Buying golf equipment in Moldova: Temu, fakes and the Dream Valley pro shop
Where Moldovan golfers can buy balls, tees, practice aids and clubs: what's worth getting from Temu, how to avoid fake clubs, and what Dream Valley's pro shop stocks.
There’s almost no golf retail in Moldova. Most golfers here end up mixing online orders with the one proper pro shop in the country. Here’s what has worked for us, and what to watch out for.
Temu for the small things
For a lot of golf items, Temu is a genuine option. We’ve bought golf balls, tees and practice aids there, and they’ve been cheap and perfectly good for practice. When you’re losing balls on the course or trying out a new training aid, there’s little point paying full price.
Be careful with clubs
Clubs are a different story. Temu and similar marketplaces are full of fakes that copy the designs and logos of well-known manufacturers. If a set of big-brand clubs costs a fraction of the normal price, it’s almost certainly counterfeit, and you have no idea how it was made or how long it will last.
PGM: the Chinese brand worth a look
In our experience, the one Chinese manufacturer that seems to make reasonable equipment is PGM (Pro Golf Master). It was founded in 2006 in Foshan and makes its own designs rather than copying other brands. It sponsors professional events and works with the China Golf Association.
PGM is represented by Liang Wenchong, one of China’s most successful golfers. In 2007 he became the first player from mainland China to top the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and he finished tied eighth at the 2010 PGA Championship. PGM sells a range of clubs designed with him. LPGA major winner Feng Shanshan is also a PGM ambassador.
If you go for PGM, buy from the official PGM store rather than from look-alike listings.
Dream Valley’s pro shop
For clubs you can see and try before you buy, the pro shop at Dream Valley is the place to go. It stocks Callaway, some second-hand clubs and clubs from other manufacturers. My wife recently bought a set of ladies clubs there.
Second-hand clubs are a sensible way to start: you get decent equipment at a lower price, and you can try them on the range first.
Shoes
Golf shoes are a separate hunt. See where to buy golf shoes in Moldova.
In short
If you’re starting out, hire clubs first, then look at second-hand or new clubs in the Dream Valley pro shop, and use Temu for balls, tees and practice aids. For the rest of the basics, see our guide to starting golf in Moldova.