How to Navigate a Pro Shop

[CKaneb]

Not sure if this has been asked before but how do you guys navigate a pro shop? I guess a more in depth way to ask this is what makes you walk into a pro shop and say "I'm gonna buy a belt from here" or "I'm gonna buy a polo from here" or "I'm gonna by a headcover from here". I feel like all of us like logos and like having all the swag but what makes you walk into a pro shop and buy a certain item. Do you keep track of what you have? Or do you just buy whatever speaks to you. How do you avoid buying too much of the same color polo or having to many belts or too many hats

[klebs01]

I ask the guy at the counter if they have a yardage book when I’m paying for a round and then walk out after paying. 

[RandyMatheny]

I’ve started buying ball marks from many of the nicer places I go, that I just keep in a catch all. With polos I end up with too many similar shirts. I ask the pro shop what’s popular or do you sell a lot of. I also like to get tumbler coffee mugs If they have one. I don’t know if this helps you at all or not. 

[TooMuchAwesome]

I try to stick to ball markers and pencils, unless I’m playing a top 100 course. On the occasion I’m lucky enough to play one, anything and everything is fair game. 

[Dr.Frankenputz]

I typically buy a marker at any place I haven’t played before. 
I rarely find any polos or pullovers in my size in a pro shop. My main weak spot is if they have am&e snap fit putter covers with a good logo. 

[MPAndreassi]

Starting a new tradition this year of collecting hats, and scorecards from everywhere I play. Will end up doing a display of some sort in the room I keep my golf stuff. 

 

If the course has a cool logo, regardless of the prestige of the place, I'll usually pick up a head cover or polo.

[DE-ILLINI]

I usually start by looking for a logo ball to add to my collection.  If I like the logo or it is top course I will look at head covers, ball markers, or divot tools.  I have recently stopped buying polos and hats as I too have found I end up with a bunch that all look alike.  

[CKaneb]

23 minutes ago, MPAndreassi said:

Starting a new tradition this year of collecting hats, and scorecards from everywhere I play. Will end up doing a display of some sort in the room I keep my golf stuff. 

 

If the course has a cool logo, regardless of the prestige of the place, I'll usually pick up a head cover or polo.

I like this mentality a lot

[Phreddy]

My wife counted my polos one day and it was embarrassing.  It has to be a special course for me to buy another polo these days.  Generally a "top" course or some place remote and a memory round.  A towel to hang on my bag has become a bit of a go to thing.  I will admit to being sucker for a cool logo.  I do have bowl at home with pencils from nearly every course I've played.  Retirement has made me move to a bowl from a coffee cup.

 

Phred

[@_the_crook]

ball markers are good ways to remember a venue. pencils kept in a nice wooden box. logo balls.

 

some players go all out, headcovers, whiskey glasses, belts, pullovers.

 

whatever floats your boat.

 

it's all about the good memories.

 

 

 

[USCHawks31]

I walk in, pay, grab a scorecard and leave.  I do have a few hats from one course that I play simply because I like the logo and will wear them off the course too but that's about it.  I have one polo shirt with a golf course logo and that was from my parents who swung into the Pebble Beach gift shop as they were passing through the area.

[CCUgolfer23]

Seems like I’m in the minority, as I hate club logo’d shirts. As someone who works in the industry, I will however buy a ball marker at any course I work at tournament at or play. 

[animalgolfs]

I'm a solid impulse buyer

 

The best part is when I get home and get the wife's look of "REALLY?!"

 

She got her M wagon that way once - so she just rolls with me, ever since

 

[cristphoto]

When I go to a famous resort or historic course I will usually get a hat as a memento (maybe a couple).  I seldom buy clothing there as often the selection in style or size is limited.  One exception I found was the pro shop for #2 at Pinehurst.  Yes - #2 has its own shop.  Large and well stocked.    

[Edsland]

I’ll buy a logo ball from new course but not much else. If it’s a special new course that’s that I’ll probably only get to play once I’ll get a hat. 

[lefthack]

I have blank scorecards from everywhere I've played and I usually buy a t-shirt because that's what I usually wear. If the polos are nice or the logo is cool, I might get a polo. I don't typically collect stuff, but I have a shoe box I put stuff in.

[BYK]

Usually a putter cover if I like the course

[nikeblades00]

If it's a bucket list course usually a hat and ball marker. If it's my home course or some other local courses usually just pay and sometimes sneak a peak to see what's on the sales rack. My home course end of season has some good blowout sales on shoes and even equipment.

[Drwoods2017]

Typically if it’s a nice course I go with a towel and a ball marker and get them made into a shadow box. I don’t do that for every place but for top 25 courses I do. Otherwise I go with either a polo or t shirt. I also do bag tags with the date I first played the course. Ive got them all displayed on a wall holder. 

[Socrates]

I don't do ball markers or towels.  If the logo is good and they have a nice looking hat (small noodle), I might buy one or two depending on whether it's time to toss my current hats.  And it's gonna be a white one.  Usually get an extra scorecard.  I write all over mine and I usually like to clean it up later, especially if I did well.

 

Shirts or other stuff, I make a short walk-around the shop to see if I like the selection.  If nothing appeals to me, I'm done.  If they're charging stupid prices - no dice unless it's a bucket list course and I know I might never play it again.  If it's an ugly logo or stitched in a poor place - again no dice.

[MNVillan]

10 hours ago, CCUgolfer23 said:

Seems like I’m in the minority, as I hate club logo’d shirts. As someone who works in the industry, I will however buy a ball marker at any course I work at tournament at or play. 

I also work at a club, so I steer away from golf clothes because 1. I have plenty and 2. I have to wear clothes with my club logo anyway.

 

I’ll buy a tee shirt if they have a good one, but typically I am looking for swag. I collect putter covers, so that’s my first go-to if they have a good one. Otherwise I’m looking for things I don’t already have. The last nice course I played I bought a dog collar for my pup.

[hwwong]

I usually never end up buying anything at pro shops.  Here's my buy criteria:

 

For non apparel - gotta have a cool logo, good quality and something I'd actually use

 

For apparel - logo/wording has to be tasteful and it needs to be a brand/color I want to wear

 

Too often I find branded merchandise to be of lesser quality than what I'd normally be purchasing. 

[Ghostwedge]

Something small, shot glasses or a divot tool with the course logo on it.

 

[Davidv]

I walk around check out the shirts, hats and sales rack if they have one, something catches my eye and the price is right I buy it.

[cgasucks]

I just come over to the counter and pay my green fee and pick up a scorecard.  If I want to buy golf pants or shirts.  I'd rather buy the Ben Hogan brand as their quality rivals the Nikes, Adidas, and Under Armours out there but at a quarter of their price.

 

Available only at Walmart 🙂.

Edited February 6, 2022 by cgasucks

[akronswitness]

On 2/5/2022 at 12:28 PM, MNVillan said:

I also work at a club, so I steer away from golf clothes because 1. I have plenty and 2. I have to wear clothes with my club logo anyway.

 

I’ll buy a tee shirt if they have a good one, but typically I am looking for swag. I collect putter covers, so that’s my first go-to if they have a good one. Otherwise I’m looking for things I don’t already have. The last nice course I played I bought a dog collar for my pup.

 

I look at golf clothes in pro shops and go "$90 for a POLO?! I can get that on Amazon for $29.99!"

[Thomas Brack]

You can never have to many hats!!

[ND2005]

Man, bunch of party poopers here. If I go to a new course (esp a destination course) I am almost 100% walking out with at least one shirt and hat, possibly more. I'm also a sucker for a good 1/4 zip. 

 

In terms of "how to navigate" - I go by brand. 

 

If they have Holderness&Bourne I am pretty much 100% buying a polo. 

 

If they have a solid selection of Peter Millar (esp some Crown Crafted, their more fitted shirt), odds are also super high I will buy a shirt as well. 

 

Next up comes Johnnie O which has really come on strong the last couple of years. Maybe if they have some Stitch its acceptable too. 

 

If they don't have any of those  brands, first and foremost I would say whoever does their purchasing needs a talking to. Second, I will probably just skip the shirt and buy a hat. 

 

Hats - American Needle 110% the best hats out there. Imperial okay but they are too into the flat bill/rope hats. 

[Abh159]

Unless it's a destination trip (Bandon, Pinehurst, etc.) or a ultra high-end club (Merion, Oakmont, Cypress, etc.) I rarely if ever purchase anything in the pro shop. The only exception would be if I'm somewhere random and they have a great logo (something like a Pasatiempo).

 

I typically end each year with at least a few hundred $$$ worth of pro shop credit at my club so I don't see the point in spending money to buy things from other places when I could get them for free (free is relative considering what I pay in dues 😉).

[CKaneb]

On 2/5/2022 at 8:34 AM, cristphoto said:

When I go to a famous resort or historic course I will usually get a hat as a memento (maybe a couple).  I seldom buy clothing there as often the selection in style or size is limited.  One exception I found was the pro shop for #2 at Pinehurst.  Yes - #2 has its own shop.  Large and well stocked.    

do you have a deuce coin?