Opinion ID: 345497
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Golf Equipment Industry

Text: 5 Golf equipment 3 merchandising in the United States is two-tiered. One tier is pro-line equipment and the other tier is store-line equipment. Some manufacturers offer only pro-line equipment, and others offer both pro-line and store-line equipment. The manufacturers generally restrict the sale of their pro-line equipment. Since 1930, 4 for example, appellant Wilson has sold its pro-line equipment only to pro shops located at outdoor golf courses or driving ranges. The pro-line golf equipment is heavily advertised by the manufacturers in golf magazines and in other publications, and these advertisements generally state that the equipment is available only at pro shops. Because pro shops operated by golf professionals are the common beneficiaries of the manufacturers' restrictive distribution policies for pro-line equipment, the policies are referred to as pro only sales policies. 6 Store-line equipment ordinarily is sold to any retail outlet that meets certain credit requirements. The manufacturers do very little direct advertising of their store-line equipment.