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Sunday, February 16th
Austad's is a family-owned golf store with a history dating back to 1963. It all began as a modest mail-order golf venture initiated by Oscar Austad and his wife, Dorothy.
They go the extra mile
With the third generation of Austad management taking the reins in 2017, the company has been dedicated not only to selling golf products but also to helping their customers have an enjoyable experience in the sport. They go the extra mile by guaranteeing their products, aiming to satisfy their customers and keep them returning to both their online and physical golf stores which include eight retail and custom fitting locations throughout the upper Midwest.
700+ clubs to choose from
Austad's inventory includes over 35 renowned golf brands. Their offerings encompass a wide variety of golf-related products, including apparel, shoes, bags, accessories, clubs, and more. Within each product category, customers have the flexibility to narrow down their choices based on factors like price, material, type, size, and more. They also offer a competitive variety with over 700 different club options across the company's entire inventory.
Lower prices than competitors, but missing some premium items
Austad's Golf caters to customers with varying budgets by allowing them to sort products by price. Shoppers can take advantage of regular sales on the site to save up to 75% on their golf gear depending on the item. To compare prices at Austad's Golf to other retailers in this review, we looked at the same three key items: drivers, bags, and gloves. To get an idea of how much a new player might spend at Austad's Golf, we also checked out the price range for full golf sets.
Overall, the prices are much lower at Austad's Golf than at other retailers. However, this is more due to missing some of the premium inventory than due to sales some of the time.
Buy custom clubs
Another benefit of shopping at Austad's Golf is that it offers a one-stop shop. Whether you want premade clubs or completely custom items, you can find what you need here. You can choose a custom driver, wood, hybrid, iron (or set of irons), and a wedge or putter too. If you happen to live near an Austad's Golf location, you can schedule an in-person fitting to make sure the clubs are suited precisely to your needs. If you aren't near a brick-and-mortar location, you can easily call their service team and get a fully custom club tailor-made for you from a distance.
20/20 playability Guarantee
Austad's offers a safety net for customers who may change their minds about a purchase. First, the company provides full refunds for products in new and unused condition sent back to their headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. But then, they go a step further with their 20/20 playability guarantee. If you decide that the clubs you purchased aren't meeting your needs after playing with them, you can still return them. In this case, a 20% restocking fee applies, but you'll receive an exchange or store credit for the remainder of your payment. However, during our research, we didn't find a specific return window, so it might be worth checking with their customer service on that before you make a purchase.
Free shipping on $49+ and low-price guarantee
Austad's provides free shipping on orders exceeding $49. On top of that, Austad's Golf offers a low-price guarantee, promising to match any lower price for an identical product found elsewhere.
Solid reviews, but missing some buzz
The Better Business Bureau recognizes Austad's with an "A-” rating, reflecting the company's commitment to customer satisfaction. However, the company isn't super popular with third-party review sites. It's not that Austad's has a poor reputation, it's just that many review sites don't have any information about the company. The reviews we did find on sites like Facebook rated Austad's Golf a solid 4.3 stars out of 5 with praises for the customer service and selection at the website.
Low-cost one-stop shop
Apart from some limitations in the number of reviews out there, Austad's remains a reputable destination for browsing golf equipment and discovering the ideal gear to bring your game to the next level. Whether you want prefab or custom, pro gear, or a beginner set, Austad's Golf has an impressive array of choices. With playability guarantees, free shipping options, and a price matching promise, Austad's Golf is putting customers first every step of the way. With these things considered it's clear that this family-owned business is one of our top choices and they earn a strong rating from us.
If you hope to join the host of golf enthusiasts out there, or if you're looking to refresh your favorite gear, online golf equipment shopping offers a nearly limitless selection. Where before you could only find golf equipment in specialty stores, golf players can now access the online marketplace and get exactly what they need at the click of a button. Plus, when shopping online you can find and compare the best deals for top-level gear.
Perhaps the best part of online shopping is the deals on prices you can't find anywhere else. Traditional brick-and-mortar sporting goods outlets often have higher prices due to operational costs. And golfers know that even getting started with the basics (a driver and a couple of irons), can be extremely expensive. So while it can feel convenient to buy your golf equipment from a clubhouse pro shop chances are you're paying a lot more than you need to.
And there's no need to worry about finding your perfect set of clubs or a custom golf bag - if you can imagine it, there is something out there for your golf collection. Online, the idea of discovering specialized and hard-to-find equipment (like clubs for lefties or short clubs for people who don't quite make the national height average) is notably more promising than browsing the limited aisles of a local sporting goods store.
Golf is a centuries-old sport with Scottish origins, but the sport as we know it today has evolved significantly from its first iteration. Golf got started in the late Middle Ages in Scotland, with early players using wooden clubs and feather-stuffed leather balls on natural courses. St. Andrews Links, founded in 1552, is renowned as the "home of golf." The sport then spread to England in the 16th century, and the first known golf rules emerged in 1744.
The 19th century witnessed golf's rapid growth, culminating in the formation of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the introduction of golf in the United States where technological advances, like iron clubs and the gutta-percha ball, transformed the game. Professional tournaments, such as the Open Championship and the Masters Tournament, emerged and iconic golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods became household names (even if you've never seen a putting green before). Today, golf remains a beloved sport, uniting millions of enthusiasts in a tradition known for skill, sportsmanship, and course challenges.
Golf, regarded as an elegant and distinguished sport with a rich history, is a unique pastime that demands a blend of patience, precision, and technique. Avid golfers, whether they're new enthusiasts or seasoned players, often find solace and enjoyment in joining a few friends for a quiet afternoon on the course.
To excel on the greens and harness your full potential in this sport, securing top-quality golf equipment is incredibly important. Whether it's your first time on the front nine or you're a clubhouse regular, you'll need to make sure your gear is up to snuff - including a range of clubs as well as accessories like shoes, gloves, and much more.
If you're ready to start swinging with online golf shopping, where do you start? There are so many options, it can be hard to know which sites are legit and which ones are just as pricey as your local clubhouse. So, we've put together a list of considerations that might help you find your next set of clubs without the stress:
To make sure you can focus on your form and your swing, and not the stress of browsing site after site, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top golf equipment stores online today. This way you can gear up for your next 9 and, who knows - with the right set of clubs or a brand-new glove, you might be the next Tiger Woods!
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