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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, October 28, 2003-21 L~ LU~~LA - -Clarke 's Golf stili driving in the customers Fuli-scale business celebrating 10 year s of service in Milton By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Pick any wmnter day and you're likely to fmnd at least a few senior citizens avidly dis- cussing their golf gamnes at Clarke's Golf Centre on I'hompson Road. "Seniors like to spend their winters here," said Bill Clarke, co- owner of Clarke's Golf, laughing. "They have coffee here and lie about their golf games." It's this sense of comfort customers feel once they step inlo Clarke's Golf that sets.il apars from other similar businesses, Mr. Clarke said. "Service is number one. Prices are the samne everywhere. It's mainly our service and personalities here (that attract people)." This year, Bill Clarke and his wife, Mary, are celebrating the 1Oth anmiversary of Clarke's Golf, located as 18 Thompson Rd. The business is multi-pronged, selling golf equipment, doing repairs, giving lessons and even operating a promotional market- ing house for the past six ycars. -It's a good combination," Mr. Clarke said. "We started as a golf retail, teaching and repair facility. Customera were saying, do you do logoed halls? Can you also do shirts?" Neyer one to disappoint customera, the company now cus- tomizes everything from clothing to pens. Clarke's Golf has two instructora who teach indoors in the win- ter and as various area golf courses in the spring, summer and faîl. 'he business is a family one, with Mary running the shop and Mr. Clarke handling corporate business. Their daughter also works there, as did their son before hie left for univeraity. One of the reasons Clarke's Golf has been succesaful is that many customers corne from outside Milton. But Mr. Clarke said he still credits Miltonians for being the key to his succesa, since they're the ones who have told those in surrounding areas about Clarkc's Golf. "'Me numher onc thing that kccps us going is our Milton cus- tomera bringing customera from other places. It wouldn't take long to fit everybody in Milton with clubs." Mr. Clarke has lived in Milton aIl bis life. He started out giving golf tessons in Oakville, but the lack of work in winter meant hie was at home "twiddling" his thumbs, hie said. He decided to stars a club repair business from home - juat for the winter, so hie thought. "Once 1 started, 1 couldn't go back," hie said. "It was busy from that day on." 'he work is fairly steady throughout the year, hie sald. When winter approaches and lessons are over, the store becomes busy as people shop for Christmas. In January, when the holiday season is over, corporate sales pick up. "The different aspects keep us busy as différent tirnes. It's a good flow~ St tissa take A arm Mai Gol Ni Mlmg Ulel. QOUi a t .a m e Gog se e n MIlton n 48 dozen golf balis with logos, Mr. Clarke said hie boys the balîs fuI-ecale* O busie w ofr yar"oun h i ". Te from the supplier and then sends the artwork to the appropriate fur.od 0f u ags andér slcw oun lewis. comparues. gottm ofmoi ffl d alil WWO."The public can't go so suppliers and purchase direcsly," hie Photo by GRAHAM PAINE cxplained. More revenue is earned from corporate business than retail. But as far as rnanpowcr is concemed, il takes more work to rua the retall side of things, Mr. Clarke said. rangely enough, Mr. Clarke sald he and his wîfe don't have In the future, Mr. Clarke said hie expecta to be doing even more to golf as much as they'd like to. He sald many people mis- corporate business as well as resait sales. nly think hie plays golf all the lime. "We've been very successful for the past 10 yeara with no (pop- s for the promotional products aide of thinga, Clarke's Golf is ulationi) growth. So with growth, we'l get even more sales." ember of the Promotional Products Association of Canada. For more information, visit www.clarkesgolf.com or cail (905) sy orders for customized producta corne througb Clarke's 878-1818. P's Web site. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadi- [Clarke said hie acta as a rniddleman. If an order corntes in for anchampion.com.