Thursday, January 31, 2019

PGA Show First Look – Cobra F9 Speedback Driver

Shot at the 2019 PGA Show, MyGolfSpy’s Harry Nodwell steps you through the Cobra F9 Speedback Driver.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2MH9yOs

PGA Show First Look – Titleist TS2 and TS3 Drivers

Shot at the 2019 PGA Show Demo Day, MyGolfSpy’s Sam Robinson steps you through the Titleist TS2 and TS3 Drivers.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2RuBaqT

PGA Show First Look – Tour Edge Exotics EXS Driver

Shot at the 2019 PGA Show Demo Day, MyGolfSpy’s Harry Nodwell steps you through the new Tour Edge Exotics EXS Driver.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2DO4wwH

First Look – Miura CB-301 Irons

Miura’s release of the CB-301, its first fully forged cavityback iron since the PP9003 in 2011, offers golfers something more than an updated look at an evolved design. It also hints at where Miura might be headed as the brand continues to find its footing in North America amidst the organizational restructuring, which started roughly two years ago.

The fear for some Miura loyalists was that by increasing exposure and working to make the brand more globally competitive, it would begin to stray from its roots as a small family run operation in Himeji, Japan where the message of Discover Perfection suggested something of an exclusive destination. Multi-piece constructions such as the PP-9005 (Genesis) didn’t do much to quell the nervous feelings.

That said, the CB-301 should offer some measure of solace as other than the design work (done by Shinei the son of founder Katsuhiro Miura) the story is relatively similar to that of previous players irons (CB-57, MB-001, MC-501). Each head is forged at the Miura facility in Himeji from soft 1025 carbon steel, and according to Miura “is individually handcrafted and will never be mass produced” – However, it’s reasonable to question where the line exists separating increased market share from mass production. Is it possible for Miura to access the former without running the risk of the latter?

In terms of performance, Miura claims the CB-301 to be the longest forged cavityback iron it’s ever produced, which is noteworthy as it’s rare to hear Miura leverage distance as a selling point for a forged iron. Given its construction, Miura hopes the CB-301 will appeal to a broader range of players, some which may look to combo the CB-301 with more workable MC-501 short irons. That said as a complete set, the basic structure (lower and deeper CG and scooped-out rear cavity), might remind golfers of the 2018 Players Distance Most Wanted winner (Fourteen TC 788).

The CB-301 is positioned as a bridge seeking to connect Miura’s next generation of designers with a more universal audience, though at $280/club it’s still by most measures a niche product.

Miura built a dedicated following on a foundation of high-quality forged player’s irons and wedges. No doubt, nearly a decade between releases is well beyond the industry norm.

So, did Miura get it right?

For more information, visit www.Miuragolf.com.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2G0riUo

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Chinese Group to Buy Wilson Golf Owner Amer Sports

Finnish sporting goods conglomerate Amer Sports – owner of Wilson Sporting Goods, among others – is in the process of being sold to a Chinese group led by athletic apparel giant ANTA Sports Products, LTD, for an estimated $5.2 billion.

ANTA announced its interest in acquiring Amer in September, and in early December, the Amer Sports Board of Directors unanimously agreed to recommend its shareholders accept ANTA’s offer, which represented a 39% premium over Amer’s early September stock price. Amer share prices jumped immediately after ANTA made its intentions known in September, nearly 20% in one day – the largest jump in its history.

In addition to ANTA, which is China’s largest athletic apparel manufacturer, the buying group also includes Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings and billionaire Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon Athletica.

Facts of the Deal

In a mailing to shareholders last month, Amer said the ANTA group plans to invest time and money to expand Amer’s businesses globally, especially in Asia. Amer will have access to ANTA’s distribution network, R&D resources, and manufacturing and sourcing capabilities.

Under the agreement, Amer will continue to operate as an independent entity with an independent Board of Directors. Current Amer leadership has been invited to stay on under the new ownership.

Along with Wilson Sporting Goods, Amer owns outdoor sports brands Louisville Slugger and DeMarini baseball bats, Atomic and Armada ski equipment, Salomon and Arc’teryx hiking and mountaineering gear, Mavic and ENVE cycling gear and Precor fitness equipment. Bloomberg reported in December that Amer made for an attractive target as the next two Olympic games will be coming to Asia (2020 Summer games in Tokyo, 2022 Winter games in Beijing).

ANTA was established in 1991, specializing in footwear, apparel, and accessories, and went public in 2007, with former Houston Rockets owner Leslie Lee Alexander as a key investor. Current and former NBA stars Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett are ANTA athletes, as is boxer Manny Pacquiao.

What Does This Mean For Wilson Golf?

In the short term, probably nothing. Wilson was able to sign Gary Woodland to a sponsorship deal after the agreement was announced, so clearly there’s no spending moratorium until the deal is finalized, and from all outward signs, it has been business as usual in Chicago.

Wilson won’t be making any statements until the sale is finalized – which should be sometime in March – and the thinking here is Wilson Sporting Goods is a key component to the acquisition. Wilson is a strong player in baseball, basketball, and tennis – all global sports with tremendous market potential in China and the rest of Asia. The Asian golf market is huge, and market research shows China is a ripe and growing market for golf equipment. A report by the R&A last year indicates 32% of the world’s golf course projects are in Asia. Wilson Golf has not been active in the Asian market recently, but this sale could open up significant growth opportunities.

There aren’t any similarities between this deal and the recent TaylorMade sale by adidas to the capital group KPS. First off, adidas actively sought a buyer for TaylorMade, and KPS purchased only TaylorMade – there were no other major elements to the deal (the Adams and Ashworth brands were included in the sale, but by purchase time had been diminished to the point where the assets were little more than logos). Amer Sports wasn’t for sale, but the ANTA group made them the proverbial offer they couldn’t refuse and purchased the entirety of Amer Sports – clearly to become a global sporting goods power.

So in the long term, the deal would appear to potentially be good news for Wilson Golf but, as is the case with global business, one never knows.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2MG7xCa

{VIDEO} – PING G410 Plus vs. G400 LST

MyGolfSpy’s Harry Nodwell recently put the new PING G410 Plus driver to the test against his PING G400 LST.

Here’s what happened.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2HDOtFS

PODCAST – The Death of the Golf Cart (as we know it)

It’s all but universally agreed upon that golf has a pace of play issue.

In a world that increasingly demands instant gratification, the traditional 4-hour round is a stretch, while the far-more-common-than-it-should-be 5-hour round is a deal-breaker. Wouldn’t it be nice if 18 holes could be played in 3 hours or less?

That’s perhaps ambitious, but this year’s PGA Show featured a selection of products that aim to increase pace of play and significantly reduce the time it takes to play a round of golf. Listen as MyGolfSpy founder, Adam Beach, discusses two possible solutions; Tagmarshal and the single rider golf cart.

from MyGolfSpy http://bit.ly/2Rsc2B8

What Small Businesses Need to Know About Nexus and Sales Tax Rules

ecommerce businesses sales tax nexus

For years, “tax-free” online shopping brought customers to the web in droves. States lacked the authority to impose a sales tax collection obligation on out-of-state businesses with no physical presence in the state.

But that changed on June 21, 2018, when the Supreme Court of the United States overruled the physical presence rule in its ruling on South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. States can now impose sales tax on remote sellers based on economic nexus (the volume or dollar value of sales into a state) as well as physical presence.

In this new sales tax reality, there are three things every small business or startup should do:

1. Reassess nexus: Where are you and your current (and future) customers?

Why it’s time: Now that the Supreme Court has paved the way for South Dakota to impose a sales tax collection obligation on remote sellers with more than $100,000 in sales or at least 200 transactions in the state, other states are following suit. If you plan to start an online business or already sell across state lines, you should watch for new laws.

Already, more than 30 states have economic nexus laws in place or pending. If you sell in volume (as little as $100,000 or 100 transactions) into one or more of those states, you’ll likely need to register, collect, and remit sales tax to the proper taxing authorities even if you lack a physical presence.

Remember that, depending on the state, a sales tax collection obligation can be triggered in many ways. These include but aren’t limited to physical presence in a state, affiliate ties to in-state businesses, and sending employees into a state.

The bottom line: If you’re just starting your business or expanding into new states, it’s a good idea to do some research. Sales tax obligations for businesses aren’t as simple as they used to be. If you’re not sure what exactly nexus means for your specific business, it might be time to consult with a tax advisor.

2. Revisit registration: Do you need to collect and remit sales tax in more states?

Why it’s time: You probably know you need to register for sales tax collection in your home state if you make retail sales. If you make interstate sales, you may also have to register in one or more other states. The first step is to determine where you have sales tax responsibilities. The next is to get a handle on how and when you need to file returns and remit sales tax. These requirements generally differ from state to state.

The bottom line: Having a third party handle registration and returns for you can be more cost-efficient and accurate than handling it in-house. Without a full suite of technology solutions that addresses every stage of sales tax compliance—from real-time rate calculation to on-time returns filing to business license and tax registration services—you may expose your business to risk.

3. Rethink compliance: Is there a better way?

Why it’s time: Managing sales and use tax manually is always challenging, especially for new and growing businesses. And with more than 30 states imposing sales tax collection obligations on remote sellers in the wake of the Wayfair ruling, it can be downright overwhelming.

If your new company is growing or planning to grow, your sales tax obligations will likely grow too. Just like your other business functions, sales tax compliance needs a strategy.

The bottom line: Having a reliable sales tax solution in place today better prepares you to deal with future sales tax obligations. You need a solution that can grow with your business, starting with affordable pricing for low volume companies and ending with a robust enterprise-level platform as you grow into more states.

Sales tax compliance is complicated, and it’s not likely to get easier anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean it has to eat up resources and be a burden on your business. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to reach out to seek expert help for sales tax calculations, state registrations, and returns filing.

Some businesses need an automated sales tax solution to stay above water, while some can be managed in-house; however, all businesses can benefit from consulting with an expert to determine a strategy that works for them.

If you’re looking for more resources to keep your small business legal and running smoothly, check out the latest on law and taxes on Bplans.

from Bplans Articles http://bit.ly/2BaYt3v

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

PGA Show First Look – Callaway Epic Flash and Epic Flash Sub Zero Drivers

Shot at the 2019 PGA Show Demo Day, MyGolfSpy’s Sam Robinson and Harry Nodwell step you through the new Callaway Epic Flash and Epic Flash Sub Zero Drivers.