Beware: Tom Wells Golf is NOT what it used to be.
I returned to playing frequent golf last year, after several years away. I had purchased my clubs from Tom Wells Golf on Aurora Avenue in 1986, and an upgrade was overdue. So I googled Tom Wells Golf and was pleasantly surprised to see that he was still in business. I wasn't happy to have to drive to Clinton, but my previous experience had been good, so I called and made an appointment. This was in July, 2018.
I expected a typical golf store, with a mat to hit balls into a net, and several employees, just as the Aurora Avenue store had had. Instead, my drive to the address on Frost Road/Avenue brought me to Clinton Self Storage. Suite 101 is nothing more than storage locker 101, which is rented by Tom.
Tom appeared from around the back of the storage locker facility. Until he can get a hip replacement, he walks slowly with a cane. Tom is a very likable guy. As he opened the locker, he quizzed me on what my game was like, and what I was looking for in new clubs. He loaded a large golf bag with about 25 clubs, then told me to put them in my car; "We're going to the range. You're driving."
I bought some range tokens at a nearby store, then Tom navigated me to the Island Greens Golf course and range, a few miles away. Tom watched my swing closely, and provided some tips. He had me try the various clubs and kept track of which ones I hit well and which ones I didn't. I felt that I was getting a free golf lesson from a pro. Tom was outstanding.
Afterwards, I drove us back to the storage locker, and Tom asked what I was interested in buying, if anything. He itemized an estimate for a full set of new clubs, the ones that I had hit well. It was very close to my budget, so I placed the order. Tom took my credit card (writing it down on a sheet of paper), and said they would be done in about 2 weeks. Perfect! Would I like to pick them up, or have them shipped? I opted for shipping. Tom totaled the amount, which I approved. He offered me his hand-written notes so that I could take a picture of the "invoice" with my cell phone. Still looking around for "the rest" of his business, I asked whether he would build my clubs, or someone else. Tom replied, "Oh, I have some young guys who build them for me."
My credit card was charged the day I met with Tom. But my clubs never arrived.
I called Tom after 3 weeks, 1 month, and 6 weeks. There was always an excuse: not done; my irons were on backorder; I just need to put grips on them; I've been sick...
About this time, I noticed the Facebook reviews for Tom Wells Golf... and I got worried.
Then Tom stopped answering my calls. After 8 weeks, I did manage to reach him once more. He said he had finished my clubs and was shipping them that day. I even offered to drive up to Clinton to have him teach me how to build my own clubs. I was serious about it, and he sounded excited about this, but insisted that my clubs were already done.
They never arrived, and he never again answered my calls. I filed a dispute with my credit card company within the time window they allow, and the dispute was resolved in my favor. Unfortunately, they would not reveal whether they got the money back from Tom, or just "ate" the cost themselves. So I don't know whether Tom benefited from our transaction.
I really, really, wanted things to work out with Tom Wells. I like him a lot. I was worried about his physical and mental health. I gave him every benefit of the doubt, and tried my hardest to work with him for a mutually agreeable solution. But in the end, I have no clubs and no answers. I simply cannot recommend Tom Wells Golf, and it pains me to say so. Tom is such a likeable guy. read more