The new owners of a Dunedin golf shop will give retail their best shot today, ending the previous owners' 24 years of selling the latest sports technology from the store.
When Alan Rose opened Sharpies Golf in Cumberland St in 1992, a driver had a small head and it was made from wood.
Now, a driver head was made from steel, or titanium, and was more than twice the size of its wooden predecessor. "It is a huge change.''
When the shop opened, a player had to pull a golf cart across a course.
Now they could buy one with a remote control.
Mr Rose and his wife Maree built the business by selling golf gear at tournaments held at clubs without professionals, across Otago and Southland.
The couple sold the business to move to Wanaka.
The shift was solely because Mr Rose got a "dream job'' as a golf professional at Wanaka Golf Club.
The new job allowed him to continue his "passion'' for coaching and for the couple to continue to host golf tours to Australia in winter, he said.
Partners Fraser Adams and Lisa Robertson take over the shop today.
Mr Adams said he was in the navy before working as a straddle carrier driver at Port Otago for the past 13 years.
He was a member of Port Chalmers Golf Club and played off an eight handicap.
Ms Robertson had 20 years' retail experience.
Her father was an avid golfer.
She played golf socially and was working on getting a handicap.
About three months ago, he and Ms Robertson were talking about their jobs, saw the business for sale and decided on a change.
"We thought, we'll have a crack,'' Mr Adams said.
He was not concerned about competition from online retailers because the shop offered something they couldn't - custom-fitted clubs.
