Gateway PGA sale returns to StL

ChipNRun · February 18, 2023

Dormant since 2019, the Gateway PGA Merchandise Sale returned to the St. Louis area this weekend. Golfers are flocking the Chesterfield Mall in West County to look over the offerings in clubs, shoes, golf bags, etc.

Lot of iron models spread out over the tables, and long clubs in barrels.

I got lucky on wedges. The sole Callaway offering was a new MD5 Jaws 56* SW, with the PX Catalyst 80 6.0 graphite shaft for $80. When I got my MAX irons, my legacy MD wedges still had decent grooves. So, I went online and found three of the same PX Catalyst 80 shafts and put them into the MDs. So, the Jaws SW blends nicely with my current wedges. May shift loft mix if I can find a MD5 in 52*.

In long clubs - drivers, fairways, hybrids - a heavy mix of Titleist, TaylorMade and Cleveland. Also, some Lynx hybrids and fairways which I had not seen for awhile. BTW, are any of you playing Lynx clubs these days?

The irons were a mix of this and that.

Also got two boxes of Q-Star Tour Divide (yellow and red) golf balls for $25 a dozen. Good discounts on prior-year ball models. And, a wool sweater vest with lining - Fairway&Green - for $5. (the neck label was torn loose, hence 95% discount).

Also a smattering of sports memorabilia from the Blues, Chiefs, Cardinals, golfdom. Leftovers from the 2022 campaigns can be had for 25-50% of cost at mid-season.

For years, the Gateway sale was held at Missouri Athletic Club - West in the county suburb of Des Peres. It usually took place on or around Thanksgiving weekend. At the 2018 edition, I won a Callaway MD3 SW (54*) in a door-prize raffle. This came about six weeks after I had purchased an MD3 GW (48*) from the Callaway rep who visited our club.

The 2019 event was moved to an outlet mall at Boone's Crossing just east of the Missouri river. Then, a three-year hiatus related to COVID and golf hardware supply chain issues.

I was a bit surprised that the 2023 sale re-emerged to a slot just two weeks after St. Louis Golf Expo. The pre-COVID rota had them three months apart.

A side note: Chesterfield Mall, once the largest mall in St. Louis area, has been hit with several anchor stores exiting the complex. As of now, Dillards is the main remaining national store. I had wanted to eat supper before returning home to Illinois side, but pickings were slim. The main-level Cheesecake Factory has a 20-minute wait for tables, and the basement food court shops were all empty except for Aaha Southern India unit. I had an excellent Beef Curry meal as I watched pickle ball players play on courts spread through the central main walkway. Seven pickleball and three badminton courts have been installed where once dozens of dining tables occupied the floor. The courts are free to public, but users are encouraged to reserve the courts online.

The main draw for Chesterfield Mall seems to be the AMC Classic 14 movie theater on the third level. The southeast parking outside AMC zone was virtually empty when I arrived for the PGA sale at 4 PM. As I exited, the lot was full of movie-goer vehicles. This is curious turnabout: in early 2000s, mall developers were undecided about the value of a movie theater in their acreage. Question: Would moviegoers stay and buy stuff, or just spend $12 on a movie and leave? In 2023, the 14 screens are what is helping keep C-Mall alive.

Edited February 18, 2023 by ChipNRun
Reset food court picture.

BYK · February 19, 2023

18 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

Dormant since 2019, the Gateway PGA Merchandise Sale returned to the St. Louis area this weekend. Golfers are flocking the Chesterfield Mall in West County to look over the offerings in clubs, shoes, golf bags, etc.

Lot of iron models spread out over the tables, and long clubs in barrels.

I got lucky on wedges. The sole Callaway offering was a new MD5 Jaws 56* SW, with the PX Catalyst 80 6.0 graphite shaft for $80. When I got my MAX irons, my legacy MD wedges still had decent grooves. So, I went online and found three of the same PX Catalyst 80 shafts and put them into the MDs. So, the Jaws SW blends nicely with my current wedges. May shift loft mix if I can find a MD5 in 52*.

In long clubs - drivers, fairways, hybrids - a heavy mix of Titleist, TaylorMade and Cleveland. Also, some Lynx hybrids and fairways which I had not seen for awhile. BTW, are any of you playing Lynx clubs these days?

The irons were a mix of this and that.

Also got two boxes of Q-Star Tour Divide (yellow and red) golf balls for $25 a dozen. Good discounts on prior-year ball models. And, a wool sweater vest with lining - Fairway&Green - for $5. (the neck label was torn loose, hence 95% discount).

Also a smattering of sports memorabilia from the Blues, Chiefs, Cardinals, golfdom. Leftovers from the 2022 campaigns can be had for 25-50% of cost at mid-season.

For years, the Gateway sale was held at Missouri Athletic Club - West in the county suburb of Des Peres. It usually took place on or around Thanksgiving weekend. At the 2018 edition, I won a Callaway MD3 SW (54*) in a door-prize raffle. This came about six weeks after I had purchased an MD3 GW (48*) from the Callaway rep who visited our club.

The 2019 event was moved to an outlet mall at Boone's Crossing just east of the Missouri river. Then, a three-year hiatus related to COVID and golf hardware supply chain issues.

I was a bit surprised that the 2023 sale re-emerged to a slot just two weeks after St. Louis Golf Expo. The pre-COVID rota had them three months apart.

A side note: Chesterfield Mall, once the largest mall in St. Louis area, has been hit with several anchor stores exiting the complex. As of now, Dillards is the main remaining national store. I had wanted to eat supper before returning home to Illinois side, but pickings were slim. The main-level Cheesecake Factory has a 20-minute wait for tables, and the basement food court shops were all empty except for Aaha Southern India unit. I had an excellent Beef Curry meal as I watched pickle ball players play on courts spread through the central main walkway. Seven pickleball and three badminton courts have been installed where once dozens of dining tables occupied the floor. The courts are free to public, but users are encouraged to reserve the courts online.

The main draw for Chesterfield Mall seems to be the AMC Classic 14 movie theater on the third level. The southeast parking outside AMC zone was virtually empty when I arrived for the PGA sale at 4 PM. As I exited, the lot was full of movie-goer vehicles. This is curious turnabout: in early 2000s, mall developers were undecided about the value of a movie theater in their acreage. Question: Would moviegoers stay and buy stuff, or just spend $12 on a movie and leave? In 2023, the 14 screens are what is helping keep C-Mall alive.

thanks for sharing. Would be great to dig through some stuff again.

as a former st louisan who hasn't been there for years, it was particularly interesting seeing what has happened to chesterfield mall. I assume all the malls in the area have been similarly affected over time?

ChipNRun · February 19, 2023

3 hours ago, BYK said:

as a former st louisan who hasn't been there for years, it was particularly interesting seeing what has happened to chesterfield mall. I assume all the malls in the area have been similarly affected over time?

Some are thriving - more or less - while others are fading or gone.

Taubman Outlet Mall, some 2 miles west of Chesterfield Mall, has high occupancy and is doing... OK?
Crestwood Plaza - Sappington & Watson Rd. Final stores closed down in 2013; site was demolished in 2017 and a smattering of housing and small shops are emerging.
Northwest Plaza - N. Lindbergh & St. Charles Rock Road. Final stores shut down in 2010. Became an eyesore and source of multiple lawsuits about who controlled what, and how redevelopment should take place. Demolition during 2014, now being repurposed similar to Crestwood Plaza (except no housing).
West County Mall - I-270 and Manchester. Still going strong.
S. Clair Square - north of Belleville, IL. Decent occupancy... but has two major store complexes open. Open small shop units here and there.

ButcherButters · February 20, 2023

I was planning on heading there on yesterday but unfortunately either caught some weird bug that’s a cough or my seasonal allergies letting me know weathers turning itself around….

Aside from a sponsored ad on Facebook, I wouldn’t have known about the event at all. Hopefully successful turn out for them this year for it to happen again, just needs to spread the word more.

pseudoswede · February 23, 2023

That's awesome that they repurposed some of the floor space for pickleball and badminton.

Chesterfield Mall used to give me a "Dawn of the Dead" vibe. I think it was built around the same time? In the late 90s, it had a specialty food store that carried all sorts of imported European beers you couldn't find anywhere else. I lived in (the cheapest, most run-down apartment in) Clayton so I mainly went to The Galleria.

I still miss Gateway National and their half-price Sundays during Rams home games special.

Edited February 23, 2023 by pseudoswede

ButcherButters · February 24, 2023

On 2/23/2023 at 8:54 AM, pseudoswede said:

That's awesome that they repurposed some of the floor space for pickleball and badminton.

Chesterfield Mall used to give me a "Dawn of the Dead" vibe. I think it was built around the same time? In the late 90s, it had a specialty food store that carried all sorts of imported European beers you couldn't find anywhere else. I lived in (the cheapest, most run-down apartment in) Clayton so I mainly went to The Galleria.

I still miss Gateway National and their half-price Sundays during Rams home games special.

I’m almost positive end goal is to demolish/or renovate that whole area into a top of the line sports complex, I forgot what year target completion was, but the sports areas now are temporary placeholders for it.