MARTENS & WATSON RECOGNIZED AS MERCHANDISERS OF THE YEAR
Adam Martens, the PGA Director of Golf at The Club at SpurWing in Meridian, Idaho, has been selected as the 2024 Rocky Mountain Section PGA Merchandiser of the Year for private golf course facilities. This is the second time he has been so honored by the RMSPGA having previously been recognized in 2012.
Martens has been a member of the PGA of America for thirteen years and has been on staff at SpurWing since 2008. He does his best to display a diverse mix of products intended to encourage member interest. Competitive pricing is also a key to Adam’s success. He offers the membership a 10% discount in the shop. His inventory philosophy includes diminishing stock as low as possible by year’s end to make room for all new merchandise at the beginning of the next season. Martens is a hands-on kind of retailer trying to spend time on the shop floor a bit every day to tidy up and be fully aware of what is in stock. He finds rotating brands and encouraging special orders adds to the member’s perception of a successful full-service golf shop.
Chad Watson, the Head Golf Professional at Boise Ranch Golf Course in Boise, Idaho, is the 2024 Merchandiser of the Year for public facilities in the RMSPGA. This is Chad’s third Merchandiser of the Year award having been honored previously in 2009 and 2020. Watson was elected to membership in 2000 and is celebrating his Quarter Century as a member milestone this month. Boise Ranch has been home to Chad since 1998.
Watson uses many different techniques in the golf shop to keep sales active. He doesn’t subscribe to just one philosophy in today’s economy, and he firmly believes any successful merchandiser must be creative, innovative, and have the ability to change his/her perspective. Chad brings in a wide variety of price points to encourage any level of demographic to shop comfortably. He enjoys giving the shop a new look as often as possible and uses bundling to encourage more sales. Watson also does his best to capture the college culture by offering Boise State’s logo on golf related merchandise.
The Merchandiser of the Year Awards are presented to individuals who excel in their abilities to purchase, present and sell golf-related products in the most effective and attractive way possible while providing a high level of service to the customer at their respective golf facilities. Martens and Watson will receive their awards at the Rocky Mountain Section PGA Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation in May.