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18 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MARCH 2021 | By Brian Garlington, PGA, Director of Golf As I write this article, the Golf Shop is now a dusty construction zone. You may ask yourself why? Recently, the Board of Directors approved a much-needed and long-awaited cosmetic remodel of the Golf Shop. The timing couldn't have worked out better as most of the old merchandise was sold at the November Tent Sale. Before the start of the remodel, the Golf Shop was very outdated with no flow or inviting feel. We had florescent lights on the ceiling that looked straight out of the 80s, display fixtures that were mismatched and in disrepair. The walls had racks built on them that resembled a closet which was not conducive to merchandising the apparel very well. In other words, there really wasn't any appeal or warmth to the space which made the customer not want to shop or spend time in the Pro Shop. The plan is to create a warm and inviting space that will encourage people to spend time in the shop. Members will feel like they are in a high-end department store or country club golf shop. I expect sales to increase once we are fully open since customers will come in because they want to shop rather than coming in because they have to use their script. How? We purchased matching floor fixtures that are conducive to showing off the merchandise. Nesting tables, two-way and four-way fixtures, and hat display furniture pieces. Furniture pieces pictured below. A sitting area was also created with a couple of leather club chairs, a round end table between them and a 55" TV on the wall to break up the room and give it that homey, comfortable feel. A perfect setting to hang-out and talk golf. The old grey slat wall was replaced with dark mahogany slat wall. This gives a rich and warm look to the space and shows as high-end. We broke up the slat wall along the longest wall with the sitting area and television. The walls were painted in a cool blue-gray color and the ceiling in a Swiss coffee color (white). Before they were a creamy color that looked dark and dingy. The new paint color brightened the space up and compliments the dark mahogany fixtures and slat wall. We purchased black slat wall merchandising items (shelves, straight and waterfall arms, hooks, etc.), table and floor mannequins. The florescent lighting fixtures were replaced with LED can lighting which updated and finished off the look. The GHIN Posting Computer was moved from one of the cubbies to the wall just inside the pro shop, next to the counter. This freed up one of the cubbies for the couple's club rather than having that being the first thing you see when you walk into the shop. Having the posting computer in the new location makes it more convenient for the members and staff to post scores and look-up handicaps. Now What? With the new look in the Golf Shop also comes new apparel, golf clubs and accessory items. We will be stocking the shop with new merchandise from Puma, FootJoy, EP New York, Adidas, GGBlue, Slimsations, Greg Norman, Sketchers, Oxford, Sun Mountain, and many others. And if we don't have what you are looking for, our friendly staff will be happy to special order the item for you. Please come by and see the all new updates we've made, and maybe pick out an item or two for yourself! Good golfing!