The pro shop is an area where DiPaolo really thrives, giving his members the kind of individual attention no large retailer could possibly provide. Golf course pro shops have only a fraction of the square footage of the large retail stores, so the pros at private clubs must take advantage of their detailed knowledge of their clientele. This side of the business was a little easier years ago, when Spalding and Wilson made all the golf clubs and Izod made all the golf shirts. DiPaolo welcomes the new manufacturers to the industry, and he attends the trade show in Orlando every February to find out for himself what's new and who's selling it. You want to find who you're getting involved with.
Some companies try to say they'll deliver something in six to eight weeks.
But unlike most large retailers, DiPaolo can accommodate the personal preferences of individual members, some of whom are concerned with more than just the type of ball they play. You're not going to sell a lot of those to anyone else. DiPaolo's mission is to serve the membership of this private club, but one of his best memories is sharing the facility with the public during the 1990 Senior Players Championship, one of the four majors on the Senior Tour. The event, which had been played the previous three years in Florida, was in the process of relocating to TPC of Michigan, its current home. But in 1990, that course was not completed, and the Tour wanted to begin the transition to a northern event immediately.