Golfsmith: Because it's more than just a golf store

By Kyle Dalton, Contributor

AUSTIN, Texas -- While many travelers to the Lone Star State make it a point to visit places such as the Bob Bullock State of Texas History Museum, Barton Springs Pool, or various other attractions in and around Austin, those who have an affinity for golf know there is one place to go: Golfsmith International headquarters.

Through the years, thousands of people have toured the 330,000-square foot complex that is a straight shot up IH-35 from downtown and includes the corporate offices, shipping facilities, customer service center, award-winning driving range and a 30,000-square foot superstore.

While some out-of-town visitors make Golfsmith just one of many stops on their tour through Texas, others make it their lone travel destination. Depending on the individual's interest, clubmaking or playing golf, Golfsmith offers numerous classes for both.

Every other week, clubmakers from around the world attend golf clubmaking, clubfitting or club repair training schools that run for as long as five days in an effort to become certified clubmakers. Once a year almost 500 clubmakers and their guests make the annual pilgrimage to Austin for the Annual Golf Clubmakers Association International Conference/Open House. The three-day event features seminars from Golfsmith's technical staff, as well as other experts in the industry.

For those who are less concerned with building the equipment and more interested in using it, the Harvey Penick Golf Academy has the answer. This Academy consists of two and three day clinics each week that are held 11 months out of the year. The classes are based on the legendary teacher's philosophy of keeping it simple, most of which is found in his popular Little Red Book. The Academy, which opened in 1993, has helped more than 15,000 students from all 50 states and 16 other countries.

All of this - the facilities, the classes, are a long way from that small two-room apartment in New Jersey where it all got started. That's where, in 1967, Carl Paul realized, after repairing numerous clubs for friends, for people who responded to small ads in the local shopping newspaper, as well as clubs he purchased at garage sales - all of which he described as his training ground, there might be a business not only in repairing clubs but also creating them from scratch.

Paul surveyed the marketplace and realized that there were three golf club manufacturers at the time or the Big Three as he referred to them - Wilson, Spalding and MacGregor. There was also Kenneth Smith Golf Company, which sold individual parts to repair clubs but did not sell clubheads. Out of the four, none of them provided the individual with the opportunity, or more importantly, the resources, to put together a complete set of his or her own clubs. Paul dreamed big from the onset. "I thought we could put the Big Three out of business."

One of the first business decisions was moving their small children into the one bedroom with he and his wife, and using the other bedroom formerly occupied by the children, for the business. That didn't last long and the first expansion of many for what would later be called Golfsmith occurred when the family moved to a house.

It was there on weekends and evenings where Paul began to become more proficient in clubmaking, thanks in large part to his engineering degree and the machinery he designed and built. "We would do everything including routing the faceplate, wrapping the string around (old wood heads), and boring the holes in the wood heads," he humbly said. He noted that they bought the iron heads from a company in New Jersey. All the clubs were assembled, at Golfsmith, AKA the Paul's house.

Paul said he realized very early, even with all the hard work, those early dreams of overtaking the Big Three by storm as he had hoped, were just that, dreams. "It was difficult early on. We were operating on a shoestring. If another competitor had come along, we would have gone out of business. There's a lot to successfully operating a business including production, advertising and things like creating catalogs."

The first catalogs offering golf club components were produced in 1969, the same year they received a federal trademark on the name Golfsmith. Although the company had been operating for a couple of years, the name seemed to make it official. Paul, and his wife Barbara, who managed the business and took care of the couple's young daughters while he continued to commute to his regular job in New York City, did not realize until later, that not only had they not only created a company; they had created an industry - the golf club component industry. The Pauls are to golf club components what Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are to computers.

For the next several years, the business continued to grow; much to Paul's delight. However, it didn't come without a price. The basement, which had been used for the entire company's operation, no longer provided enough space. A decision was made to expand the business within the house and the basement was designated as the production area. "The kitchen-breakfast nook was where we took orders on the phone, the dining room was where Barbara and the secretary did billing and invoicing, the porch was the spray booth and the attic was the warehouse," Paul said, reflecting back on the early days.

The business continued to grow and after a few years, the entire house wasn't enough. "It was bursting at the seams," he said. "We had to move." Paul said his brother Frank was brought on board in 1973 and his first order of business was finding a new location for the company to operate. Frank decided on the state capital of Austin, Texas. Soon thereafter, Golfsmith relocated to a small storefront in Austin. "Many thought we moved to Austin because it was close to home (Bishop, Texas), but Austin was a good distribution point for the Sunbelt," Paul said.

Today, Golfsmith is still very much a family business. Carl, Barbara and Frank are actively involved in the day-to-day operations and all three of Carl and Barbara's daughters, as well as their sons-in-law, are involved with the multi-million dollar company that ships up to 8,000 orders a day.

What's been the key to Golfsmith's success through the years? Paul said there are several factors and one of them occurred in 1977. He said it was at that time when another golf club component company, Golfworks, opened in Ohio and got off to a fast start. The new competition, Paul said, was one of the best things that ever happened to Golfsmith. "We would not be where we are today without that competition. Because of that, we improved our quality, increased our quantity, got an 800 phone number and became a overall better business."

Another important reason for their success is customer service and the general understanding that "the world doesn't really need another place that merely sells golf equipment, but one that offers fantastic service to the customer and also happens to sell golf equipment."

Whether it's assisting a new golfer in selecting a set of clubs in one of the superstores, or offering advice to clubmakers around the world, the service and support Golfsmith provides its customers is what sets the company apart from competitors according to Paul.

If you can't make it to Austin for a tour of the Golfsmith International facilities and find out firsthand about the customer service, don't worry, there's likely a Golfsmith store in a city near you or one coming soon. The company decided to expand its operations in 1995 when it opened its first retail superstore in Houston. Since then Golfsmith has opened superstores in Colorado, Michigan, Arizona, New Jersey, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Georgia. There are now a total of 24 stores in 12 states, as well as three countries including the United Kingdom and Canada.

Although each store may be located in another zip code, all of them have a similar look and feel as the flagship store in Austin. Starting with the overall concept of a retail store, each features a large inventory of golf club components, golf equipment, training aids, accessories and apparel. Visitors have access to the latest in technology such as computerized swing analyzers and golf simulators, devices which measure clubhead speed, and banks of synchronized televisions tuned continuously to golf programming.

The cornerstone of each store is the signature indoor waterfall and rockscape surrounded by an oversized indoor putting green. Paul said the waterfall and putting green are part of a philosophy his wife thought of years ago. "She believed that it's not all about selling merchandise. It's about making the customer feel comfortable. It's like they're outdoors. We really want you to enjoy yourself. If you want to just putt around on the green, that's fine."

Just one more reason to make a stop at the Golfsmith store in Austin, or anywhere else.

Kyle Dalton, Contributor

Since graduating from the University of Texas in 1992 with a degree in journalism, Kyle Dalton has been a writer and editor for a variety of national publications in various fields.


Reader Comments / Reviews Leave a comment
  • Worst customer service

    Peter Sclafani wrote on: Jul 18, 2016

    I had a Jason Day Special Edition Red putter on order as a birthday gift for my wife since June 7th to be shipped June 30th. I was notified in late June it would not be shipped till 7/15th. After at least 5 calls to your costumer service at 800 813 6897.After being placed on hold by Carland ,he guaranteed the club absinthe warehouse and would go out today. Today I was put on hold twice by Alexis for at least 20 min with no response.Another call answered by Ashland and he told me the size club I ordered was discontinued ,but I could get a different size.I cancelled the order and will never use Golfsmith again.

    Reply

  • Best of service and the worst of service

    Wendell Bellamy wrote on: Feb 9, 2016

    I  am writing to commend two of your customer care staff Mike Compher and Chris Farren and generally the entire staff at your North Myrtle Beach outlet.  Last November I went into the Goldsmith store  to buy a set of irons. I was fitted and advised which club set up might best suit my swing. I chose the RX with ProjectX 5.5 reg. graphite shafts and non stock grips . I was given a Veterans day discount (by the way, thank you), at the checkout.  During the checkout process there was some miscommunication, which I was part of, and steel shafts were ordered in error.  I noticed the error on the receipt and went to the store and straightened the order out immediately with Mike's assistance.  I was very pleased with the service I received and decided to also purchase the set of Calloway woods to complete the set. From that point forward it seemed that your special order staff/protocols we're bent on discouraging me.  If not for the PROactive, PROmpt, and PROfessional service given to me by Chris, Mike and all the staffed I encountered over the next several weeks I would have certainly cancelled my purchased at several points.
    At this point I would be pleased to recommend 'that' store to any friend or aquintance interested in a golf purchase, including the 30 or so golfers  I  bring down to Myrtle Beach each spring. I have returned to the store for additional purchases and continue to be impressed.
    If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact me.

    Reply

  • bad service

    desjardins wrote on: May 24, 2015

    Evidently your store on dinah shore in palm springs only caters to the rich famous, drove 45 miles to visit that store and talk the club maker with no help, was supposed to call me an answer,which he never did, i let a few days go by and them i called them back, spoke to a different person who supposed to get back me, but never either. So anyhow i have assume that im not part of the palm springs elite. No response necassary. You concider me a lost custumer.

    Reply

  • Best Club Maker in the Business IS Rocky at Arlington Store

    r strong wrote on: May 11, 2014

    Past stock holder & customer of GS Int.
    Just had my 3 wood re shafted- Rocky selected the shaft, grip and delivered on time.
    At 81 O remain a good golfer, not a strong but hit the ball better than most.
    Rocky took care- evaluated my capabilities and mage the selection, delivered on time and product gave outstand results.
    Good man - Been at this store a long time like others deliver what does best for the customer.
    This store does a GREAT JOB.
    Thanks
    R E (Bob) Strong

    Reply

  • Terrible Customer Service

    Jason Coles wrote on: May 16, 2013

    I wanted to inform you of the terrible customer service I received. I ordered a TM Stage 2 Driver (order number 161166636) on 30 Mar 13, and never received it. It took 6 attempts (3 chats and 3 phone calls) just to get the tracking number. Every time said they would email it to me, but never did. To make matters worse, when I talked to customer service on the sixth time, they told me there were notes in the system to send me the information, but they never did. Once I got the tracking number, I check the status, but it didn’t give the status, only that the shipper received the notification of shipping. After a couple of weeks I called back to get an updated shipping status, and keep getting the same info, we will look into and send you an email about what is going on. I finally had enough and called to get a refund, and the customer service agent said it looks like it never shipped and I should expect the refund in just a few days. 3 weeks past, and still no refund, so I called again, and another customer service agent told me in the system I was due and refund, but it was not posted. She said I should get my refund now in 7 to 10 days. The club not shipping is one thing, I can live with that, it happens. However the repeated poor customer service is unacceptable. I don’t see myself ever buying anything online from you again, or recommend anyone else to do it either after this experience.

    Reply

  • shaft bands

    Mark Greenamyer wrote on: Jun 16, 2012

    I am writing to inform you we will no longer be using Golfsmith for our golf supply needs.Over the course of the last few months all the shafts that we have purchased come in without shaft bands,I have written too inform you of this problem several times and it continues to happen,putting shaft bands in a box seems like a simple thing too do!
    Mark Greenamyer
    acct # 5348942

    Reply

  • Shaf order

    Mike wrote on: May 7, 2012

    I order a golf shaft from this comapny Order no 159409127 and I was told that this item is coming from Manufacture. I understand but According the manufacturer they shipped it to them April 25 because they can not do a dropped shipt. I spoke I think almost all of the personnel in the customer service but nobody can get me the right answer. If they can provide me the material that I ordered I need my refund $160.28 so I can buy it to Golf Works...

    Reply

  • texas classic irons

    phillip christie wrote on: Aug 1, 2010

    I have been using the texas classic iron heads for 12 years. Great and I find them to be fairly forgiving heads. I am looking to find out the angle for the sand wedge?I am thinking of the idea of fitting with new steel shafts. Which shafts would you recomend .My swing speed is in the x stiff category. i was thinking of the riffle shafts. Driver swing speed is 110 m.p.h. I have aldila graphite shafts on them now presently .

    Reply

  • wooden club

    Mikel Evans wrote on: Mar 12, 2010

    Hello, I have a club that has Golfsmith printed on the toe and on the bottom a brass plate with "custom" engraved in it and all but the plate is solid wood and it appears to be un-used (no scars even the brass plate still has some sort of protective plastic coating) could you tell me any info about this club? Thank You, Mikel

    Reply

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