Could you introduce yourself, and let us know what’s the name of your business?
I am Craig Stewart owner of Your Golf Ball Shop on Indian River road.
Where is Your Golf Ball shop located, it’s web site and contact information?
Your golf Ball Shop
6229 Indian River Rd
Virginia Beach Va 23464
757 368-0700
yourgolfballshop.com
Describe how you got into the business, and your golf business history?
I was trained as a Navy diver in 1976. Dived diamonds off the west coast of Africa and commercially. In 1988 a friend suggested golf ball recovery as a way of becoming self employed. It took several years before we opened our store but have developed a great base of local customers.
Describe a typical day for you at work:
I am diving at least 4 days per week March thru November. We wash and process the balls as fast as we can for resale. The lower grades are either striped for driving range balls or sold as shag balls and the best of them are packaged for our shop.
Tell us a little bit about your new location, and how you have expanded your business from just golf balls:
Our customers have actually guided us into the inventory we have now. When some golfer asks us if we carry a particular product we take note and try to find a variety that will not break the bank.
Where do you see the golf market going in the next 5 years?
It appears that there was an over expansion of golf courses and now we are seeing a retraction. I think however that growth will again pick up especially where they develop homes around the course. As the Boomers retire they will be looking for this in larger numbers.
What plans do you have for you and your business for the next 5 years?
Right now we are trying to establish this location. My goal is to pay for the building and keep growing that base of really great customers, we have been fortunate with the kind of folks that have supported us to date.
How do you guys manage to find and get all those used golf balls?
I spend an inordinate amount of time on the muddy bottom of our golf courses ponds. We offer value to the golf course for this privilege by supplying range balls, jar balls, cash or services.
What is your favorite local course, and favorite non local course to play?
To be politically correct I think it is best to avoid this question, however I do work two beautiful golf courses in Ocean City MD. Rum Point and Lighthouse Sound.
Give us some personal information about yourself, married? Grew up here? How long have you been in the golf industry? Etc.
I grew up in beautiful Cape Town South Africa. Left there during the apartheid era. Married to my wife Donna an elementary school. I have been diving golf balls for over twenty years now! I think I need to sit down.
Anything you want to share with us?
Yes! We really appreciate the support we get from our customers. Our goal is to, obviously stay afloat, but also to make the game a little less expensive. If we can have fun doing so we will have achieved our goal.
Lastly, give us your “Deal of the Week” that we can pass onto the reader:
Our best deal, I feel, is the “value grade” Prov1 ball. This sells for $11.95/doz for the 2007 Prov1 and $14.95/doz for the 2008. These balls are near top grade and very playable.
Ladies balls are locked in at $6.95/doz. We have lots of other goodies like towels under $5 and gloves under $7 ea. Grips installed from as low as $4.
Thanks for your Time!
Thank you for the interest.
