Pride Manufacturing acquires golf cleat company

GUILFORD – A local industry has made its second significant acquisition this month to expand its capabilities.

Officials of Pride Manufacturing, which makes golf tees, announced last week at the 2003 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. that the company had purchased Softspikes, Inc. of Gaithersburg, Md., the world’s leading producer of golf cleats and creator of the plastic golf cleat category.

Last week’s acquisition follows the purchase earlier this month of the equipment and customer lists from Houlton International Corp. That acquisition allowed Pride to increase production and employment at its facilities in Guilford and Burnham.

With the purchase of Softspikes, Inc., Pride assumes ownership of Sport Holdings Inc., which includes Softspikes, Inc., as well as Trisport, Ltd. of England, the leading manufacturer of cleats and receptacles for the worldwide golf market.

No jobs will be lost nor will any be created, according to an official at Pride.

The new company, which will employ nearly 600 people at seven facilities throughout the United States and England, will go by the name of Pride/Softspikes. It will include a Pride Golf Products Division, which will encompass all sales and marketing operations for the Pride and Softspikes brands, including the revolutionary “Black Widow” golf cleat, the world’s top-selling cleat. Trisport, Ltd. also will operate under the Pride/Softspikes umbrella.

The corporate headquarters will be based in Guilford, with an office in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The company also will maintain manufacturing operations at its Maine plants in Guilford and Burnham, as well as Florence, Wisconsin, and Tampa, Florida; and a distribution and R&D facility in Boise, Idaho. Trisport’s manufacturing operation will remain in Tamworth, England.

Randy Ellis, current president and CEO of Pride, will become president and CEO of Pride/Softspikes. Bob Burr, a veteran Pride executive, will assume the position of senior vice president, and will direct all sales, marketing and associated operations. Rick Oleksyk, current Softspikes president, will serve as president of the Pride Golf Products Division, while Softspikes’ Brian Golden will continue his responsibilities as vice president of OEM sales for the new company. Jon Hyman, current CEO of Sport Holdings, Inc. will continue with the company as an advisor.

“It’s rare in the golf industry to see two No. 1 product lines come together under one company,” Randy Ellis, said. “This partnership makes perfect sense as tees and cleats continue to be ‘in-demand’ consumable golf products used by nearly every golfer in the world.”

In addition to its flagship tee and cleat products, Pride/Softspikes will continue to market and sell a full line of golf accessories, including ball markers, divot repair tools, pencils and golf cleat accessories.