Alex Elias North Coast Golf Company was founded with the vision to "Create the highest-quality golf gloves & accessories while adding true to roots style to everything we touch." Speaking to their roots, Founder, Matt Fernandez, said, "We noticed that all the big brands had all the same boring style. Bland, boring gloves that usually underperformed, became 'crusty' quickly, and had marketing geared toward the Pro’s, or those chasing Professional Golf (which is a ridiculously low percentage of golfers). At the time, I was just graduating college and there was nothing on the market that fit our style & vibe, performed-well, and actually felt good on our hands." Fernandez continued, "So, we started R+D testing for a solid 18-24 months before we launched North Coast. We tested leather thickness, stitch patterns, style patterns, along with different add-ons (internal sweatbands, hole patterns, etc). It was definitely a work in progress, but once we had our standard style ready to go, we knew we had something good." Reflecting on the founding of North Coast Golf Company, Fernandez described the journey as "riding a rollercoaster in a dream." Fernandez said, "It’s been an absolutely wild experience growing the brand. There’s days where you feel on top of the world, and then there’s days that feel like everything is falling apart and nothing is working. I wouldn’t trade it for anything — the good or the bad. The life lessons, connections made, and the experience in general is something I am beyond grateful for every single day." Living by the motto, "Find Your Coast", North Coast Golf Company says, "North Coast isn't about a singular place. In fact, it's anything but. It's a lifestyle. It's that feeling you get wherever you love to adventure, whether you're in the Pines of Northern Michigan, the Coast of Maine, or the Redwoods of Oregon." When Fernandez was asked about the company's motto and the impact the golf community can have on one, Fernandez said, "The game of golf is truly amazing at bringing people together: friends, family AND random strangers alike. In my younger years, I didn’t love getting paired up with ‘randoms’. But as I grew up, I realized how amazing meeting strangers on the course was, and what a unique opportunity it presents. Where else do you meet someone and have the chance to spend 4-5 hours learning more about them along with sharing some laughs and an experience? That’s hard to find anywhere else." Fernandez continued, "On the first tee you barely know their name, but by the end of the round, you usually have heard a piece of their life story, and have enjoyed many laughs during the round. They are no longer strangers. Golf, especially in 2023, is incredible at bringing people together from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter their background, political opinions, status, or anything else. All that matters is our common love for the game. I think there's some lessons in there for all of us to learn from."
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Alex Elias Jillian Messina is the Golf Shop Manager at Echo Lake Country Club (Westfield, NJ) and was recently recognized as a 2023 Association of Golf Shop Managers Platinum Winner. In an interview with Golf Digest, Justin Rose said, "I’ve come out of my shell a bit in terms of how I’m dressing on the golf course and what I feel comfortable in. I was very monochrome in the past and was hesitant to wear a lot of patterns even though I really love them. I’ve really enjoyed getting into some prints and trying new looks." When Messina was asked if she has noticed a shift in golfers' apparel, she responded, "There has definitely been a shift in what members wear these days compared to just a few years ago. When I started in the business, it was mostly solids and stripes and very conservative. Now, it's tons of prints and bright colors. You see more companies starting to have more printed designs and even shirts that tell a story. I remember Peter Millar had a shirt with tiny designs on it from Caddy Shack and other shirts throughout the season with different themes. The members love it because they can relate to the prints and be more creative with their outfits." As golfers have become more creative with their outfits, Messina said, "I think in golf, to be able to pick what you wear can be a way for them to express themself and have fun with their outfits. Even though there is a dress code, golf companies are finding fun ways to be unique and creative." Specifically, Messina said, "Hoodies are the big new trend for us." Messina continued, "Within the last few years, we are seeing really nice hoodies from the companies we carry. Ralph Lauren has a cashmere hoodie we bring in, and it's become a staple piece for us in the shop. You can dress it up or down. johnnie-O, also one of our best-selling brands in the shop, has different styles and different weight hoodies, so we can bring them in all season long, and the members love them. They're becoming more popular also because you can wear them off the course or even to play paddle or pickleball." One can't speak about golf apparel without mentioning the fascination of logos. When Chris Frame (Director of Marketing at Holderness & Bourne) spoke with AE Golf News, he said, "That’s the business. We’re an apparel brand selling their logo. The better logo and the more weight it pulls, the more our product is noticed." When Messina was asked about the fascination of logos, she responded, "The fascination of logos in golf, I think is so much fun. I always look at everyone's outfits when they walk into the Golf Shop and there are always fun logos that catch my eye. We recently had an alternative logo for Echo Lake done in 2019 and won an award last season for "Best Logo in the State." We have people constantly reaching out to us on Instagram saying how much they love our logo and it's great because there is a history behind it." Messina continued, "The members definitely take pride in wearing our logo. We even have ties that show it off and clothing for off the course that still represents the club with having the logo on it. It's even a great gift when a member goes to play a different club and wants to grab a shirt with the logo on it for their friends who aren't members."
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