NOVEMBER IS HERE. LET’S GET AFTER IT.
It’s November — time to give thanks, rake leaves, and pound our tees into the ground with a hammer. 🍂🏌️
The golf season may be winding down, but around here, we’re just getting warmed up. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s talk a little golf, a little business, and a few things worth knowing.
Let’s get after it.
3 THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
1. TGL IS BACK. AND IT GOT BIGGER.
TGL is back — and this year the rosters are going from 4 players to 5. And there’s a new team in town: Motor City Golf Club out of Detroit.
And guess who is putting on the jersey? Brooks Koepka. Welcome back, Brooks!
Tiger is also expected to play on opening night, and the rest of the league is absolutely loaded with stars.
The season kicks off December 27th, which just happens to be smack dab in the middle of simulator season.
Speaking of which... sims look kind of fun, don’t they?
CLICK HERE to talk to an Austad’s Caddie about putting a simulator in your home.
Or CLICK HERE to check out an inexpensive simulator membership at an Austad’s Golf store this winter.
Because when it’s 12 degrees outside, hitting a few bombs indoors sounds pretty good.
2. BLACK FRIDAY... FOR GOLF?
Black Friday is usually associated with shopping, football and questionable decisions made before sunrise.
But golf? You bet.
At 8:00 AM on Black Friday, we’ve got a skins game featuring some of the biggest names in the game: Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark, JT and Jackson Koivun.
Pretty intriguing roster. If you haven't watched Koivun play yet, now is your chance. This kid is the real deal. Some are already calling him the game’s next superstar.
He's got the look.
He's got the swing.
He's got the game.
He's got the swing.
He's got the game.
The only question: how will the nerves hold up when we’re all coming out of our turkey coma?
Tune in and find out.
3. A MAJOR EXODUS
Jon Rahm. Sergio Garcia. Graeme McDowell. Louis Oosthuizen.
All officially walking off stage left from the now-bankrupt LIV Tour.
No word yet on Bryson or Cam Smith.
For most of these guys, the logical next stop would seem to be the DP World Tour. But let's be honest...
We'd love to see Rahm and DeChambeau back on the weekly PGA Tour circuit. The game is better when those guys are a part of it.
Whether or not that happens probably depends on their willingness to swallow a little pride — and potentially write a BIG check.
2 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE
Or at least that’s what Callaway is hoping with the all-new TRTL putters from Odyssey.
What started as a fun, animal-themed concept overseas has turned into a serious putter innovation. The hexagonal, multi-material frame is designed to maximize forgiveness.
Yes... you need forgiveness in a putter, too.
The design also features the industry’s first four-corner sole weighting system, allowing golfers to adjust the putter based on their miss characteristics.
Translation? This thing is loaded with technology designed to help you make more putts.
And equally important... It looks sweet.
I think I'll nickname mine Michelangelo. Turtle power! 🐢
2. EXPECT GREAT PRICING THIS HOLIDAY
The golf industry is in a pretty good spot.
Rounds played remain strong. PGA Tour viewership has been setting records. And the best golf retailers (yours truly) continue to innovate and create better experiences to help golfers play better and have more fun.
But there’s a catch.
The industry is no longer experiencing exponential year-over-year growth. And when the pie isn't getting dramatically bigger, manufacturers have to take a bigger piece of someone else's slice to grow.
Translation?
We’re seeing more promotional activity than we have in some time heading into Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season. And that means one thing:
You, the golfer, are the big winner.
CLICK HERE to see just some of the promotions coming your way.
What a fantastic time to be a golfer. We've got you covered for the holidays.
1 MISSION MOMENT
I often tell our team that it is a privilege to work in the greatest industry on earth — the golf industry.
But it’s an even greater blessing to do it with people you love. That includes our amazing Austad’s team — and our incredible vendor partners, many of whom we’ve been fortunate enough to work with for half a century.
This past month, our team had the opportunity to reconnect with leaders from two of our key vendor partners: PING Golf and LAB Golf.
PING is a special place run by a special family.
It’s always a highlight for our team to visit the famed PING putter vault and spend time with the people behind one of the most iconic brands in golf.
I also spent some time out in Oregon with the team at LAB Golf. Talk about innovators and industry disruptors. The product is phenomenal.
The people are even better.
Maybe it’s the holidays.
Maybe it’s because we’re approaching the end of another year.
But as I reflect on our mission — to help golfers play better and have more fun — I can’t help but feel incredibly thankful.
Thankful for our people. Thankful for our vendor partners. Thankful for the people across this industry who work tirelessly to create products and experiences that help all of us enjoy this crazy game just a little bit more.
I’m filled with gratitude and I’m energized for what’s ahead.
Happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to take your breakfast ball.
— Ryan
