The Golfalot.com Price Index proved that its recent robust good health is now firmly established as it posted an overall increase of 2.2% which means that the cost of a complete set of golf equipment is now higher than at any point since October 2005.
The Golf Shoes Category led the way as the arrival of Callaway’s Tour Authentic FT Classic Chev and Chev Saddle models helped power growth of 7.1%. The average cost of golf shoes is now higher than at any point since the Index began in October 2004.
Elsewhere in the Accessories Sector, the Golf Bags Category rose by 2.3% with a number of models from a range of manufacturers including Adams, Ogio and Titleist filtering through to the Index for the first time.
The pattern of growth was sustained in the Golf Ball Category, a jump of 1.8% helped by the addition of Titleist’s new NXT and DT SoLo models.
The Golf Trolley Category, hindered by small reductions across the Sun Mountain range, dropped by -0.3% to record the only fall of any category in May. However, that wasn’t enough to stop the Accessories Sector recording an overall rise of 1.6% to reach its highest average price since June 2005.
The Golf Clubs Sector enjoyed growth across every category for the first time in 2010 as it recorded an overall rise of 2.1%.
The Drivers Category lead from the front with a rise of 3.7%, thanks largely to the introduction of Cobra’s latest S2 and ZL models.
The Putters Category posted a rise of 2.7% as it continues its steady recovery after a big fall in January. The Index debut of Callaway’s Odyssey Backstryke Series provided the impetus and was more than enough to offset some reductions across Ping’s i-Series and iN-Series.
Growth of 2.6% gave the Irons Category its highest average price since March 2005 thanks to retailers listing Adams’ new Idea A7 range and the Idea Pro Black for the first time.
Adams also helped the Utility Clubs Category record growth of 2% as the Insight Tech A4 hybrid was listed for the first time, giving the category a fourth consecutive month of growth.
The Fairway Woods Category also displayed welcome consistency with a fourth month of growth in 2010 and a rise of 1.3%. The Wedges Category completed an excellent month for the Golf Clubs Sector with a small gain of 0.3%.
Despite continuing uncertainty over the economy the Golfalot.com Price Index has shown itself to be remarkably solid so far in 2010 and May’s results certainly confirm that trend with the Index rising 0.6% so far this year.
With the European Tour in the UK in the coming weeks and with iconic Opens at Pebble Beach and St Andrews on the horizon, the golf market seems set fair to enjoy an extended period of good health over the coming months.
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