In-person meetups and sports are experiencing a renaissance years after the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, according to Statista, 25 million people in the US participated in golfing in 2022—the highest participation rate in ten years. Driven by a desire to connect with others, more people are participating in golf to stay fit and get fresh air.

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There’s a lot of potential for this ancient sport to make a comeback with the next generation, and Michael Polk, Implus CEO, plans to bring golf to the people. “We were excited to introduce our SKLZ top-rated golf training aids to the Barstool Sports audience in April 2024 and look forward to continuing to develop our partnership,” he says.

Michael Polk shares how he strategically positioned SKLZ, one of Implus’s 15 fitness and athletic performance brands, to appeal to both established golfers and new players post-COVID.

SKLZ and Barstool Sports: A Game-Changing Collaboration By Implus’s Michael Polk

Under Polk’s leadership, SKLZ partnered with Barstool Sports, a media powerhouse known for its engaging sports entertainment content and loyal fan base.

Announced in April 2024, this collaboration created a cobranded product line for golfers of all skill levels, maximizing reach for SKLZ’s innovative training aids through Barstool’s marketing capabilities.

The partnership leverages Barstool’s widely popular “Fore Play” podcast and its hosts—Sam “Riggs” Bozoian, Trent Ryan, Frankie Borrelli, and Dan Rapaport—to amplify SKLZ’s reach. With Barstool’s branding integrated into the product packaging and marketing campaigns, this partnership aims to engage a younger, tech-savvy audience while appealing to seasoned golf enthusiasts.

The new cobranded line features SKLZ’s performance-enhancing equipment, including standout items like:

  • Gold Flex 48” Golf Swing Trainer: Designed to improve swing tempo, strength, and distance, this tool helps players develop consistency and power in their game.
  • Quickster Chipping Net: This compact and portable net enhances chipping accuracy.
  • Putt Path Gates: These training aids promote putting precision and consistency, two critical skills for any golfer.

With features tailored to both beginners and experienced golfers alike, this collaboration makes golf training accessible, effective, and enjoyable for players at every stage.

Expanding Accessibility and Inspiring a New Generation of Golfers

As an avid champion of healthy living, expanding SKLZ’s offerings through this partnership was a no-brainer for Michael Polk. SKLZ’s partnership with Barstool Sports targets experienced golfers and opens up a new world of possibilities by attracting new players, including families with children. SKLZ and Barstool Sports are breaking down barriers to entry that traditionally made golf seem intimidating or inaccessible, helping more people enjoy the mental and physical benefits of the sport. “Barstool Sports has a large loyal fan base, and we look forward to leveraging our distribution capabilities to reach even more golf enthusiasts and equip them with tools they need to improve their golf game,” Michael Polk says.

But this partnership is just the start. Implus CEO Michael Polk also wants to maximize the impact of the partnership by selling SKLZ | Barstool Sports merchandise across multiple stores. Products are available on the SKLZ website as well as Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and more, both in-store and online. This multichannel approach makes SKLZ’s products more accessible to both experienced golfers and the golf-curious, broadening the brand’s reach even more.

Michael Polk: We’re Bridging Accessibility Gaps in Golf

The athletic performance industry is competitive. If brands want to make it, they have to think outside the box. With decades of experience leading the world’s biggest brands, like P&G and Kraft Foods, Michael Polk’s Implus work shows just how powerful partnerships can be. Instead of capitalizing on the popularity of golf alone, he brought in a proven partner to combine cutting-edge products with strategic media collaboration.

It’s proven to be a wise choice. More and more people are getting into golf after the pandemic. Michael Polk and Implus are poised to drive the sport’s evolution, inspiring players to elevate their game while fostering a love for golf across all age groups and skill levels.