Worldwide Golf Buys Roger Dunn Chain of Shops

Roger Dunn Golf Shops, a Santa Ana-based chain of 24 pro shops, has been sold to Worldwide Golf Enterprises Corp. in Carmel in an all-cash transaction.

Worldwide Golf is made up of three investors, including president Craig McCallister of Carmel, who holds a 70% stake.

For an undisclosed price, the corporation bought seven corporate Roger Dunn stores, 17 franchises and the rights to sell more franchises from Steven Dunn, the son of company founder Roger Dunn. The seven corporate stores are in Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Victorville, Visalia, Fresno, and Henderson and Reno, Nev.

“I’ve known the Dunn family for years. The McCallisters and the Dunns grew up together,” said McCallister, 42, who said his father started a driving range in Studio City where Roger Dunn once taught golf.

McCallister also owns 55% of the Golf Mart, another golf retail chain with nine stores in San Francisco and San Diego. Sales at the Golf Mart and the Roger Dunn shops will reach a combined $50 million this year, McCallister said.

Steve Dunn could not be reached for comment. He is now president of Bullet Cougar Golf, a golf manufacturing company in Santa Ana.

Dunn wanted to sell the retail outlets so he could concentrate on manufacturing new golf products, said McCallister.

Other Worldwide Golf investors include Jim Hubbard of Carmel, who holds a 10% stake, and Gary A. Dapelo, a Newport Beach attorney with Good, Wildman, Hegness & Walley, who holds 20%.

“I’ve been Craig’s lawyer for 14 years. He’s a trustworthy guy and the investment made a lot of sense,” said Dapelo.

McCallister said he might sell shares in his golf retail stores. He said golf equipment sales were steady despite the recession.

“A golfer may forgo a new car or refrigerator when times are tough, but they’ve got to have that new golf club,” he said.