How to Navigate a Pro Shop

[cristphoto]

2 hours ago, CKaneb said:

do you have a deuce coin?

 

No. Got a couple hats and shirts, plus a greens fixer.

[PostandGhost]

Question #1 - "Is it a top 250 club?", if "yes" proceed to question 2, if "no" don't even bother with the pro shop

 

Question #2 - "Does it have a unique recognizable logo?", if "yes" buy whatever catches your eye in the shop, if "no" don't even bother with the pro shop.  

 

I have had one exception to question #1 with a bottom 250 club that had a great logo that I had to buy.  The other exception to question #1 would be shorts/pants/shoes or other non-logo items on the 50% off sales rack.  

[LeftyMatt24]

I’ll buy a hat if I like the logo. If it’s a top 100 course I might get a headcover or something depending how I play haha. But in reality, I really like hats to be in great condition so I cycle through a lot of hats. 2nd favorite item is a ball mark 

[Kenbone]

Stroll in confidently but not cocky. You've been here before - just keep it cool.

Pass the rack of $250.00 quarter zips without a glance - good man!

The polos? Nope - got a closet full. Pants - shorts? Not on your life, (random overpriced resort course). I'll be at my local Dick's next week - they get all my $$$.

Caps? Tempting but what will the other 26 in the rotation think if I add one of these?

Approach the counter - smile and pay without grabbing the novelty $24 2oz. bottle of sunscreen or the $18 course branded koozy.

Leave triumphantly knowing your wife will be proud of her level headed, thrifty guy.

[Chazzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

depends on logo

[BoomShakalaka5]

On 2/7/2022 at 11:02 AM, CKaneb said:

do you have a deuce coin?

You need to get a 2 on a hole to get that. 

[x5andr6]

I'll get a logo ball of the course/resort. Lately been collecting the pencils if it has the course name on them. Maybe a tee shirt if it has a nice logo.

[RSLP]

 buy what you want or buy nothing , baller style

[sodak77]

For the top courses I play I will consistently buy ball markers and if they have any I also buy an ale glass with the course/logo etched on it.  I used to buy yardage booklets which I think are great but rarely do I ever go back and look at them.  

[Bonneville85308]

At higher end courses, I usually head immediately to the sale rack of shirts.

[enfuego]

Memorable courses pitch mark tool and ball marker. 

 

Top courses I will also get a flag and maybe valuables pouch to keep the collectables in. Usually top courses have given some of these as tee gifts anyway and/or a bag tag. I won't ever be caught as a bag tag Barry but they can be collected at home.

[gato_plomo]

Ball marker from well known courses, 1/4 zip from bucket list courses.  Sometimes a hat.

 

Don't usually buy polos because I barely get a year out of em after a summer in FL

[stephenmatt]

I usually go in and pick out what I like. Rarely will I go in with an idea of exactly what I want but if I did it would probably be for a polo.

[cardoustie]

Look for double fats in a clearance rack, logo ball if top track

[Greenie]

I may buy a golf shirt from a pro shop if it is priced right. I have plenty of golf shirts so if I buy one in a pro shop I am looking for an under $40 price tag. I don't come across too many shirts under $40 in an XXL.

 

If it is a new course I am playing I will buy a logo ball. I collect a ball from every course I play. 

 

There is a local course I play that has a great pro shop. Everything in their shop is on sale except their most recent items.The sale items are priced cheap. Talking with the person in the pro shop about their great deals he said they run a lot of items through their shop at discount prices. Everything has their course name on the items and they look at it as a good way to advertise. 

 

I have bought more items from their shop than any other course. I have a hoodie, a 1/4 zip jacket, shirts, hats, and a nice towel. I play all over. I get a lot of comments on the towel I have hanging on my bag. People either know the course and we will talk about the course or people don't know the course and ask about it. I'll recommend going there to the people that have never played there. I'm sure the towel alone has brought in some business for them.

Edited June 12, 2024 by Greenie

[Rigby48]

I buy a ball marker from every course I play, have a little salad bowl full.  

 

I buy a polo from about half a dozen a year but I wear polo golf shirts for pretty much every day, most day that I go to the office and any day I leave the house.  I just always remember my grandmother saying you don't leave the house without a shirt with a collar and have it tucked in.  

if it is a really cool logo or memorable round I'll grab a quarter zip as I wear those all winter.  

 

An 90% of the shirts and quarter zips will be some shade of blue with the rest probably green.  

 

I've bought a headcover once--at Royal Birkdale. 

[ItJustDiz]

In general, the GolfWRX B/S/T is my "pro shop". If it's not my first time and a top course (or doesn't have a cool logo) I don't even look other than to pass time and ask course questions.

 

I collect pencils as keepsakes, they are free and usually branded. If I'm actually in need of something I'll search for that; currently in need of a valuables/tee pouch but doubt I'll play anywhere I'd think about picking one up for a while.

 

As others have said, course logo gear tends to be lower quality, and I'm often underwhelmed by selection and execution on gear, even at very nice courses. 

 

All that said, I need to pick something up at Sheep Ranch, I just love that logo for some reason. Clean. 

[jkman]

Usually stick to ball marker/divot tool and maybe a hat at most. 

 

 

[ShortGolfer]

I collect pencils and scorecards.  I have no need to buy anything as I own too much stuff.

Edited June 22, 2024 by ShortGolfer

[JAMH03]

This is a bit different but fascinating on a number of levels. Clearly won't be for everybody. 

#1 it depends. 
#2 follow your values. 

GQ magazine has had some really useful articles on how to assemble a wardrobe if you're into that sort of thing. As far as navigating a proshop and deciding what needs to come home w/me... 

There are a a myriad of factors. Gotta sort those 1st. 

Personally I like pokerchips, and yardage guides. 

[Sep]

I snag a clean scorecard every course I play. Not sure what I want to do with them eventually, so if anyone has creative ideas please share. 
 

I have way too many Peter millar’s at this point. I’ve turned to the belts lately. If they have a nice hoodie I can wear while I’m missing golf in the winter I will snag one. 

[golfortennis]

Because I have a friend who can make a call for me to get onto private clubs, I have to pay attention.  If the pro is comping me, a shirt or something of similar value is being bought to support him.  If I'm paying a green fee, a yardage book or something in that range, but definitely buying something because he did let me on.  

 

A public course?  Yardage book or maybe a sale item, but otherwise not buying anything.  I have enough.  

[ctscup]

I just try to buy what I dont have or colors I didn't have. I kept telling myself I didn't have purple and then I ended up with 4 purple shirts. gotten more into belts recently.

[j.b.newton]

Ball Marker/Poker Chip that goes in a catch all in my office and a logo'd tee that goes with all the others in a large decanter on the bar at the house.

[scott406]

Hat, clean scorecard, and a pencil

 

If it is a course on the tour, then I get a shirt (Harbortown, Valhalla, Torrey Pines)

I do like the ball marker idea and may start doing that even though I don't use a poker chip as a marker

Would take up less room than a hat.

 

 

[st1800e]

Typically I go in the front door of the proshop, to the counter and pay my green fees and leave.  At my club, I walk through to say hello, only after the round.   Sometimes I need balls, or a glove, so I’ll pick those up. 
 

After 50 years of playing , with about 40 hats in the front hall closet, and more than that many ball markers in my drawer, I don't need any more now, probably didn’t need them in the first place.    
 

In fact I don’t look at any of them, wear the hats or use the ball markers.  And no one else wants them, so they’ll probably be disposed of in some fashion, either by me, or my kids….

 

 

[Guest]

11 hours ago, j.b.newton said:

Ball Marker/Poker Chip that goes in a catch all in my office and a logo'd tee that goes with all the others in a large decanter on the bar at the house.

Do you mind sharing a picture of your ball marker catch all? I like this idea. I used to try collecting logo balls but they just became a pain to store/display. Might need to start this catch all. 

[CanFred]

Depends very much on the course - I try to build in time post-round for the pro shop, especially if I enjoyed the round / experience.  I actually get pretty good rotation of hats / polos, so if its a great logo / great course, I'll usually buy one of those.  I'm a big QZ guy, but paying $125-$150+ each time is too much.

[jamstar35]

2 hours ago, NetBogey said:

Do you mind sharing a picture of your ball marker catch all? I like this idea. I used to try collecting logo balls but they just became a pain to store/display. Might need to start this catch all. 

 

I dont have a catch all for my ball markers, but I display them on a magnet board....

 

[j.b.newton]

13 hours ago, NetBogey said:

Do you mind sharing a picture of your ball marker catch all? I like this idea. I used to try collecting logo balls but they just became a pain to store/display. Might need to start this catch all. 

Ill take a picture when i get back to the house..  It's nowhere near as neat as the one above.  Mine is a larger leather one that we all get for father's day/Christmas that occasionally gets stacked neatly, but mostly just a massive pile.  It is about a 14"/14" thing like that that had my initials embossed/stamped on the bottom, similar to this: