1. Club ban stuns makers.
- Author
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THOMASELLI, RICH
- Subjects
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ADVERTISING campaigns , *GOLF clubs (Sporting goods) , *GOLF , *SALES promotion , *SOCIETIES - Abstract
This article reports on the decision of Callaway Golf Co. and Taylor Made Golf to suspend advertising campaigns for their golf clubs in the U.S. in August 2002. Callaway developed the Big Bertha ERC golf club while Taylor Made markets the R500 Series golf clubs. Recreational golfers were allowed to use the clubs and factor them into their handicap everywhere except the U.S. and Mexico where the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) has jurisdiction on rules. On May 9, 2002, the two companies agreed on a proposed compromise, wherein the golf clubs could be used by recreational players in the country starting January 1, 2003 but would be illegal again in 2008. But during the two-month proposal period, the USGA decided to reverse its decision and banned the equipment effective August 6, 2002. On the other hand, Callaway had started an in-store promotion in July 2002 along with a national print buy in USA Today to market the ERC II golf club. In some markets, the company had reduced the price of the equipment which normally retails for more than $ 500 to $ 399. According to Callaway President-CEO Ron Drapeau, the company will take back any ERC II purchased by consumers during the promotion and replace it with any new conforming golf club from its current product line.
- Published
- 2002