Today’s blog entry started out to be all about practicing at Haggin Oaks; however, I have postponed the practice, as I often seem to do in winter months, to focus on another important area of interest to golfers – retail goods. Yes, Christmas is coming, and I couldn’t resist all the shopping possibilities here. For the golfers on her list, a Christmas elf really can’t go wrong at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.
Out of habit and because I needed my driver re-gripped, when I arrived I made my way to the pro shop which overlooks the first tee. The check-in desk caught my eye first, but soon I realized that most of the space in this building was filled with shoes – stacks and stacks of boxes of shoes and all walls filled with colorful shoe displays. Haggin Oaks may be the golf shoe capital of Northern California with Foot Joys, Adidas, Sketchers, Nikes, New Balances, Under Armors, Pumas, Eccos, Callaways, and others stacked in neat piles of boxes. It carries virtually all brands – a bit confusing since I expected shoes to be located in the Superstore, a large building adjacent to the driving range (where I should have been practicing). Almost hidden among all the shoe boxes was the small club repair shop where it took Dan three minutes to re-grip my driver for about $10. What more could I ask for?
The Superstore, a cavernous building that requires a map to get around, basically carries apparel (other than shoes) and any piece of golf equipment a player desires. Women’s clothes are a featured attraction. Holiday shoppers can choose from Nike, Puma, Tail, Adidas, Sunice, Jaimie Saddock, etc.,etc.,etc. A clerk was excited to tell me about the deal they were offering on Jaimie Saddock: buy 10 items and get 1 free. Of course, if I bought 10, I really couldn’t afford to play golf anymore. Approximately half of the Superstore is dedicated to hard goods: balls, clubs, bags, pushcarts, even cute, fuzzy little headcovers that could also function as puppets to entertain the kids. Shoppers are welcome to test prospective clubs on the driving range behind the Superstore; they simply need to sign up, leave a driver’s license, and swing away.
Located at the center of the Superstore, the Concierge Desk is the heart of the operation. The desk is manned (or “womaned”) by Sterling who is as valuable as her name suggests at tasks such as arranging group or private lessons with PGA teaching pros, setting up appointments for club fittings using the latest Doppler Radar technology (sounds more like a weather report), reserving one of the Academy Holes for practicing that short game, and even purchasing gift certificates for Christmas. Look for more about using the Concierge Desk in a blog about Haggin Oaks’ practice facilities coming up in the near future – depending on how many times I postpone writing it.
The best thing about Christmas shopping at Haggin Oaks is that you can get all the gifts on your golfing list so quickly and conveniently that you will have time to play the MacKenzie 18-hole course or one of the Arcade Creek 9-hole courses when you have finished – a little Christmas present to yourself. Happy holidays!
You Golf Girl 