Custom club fitter sees growth in corporate and retail environments to remain nation’s best
Willowbrook, IL — The game of golf requires a certain optimism — players keep coming back regardless of the challenges. The golf industry has seen the perseverance of that optimism in recent years, with 2021 being the biggest year on record for many golf brands. Club Champion, the nation’s top custom club fitter and builder, was no exception.
The fitter’s dynamic vision has led Golf Digest to include them in the bi-annual Top 100 Clubfitters ranking since the inception of the list. The company’s thorough processes and attention to detail have gained a strong recognition among golfers, leading to an overall revenue growth of 58% year-over-year and over 90,000 fittings in 2021.
“The world has changed but golf has never been more of a constant,” said Club Champion founder, Nick Sherburne. “We have more new golfers than ever and more people returning to the sport since you can safely participate. Because of all that, the demand for the game is through the roof and we’ve done everything we can to meet that demand.”
Two of the many tactics to meet the demand were rapid brick-and-mortar growth domestically and strategic international acquisitions. In 2021, Club Champion opened 14 new stores and relocated three key studios to better service the golfers in those markets. The store count as of publishing is 90 studios, all fully equipped with TrackMan, SAM PuttLab, and over 65,000 hittable head and shaft combinations. Late in the year, the company also acquired top Canadian fitter Tour Experience Golf (TXG) as the first stepping stone toward an international presence.
In addition to a wider footprint, Club Champion also saw incredible team growth — in 2021 alone, the employee roster increased by 35%. At the head of the new hires, Club Champion brought in CEO Adam Levy, a proven executive charged with navigating the new retail landscape and the unprecedented call for all things golf.
“Joining Club Champion was like jumping on a moving train that’s headed for an unknown destination,” Levy said. “In my first year, we’ve exceeded expectations and the plan now is direct that driving force toward 2022 to see how we can continue to evolve and grow as a brand that puts service above all else.”
Club Champion’s external support also expanded, with a revamped roster of brand ambassadors. Major winners Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson are at the head of the pack, along with PGA Tour legend Jim Furyk, unequaled social influencer Paige Spiranac, instructing great Michael Breed, and LPGA rising star Louise Ridderström.
Behind the scenes, the fitter’s Chicagoland build shop was a rising star in its own right, producing more than 360,000 hand-built golf clubs during the year. Those impeccably built clubs contribute directly to the company’s on-course claims, including the fact that Club Champion custom-fit golfers add an average of 21 yards off the tee. That statistic was proven by a Golf Digest study, along with a metric showing an average six-stroke improvement per round with custom fitted and built clubs.
To round out an incredible year of firsts and record-breaking results, Club Champion also reported the following:
78% of all fittings were first-time customers, further supporting the growth in beginner and returning golfer segments
Over 4,000 pieces of content were created by the Club Champion team, including video content on their YouTube channel and episodes of their podcast, Fits with the Founder
Roughly 9.83 million golf balls were hit in fittings in 2021
Over 197,000 hours were spent in fitting bays — that’s over 8,000 full days
Looking ahead, Club Champion has plans to continue growth in North America and beyond in 2022, along with the addition of a flagship studio in NYC. Content expansion is top of mind as well, with plans to loop the TXG team into video production and industry-leading guests into the podcast.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” said Levy. “With fittings, with content, with what we can offer. 2021 was an incredible year and now we’re stepping up to the tee in 2022 to set the next set of records.”
For more information about Club Champion, please visit clubchampiongolf.com.
About Club Champion
Club Champion is the USA’s most prominent name in custom club fitting and building services. Established in 2010, there are now more than 90 Club Champion locations nationwide and the company is expanding internationally in 2022. Each studio offers golfers access to over 50 brands and more than 65,000 hittable head and shaft combinations. Club Champion has solidified their position at the top of the industry through comprehensive Tour-level fittings, unrivaled club building, and the use of top-tier technology. The company is headquartered in Willowbrook, IL and is home to more than 375 employees, including hundreds of the most highly trained Master Fitters in the country. For more information about Club Champion, visit www.clubchampiongolf.com.
Terms and Conditions
*Terms: Use the promo code provided to get 50% off your Club Champion club fitting with a club purchase. Offer valid for fittings booked by August 31, 2023 and completed by October 31, 2023. Club purchase must be made the same day as the club fitting for discount to apply. Not valid on prior fittings. Promo code provided must be used at time of booking. Club purchase must be made the same day as club fitting for discount to apply. Applicable at Club Champion stores in the United States only. Exclusions apply. Waitlist appointments are not considered a booking and do not apply; the fitting must be booked and confirmed during the promotional period. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Fitting must be completed in one appointment. Not valid on prior fittings or purchases. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer or discount. Not valid in conjunction with Member Rewards benefits. Club Champion reserves the right to remove or modify this promotion at any time. Appointments are limited.
Terms and Conditions
*Terms: Get a Club Champion full bag fitting for $100 with an equipment purchase OR any other fitting type for $50 with an equipment purchase when you book your fitting between 7/24/2023 and 8/31/2023. Fittings must be completed by 9/30/2023. Promo code provided must be used at time of booking. Applicable at the following Club Champion stores only: Jupiter, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; Little Rock, AR; Meridian, ID; Sanford, FL; Mt. Pleasant, SC; Wilmington, NC. Exclusions apply; golf balls are not considered an equipment purchase. Waitlist appointments are not considered a booking and do not apply; the fitting must be booked and confirmed during the promotional period. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Fitting must be completed in one appointment. Not valid on prior fittings or purchases. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer or discount. Not valid in conjunction with Member Rewards benefits. Club Champion reserves the right to remove or modify this promotion at any time. Appointments are limited.
FREE PUTTER FITTING
*Terms and Conditions: Use the promo code provided to get a free Club Champion putter fitting with an applicable putter purchase. Offer valid for fittings booked and completed 9/1/23 through 10/2/23. Putter purchase must be made the same day as the club fitting for discount to apply. Golfer must purchase a new putter or new putter shaft with Club Champion installation to qualify for a free putter fitting; regripping services do not apply. Limit one free fitting per customer. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Not valid on prior fittings. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer. Appointments are limited.
BONUS CARD WITH GIFT CARD PURCHASE
*Terms and Conditions: Get a 20% Bonus Card on the value of your Gift Card or ecard purchased online from 9/1/2023-9/5/2023. Bonus Cards are only available for cards and ecards purchased online at clubchampion.com/products-services/gift-cards. Limit three Gift Cards per household; $1,000 limit per card. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions. Offer not valid on prior Gift Card purchases. Cards valid at Club Champion USA locations only. Bonus Card may not be redeemed for 24 hours after purchase; Bonus Card value expires 3/31/2024. Bonus Card cannot be redeemed for cash or credit; Gift Cards and Bonus Cards are non-refundable. Bonus Card may be used toward club fitting fee and/or golf club equipment and build purchases only. Bonus Cards cannot be used to purchase Club Champion Gift Cards. Gift Cards and Bonus Cards cannot be used at Club Champion's online store. We reserve the right to decline or suspend any sale, for any reason if we suspect fraud or misuse of the bonus value promotion. Void where prohibited. Offer subject to change without notice.
FREE PUTTER FITTING
*Terms and Conditions: Use the promo code provided to get a free Club Champion putter fitting with an applicable putter purchase. Offer valid for fittings booked and completed 9/1/23 through 10/2/23. Putter purchase must be made the same day as the club fitting for discount to apply. Golfer must purchase a new putter or new putter shaft with Club Champion installation to qualify for a free putter fitting; regripping services do not apply. Limit one free fitting per customer. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Not valid on prior fittings. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer. Appointments are limited.
$100 FULL BAG FITTING OR $50 FOR ALL OTHER FITTINGS
*Terms and Conditions: Get a Club Champion full bag fitting (with or without putter fitting) for $100 or any other fitting type for $50 with an applicable club purchase when you book your fitting between September 8, 2023 and October 2, 2023. Fittings must be completed by October 2, 2023. Promo code provided must be used at time of booking. Club purchase must be made the same day as club fitting for discount to apply. Applicable at Club Champion stores in the United States only. Exclusions apply. Waitlist appointments are not considered a booking and do not apply; the fitting must be booked and confirmed during the promotional period. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Fitting must be completed in one appointment. Not valid on prior fittings or purchases. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer or discount. Not valid in conjunction with Member Rewards benefits. Club Champion reserves the right to remove or modify this promotion at any time. Appointments are limited.
*Terms and Conditions: Get a Club Champion full bag fitting for $100 with an equipment purchase OR any other fitting type for $50 with an equipment purchase when you book your fitting between September 1, 2023 and September 30, 2023. Fittings must be completed by October 31, 2023. Promo code provided must be used at time of booking. Applicable at the following Club Champion stores only: Fredericksburg, VA; Midland, TX; Mt. Pleasant, SC; Sanford, FL; Ann Arbor, MI; Huntsville, AL. Exclusions apply; golf balls are not considered an equipment purchase. Waitlist appointments are not considered a booking and do not apply; the fitting must be booked and confirmed during the promotional period. Promotional fittings may be rescheduled no more than one time. Fitting must be completed in one appointment. Not valid on prior fittings or purchases. Not valid in conjunction with any other fitting offer or discount. Not valid in conjunction with Member Rewards benefits. Club Champion reserves the right to remove or modify this promotion at any time. Appointments are limited.