It’s time to get your game on – and King Par Superstore in Flushing provides a golf experience for people of all ages. The seventh largest golf specialty store in the Midwest, it was named by Golf World magazine as one of America’s Top 100 Golf Stores. According to Nigel Matthews, Product Development Manager/Overseas Sales Director, King Par has something for everyone. Nigel met King Par owner, John Runyon, in Scotland at The Old Course at St. Andrews – one of the world’s most iconic courses and considered by many to be the home of golf. Having an extensive business background and professional golf skills, Nigel was invited by John to visit Flint and after obtaining a Visa allowing him to work in the U.S. He was then hired to bring his expertise to King Par. “It’s nice to be back in the golf industry,” he says.
King Par is well known for its 22,000-square-foot retail store and also has ever-increasing Internet sales. Retail and wholesale are the biggest part of the King Par business and they carry all the leading brands in both hard goods and clothing. King Par has five of its own brands: Orlimar, Orlimar Sport, Affinity, Intech and Titech which are sold to various retailers, including Dunham’s, MC Sporting Goods, Kmart and Walmart.
When purchasing new clubs, King Par customers have the opportunity to try them out at the 36-bay (heated and air conditioned) driving range. The talented sales team is always on hand to offer advice when it comes to club selection. They also consider the customer’s individual golf goals and how much they want to invest in gear. “We strive to give the customer exactly what they want that fits their budget,” Nigel says.
Great gear is not all that golf enthusiasts find at King Par. The Golf Academy offers lessons by two pros who use all the latest technology. The academy also features the best in club-fitting technology and has a great reputation for fitting clubs.
King Par recently designed a product range with the younger generation in mind, the OJam Initiative by Olimar. “We started this about 15 months ago to try to find products that will encourage young people to get into the game,” Nigel says. A unique line of golf bags – Jam Bags – are designed to appeal to younger golfers by bringing a little music and fun to the game. The bags feature an accessory pocket for carrying a cell phone or other musical devices. And the reaction to this new product line has been very positive. The OJam golf bags have a vibrant look and come in a range of colors from traditional to edgy. The initiative has gained national attention and Nigel will appear this month on the Golf Channel show “The Morning Drive” to talk about the OJam Initiative and about getting the younger generation interested in the game.
There are a lot of new things going on at King Par Superstore. “This is just the beginning!” exclaimed Nigel. He said they are in the process of developing a number of exciting products. Want to get rid of your slice? Check out the Slice Kill driver, which is a seven-degree offset, closed titanium driver. On the range, King Par has introduced the Big Break Challenge, which is a great way to have some fun with friends. King Par is also host to many events including Demo Days and the Annual King Par Tent Sale.
A trip to King Par is not complete without a visit to the putt-putt facility for some family fun followed by some fantastic ice cream at King Kone. “You come here for value, for fun and the opportunity to enjoy the game you love,” Nigel says.
