Press
Dream Big at PGA Show
By James Achenbach
Golfweek
They are small companies, but they come to the PGA Merchandise Show with big dreams.
They have been told about all the individuals who fail in the golf business. They have been told about all the hurdles and hardships. They come anyway.
The PGA Merchandise Show is synonymous with dreamers. For every large golf company or manufacturer at this annual gathering, there are dozens of small, unknown companies.
Ron Hesmer of Wilmington, N.C., owns a business called AutoLinx (www.drivelikeapro.com). One day he had a brilliant idea: He decided to build a platform for a hard-sided golf travel case and stick the entire apparatus onto the trailer hitch on his wife's car.
Everywhere the car went, golfers wanted to know where they could buy one.
Hesmer now sells the hard case, a hitch receiver and a locking hitch pin for $295. The system looks cool on small, sporty cars, although many of his customers have larger vehicles.
"You just put your golf bag inside the case, and you're ready to go," Hesmer said. "It's quick and simple, and people like that."
The case will hold most carry bags and stand-type bags. It will not accommodate larger staff bags.
"We've had great response from Europe, where there are so many small cars," said Hesmer, who sold orthopedic implants before jumping headfirst into the golf business. "This show has really helped get us going."
AutoLinx also offers two-case and four-case versions that fit onto most trailer hitches.