Golf

Longitudes Group Releases Timely Big Box Golf Closure Research

Significant retail closures at Golfsmith, Sports Authority and others leave shopping patterns in flux as golf season begins to open across the country. 

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 1, 2017) - Longitudes Group LLC, a leading independent sports research company, announced the release of the Big Box Golf Closure Report.  The report shares how golfers in 38 major markets are planning to shop and spend in the wake of Golfsmith, golfsmith.com and a cluster of sporting goods chains’ bankruptcies in 2016 and 2017.  Longitudes Group estimates more than $800M in golf spending is up for grabs with the closing of nearly 670 retail stores that sold golf equipment, apparel and footwear. 

2015 Sporting Goods Channel Golf Market Report

Longitudes Group today announced the release of its 2015 Sporting Goods Channel Golf Market Report.  Longitudes Group estimates 17% of golf equipment/apparel revenues, in the range of $850,000,000 in retail volume, are sold in traditional Sporting Goods retailers.  Golfers and manufacturers alike have experienced the power and influence of this channel in recent years. Tides are now changing as Golf departments inside large format sporting goods stores are getting pinched as they struggle to keep up with faster growing categories across the aisle. 

2014 Off-course Retail Channel Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Who’s minding the store anyway? Longitudes Group Profiles and Ranks the Top 17 Golf Retail Chains for 2014

Portland, OR – Longitudes Group announced today it has recently completed a new report for 2014 documenting the market profiles of the 17 largest off-course golf retail brands. It includes an in-depth look at the new acquisition made by Worldwide Golf last month of 49 locations of the 91 Edwin Watts stores in bankruptcy proceedings.

2013 Sporting Goods Channel Golf Market Report

Longitudes Group today announced the release of its 2013 Sporting Goods Channel Golf Market Report.  With over 17% of all golf industry sales being sold through this channel, golfers and manufacturers alike are experiencing the growing influence of this channel.  Previously a proprietary report for clients, the report is being released as a syndicated report to the broader golf and sporting goods marketplace.

Public Opinion on the Belly Putter Regulation

Longitudes Group, a sports market research firm based in Portland, OR, asked their avid golfer survey panel about their opinion on the Belly Putter regulation. The polarizing results are in and the panel slightly sides with ‘yes’ the belly putter gives an unfair competitive advantage with a 39% response rate over the 34% response rate stating ‘no’ it does not give an unfair advantage.  On May 21st, 2013, the USGA and R&A ruled that the use of the belly putter would be banned from regulation play as of January 1st, 2016.

2013 Off-Course Retail Report Measures A Calming In The Marketplace

Longitudes Group today announced the release of its 2013 Market Trend Report on USA Off-Course Golf retail. For the first time in five years, the golf market experienced an increase in both doors and retail square footage.  2007 marked the peak before the economic downturn that brought many retail sectors devastating losses. Relative stability settled into the market in 2012, perhaps as the independent competitors relinquished control to the moneyed few.   The specialty golf channel is now dominated by the national chains.  71% of all square footage and 30% of the door counts are owned by multi-door retailers with store footprints over 10,000 square feet.

Golf's Grand Design PBS Documentary Premiere - Aug. 3, 2012

Sara Killeen, President of Longitudes Group, was interviewed for the making of PBS's latest documentary, Golf's Grand Design airing on August 3rd on PBS stations nationwide.  Check your local PBS station for the local schedule. See the trailer here:

Sara Killeen speaks on the PBS special " Golfs Grand Design" Clip 1.