
- Golf lessons - 40%
- Custom fitting/custom fit clubs - 25%
- A new driver - 12%
- GPS device – 9%
- New putter – 6%
PLAYING PARTNER: Who is the one person/golfer, past or present, you would most like to play 18 with on Father's Day?
- Your Dad – 27%
- Your son/daughter – 22%
- Phil Mickelson – 10%
- Arnold Palmer – 8%
- Spouse – 8%
During the month of June, the nation's largest specialty golf retailer with 89 Golfsmith stores from coast to coast and the #1 most visited retail on-line store at www.Golfsmith.com, expects to see considerably more shoppers visiting its stores and online site than during the December holiday season, traditionally the most lucrative time of the year for non-golfing retailers.
FOR SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR FATHER'S DAY GOLF GIFT IDEAS AS WELL AS SOME ECONOMICAL GIFT CHOICES, VISIT: https://www.box.com/s/38702a1a0e54cb06381f
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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.