The Gold Tee
I’m ready now! I have golf clubs! What an experience. I had heard all about the pro shop here, and finally got to visit last night. After dinner last night, Edmund and Dominic, a couple of the executives here, and regular golfers, took me about a mile from the plant to the Gold Tee golf shop. What a place!I felt right at home. It was just like a being in a USA Golf or small Nevada Bob’s. The window was full of large bags of Mizuno, Taylor Made, Callaway, and Ping golf clubs. A huge wall was loaded with a display of shoes. Racks and racks had pants, shirts, and shorts at very nice bargains. And they even had big enough sizes for me!! They must really see a few Americans.
Of course, these are not clubs to bring home. I’ve heard stories about how the golfers have had the heads cut off and confiscated in customs. They look pretty close to the real thing though. It did seem odd that the labels on the Callaway all said “Ltem #”, instead of “Item #”. They’re not perfect.
But the store’s driving range was certainly different. Right inside the entry to the store was a driving mat. And I soon found you just dropped a nerf-style ball on the mat, and drive ‘em right into the glass door entry. Balls were soon ricocheting all over the store. Taking my turn to try some clubs, I had a hard time concentrating on the quality of the clubs for fear of the ball bouncing back in my face. It almost did!
Callaway Fusions became my choice. Nice clubs with regular shaft, instead of the common flex shaft. Soon the lady waiting on me was pulling down a large golf bag, and pushing gloves, hats, and accessory bags in my face. I did get shocked to find the stiffer than usual shaft meant these were knockoffs from Taiwan and not the local variety. That meant extra price. So I bargained an special accessory bag and umbrella. All told it amounted to about $300US. Not bad.
They hit great at the indoor driving range at the “hotel”, when we returned. Next adventure: to the golf course!
posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 1:35 PM
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