Walk into the Edwin Watts Golf Augusta location on a random Tuesday, and you’ll likely hear the rhythmic thwack of a driver hitting a ball into a screen before you even see a single polo shirt. It’s a specific sound. It’s the sound of a golfer trying to buy a game, or at least a few extra yards.
People think of this place as just another retail store. It isn't. Not really. In a city where golf is essentially the state religion, Edwin Watts functions more like a high-tech locker room. It sits at 266 Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez, technically just outside the Augusta city limits, but let’s be real—in this town, if you’re that close to the Masters' shadow, you’re in Augusta.
The Fitting Trap: Why You’re Probably Playing the Wrong Clubs
Here is a truth most golfers hate to admit: you are probably not good enough for those blades you just bought. We’ve all done it. We see a shiny set of irons, we remember a specific shot a pro hit on TV, and we swipe the card.
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The guys at Edwin Watts Golf Augusta see this every day. Honestly, the biggest value they provide isn't the inventory; it's the launch monitor technology. They use these hitting bays to track everything—ball speed, launch angle, spin rates, and that dreaded side spin that turns your "power fade" into a slice that kills a squirrel three fairways over.
Custom fitting isn't just for the scratch players. It’s actually more important for the 20-high handicapper. If your lie angle is off by just two degrees, you can make a perfect swing and still miss the green. Most people walk in wanting the newest TaylorMade or Callaway driver because of the marketing. A good fitter there might pull a Ping or a Srixon off the rack and show you, with hard data, why it’s actually the better fit for your specific (and likely flawed) swing.
More Than Just New Shiny Stuff
- The 90-Day Guarantee: This is the safety net. You can take a club out, realize it hates you, and bring it back. It’s a 100% satisfaction thing that most big-box retailers make a nightmare to actually execute.
- Regripping: Don’t overlook this. If your grips are slick, you’re squeezing the club too hard. That tension kills your swing speed. They do regripping on-site, which is a cheap way to make old clubs feel brand new.
- Trade-ins: You’ve got that old Scotty Cameron or those dusty Titleist irons in the garage? They take trades. It’s the easiest way to subsidize a $600 driver without your spouse finding out the actual price tag.
The Augusta Factor: Living in the Shadow of the Green Jacket
Being a golf shop in Augusta is different than being a golf shop in, say, Des Moines. The expectations are higher. When April rolls around and the Masters Tournament takes over the city, this store becomes a madhouse.
You’ll see tourists from the UK or Japan who saved up for years to visit Georgia, and they treat a trip to Edwin Watts like a pilgrimage. But for the locals, it’s just where you go when you snapped a shaft at Jones Creek or need a fresh dozen balls before a Saturday morning tee time at Forest Hills.
The staff here usually stay for years. That matters. In an era of revolving-door retail, having a guy who remembers your swing from three years ago is a massive advantage. They aren't just clerks; they’re certified fitters for brands like Mizuno, Titleist, PING, and TaylorMade. They know the "technical IQ" of the gear, which is a fancy way of saying they know which shafts are actually stiff and which ones are just labeled that way.
Is It Better Than Buying Online?
Look, you can find a "deal" on some questionable website at 2:00 AM. We’ve all been there. But you can't feel the weight of a putter on a screen. You can't hear the "crack" of a well-struck 3-wood.
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Buying golf clubs online is like buying shoes without knowing your size. Sure, you might get lucky, but usually, you just end up with blisters. At the Martinez location, you’re paying for the certainty that the gear actually works for you, not the version of you that lives in your head.
What to Expect When You Walk In
The layout is pretty standard for a Worldwide Golf Shops property, but it feels dense. There is a lot of "stuff." Apparel covers a huge chunk of the floor—everything from Peter Millar to more affordable house brands.
Then you have the wall of bags. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you're going for a fitting, book an appointment. Don't just show up on a Saturday morning and expect a hitting bay to be open. It won't be.
- Bring your current clubs. You need a baseline. How can you know the new stuff is better if you don't know how far your current 7-iron actually goes?
- Be honest about your game. Don't tell them you carry it 280 if you really carry it 240. The data doesn't lie, and you'll just end up with a shaft that's too stiff for you.
- Wear your golf shoes. Fitting in sneakers is a waste of time. Your height and balance change when you're in your actual playing gear.
The Reality of Club Repair
Most people think "repair" means fixing a broken club. It does. But at Edwin Watts Golf Augusta, it’s also about optimization. They can adjust loft and lie angles on the fly. Maybe your irons are too "upright," causing you to pull everything left. They can bend them.
It’s a specialized skill. You don't want a teenager with a wrench messing with your $1,200 irons. The guys in the back of the Augusta shop have been doing this long enough to know exactly how much pressure to apply without snapping a hosel.
Specifics You Should Know
- Location: 266 Bobby Jones Expwy #15, Martinez, GA 30907.
- Phone: (706) 855-5153.
- Hours: Usually 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but Sunday is shorter (11:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
- The "Pro" Tip: Check the pre-owned rack. Augusta is full of gear-heads who buy the newest thing every six months. Their "trash" is often a mint-condition set of clubs at 40% off retail.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Game
If you're serious about getting better this season, don't just go in and browse.
Start by checking your grips. If they feel like hard plastic, get them changed this week. It’s the cheapest "fix" in golf. Next, if you haven't been fit in the last five years, schedule a Full Bag Fitting. Even if you don't buy anything, you'll leave with a spec sheet that tells you exactly what your swing needs.
Finally, take advantage of the 90-day guarantee. If you bought a driver and you're still hitting it into the woods after a month, take it back. That’s what it’s there for. Golf is hard enough; don't make it harder by playing equipment that doesn't fit your swing.