CXOs Evaluate Above Par Golf Equipment Manufacturing Companies

Business Wire, May 27, 2008

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Roughly one out of two U.S. company executives - CXOs - routinely play golf. Thus, it is not too surprising that their brand preferences for golf equipment could impact the golf equipment market.

Currently, Frost & Sullivan's Competitive Benchmarking Services team is conducting a study evaluating brand preferences for golf equipment among this highly influential group. Specifically, this 2008 research will reveal which brands are reputed as best among U.S. CXOs, as well as track brand preference shifts in golf equipment since 2006.

In 2006, Frost & Sullivan conducted the U.S. CEOs' Choice: Evaluation of Golf Equipment Manufacturing Companies research. Overall, this past research revealed the reputed best brands of various golf clubs based upon equipment features such as "quality," "innovation," "best suited for the game," and "value." Specifically, the 2006 study found that Taylor Made was voted best for their drivers; Callaway was most preferred for their fairway woods; Cleveland was voted best for their wedges, and Odyssey was selected as best for their putters. Furthermore, the study evaluated non-club products, in which Titleist is rated as best for their brand of golf balls and FootJoy is recognized as best for two product lines: golf gloves and golf shoes.

"Given the dominance of some golf equipment brands found in the 2006 research, we anticipate similar results in this year's research. However, we always investigate the research objectively, thus the 2008 results might reveal shifts in brand preferences," says Frost & Sullivan's Tonya Fowler, Director of Competitive Benchmarking Services. "Compared to the 2006 research, we are planning to focus just on golf club products, but we are also planning to significantly increase our sample size in order to increase the reliability - and actionable analysis - of the findings."

The 2008 U.S. CXOs' Choice: Evaluation of Golf Clubs research is currently in process. Final results are expected to be available the end of June.

"Golf is a sport that evokes a broad range of emotions and it seems that those who play the game are quite passionate about it. Thus, we are looking forward to seeing which golf club brands U.S. CXOs vote as best. These opinions will most likely come from perspectives that are deep rooted in the love of the game," adds Fowler.

If you are interested in more information on 2006 U.S. CXO's Choice: Evaluation of Golf Equipment Manufacturing Companies or the upcoming 2008 U.S. CXOs' Choice: Evaluation of Golf Clubs, please send an e-mail to Mireya Castilla, Corporate Communications, at mireya.castilla@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. We will send you the information via e-mail upon receipt of the above information.

About Competitive Benchmarking Services

Frost & Sullivan's Competitive Benchmarking Services is a division of the Customer Research team that conducts independent, non-sponsored research among end-users to evaluate and measure companies that are top performers for their products, processes and services. Specifically, Competitive Benchmarking Services surveys respondents that are deemed experts (i.e., CXOs, Automotive Technicians, Paint Contractors, etc.) in the wide range of industries that Frost & Sullivan supports.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.