2015 Off-Course Retail Report Shows a Mixed Bag of Growth & Contraction
Longitudes Group today announced the release of its bi-annual 2015 Market Trend Report on USA Off-Course Golf retail. The channel continues to be cut-throat all while consolidating as the effects of Worldwide Golf acquisition of Edwin Watts played out in 2014. The merger forced more than 40 Edwin Watts locations to close, significantly impacting the entire US Off-course channel. Longitudes Group tracked a net loss of stores in the channel at (-82) locations, a drop of 8.6%. In addition to the Watts closings, fifty plus closures of independent retailers shows the relinquishing of control to the well-funded few.