PING Canada Pleased with Sportexe's Role in Helping Company Build its Brand
-- and in enhancing its training program with new golf fitting area
One of the world's largest golf equipment manufacturers, PING is certainly well known
and respected in the industry.
The company's Canadian division - PING Canada - wanted to build on that reputation at its headquarters in Oakville , Ontario .
PING Canada had plans to move into a facility nearly three times the size it had been using for management and training, and with that move, the company wanted a golf fitting area that clearly communicated its brand image to the public.
The company also wanted the fitting area to be a high quality, realistic system for training its cadre of sales representatives.
More than simply wanting to hire a company to install an indoor range and putting area, PING Canada sought a solutions-oriented partner that understood the company's brand and would provide direction and recommendations as the project developed.
PING Canada turned to Sportexe, producer of advanced synthetic golf and field systems, to provide the depth of service they were seeking.
"We wanted someone who wasn't afraid to make good counsel," said PING Canada's General Manager, Dave Wilson. "We wanted a company that would be genuinely involved in engineering the fitting area," said Wilson, who was aware of Sportexe's reputation and product quality.
In 2002, the two companies collaborated on the fitting area, designing a 62-foot driving range, three raised teeing areas and a two-tiered putting green.
For PING Canada, Sportexe has provided what the company sought - both in image and use.
"We wanted something that would capture the foundation of our brand and allowed the consumer to interact with PING," said Wilson . "We also wanted a product that delivers realistic performance and looks. Our fitting area provides both."
Wilson added that PING Canada wanted the facility to be "a notch above anything we've seen - and we've accomplished that."
Regarding Sportexe's customer service, Wilson also expressed his satisfaction. "They weren't afraid to make good counsel or to start over with a particular part of the job when they weren't satisfied with how it was coming together." ( Wilson was referring to the company's unprompted decision to disassemble and reassemble the project's two-tiered putting green because it simply didn't meet Sportexe's quality standards.)
"The installation process went very well," said Wilson . "Sportexe has been a great partner. They've helped us create a facility in Canada that we believe is second to none."
He added that the people who use the fitting area - mostly PING Canada employees -- are very pleased with the quality and realism the surface delivers.
"We do all of our training here - our reps love the look and feel of the turf, which is instrumental for them in learning how to educate customers in their own territories," said Wilson.
He also noted that PING's corporate management, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is impressed with the quality and image of its Canadian division's headquarters.
As for Sportexe, the company is proud that its synthetic turf systems and netting are serving as a key asset for PING Canada's customers, users and management.