NOVI, Mich., June 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nation's largest specialty golf retailer is swinging into Novi and opening one of the area's largest experiential retail golf stores. The new Golfsmith location provides area golfers with an unrivaled golf retail experience with interactive, high tech features not found in most golf stores.
Novi's new 27,400 square foot store located at 43135 Crescent Boulevard located directly in the Novi Town Center replaces Golfsmith's Northville location at 17783 Haggerty Rd and is vastly different. More than twice the size of the Northville location, the new Novi store is a much more experiential layout and changes the paradigm for golf retail in the Detroit market. Golfsmith's newest store features the deepest selection of the industry's best golf gear, and more interactive opportunities for golfers to demo the latest equipment. Customers can hit clubs for free in one of the store's four indoor, hitting bays, three high-tech fitting studios with golf simulators or on a huge indoor putting green.
And when it comes to outfitting golfers and those who want exceptional style from head to toe, Golfsmith offers a selection of authentic apparel brands and fashion not found elsewhere.
In the last decade, almost half of all golf retail stores in America closed according to the National Golf Foundation. Golfsmith is bucking this trend because of its unique experiential retail model and as a result has implemented an aggressive growth strategy that includes 10 new stores and three relocations, including the relocation from Northville to Novi. By the end of 2012, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF), will serve customers in 89 locations from coast to coast.
Golfsmith's other Detroit area locations are in Troy 790 E. Big Beaver Road and at Lakeside 15300 Hall Rd in Clinton Township, MI. The Northville location closed Sunday, May 20.
"Our new Novi store will make golfers' jaws drop when they walk through our doors. We are not just another warehouse golf store. We are bringing the ultimate golf retail playground to Novi area golfers," said Golfsmith CEO Marty Hanaka. "This new format has almost twice the square footage and delivers more of everything – more clubs, more ways to demo product, more apparel, more expertise – simply put, more solutions to help golfers of all levels play better. We carry the best equipment from brands like Titleist, PING, Callaway, Mizuno, TaylorMade and MacGregor and we encourage customers to 'try before they buy' in our hitting bays and studios. It's always free to hit balls at Golfsmith. We back up our selection with a 115% low price guarantee on everything we sell and have a commitment to exceptional customer service by the best retail professionals in the business, all of whom have a passion for golf."
On Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, the first 500 customers in line before the doors open at 8 AM will receive one of the following absolutely free – a $20 Golfsmith card, a free two-pack of golf balls or rounds of golf at the Gaylord Golf Mecca Resort. Customers can also register all weekend long for a chance to win incredible prizes totaling more than $10,000 including drivers, iron sets, bags, balls, apparel and much more. Winners will be selected by random drawing at the close of business, June 3.
The new Novi store also features the latest custom-fitting technology that will help Golfsmith certified fitting specialists identify the right clubs for a golfer's individual abilities. A recently released study of several thousand golfers found a majority of golfers in America play with clubs that do not fit them properly (www.customfityourgame.com).
Detroit/Novi New Golfsmith Store Opening
Golfsmith traces its roots to making custom-fit clubs beginning in 1967 and offers free custom fitting services at all stores. In fact, they have fit more than one million golfers over the last 45 years. Every custom fit club is backed by the Golfsmith Custom-fit Play Better Guarantee. If customers do not see improvement in their game after getting custom fit they can bring back their clubs within 30 days for an in-store credit.
At Golfsmith, golfers of all levels can work on their swings and enhance their game inside Golfsmith's new retail location which will house three GolfTEC teaching facility bays. GolfTEC Certified Personal coaches use video combined with motion measurement technology to help golfers to learn how to improve their game and develop a better swing. GolfTEC is the undisputed leader in game improvement, having given more than 3.5 million lessons with a 95% client success rate.
Golfsmith offers a comprehensive online store at www.golfsmith.com where Detroit area residents can register for special offers and updates on grand opening details by signing up for "E-mail Offers" on the company's web site. To read the NGF report 'The State of the Industry', please click here: https://www.box.com/s/yc495selsybg0hbvlmq4https://www.box.com/s/yc495selsybg0hbvlmq4">https://www.box.com/s/yc495selsybg0hbvlmq4
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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 customers the convenience of shopping in its 85 stores across the United States, through its web site at golfsmith.com 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 ® is a registered trademark of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc.