Nike Golf unveils its first full-service and dedicated research & design facility for the development of performance golf clubs and the testing of both golf clubs and golf balls in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 28,000 square foot, state-of-the-art R&D facility, which Nike Golf broke ground for in October 2002, will be home to more than 100 ongoing club projects in varying stages of design and development. Stites, along with more than 30 engineers and technicians, will work out of the new facility. All of Nike Golf's club research, design and testing will be conducted at the Fort Worth facility.
“There is no better example of Nike Golf's commitment to advancing the technology of golf equipment than this incredible facility,” said Nike Golf President Bob Wood. “We are providing our club team with the resources they need to continue to turn out superior products and, as in the case of our new Slingshot irons, develop revolutionary designs.”
As part of the grand opening ceremonies, Wood, Stites and Ft. Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief are addressing invited guests at the facility site today in addition to some of the golf industry's top golf writers from Korea, Japan and throughout the United States.
“This facility will be home to many of our Tour Staff players when they are in town,” added Stites. The Nike Golf Tour Staff is comprised of more than 100 players worldwide, many of who are currently playing or testing clubs from Nike Golf. “The added advantage of sharing the same space for the development of new designs with the servicing of our Tour Staff is capturing their input and applying it to clubs and golf balls that will eventually be introduced to the average player.”
In a related story, the company indicated that sales of its Metal Woods and Irons more than doubled in June of this year compared to June of 2002 based on monthly market information provide by Golf Datatech LLC, a leading Golf Market Research Company.
Category Director for Nike Golf's club division, Mike Kelly, credits the popularity and Tour validation of the company's 400cc and 450cc Forged Titanium Drivers and Forged Pro Combo Irons for the major sales increases.
Nike Golf's Metal Woods sales jumped 176%, reaching a 4.6 unit market share. This increase was accomplished while the sales of woods in the on and off course market was up just 9.9% for June 2003 over the same period in 2002. Irons sales increased 378%, while the industry as a whole was up only 3.7% in June 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. The Blue Chip Putter Series captured 2.9% market share in June 2003.
