Golf Galaxy Acquires Golf Works

Ralph Maltby’s GolfWorks is being bought by retailer Golf Galaxy for $10 million in cash and stock. This gives Golf Galaxy an in-house brand of golf club components.

Founder and Chairman Ralph Maltby and Chief Executive Mark McCormick will join Golf Galaxy’s management, and GolfWorks 100 employees will remain.

I’ve been a fan of GolfWorks for years. Maltby’s designs are among the mostinnovative I’ve ever seen. I particularly like the Slippery Frog and Lob Slider designs. I’ve also got a set with his CER 701U iron heads. GolfWorks also sells some very good tools, gauges and other equipment necessary for club making.

But the problem with GolfWorks has generally been that you couldn’t see the components in person unless you stopped by the Newark, Ohio, or Columbus, Ohio stores. I managed to visit a couple of times ayear while on my way back East.  The deal with Golf Galaxy solves that problem. The retailer plans to have GolfWorks departments in all 49 of its stores.

It looks to me like Golf Galaxy is poised to challenge GolfSmith for dominance in the industry. GolfSmith, of course, has a retail empire built around its line of club components. Now Golf Galaxy can offer its customers the same blend of main line and component clubs.