COMMUNITY

A distinction that I find that is not made is the diffence between golf as a sport and the golf industry. Golf will be fine. The industry is headed towards a serious reckoning.

Golf has always been a niche sport. I can remember the boom days of Myrtle Beach when a new course was opening almost daily and there was a golf store on every corner. Now courses are struggling and from my last visit (2016), there were only two major golf stores, one of which was Golfsmith.

It will be interesting to see if these companies weather the storm. I wish it wasn't so. I wonder if TMAG could have brought some of this on themselves by saturating the market every 9 months with a driver that was "15 yards longer".

It's not the sport of golf that's in trouble, it's the business of golf that has the gaps. It's become an online buying sport and you can't make retail work long term. I browse once a week... browse... never buy. I buy on eBay.

Agreed. That's why so many people on this site buy their ammo from www.drmulligans.com

I would with some of that. However money is there. I saw it. The problem is, at least in my opinion, is the perceived value. The difference between the 915 and 917 is microscopic at best. Same with the TMAG drivers.

What's unsustainable is asking golfers to shell out $600 every 18 months for a product that produces marginal improvement. That's why Nike got out of the hard goods game. Not because of their product, but because it is a bad business model.

And that's why TaylorMade is struggling. Bringing out a "new and improved 10 yards longer" driver every 6-8 months is a recipe for disaster. Now they are suffering the consequences. No pity from me with that business model.

AND buying it a year later on eBay for $175.

Absolutely spot on.

Or being the guy who took a $300 bath on a driver.

The last few drivers I bought were eBay used around the $125-$175 range less than a year old and barely used or like new. I want to replace my TMAG RBZ stage 2 3w and 3hy with their equivalent R15 counterparts and I'd spend less than $100 for each on eBay from what I can see.

Agree with many of the comments. Here in Florida the prices are up and the courses are packed. There are certainly golfers out there. I think Jay hit it on the head- the internet has brought forth a method to price out equipment like never before. On top of that you have disrupters like Snell Golf Balls and the short term Costco balls that offer equal quality and at a reduced price.

Unless they start retro fitting M2 drivers with Hickory shafts they are doomed.

And all the responses support my firm belief that the golf industry as a whole is doomed. Companies are chasing to capture more dollars of a shrinking pie. How do you fix that is the question.

Maybe I need another thread.

The real answer is simple. The market is flooded with equipment. The market needs a correction. Some companies Will Survive the hardship of a market correction, some will not.

A correction is coming. That is inevitable. Still doesn't resolve the long term issue. Few firms chasing to get more market share of a shrinking pie. Tons of examples of companies increasing the price of hard goods to offset decreasing sales. Not enough examples of companies doing a lot to grow the game.

But to bring it full circle, yes, TMag is screwed.