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Bridgestone calls ‘Time’ on UK and Irish markets B


ridgestone Golf has decided to close its sales operations in the UK and Ireland from the


beginning of March. This shock move reportedly means


that orders placed for delivery in 2016 will no longer be shipped. Bridgestone Golf UK will cease


trading on Monday, February 29, some three years aſter it was set up to sell the Japanese company’s clubs and balls into Europe’s largest golf market. Bridgestone has been producing golf


equipment since 1935, but it will no longer sell any of its popular contemporary brands, including B330 Tour and e-Series balls, its acclaimed J15 forged irons and other accessories from retail stockists in either country. Bridgestone’s parent company in


Japan said the decision had been taken due to prevailing market conditions, currency fluctuations and a bleak outlook for long-term sales. “Despite having liſted market share in


the ball sector in the last three years, it has been determined that any future investment was unsustainable,” said Bridgestone Golf UK’s managing director, Steve Kettlewell. “We can only apologise to our customers for any inconvenience that this unfortunate situation may cause and thank them for their support for the brand over the past few years.”


However, Bridgestone’s US operation


– which includes sponsorship of leading players like Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar – will be unaffected. Corey Consuegra, the brand’s senior


director of marketing in the US, said: “Bridgestone Golf’s UK operation is operated separately from that of the Bridgestone Golf, Inc. US, [which] remains among the top golf ball companies in the United States market. “Our domestic operation has long been a bellwether for the Bridgestone Golf brand globally. While our brand is not immune to the challenges facing the golf industry, we have prospered during difficult times and are looking forward to a strong 2016.” Bridgestone Golf is a subsidiary of the


Tokyo-based Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in the rubber and polymer industry. It was founded in the early 1930s as a tyre manufacturer by Shojiro Ishibashi with a mission to “serve society with superior quality”. Any UK or Irish customer with a


query about a recently-placed order should call 01630-657689.


www.bridgestonegolf.co.uk


Two official licensees named for Ryder Cup


P


roQuip Golf and Peter Millar have been re-appointed as official merchandise licensees for the


next two Ryder Cup matches – at Hazeltine National, Minnesota, from September 30th to October 2nd, and at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018. ProQuip Golf will provide waterproof


jackets, trousers and wind tops along with premium, water-repellent knitwear and shirts while Peter Millar’s offering will include knit shirts, sweaters, performance polos, layering garments and outerwear from its Crown Sport collection ProQuip Golf has been a preferred supplier since 1983 to 20 Ryder Cup teams, European and American, and its waterproof and windproof clothing was so popular at Celtic Manor in 2010 and Gleneagles two years ago that it sold out on all three days and had to be


4 SGBGOLF


replenished overnight to meet demand. Russell Brooks, the Scottish company’s general manager, said: “Our long-standing association with the Ryder Cup is a source of great pride for our business.” Mark Hilton, Peter Millar UK’s


European golf sales director, said: “We’re thrilled to extend this agreement as the Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in sport. This agreement shows how highly the Peter Millar brand is now regarded in Europe.” Official Ryder Cup merchandise will


be available to the public through approved retail channels – including PGA professional stockists and leading off-course retailers – and online.


www.rydercup.com www.proquipgolf.com www.petermillar.co.uk


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