NEWS
A Quick Nine: Do you buy golf items online?
Thanks to the internet, you don't even need to leave your house to shop anymore. At least for me, this comes in handy particularly around the holidays when I want to avoid the madness that is the mall.
It's also nice when because of the abundance of golf items you can find on the internet -- everything from clubs, shoes, tickets, souvenirs and more. Of course, when it comes to clubs, you should first consult you local PGA Professional to be sure that what you're looking at actually fits your game.
With so much available at your fingertips, we decided to ask our friends in PGA.com Facebook Nation: Do you buy golf items online? If so, where?
Here are the top answers we received:
9. Window shop, then go online. Many people like to handle a potential purchase and see it in person first. Some, however, like to handle it, but then go home, jump online and find the best deal.
Facebook fan quote:
"Browse in store, go home and get a deal online." -- Paul Dionne
8. Golf office goods. A pen set for your desk? A roll-up practice green? A driver-head paper-weight? Pin flags from major events? Framed tickets from events? Golf mugs to hold your pens? A Masters mouse pad? A candy dish in the shape of a golf flag? Oh wait... Those are just some of the things I just saw browsing around my own office.
Facebook fan quote:
"My wife just bought me a golf-themed pen set for my desk from Amazon." -- Bruno DaSilva
7. Golf cards. Talk about a unique collection. Like baseball cards, believe it or not, they've also made golf cards.
Facebook fan quotes:
"Golf cards (like baseball) from Blowout Cards -- Upper Deck, Leaf, etc." -- Kevin Hamluk
6. Golf bag. One of the best items to buy online. You might see the style bag you like in a store, but maybe they don't have the color scheme you want. When you jump on the internet, chances are you can find that style along with any color scheme you can dream up.
Facebook fan quote:
"I recently bought a new gold stand bag and shoes from Oakley.com. I have also bought Oakley shirts and belts from there as well." -- Bam Moore
5. Rounds of golf. There are so many deals to be had on rounds of golf. All you need to do is look. Before scheduling a tee time in your area, it might be wise to jump online and search for deals near where you live. There could be discounts for booking tee times online on the course's website, there could be a Groupon, etc. It's a great way to save money, because -- let's face it -- rounds of golf can be expensive.
Facebook fan quotes:
"I'm buying Groupons for rounds of golf at 30% to 50% savings, there may be restrictions as to tee time but there are awesome deals, same with driving ranges." -- Michael Cole
4. Golf shoes. Are your feet larger than most? Chances are, you might not be able to find that odd size unless you head to the internet.
Facebook fan quotes:
"I wear size 15 shoes and finding a good deal was difficult. I found a pair of Footjoy green joys from ShopPGATour.com for a really good price. TGW and BudgetGolf have great prices too." -- Frank Lea
"I have bought shoes and clothing from www.tgw.com and I bought my laser link on eBay. Next year when I need new grips I will be buying them online also." -- Heather Klokow Evenson
"Shoes mostly, like to handle other goods but I know my size on the Ecco website." -- Phillip Lowery
"I have a 7-year-old who is an avid player. I buy all his shoes and gloves on-line. I am provided with better variety and sizes." -- Paula Munoz Guzman
3. Golf balls. As one fan below points out, there are plenty of deals to be had on top-of-the-line golf balls that are logo over runs (golf balls made for a specific corporate event, in some instances, where too many were made).
Facebook fan quotes:
"I buy golf balls online. Most of the time I buy logo over-runs. Same Titleist Pro V or Taylormade Penta TP5 for half the price. Who cares what the logo is? I can lose those just as easily as I can lose non-logo balls. Plus, the odd logos help me identify my ball easier." -- Michael Halasz
"The only thing I'd buy online is balls. Everything else must be fitted/the correct size and you can't guarantee that online. Must be tried first!" -- Kevin Waller
2. Clothes/Accessories. Again, so many to choose from and the possibilities are endless when your searching the internet.
Facebook fan quotes:
"Shirts at your (PGA.com) store." -- Carol Jolley Finn
"Clothes I might as well look good because my game stinks." -- Joe Neff
"I have bought some golf belts and golf polos from Amazon. Cheap shipping and it's usually cheaper than retail too." -- Andrew Burke
"Shoes, balls, umbrellas, gloves at Rockbottom golf." -- Michael Li
1. Golf clubs. OK, folks, this is where things get a little iffy on the internet if you're not careful. Nobody wants to think they got a huge deal, spending just $200 on the latest, greatest driver that's retailing for $499, only to receive it in the mail and find out it's counterfeit.
While there are many great deals on great clubs to be had, you need to be sure you're looking in the right place. We highly recommend that unless you're ordering directly from a manufacturer or reputable golf shop online, you should definitely check out The Pro Shops by PGA Trade-in Network and eBay. Not only can you find the value of your current clubs to use toward trade-in for new ones, but also you're buying directly from PGA Professionals, which means you can shop with the confidence that what you're looking at is actually what you're buying.
Facebook fan quotes:
"I will buy anything from any online retailer (eBay, Amazon, etc.) if it includes pictures and or can prove that it is a NEW item. EVERY club in my bag, save for my putter, was purchased online and I probably spent $600 total for about $1700 worth of clubs." -- Brandon Almeida
"Just got RBZ Stage 2 driver from eBay & bought Ecco Biom golf hybrid shoes directly from ECCO website." -- Dino Africa
"Every club in my bag, and my bag, and all my shoes were bought on EBay, and I never paid retail price!" -- Paul Burzynski
"I'm a lefty, so getting gear is nearly impossible at brick and mortar stores. I also refuse to pay for tour sponsorships and massive marketing deals. I stick with components: Hireko Golf and Diamond Tour Golf are my favorites, but I'll also look at KZG and Swing Science." -- Justin Blair
"Taylormade clubs... E-bay." -- Jimmy Morgan
"Club deals on E-bay." -- Brian Wetzel
"I've bought clubs on EBay and from GlobalGolf.com. I've been very satisfied with the price and quality and will buy from them again." -- Jason Varner