News

WOODLANDS, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Fore! Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOLF) announced today the official unveiling of its new 40,000-square foot playground for golfers and tennis players in the Houston area. The new Golfsmith Xtreme in the Woodlands is the first in the state of Texas and the largest store of its kind in Houston. The store provides golfers and tennis players of all skill levels a fun, interactive environment to try out the best brands at the lowest prices in Houston.

“Golfsmith continues to expand its superstore format into new markets, and we are excited about Houston because it is one of the strongest golf markets in the country,” said Martin Hanaka, president and chief executive officer of Golfsmith. “According to Golf Datatech, Houston-area golfers played nearly 20 percent more rounds of golf in February 2009 than the year before. That is one reason why Houston joins a select few markets where we have introduced our most exciting store format ever – Golfsmith Xtreme.”

Located at 25415 North IH-45 on the southbound access road, just north of Rayford/Sawdust, the store features a huge indoor driving range with state-of-the-art launch monitors, Certified PGA Pro golf instruction and an indoor hitting area for tennis. The store also includes a large putting green and private custom club-fitting studio. Golf lessons are offered in the store by Golfsmith’s exclusive lesson partner, GolfTEC, the nation’s #1 golf instruction provider. The new Golfsmith Xtreme offers all guests a Low Price Guarantee and features a huge selection of name-brand gear from Adidas®, Callaway®, Cleveland®, Cobra®, Head/Penn®, Nike®, PING®, TaylorMade®, Titleist®, Wilson® and many more.

“Golfsmith Xtreme is not just a store but a destination – it raises the bar on activity-based retail and gives our guests an entertaining and educational experience,” said Hanaka. “We are committed to growing the game and serving golfers with the very best products and services. Golfsmith Xtreme allows anyone to try out the latest golf and tennis gear in a comfortable and fun environment.”

Club Drive to Benefit The First Tee of Houston/Redstone Chapter

Golfsmith is celebrating the grand opening of its Woodlands location with a club donation drive to benefit The First Tee of Houston/Redstone. Part of a nationwide organization that has reached millions, The First Tee’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Any guest who brings in their used clubs to the store on Friday, May 1st, will be given a tax receipt for their donation and a free sleeve of golf balls. First Tee of Houston/Redstone will accept club donations at the Woodlands store from 9 am to 6 pm.

Thousands of Dollars in Giveaways

In addition to the club drive, the Woodlands store will offer guests $20,000 worth of prizes—including cash cards, free rounds of golf, drivers, bags, balls, racquets and more—during the official opening on Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd. The first 100 people in line on Friday and Saturday will receive a $25 cash card, while the next 150 guests will receive one free round of golf at Canongate at the Woodlands.

Store Features

The new Golfsmith Xtreme will feature the full complement of Golfsmith’s activity-based retail experience:

Indoor Driving Range – The indoor driving range provides extended ball flight that lets golfers test the latest golf club models. It includes 8 hitting bays, more than 200 demo clubs and the latest launch monitor technology that allows golfers to see ball flight stats including launch angle and spin rates.

Indoor Hitting Area for Tennis – An indoor hitting area for tennis provides an opportunity for tennis enthusiasts to test the latest tennis equipment in a comfortable indoor setting. The new Woodlands location features a full-service tennis department with a wide assortment of equipment, footwear, apparel and accessories.

Certified PGA Instruction and Hi-Tech Swing Analysis – Golfsmith’s partnership with GolfTEC lets customers take advantage of in-store PGA teaching professionals who provide coaching and advanced instruction using the same type of biofeedback devices, video and swing analysis technology used by touring pros.

Custom-Fitting Studio – Golfsmith’s professional in-store staff helps golfers get the most out of their game by providing complimentary precision club-fitting, matching golfers to the clubs that best fit their individual swings. The store’s virtual reality fitting studio offers a “dark room” effect that gives the feel of being on the course and hitting a ball.

Golf and Tennis Apparel – Golfsmith features the most up-to-date styles in men’s and women’s golf and tennis apparel. Catering to young and seasoned players alike, Golfsmith offers the latest in on and off the field design trends and hi-tech fabrics.

Custom Club Solutions – The Woodlands store showcases Golfsmith’s 42-year heritage in custom clubfitting, which allows golfers to completely customize their own set of clubs. On-site clubmaking professionals offer a wide variety of services including regripping, reshafting, loft & lie changes and much more.

Golfsmith gives guests three ways to shop for their golf and tennis equipment, accessories and apparel: more than 70 retail stores; its Internet store at www.golfsmith.com; and its assortment of catalogs.