by Jeff Skinner
The business of golf is big business. And this weekend the business of golf is coming to Paramus, New Jersey. Kind of.
In my in box yesterday was an e-mail announcing the grand opening of the new Golf Galaxy in nearby Paramus. Now, I and my buddies have taken the hour ride to Paramus a few times to peruse the merchandize down there. It’s kind of a little bit of a golfer’s heaven.
There’s the Golf Galaxy Store, a Dick’s Sporting Goods, a PGA Super Store and until last year a Golfsmith too. But Golfsmith couldn’t compete with these guys so they closed down their Paramus store.
The new grand opening of the Golf Galaxy is actually in the old location of the old Golfsmith store, that and about three times the square footage. And believe it or not it is right next to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store. And yes, Dick’s owns Golf Galaxy so they probably won’t mind losing their business to their new neighbor. Making the trip with a few bucks to spend is always fun even with the brutal traffic on Rt. 17. But I digress.
What struck me about this e-mail was the lineup of golf celebrities they have appearing at their grand opening.
What does the most recent LPGA Tour winner do on the first weekend since her win in San Francisco? Does she tee it up in Texas to give Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie another shot at her? No she doesn’t. Lydia Ko is busy making an appearance at Golf Galaxy on Friday night.
I figure this was scheduled before she won last week and the timing is great for Golf Galaxy with Ko as their headliner. Maybe it is a case of pacing herself or maybe striking while the iron is hot but I would venture a guess that 20th place at the North Texas LPGA Shootout pays a little more than two hours in Jersey.
But I give Lydia credit if this was a commitment she had made earlier and still insisted on honoring her commitment. Also if this is her way of staying fresh and not playing every week fine. She’ll have her pick of starts on any tour she chooses for a long time. But I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I could head down to Jersey and chat with the world’s number two women’s golfer.
Next on their hit parade is the very attractive and likable Lauren Thompson of The Golf Channel. Lauren just came back to work at The Golf Channel after some maternity leave. I can understand her earning a few extra bucks after all those Pampers are expensive. Lauren will spend an hour there on Saturday afternoon.
But they are not done at Golf Galaxy, not by a long shot. Head down there at 2:00pm on Saturday and you can shake hands with former world number one and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Double D didn’t get an invite to Quail Hollow so he figures some time in Jersey may help pay the bills.
Duval has said this is the last year he will try and earn his tour card and if he doesn’t he’ll hang it up and move on. It’s too bad that he can’t get more sponsor invites, he only has had seven starts this season. At this rate he won’t have much of a chance at regaining his card unless he wins.
Duval is one of the most interesting and intelligent PGA Tour golfers but he is struggling to earn his place on tour again.
Golf Galaxy is pulling out all the stops for their grand opening and if you’re willing to make the trip you can rub shoulders with some heavy hitters in golf. But be warned: that traffic on Rt. 17 is brutal, really brutal.
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