American Golf immediately rescued following collapse
By Alistair Dunsmuir
The American Golf brand of retail stores has been saved after entering administration – but 20 of its facilities will still close down.
Europe’s largest golf retailer had collapsed and all 132 of its stores were in danger of closing but a rescue package has seen 112 of them stay open. Of those that will not reopen, some are located at golf clubs, such as at Queens Park GC in Lancashire.
The company was put into administration on Friday and was then immediately sold to buyout investor Endless.
The deal, put together by Deloitte, means that more than 900 of the company’s approximately 1,000 jobs have been saved.
Tom Jack, a partner at Endless, said: “American Golf holds a unique position as the UK’s golf market leader and has been providing specialist expertise to its loyal customer base for over 45 years.
“We believe this is a business with fantastic potential and we’re delighted to be able to protect the employment of over 900 employees as a result of this acquisition.”
The business will honour valid gift cards and outstanding customer orders.
“I am delighted that the sale of the business has safeguarded over 900 jobs,” said joint administrator Dan Smith.
“We appreciate the support of management and all employees in achieving this aim and wish them well for the future”
The acquisition adds to Endless’s portfolio of rescued businesses including jeweller Theo Fennell and shoe retailer Jones Bootmaker, which was later sold to Pavers.
The American Golf stores that will close include the following locations:
- Leatherhead, Surrey
- Deer Park, Livingston
- Queens Park Golf Course, Crewe
- Kingswood GC, Doncaster
- Great Hadham, Hertfordshire
- Wrexham
- Ageas Bowl, Southampton
- Playgolf Northwick Park, Middlesex
- Romford, Essex
- Queens Drive, Nottingham
- Castle Street, Hull
- Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
- Worcester
- Finchley Road, London
- Lincoln
- Glasgow
- Middlesbrough
- Bristol
- Belfast
- Grandemare, Guernsey.
In the original version of this story we wrongly reported that the American Golf store at Kingswood Golf Club in Surrey was closing. It is in fact the American Golf store at Kingswood Golf Centre in Doncaster. Apologies to Kingswood GC in Surrey – there is no American Golf store there; in fact the golf retail at that club is very highly regarded.
By Alistair Dunsmuir
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This is what Colin Jenkin, who is a landlord to American Golf at Grimsby GC, said:
The last few weeks have been quite anxious for many of us with commercial operations based around the delivery of retail and other services by American Golf.
The new owners of American Golf are called Endless. This is a great name for many things and I do hope that it proves to be enduring for American Golf. The golf industry very much needs a major retail player. American Golf has created thousands of golfers during its existence and while it may be unpopular with some traditional golf professionals, due to the very stiff competition that it gives other retailers in the marketplace, it is difficult to argue against many of the benefits that it has brought to our industry. It remains as the largest employer of PGA professionals in the country.
Now however, things have changed hugely. The position with regard to the suppliers of American Golf has not yet been fully established, but what is crystal clear is that many of them have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds during this process. Also, 20 stores have closed with the loss of 100 jobs. Many of us may have been inconvenienced by having to adjust our retail operations, but 100 people losing their jobs will undoubtably bring genuine hardship to many families.
We hope that Sam Tyrer and Ian Williams, as Chief Executive and Finance Director respectively, will continue to provide excellent leadership at the top of American Golf for many years to come. I have great faith that they will continue to do the best for those that have been damaged during the process of this pre-pack and restart routine, as well as driving the business forward in the coming years.
How many suppliers to American Golf got hit.
I price matched a putter last friday – £119.99 still made £4.80 woopwoop
How can this business model survive? It surely won’t be long until it fails again..
They have to concentrate on profit not turnover quality and service
Might have too close 25% more to survive
So they killed the on course golf pro and his shop and now this… continually coming out with £450 drivers are unsustainable
The price of equipment has nothing to do with American Golf, it is the manufacturers who determine the price of their equipment. Also the on-course professional still thrives in business. Both channels of retail can and will survive.
I didn’t realise this was happening at American golf! Thank goodness a rescue package materialised!
Paying the price for that crazy trade-in deal