Selling Golf In Tokyo The New Way
It would seem that for the Japanese, at least in the last six weeks, diversion from current affairs is of the utmost importance. It may take decades for the island nation to recover from the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that killed at least 10,000 on March 11.
While the weird world of golf and its endless supplies may seem an odd vehicle to travel down the road of mental vagaries, somehow it applies, especially in the golf clubs of Tokyo.
These days, golf balls are very rarely white in the typical Japanese golf club. Many sportsmen prefer more vivid, eye-catching colors such as yellow, orange, pink or red.
“They really stand out on the green. Now there’s a boom in cute balls. The colorful balls are far more popular than the white ones,” says Megumi Fukui, of Kasco, a company that sells half a million balls every year.
For almost half a century, their product was the same boring white golf ball until one clever ad, man thinking out of that proverbial box, came up with the idea to individualize golf balls.
Although the preferred choice of pink golf balls for women, which are sold in packs of three for 1,500 yuan (more than $US 14) came as no surprise at all, Kasco is experimenting with fiery red balls that may have an appeal among an even broader range of unconventional golfers.
What’s next, friends?
Coordinated golf shirts, clubs and hats to match the choice of ball colors?
Or maybe the traditional golfing green could be dyed to become a golfer’s rainbow of purple, or chartreuse or even magenta?
Time will tell and some colors will fade while others will remain.
In the meantime, check out this video of a golf ball that lights up for those golfers who can’t sleep and would rather play at night.
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 05-05-2011
