Phoenix Brands has been chosen as the sole UK and Ireland distributor for the fast-rising US golf club brand, Nickent Golf.
The Los Angeles-based Nickent enjoys a burgeoning reputation on the PGA Tour and is known as the ‘King of Hybrids’, riding high as one of the hottest brands on the US pro tour’s. It is also used by some top names, including two major winners, in preference to their contracted clubs.
Founded by Michael Lee in 1996, Nickent’s technical innovation has gained many admirers. A former assistant pro, Lee spent four years as a national sales manager for a component manufacturer, working with some of the industry’s top product designers.
Much of Nickent’s success is due to Lee’s collaboration with the company’s chief operating officer, John Hoeflich, whose patents cover some of the best-selling clubs of all time: the Tommy Armour® 845 irons, Titleist® DCI irons and TaylorMade® RAC irons and wedges.
Hoeflich is one of the sport’s great innovators. In more than 37 years in the golf industry, he has been employed as senior director of product marketing for Taylor Made-adidas Golf, director of golf club product development for Titleist and FootJoy worldwide and president of Liquidmetal Golf.
Nickent’s initial products sold a million units in the first year, establishing the brand quickly as one of the leading technology players in the industry. Today it offers a full line of the most technically advanced clubs on the market.
Lee said: “Previously we have only dipped our corporate toe into the UK market, but the time is right to set up a distribution network. The brand is established on the US tours and we have started receiving enquiries from UK retailers.
“We are delighted to have agreed a distribution deal with Dean Klatt’s Phoenix Brands. Dean has a background of more than 20 years as a sole distributor for Cleveland Golf in his native Australia and he brings with him a wealth of marketing and retailing experience, and an unrivalled enthusiasm for technically innovative performance-based golf clubs.
“We’re sure Nickent Golf will benefit enormously from his involvement in our UK and Ireland expansion.”
The latest club to woo onlookers at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, was the 5DX ironwood, Nickent’s ‘longest and straightest hybrid ever’.
Other clubs sure to attract a lot of attention in the UK & Ireland market include the 4DX Evolver driver, with interchangeable shaft technology, the 4DX irons and 4DX hybrid/iron combo sets, ARC (accelerated rebound core®) blade irons and the ARC wedges.
Dean Klatt, managing director of Co Kildare-based Phoenix Brands, added: “After more than 20 years of working in the industry I’m still surprised at how popular Nickent’s clubs are proving. I knew it was a great product but the reaction of golfers over here who have seen it has been phenomenal and I believe Nickent will make waves in the UK and Ireland.”
Phoenix Brands www.phoenixbrands.eu
Nickent Golf www.nickentgolf.com