Thursday, January 15, 2009

Can you get a golf lesson via the Internet?

Can you get a golf lesson via the Internet?... You can.In the past 6 months I have been really committed to running this golf company in such a way that my customers don’t’ just use our website to buy a golf item (But I won’t stop you) but the goal is really to provide other good information for golfers who crave it.

As I look outside to 10 inches of snow with sub zero temperatures this goal is still a work in progress. But I don’t do it all myself. We have a good team of folks that share in our passion for this crazy game. Check out some of the team...








To the point though. Can you go on the Internet and receive good instruction about the game of golf? The answer is yes, at least yes on our website you can. 4 months ago I got hooked on the game of tennis. I didn’t think anybody played tennis anymore until my wife decided to join an indoor tennis club for the winter to maintain our sanity during a long New England winter season (she is from Alabama so it feels even longer to her)

I have become addicted to the game and couldn’t get enough information so I discovered video lessons on the web. I found them very helpful. Personally I think tennis is a much easier sport to play than golf (sorry if that offends anyone) but golf has too many moving parts making it a challenge for even the most talented athlete.

So a few months ago we introduced a series of video clips on various topics of the golf swing. I am sure if you have become hooked on golf you will enjoy our complimentary instructional videos.

Check’em out and let us know what you think.

We have created several golf lesson videos for your review:

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Retail Golf stores on the decline (Etail taking over)

Written by Mike Blair: (Owner of Linksmangolf.com and Gripgolf.com)

The holiday shopping season has come and gone for 2008 and it was an interesting one to say the least. If you happened to turn the news on you can't help but notice that the stock market has gone just a bit, people are losing their savings (albeit on paper for now), and retail stores are having sales advertising 50% off and many of them are closing their doors.

I personally do not like to shop in a retail store or mall environment (unless I am really in the mood and I can spend someone else's money). I was however gifted by my in laws a gift certificate at a local mall which I could use at any one of the stores. Did you ever notice how malls are really not made for men? Did you ever notice how malls really sell mainly clothing? And also what happened to Abercrombie & Fitch? (All their clothes are ripped and the store smells like cologne) Well anyways I was able to spend most of the certificate in no time flat acquiring clothing and shoes I really do not need (they need more golf stores at malls) but I am sure I will look more presentable with the new threads which will make my wife happy.

This leads me to my original thought. Retail is really in trouble. I run a golf business that is primarily run online but at the same time I work closely with many retail golf stores across the country through our sister company called SwingemAgain Golf where we buy used, new, and demo golf equipment from retail golf shops that have excess inventory. My family started one of the original retail golf stores in the country (and expanding to 7 locations before they sold the business) at a time when the concept was new but the times sure have changed for this channel of sales. Retail golf stores are really having an identity crisis where they can’t compete on price versus the internet and they are struggling to understand what will attract their customers through the store and once in the store to make a purchase. The online world has simply become too attractive for most shoppers as the pricing is substantially lower, the convenience factor is an asset, and the experience of online shopping continues to become more enjoyable as the internet matures and websites have new selling tools.


Photo of our home page on www.Linksmangolf.com


My wife, Virginia, who is not an avid golfer but a good shopper has also embraced the online shopping experience in exchange for the time consuming shopping retail experience. Since the shopping experience online is so much easier this actually has become a small problem as she finds more stuff to buy than I do in the world. With 2 small children she seems to somehow have a UPS package arrive at the door once a day (quite a challenge for most)

Ironically with all the above said our business which is solely online has just opened a retail store. Our store experience though is not very traditional in the retail sense as we are in a 10,000 sq ft. warehouse that is not clean and has poor lighting but golfers just love it.

Check out the photo of our shop:





We have a few sister companies that work under our umbrella of golf businesses which makes this little golf shop a must stop/shop for all golfers as we offer pricing that is not seen in traditional retail, no pressure sales, and a true warehouse experience. Check out our recent on FOX61 news: The photos is of me with the Rick (The Fox News Guy)







Happy shopping to all.

Friday, January 2, 2009

2009 Linksmangolf Professional Resolution

The New Year is here.
Our LinksmanGolf.com website is a key focus in the following 365 days. We have hired a new business developer (who we call the Rock) who shares our vision of providing not just an online channel to purchase our golf products but also an experience for our customers. We are working hard to add more golf products to our site as well as valuable content including golf lessons, golf tips, golf etiquette, golf videos, jokes, favorite golf spots and more. As the owner of the company and an avid golfer I am a little embarrassed to admit I have just become hooked on Tennis. This new passion I have been introduced to has opened my eyes to my current business of golf. As a new tennis player I crave and seek information about the sport and want to learn so many of the basics (skills first off and other basic tidbits of info). On our website www.linksmangolf.com I want my customers to be able to find content relevant to their passion for the game of golf whether they are new to golf or have played for years. Keep a lookout for a lot of changes in 2009 to our website (Podcast about playing golf, RSS feeds, New Golf videos, More products added to the site)
Happy New Year

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009 Golf Resolution

The New Year is here. A time to reflect what was accomplished in 2008 and what improvements and changes need to be made in 2009.
As the owner of this company and a father of 2 small children I find that is increasingly more difficult to find the time to play the game of golf and when played I find my skills slowly deteriorating. In 2009 my personal golf goal is to enjoy what is played and the time spent getting fresh air with friends and family and not so much how many over par (not often under par) I am.
Happy New Year
-Mike