While a relative newcomer to the highly competitive golf ball market, the Nicklaus Golf Ball line has managed to carve a loyal and growing following among both consumers and the numerous media outlets that have tested and covered the balls since the launch last fall.
Beginning with its inclusion earlier this year in Golf Digest’s coveted Golf Ball Hot List, feedback on the made-in-America collection has been overwhelmingly positive, with many writers praising the unique color-coded selection system and the Nicklaus Golf Ball’s philanthropic tie-in. Designed to minimize confusion over which model best suits an individual, players choose their ball (Black, Blue or White) according to the color of the tee markers from which they hit. MensJournal.com referred to the approach as “an easy way to settle on the ball that suits you best.”
When it comes to equipment, golfers are among the most discerning athletes in the world, which is why Mr. Nicklaus personally worked with experts in materials, technology, engineering, design and manufacturing during the development process. As a result, the outstanding performance capabilities of the line have been noted by some of the most respected names in the industry.
Shane Bacon of Yahoo! Sports said, “I was as impressed as I could be with the feel and the durability of Nicklaus Golf Balls,” and GolfChannel.com wrote, “Each ball incorporates cutting edge multilayer technology to achieve optimal compression for the level of player it is designed for.”
Beyond creating a great product, one of the major initiatives with the Nicklaus Golf Ball line was to raise funds and awareness for pediatric charities. A percentage of every dozen purchased is donated to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Consumers using Nicklaus.com to purchase balls receive free shipping and if via FedEx delivery services, an additional donation is made to St. Jude. Visitors can also make voluntary contributions; to date, nearly 80 percent of consumers have opted to make a donation.
This commitment to philanthropy landed Nicklaus Companies on Business News Daily’s list of 15 socially responsible companies. Further, this aspect of the program has been applauded by a variety of outlets, including Bill O’Reilly on The O’Reilly Factor, who touted the line as an ideal Father’s Day gift, adding, “top-shelf golf balls and a portion of the money goes to help very ill children.”
“The positive reception our golf balls have received from media affirms both the quality of the product and our continued dedication to philanthropic initiatives,” says Howard P. Milstein, Co-Chairman of Nicklaus Companies. “A commitment to reducing consumer confusion during selection, creating high-quality options for all players and giving back to those in need are what set us apart from other manufacturers.”
Outstanding performance and a strong connection to charity are two major components of the Nicklaus line, but it was also important to offer the balls at a tremendous value to ensure all players can afford and enjoy the product. Online sales save golfers money because distribution costs typically built into product sold through traditional retail channels have been reduced. This allows Nicklaus Golf Balls to be priced attractively at $28 to $32 per dozen and generate greater charity donations.
The product review team at Golf Channel-owned TravelGolf.com summed it up by saying, “the choice is easy: great color-coded golf balls to fit any game, reasonable price, support for a wonderful charity.”
We strongly encourage you to visit shop.Nicklaus.com to learn more. Get social: @jacknicklaus and Facebook.
