Pro Am: Everything Golf

While many master fulfillment companies branched out from their roots in golf, Pro Am Golf is sticking with its game. Pro Am Golf is the sponsor of the Taylor Made Brand Media profile on the Brand Media Coalition web site.

Brands Are Huge
A Focus on Creative Customization

Like the great brand names in golf, Pro Am has its roots on the course and driving range. Launched in 1975 by Thomas DeGrand as a golf driving range outside of St. Louis, Pro Am's founder soon learned about the incentive business from a local Titleist sales representative, and the rest is history: the company parlayed a relationship with a few leading incentive and promotional companies to become one of the nation’s largest master fulfillment companies specializing almost solely in golf and related sportswear, footwear, and accessory brands. With the help of Thomas DeGrand’s son Ryan, who joined the company in 1994, the company now does business nationally through a large network of promotion and marketing companies.

While Pro Am offers a complete range of golf equipment and related duffels, totes, footwear, and accessories that might appeal to casual golfers or even non-players, the focus is on the game. “We believe our commitment to the game of golf gives us an advantage, because while our other competitors have expanded beyond golf, we have expanded by enhancing the ways we help our customers use the game and its coveted brand names.”

Brands Are Huge

Pro Am starts with brands, says DeGrand. “Brands are huge. We don’t offer anything that doesn’t carry a name brand. Quality, warranty, bells and whistles: our company is known for quality. At the end of the day, our customers seek the best quality and service. Every brand that we carry has usage by multiple pros on tour. You see them in the tournaments and in advertising. It brings credibility to the brand and enhances the quality of the program.” The company stocks the leading brands in golf equipment, apparel, accessories and footwear to provide a “one-stop shopping experience for golf,” he says.

Pro Am makes no bones about it: “When we go to shows, we are all golf. We build the game into our story with the help of the brands. Golf isn’t going anywhere. When Tiger Woods wins one, the golf spike goes crazy. Whenever you have a big winner, the needle moves. By staying focused on our category, we get the newest and great things from each manufacturer, and we’re often the first with unique new items. Everyone is making newer and newer products. We help our clients make sure they get their customers what they want right now.”

He points out, “Golfers are unique, they know what they want. Most can be described as compulsive when it comes to their clubs. They will go to a local store to get fit and tell the salesperson what they want. We understand that customer.”

Pro Am Golf prides itself on finding unique ways to customize and personalize products. It customizes “Stick It” towels that attach to any cart; Stick It magnetic range-finder holders based on the same principle, and putter grabbers. It offers Sound Caddy Bluetooth wireless speakers that sit alongside other clubs in the bag so they don’t take up extra space. It also customizes removable pockets for golf bags. The company offers embroidery and silk-screening, depending on the product, and, of course, logo-ed golf balls.

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A Focus on Creative Customization

DeGrand says Pro Am applies the same creativity to creating mobile golf experiences and boutiques offering footwear, apparel, backpacks and duffels, etc. from leading brands that can appeal to non-golfers as well. DeGrand explains that the company can set up a small showroom and conduct fittings; bring in a hitting bay to just about anywhere, and curate the brands appropriate for the group, including many with broad appeal beyond golf, such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and more. Even the most casual golfer often enjoys a hitting bay or putting green, he points out.

The company also sticks to its knitting in terms of working through its promotional and distributor partners. “We have worked in this channel for 15 years; we understand their needs and they appreciate the fact that in our category the discount can range from 25% to 35% off of retail, depending on the item.” The focus on golf, and 10,000 square feet in warehouse space, gives Pro Am Golf the ability to purchase by the pallet or container as needed to get better prices, he says: The company’s buying power enabled it to minimize the impact of tariffs on its customers for this year by making most of the year’s purchases in advance.

For More Information

Ryan DeGrand

ProAamgolfctr.com

Rdegrand@proamgolfctr.com

314-781-7775

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