Golf Galaxy closing up shop in Towson (Maryland). Nothing left around these parts.

[rainkingjr]

Found out the other day that the Golf Galaxy in Towson is closing down on October 1. Apparently the shopping center doubled their lease and they have no plans at this point to relocate. Closest store to me now will be all the way down in Columbia (over 30 miles away). I can't begin to tell you how much this sucks. Just a few years ago I had a Golfsmith, Golf Galaxy and a local brick and mortar store to choose from all within 4 miles of my house. Now I am left with golf courses ( which stock next to nothing and don't have monitors) and DIcks which is an absoulte no go for me. The DSG's around here have terrible Golf sections. I guess this will be one way to get me to stop club ho'ing so much.

[rbj69]

Well i guess look at it like this you had many choices longer than me, i never had anything near me, the closest was always an hour from me, but I'm sort yif glad lol

[snoilr1]

Golf Galaxy is owned by Dicks. You might see a big improvement in Dicks golf section once Golf Galaxy closes.

[Hateto3Putt]

I've heard you can buy golf stuff online.

[hobbes928]

Now you know what it feels like to be lefty.

[Big Ben]

Seems as though the brick and mortars are going the way of the dinosaurs. Fewer and fewer choices these days. We have one nice shop and range left (Windmill Lakes Fitting Ctr) on the eastside of Cleveland and that's it. Without this site the next closest decent shop is in Akron, Ohio. Keep in mind we are a heavily populated area as well. Seems as though the rents continue to drive these businesses out of dodge.

[third-times-a-charm]

I live in the tourist/golf capital and the local GG is always pretty dead. Within the same 3-mile square we have GG, Edwin Watts, PGATSS, a few small biz stores, and none of them are ever 'busy'. Edwin Watts is probably the most busy I've seen of any of them, due to all the used club bins they have.

[Rapatt95]

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to open your own place!

[USGA22]

I was just there Saturday; no one said anything; I’m really hoping pga superstore comes to the area

[AC in TX]

We used to have 2 Golfsmith's (including HQ), a Golf Galaxy, and an Edwin Watts ... now we just have a Golf Galaxy that used to be the newer Golfsmith store (the others are gone).

I do my ho'ing here and on CPO - my favorite for used Ping clubs (other brands - wait for the 20% or 25% off sales) ...

[wobgon]

Found out the other day that the Golf Galaxy in Towson is closing down on October 1. Apparently the shopping center doubled their lease and they have no plans at this point to relocate. Closest store to me now will be all the way down in Columbia (over 30 miles away). I can't begin to tell you how much this sucks. Just a few years ago I had a Golfsmith, Golf Galaxy and a local brick and mortar store to choose from all within 4 miles of my house. Now I am left with golf courses ( which stock next to nothing and don't have monitors) and DIcks which is an absoulte no go for me. The DSG's around here have terrible Golf sections. I guess this will be one way to get me to stop club ho'ing so much.

Did you buy a lot of clubs at Golf Galaxy?

[golfnhack]

I lived in Towson for 1.5 years. Actually love that area. This was back in 2001 though. Sad to hear.

[MooJersey]

Any going out of business sale?

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I was just there Saturday; no one said anything; I’m really hoping pga superstore comes to the area

I've been saying for years we need a PGASS in this area. Their business development people must be a lot smarter than me.

 

But I don't see hoe one in either the Balt or Annapolis area could fail. Perhaps Arundel Mills area. As centrally located as you can get.

[LowRG]

I know its a bit further, but the GG up in Christiana is a thousand times better than the one in Towson. That being said, its still a GG so, there's that. Decent used selection and the work I've had them do has turned out well. Plus, no tax.

[kobe882]

3 hour drive is the closest for me. You are lucky.

[bubbagump]

Does anybody really buy clubs at Golf Galaxy anymore? I go in there sparingly to poke around at their terrible used section, and just look at things in hand Id never buy there. Every 6months or so Ill buy grip tape there, but I can't think of the last time I actually bought something of substance at a GG.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Does anybody really buy clubs at Golf Galaxy anymore? I go in there sparingly to poke around at their terrible used section, and just look at things in hand Id never buy there. Every 6months or so Ill buy grip tape there, but I can't think of the last time I actually bought something of substance at a GG.

So much this. Maybe a bag of tees on occasion but thsts it.

[nattybohknows]

I only went to the Towson store a few times but it was head and shoulders above the Elkridge one (I despise it really) but being I live and work near Elkridge it’s a bit of a hike to get up there.

 

I don’t think many people buy clubs anymore at GG and prob it’s more for using their hitting bays (I don’t often since there’s only two there and I don’t plan on buying their clubs) but I have do get tees and hats up there and have gotten things regripped and cut.

 

There is still a value for brick and mortar stores but there used club prices are crazy and most shoppers won’t pay retail.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I've heard you can buy golf stuff online.

and one of the reason some brick and mortar stores can't make a go of it anymore.

[GSDriver]

Haven't been in a DSG or GG in a while and don't plan to ever...it's a 2A thing.

 

PGA Superstore is the only golf shop been in lately, just to snoop around mostly, as they do have pretty much everything you can think of golf related.

 

When I was a devout Club Ho, I'd usually buy on the web, or BST forums.

 

As OP said, one way to slow or stop Ho'ing. When I think back to all the money spent Ho'ing I just keep thinking, Porsche.

[aiyyer]

The GG In Rockville closed and nothing in a great golf market other than DSG.

And DSG did not get better!!

 

[Yepyukon]

It's funny. People talk about buying online and then complain that the stores don't have a great selection...well yeah, they know you are just going to buy online so why clutter the building with stuff people are just going to mess around with and damage/use so they have to then mark them down. That is like complaining the cop gave you a ticket for speeding.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

It's funny. People talk about buying online and then complain that the stores don't have a great selection...well yeah, they know you are just going to buy online so why clutter the building with stuff people are just going to mess around with and damage/use so they have to then mark them down. That is like complaining the cop gave you a ticket for speeding.

To a large degree you have a point. However you have realize, as large as WRX and MGS and THP are still combined they make up a very small percentage of the golf population.

 

We have seen our sales at our course more than triple in the past two years. Mainly due to closures of the above stores and us having several demo days with most of the OEM's. Some on multiple occasions.

 

But the average Joe consumer who gets his info from Golf Digest and watching what the tour guys on TV still go to retail stores to buy in a lot of cases.

[ghostrider]

Now you know what it feels like to be lefty.

 

When GG closed in Austin in 2010 I made out very well as a lefty. Early in the closing I grabbed Odyssey putters for 40 bucks or so and still may have some of the dollar golf gloves lying around. I am also still wearing one or two golf shirts from that sale

[tdogg21]

I'm an hour and a half from Towson and it's the closest golf store to me. Honestly I use to stop at that one and the one in Columbia when I would be in the area for work. I tried hard to find things to buy but I just couldn't do it. When the prices aren't even close to what I can get online, there is no point. I've found that smaller stores and some courses are much better with their pricing. They are realistic and I'll pay a little more to support a local business, just not double. It's like the big stores don't know about the internet.

[zRabbit]

There are some nice people working there and my club's assistant pro swears that their techs do better work than the local small independent shop (questionable), but I won't miss that store. They lost a full-bag refreshes from me a couple of years ago because they couldn't or wouldn't keep some of their demo stuff in playable order.

 

Best case, the Hunt Valley DSG goes from abysmal to half-way decent, but I'm not holding my breath. I miss theTimonium GolfSmith a lot more than I will ever miss GG.

[CaseyDan]

We have 3 PGASS within an hour of where I live in DFW. They are better than any big box golf store I’ve been in. All 3 stores have “Now Hiring” signs all over them and I’ve read they plan on expanding throughout the country. Maybe you will get one. I buy gear from The PGA store but my clubs from Dallas Golf. Ok, and the BST and EBay.

 

I know one thing, if a golf store fails near me it won’t be my fault :)

[Bad9]

We have 3 PGASS within an hour of where I live in DFW. They are better than any big box golf store I've been in. All 3 stores have "Now Hiring" signs all over them and I've read they plan on expanding throughout the country. Maybe you will get one. I buy gear from The PGA store but my clubs from Dallas Golf. Ok, and the BST and EBay.

 

I know one thing, if a golf store fails near me it won't be my fault :)

 

If no one buys clubs there it will undoubtedly fail.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I'm an hour and a half from Towson and it's the closest golf store to me. Honestly I use to stop at that one and the one in Columbia when I would be in the area for work. I tried hard to find things to buy but I just couldn't do it. When the prices aren't even close to what I can get online, there is no point. I've found that smaller stores and some courses are much better with their pricing. They are realistic and I'll pay a little more to support a local business, just not double. It's like the big stores don't know about the internet.

Yes...there club tech(s) were very good. One of them was actually a member here, can't remember his name, but he did a couple things for me several years ago and it was very well done. He knew his stuff.