NEWSS P R I N G 2 0 1 6

FIRM FAVOURITE • MARKET VALUE • GAME ENHANCER • COLOURFUL CHARACTER • SINGLE MINDED • GENERATION GAME • WHY LITHIUM?

MONEY BAGSSales of Motocaddy bags increased by over 40% last year as the brand sold twice as many cart bags as its nearest competitor, including top equipment brands.

Reflecting its No.1 cart bag status, Motocaddy has introduced 14 new lines this year with eye-catching designs and a wide range of colour combinations enabling golfers to match a bag to the trolley of their choice.

“Golfers nowadays are quite often brand enthusiasts,” said Gary Stafford, Head Professional at Burton-On-Trent Golf Club in Derbyshire. “With bags like the waterproof Dry-Series matching the build quality of the trolleys, it’s easy to see why these bags are doing so well. What’s more, they’ve also managed to hit attractive price points that help retailers like me maintain a good margin.”

The latest Lite, Club, Pro and Dry-Series bags feature several updates, including an improved top layout with larger dividers for better club organisation, plus an upgraded anti-twist base that continues to feature the exclusive EASILOCK™ bag-to-trolley connection system introduced two years ago.

TROLLEY MILESTONE Remember when Swedish rookie Henrik Stenson holed the winning putt for Europe in the Ryder Cup at The K Club or Aussie outsider Geoff Ogilvy triumphed at the US Open?

Well, that was in 2006 when the award-winning S1 electric trolley rolled onto the fairways for the first time.

Over the past decade, more than 200,000 of the world’s favourite electric golf trolley have been sold worldwide, while setting the industry benchmark for classic design, reliable build quality and practical features.

Its lightweight S-shaped frame and distinctive T-bar handle have defined the brand’s signature look, while stand-out benefits on the current model include nine speed settings, a streamlined battery tray and soft-touch handle grips.

“The tenth anniversary of the S1 marks a genuine milestone in the trolley sector,” said Chairman David Wells. “During that time, it has proved itself to be the golfer’s best friend and is still an incredibly popular trolley with players of all ages around the world.”

The recent price reduction on models sold with Lithium batteries in the UK is expected to have a marked impact on electric trolley sales…and future dynamics in the sector.

The £50 drop in the RRP of trolleys fitted with Lithium has seen the price gap between them and Lead-acid equivalents close to just £100, with latest industry figures

LITHIUM BOOSTER showing a significant boost in sales of Lithium-powered trolleys.

“Motocaddy was the first brand to promote the benefits of Lithium batteries and the recent price initiative confirmed it’s still leading market trends,” said Carl Baker, Club Professional at Pavenham Park Golf Club in Bedfordshire. “As the price of Lithium comes down, so more golfers are looking to invest in the longer-lasting and more reliable

battery that also gives us a better margin,” he added.

The price move follows the successful £50 Cashback promotion at the end of last year that built on the ‘Time To Go Lithium’ campaign launched two years ago.

“In keeping up the momentum generated by our Cashback promotion, we anticipate Lithium

accounting for more than 85% of our trolley sales this year and it could prove the end of Lead-acid models in 2017,” said Sales Director Neil Parker.

2016 S12006 S1

L-R: Lite, Club, Pro & Dry-Series Bags

Motocaddy Lithium battery range

GAME ENHANCER The positive reaction to the S7 REMOTE following its launch last season has firmly established Motocaddy’s credentials as a leading premium trolley supplier.

“There’s no doubt that the S7 is increasingly seen as a genuine game changer for golfers who want to think more about their golf and less about moving their clubs around the course,” said Andy Thorpe, Head Professional at Peterborough Milton GC. “Several customers have said how much the remote control has helped them improve their game and general enjoyment of playing golf.”

Meanwhile, popular website Golfshake.com asked a club golfer to take the S7 for a spin and give the flagship model a rating. Contributor Andrew Picken, who used it during his

round at Morley Hayes GC in Derbyshire, was full of praise for ‘a superb product’ and rated it a lofty 9 out of 10.

‘The remote control soon becomes second nature,’ he wrote on the site that attracts 800,000 visits a month. ‘It’s also lighter and more portable than I expected, being easy to move from the car. I found it useful in a multitude of situations, mostly looking for balls in the rough… saving valuable time.’

The full review can be seen at www.golfshake.com under ‘Motocaddy S7 REMOTE’.

MARKET VALUE Motocaddy sales continue to lead the growing trolley sector, which now boasts a greater share of the UK golf market than ever before.

“It’s no surprise that trolleys now represent over 10% of all golf equipment sales, when you consider that around 60% of golfers in the UK use electric trolleys and another 25% use manual trolleys,” said Sales Director Neil Parker.

“These numbers will continue to grow, as any lingering stigma about using a trolley dies away, plus more golfers of all ages recognise that golf is both easier and more enjoyable if you’re not carrying your clubs.

“The sector’s importance to golf retailers has also grown as a result of average prices increasing. In the electric category, this has mainly been driven by the rapid move to Lithium batteries, which now represent around 75% of new trolley sales, while in the manual category golfers are now opting for higher quality three-wheel and even four-wheel models.

“The good news for golf retailers is that it’s very likely that trolley revenue will continue to grow as electric trolley sales are expected to become 100% lithium in the very near future,” he added.

The number of golfers who use a trolley is steadily rising, with research revealing that 77% of UK golfers use one regularly and a further 16% from time to time*.

FIRM FAVOURITE Media exposure for this year’s trolley range has already made a big impression.

Record pre-orders have been taken for both the S1 and S3 PRO, with brand new features impressing industry professionals. The latest S1 incorporates a soft-touch ergonomic handle; low-profile, quick release wheels; a streamlined battery tray to accommodate the full range of batteries; and the super-fast QUIKFOLD mechanism. In addition, the brand new S3 PRO offers a wide-range of innovative features with a more user-friendly, hi-res colour screen making it even easier for golfers to take advantage of the functions on offer.

Leading magazine Golf Monthly reported on both the latest S1 and S3 PRO models, describing the latter as ‘a firm Golf Monthly favourite since its launch.’

Top Scottish golf title bunkered gave the S3 PRO prime billing on its trolley showcase, while Irish Golfer gave the same trolley the Gold Medal in the 2016 Trolley Test, saying it ‘ticked every box’.

Popular website GolfAlot gave a 5-star rating to the S3 PRO, with Editor Martin Hopley saying ‘the trolley delivers everything you would expect from a quality trolley from a trusted brand.’

www.golfshake.com

S7 review on Golfshake website

Recent Media Coverage

*Source: SMS Inc.

www.motocaddy.media

COLOURFUL CHARACTER One lucky golfer is strolling the fairways this season with a customised S3 PRO electric trolley like none other on the planet.

Alan McDermaid from Colinton in Edinburgh, is the proud owner of a bright blue carbon fibre trolley after winning a joint competition run by Motocaddy and Ziegler Custom Design among visitors to GolfMagic.com.

“It was the first competition I’ve seen like it and to get the opportunity to not only win a new trolley, but to design my own graphics as well was really special,” said Alan. “There are so many designs to choose from and the whole process is so simple. The boys at my club are certainly envious,” he added.

The Ziegler service offers golfers hundreds of patterns and colour combinations to choose from and prices start at £499.99 for an S1 model.

“Ziegler Custom Design offers something very different and we were thrilled with the amazing response to the competition that attracted thousands of entries,” said Motocaddy Marketing Manager Oliver Churcher.

SINGLE MINDED

The Motocaddy initiative introduced a year ago to deploy Lithium batteries on all rental trolleys as standard has proved a great success.

It has resulted in full-Lithium trolley fleets at busy resort courses like Gleneagles, Celtic Manor and The Belfry, as well as

members’ clubs like Ganton and St Annes Old Links.

Motocaddy has championed the benefits of using Lithium batteries, including a five-times longer lifespan and quicker charging – both of which help rental fleet stockists to offer more trolleys, particularly in the busier parts of the golfing season.

“Having Lithium batteries across the whole rental fleet not only benefits me as a stockist, but also the members and visitors

who use the trolleys,” said Rob Leonard, PGA Professional at Harpenden Common Golf Club in Hertfordshire. “I can have confidence in the fact that I’m supplying an unrivalled product, while potential purchasers can try out the trolley before deciding to buy one.”

Typically, a Lithium-powered rental trolley returns its initial investment within a few weeks and can be sold on at the end of the season to finance replacement units.

RICH RESOURCESA brand new online Motocaddy Resource Centre has been launched to give stockists quick and easy access to promotional material to help them maximise their sales.

Available with a one-time registration at motocaddy.media, it offers multiple download options for printable POS material, videos, hi-res product images, instruction manuals and press releases. The system has been developed to offer simple search and filtering facilities with straight forward navigation.

“We continue to invest heavily to support our retail partners and the new resource centre will make our wide-range of promotional materials more accessible than ever before,” said Marketing Manager Oliver Churcher.

FRESH DISCOVERYAfter 30 years of carrying or occasionally pushing his bag, Matt

Nicholson the publisher of Golf News (300,000 monthly readers), recently invested in an extended range Lithium M1 PRO compact trolley.

He then expressed his personal opinion of the award-winning trolley: ‘The M1 PRO is a neat, uncomplicated, well-designed power trolley that is easy to use and even easier to store. I

came off the course after my first round with it feeling much fresher than I ever did with a stand bag or a push trolley, and the only annoyance I felt was with myself for not getting one earlier.’www.zieglercustomdesigns.co.uk

Rental fleet at Harpenden Common Golf Club

Ziegler bright blue carbon fibre trolley

CONTACT DETAILS

SALES DIRECTORNeil Parker

Email: neil.parker@motocaddy.com

INTERNATIONAL SALESDavid Wells

Email: david.wells@motocaddy.com

Units 15-18, Stansted Distribution Centre,

Start Hill, Great Hallingbury,

Hertfordshire, CM22 7DG

Tel: 01279 712 370

Email: info@motocaddy.com

Web: www.motocaddy.com

HEAD OFFICE

Simple reasons togo LITHIUM

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5 times longer lifetimeAn integrated Battery Management System (BMS) protects the high quality components used and provides a significantly longer lifespan than the Lead-acid equivalent.

Lower cost per roundNot only does the increased lifespan reduce replacement battery costs, but the more efficient technology utilises less power and costs less to charge.

Super lightweightWeighing between 2.1kg (Standard) and 2.7kg (Extended), a Motocaddy Lithium battery is over 75% lighter than the equivalent Lead-acid battery.

Quicker chargingBoth Motocaddy Lithium capacities can be recharged from empty in less than five hours and remove the hassle of long charging periods.

More compactSignificantly smaller than the Lead-acid equivalent, a Motocaddy Lithium battery has been designed to remain on the trolley when folded for easy transportation.

5-year limited warranty*

Buy with confidence thanks to a market-leading 5-year limited warranty (1-year with Lead-acid batteries).

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GENERATION GAME PGA EuroPro Tour winners this season will not only walk away with the prize money, but a brand new S1 electric trolley complete with Lithium battery.

This is the 11th consecutive year that Motocaddy has sponsored the Tour that helps aspiring full-time professionals develop their careers like 2015 Order of

Merit winner Jordan Smith. The 15-event Tour begins in May at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire and culminates at Spanish Resort Desert Springs in October.

“Motocaddy has been everything a sponsor should be over the past decade and we are delighted they have committed to supporting the

Tour again,” said Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, who supplies coverage of Tour events on Sky Sports.

Motocaddy’s continued support of the next generation of golfers also sees a renewed partnership with the Golf Foundation’s ‘Grow Golf Initiative’ and National Golf Month, plus the National Golf Club Challenge in support of the ‘On Course

Foundation’ which provides wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans support through the medium of golf.

SHOWSTOPPERMotocaddy hosted a dinner for its worldwide distributors and media at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Among the 40+ guests attending were brand partners from the UK, North and South America, Germany, Scandinavia and Australia, with one leading journalist describing it as ‘the highlight of the week‘.

Several editors also joined the senior Motocaddy team for a breakfast briefing and the chance to get their

hands on the new S1 & S3 PRO models, along with the updated bag range.

Dan Murphy, editor of National Club Golfer, said: “The opportunity to meet Motocaddy and get a feel for the new products is always one never to turn down. It was great to meet the team again and the new products look as good as ever.”

Building on its growth in North America, Canadian distributor JPSM golf has opened a new, larger

showroom and office facility in Ontario after recording an 80% increase in sales in 2015.

“Our new unit is more than twice the size of our original facility and includes an impressive 1,250 sq ft showroom,” said Motocaddy Canada President Joseph McLuckie.

Jordan Smith

Reception, Motocaddy Canada