Why are my new clubs taking so long to arrive?
The global pandemic has helped to trigger an unprecedented upturn in golf participation, taking it to levels never before seen this century. While it’s great that golf is booming, this has also aligned with global logistics challenges that have meant golfers are experiencing lengthy delays in their new clubs arriving. Some are still being quoted an arrival date of February 2022.
So, what’s the deal? Well, the main culprit is simply the extraordinary demand for product. On the whole, manufacturers aren’t to blame. The supply chain simply cannot fulfil the orders being generated. But there are other issues to factor in to the equation. Ships being stuck in the North Sea because of Brexit red tape and the Evergreen container that blocked the Suez Canal in March have also contributed significantly to worldwide delays in shipping. Golf was just one of the many industries affected.
Factories in the Far East, where the bulk of our golf products are made, have also had their problems. Many are working with skeleton staff due to Covid or being forced to close altogether.
The final piece in the jigsaw is a shortage of raw materials, like resin for balls and rubber for grips. The demand for components like shafts has never been higher, but these are specialist products that require precision engineering. They can’t be rushed through any quicker without quality suffering.
While it’s frustrating that your new clubs are taking so long to reach you, remember that everyone else is in the same boat (as it were) and that perhaps now is the time to reassess our expectations.