Andy Bough, a veteran of the golf business based in Scotland, has replaced Powakaddy as the master agent in the U.K. for GolfBuddy, the U.S. brand of hand-held GPS-based measuring devices for golf ranges. His new company, Cactus Brand Partners, has also become the master agent in the U.K. and Ireland for two brands of golf apparel – Conte of Florence from Italy and Girls Golf from Germany – starting with the spring/summer 2012 collections.
Boug is focusing on pro golf shops through a network of agents for the distribution of Conte of Florence and Girls Golf. While the Italian brand is relatively well known, and Bough is marketing it as a test ahead of the possible introduction of its broader winter line, Girls Golf is more confidential. Targeting affluent women of all ages, it was started up five years ago by a German fashion designer, Rike Vormwald.
A different team of seven agents is taking care of the wider distribution of GolfBuddy in the U.K. The brand, which is planning to announce a major diversification next year, felt that it needed a more dedicated sales network in the country than the one offered by Powakaddy.
Cactus Brand Partners is also a consultancy specializing in the golf sector. In this capacity, it has obtained a contract from IMG to build up and implement a new merchandising program for the European Tour and the Ryder Cup through 2014. One of Bough's previous employers, Glenmuir, is certain to continue to be a sponsor of the Ryder Cup.
Bough has worked in international sales, marketing and product development for Hi-Tec, Glenmuir and Premium Golf Brands in the last years. For GolfBuddy, he reports to another golf industry veteran, John Ennis, who has been steering the brand's European business out of his native Ireland after running MacGregor Golf in Europe for many years.
