Indoor, High Tech Hitting Bays Plus the Largest Selection of Golf Gear & Apparel
$10,000 in Prizes and Giveaways During April 13 Grand Opening
BALTIMORE, Md., April 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nation's largest specialty golf retailer will swing into the Baltimore market just in time for the golf season. The newest Golfsmith location provides area golfers with an unrivaled golf retail experience. The 22,000 square foot facility is Golfsmith's first Maryland store and one of the largest specialty golf stores in the state, offering golfers the ability to try out equipment right inside one of four indoor, high-tech hitting simulators, or on an indoor putting green. Golfers of all levels can also sharpen their skills with a biometric, video-recorded golf lesson taught by a certified GolfTEC coach right inside the new retail location. And when it comes to outfitting golfers from head to toe, Golfsmith carries a selection of authentic apparel brands and fashion not found elsewhere.
The new Golfsmith store located at 130 West Ridgely Road in Timonium, MD in the Lutherville Station shopping center is Golfsmith's 83rd store and comes on the heels of Golfsmith's expansion announcement of 10 new store openings and four relocations this year. Regionally, Golfsmith will open three additional new stores in the DC area this year (in Sterling, Fairfax and Potomac Town Center). More than 20 associates will be hired at the Baltimore store.
Golfsmith's expansion is bucking a major retail trend in the golf industry. In the last decade, almost half of all golf retail stores in America closed, according to the National Golf Foundation. By the end of 2012, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF), will serve customers in 89 locations from coast to coast.
"Golfsmith's experiential concept will make most golfers' jaws drop as soon as they walk through our doors. Baltimore area customers can experience a concept not offered by other area golf retailers," said Golfsmith CEO Marty Hanaka. "We are a golfer's paradise because our goal is to help golfers of all skill levels play better and find the best solutions for their game. We offer a great product selection with the best equipment from brands like Titleist, PING Callaway, TaylorMade and MacGregor. We offer guaranteed low prices on everything we sell and have a commitment to exceptional customer service by the best retail professionals in the industry."
On Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14, 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, or a free two-pack of golf balls. 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 on April 15.
In addition to the largest selection of equipment, the new Baltimore store will feature the latest custom-fitting technology that will help Golfsmith certified fitting specialists identify the right clubs for a golfer's individual abilities. Custom fitting is the process where a Golfsmith club-fitting specialist uses computerized swing and ball analysis systems to study every aspect of a player's swing and then recommends the best types of clubs and the set-up of those clubs, including shaft flex, loft, lie and more.
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). Golfsmith traces its roots to making custom-fit clubs beginning in 1967 and offers free custom fitting services. When customers get fit for golf clubs, if they do not see immediate improvement in their game they can bring back their clubs within 30 days for an in-store credit. Golfsmith also guarantees product pricing will be the lowest around and offers a 115% price guarantee.
Golfsmith offers a comprehensive online store at www.golfsmith.com where Baltimore 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
The new location will also house three GolfTEC teaching facility bays allowing golfers to learn how to improve their game with a certified professional coach who uses proprietary kinetic and biometric analysis along with video performance equipment to help golfers develop a better swing. GolfTEC is the number one lesson provider in the United States and has given more than three million lessons.
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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 83 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.