Pittsfield Township's Miles of Golf expands to new market after 18 years in business
Chris Mile, president of the 18-year-old Miles of Golf in Pittsfield Township, has considered expanding his golf shop, practice facility and training academy for several years.
So when a similar golf facility was listed for sale in the Cincinnati area, Mile knew it was the perfect opportunity.
“It’s a great facility,” he said. “It’s so similar to what we have here and that’s really what attracted us to it. We felt we could literally take everything we do here down to that facility.”
Pittsfield Township's Miles of Golf is expanding to Cincinnati
Miles of Golf Facebook page
Located at 3113 Carpenter Road, Miles of Golf is a 10,000-square-foot golf shop that specializes in club fitting, a 27-acre practice facility and a golf academy. The company submitted a proposal to the city of Ann Arbor in 2010 to take over the city-owned Huron Hills Golf Course, but the plan was rejected.
“After that didn’t pan out with the city, we were still looking for another location,” Mile said.
The expansion won’t change operations at the Pittsfield Township Miles of Golf location, but it does mean the business can grow its customer base. Mile said customers come from across Michigan, Indiana and parts of Ohio to visit the location in Pittsfield Township.
“We didn’t feel it made sense to open another facility in Detroit because we depend on a draw from further away,” he explained.
He said business has continued to grow at Miles of Golf, even when the industry took a hit during the recession.
“We’re obviously a very local business (in the Ann Arbor area), and we want to keep that kind of atmosphere,” he said. “We know a lot of people coming into the store by name. …We’re hoping to duplicate that in Cincinnati.”
Pete Smith, a Miles of Golf manager, moved to Cincinnati to help run the new facility, which is located at 6400 Dixie Highway in Fairfield. Miles of Golf purchased the property.
The range and teaching academy are now open, and the golf shop and club fitting center will open in early 2014.
Mile said the facility is in good condition, but it needs some minor work and new golf ball dispensing equipment. He said he will need to hire additional employees once the golf shop opens in 2014.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
15crown00
Sun, May 19, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
hackers delight
JimmyD
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 8:12 p.m.
We just visited their store today. Nice selection. Josh and Janet did a wonderful job helping my Daughter pick out a new set of clubs, verify the fit and arrange a trial on the range. The biggest issue now is how many strokes I may need to compete with her.
Just Be Nice
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
Hope the sales staff at the new location treat their customers with more respect than at the store in Michigan. I've been ignored every time I have visited the store. Went there during a Michigan football game and all staff were watching the game on television and never acknowledged me. All of my business is done with Carl's Golfland. Chris Miles needs to clean house.
Peter
Sun, May 19, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
I don't see the problem, It's Michigan football!
kay
Sun, May 19, 2013 : 4:13 a.m.
I agree-wholeheartedly----they certainly cater to the more highly skilled golfer with the big bucks. When I was helped(had to ask 3 different people), they kept working me around people but no one really focused on my needs.
Gretchen Ridenour
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
Good for Chris Mile! It's just sad that there is no opportunity for growth locally and that he needs to take his investment dollars out of state. A loss for Washtenaw County.
Ann English
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
Expanding to Cincinnati, not moving to Cincinnati. It's been a few years since I heard radio ads for Miles of Golf, in which someone answering questions about Paris Hilton said that the instructors at Miles of Golf should be on television; forget Paris Hilton. I started noticing Miles of Golf after that. They could start broadcasting radio ads in Cincinnati about the new Miles of Golf location to bring in nearer customers. Not all business openings get reported as fast as the first week they're operating.
notnecessary
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
There's no loss for washtenaw county ... But a gain for the cincinatti area. It's not a zero sum game. The market for huge golf ranges and shops just isn't like the market for McDonalds you don't need them everywhere
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:36 p.m.
Did you read the article or just the first 2 paragraphs? 'Mile said customers come from across Michigan, Indiana and parts of Ohio to visit the location in Pittsfield Township. "We didn't feel it made sense to open another facility in Detroit because we depend on a draw from further away," he explained.'
music to my ear
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 2:09 p.m.
yes and call it acres of golf
golfer
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 12:26 p.m.
good for them. great store to buy golf stuff. employees are really friendly and know what they are doing.
Brad
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
Probably a good move. Carl's Golfland is too much competition in this area for them to expand here.