Did you know Asheville is home to the world’s largest producer of prestige golf scorecards? In quantities of 10,000 no less! The company, located in West Asheville, has produced score- cards for 33 of the top 100 rated courses in the nation.

Golf Associates has been delivering those scorecards to courses all over the world since 1970. Owner Sherwood Pinkston is still active in the company at age 85, according to general manager Jerry Davis who has been with GA for 14 years. Mr. Pinkston has earned a preferred parking slot near the front door of a very impressive production facility at 91 Westside Drive. The other reserved slot is for Sherwood’s wife and the firm’s co-owner Faye Pinkston.

“We can’t predict the future,” says Faye, “but if it involves golf, chances are pretty good that sometime during the year you will record your score on a scorecard printed by Golf Associates.”

The business was launched from the rear of Edward’s dry cleaning business, and now has more than 80 employees serving all those customers around the world. The company started with the printing of scorecards for the course in Black Mountain.

It produces full-color scorecards, using premium papers, die cuts, foil stamping, and free UV coating. In addition to scorecards, the family-owned company also offers yardage cards, course maps, pin placement cards, and brochures.

Jerry says the company started printing rack cards and brochures in 1996 for clientele other than golf courses. “Since the golf business is seasonal, the printing of the rack cards and brochures helped with the revenue stream in the winter months, when the number of rounds played declines.”

Golf Associates has conducted business from “A to Z” in just North Carolina over those 40 years. That starts with Alamance Country Club in Burlington all the way to Zebulon Country Club in the city of the same name near Raleigh. The North Carolina mailing list alone totals more than 540 course names.

Chuck Werle is a longtime golf lover who is always in pursuit of a better game. He is a principal for Carolina Image Builders, a local public relations company, and can be reached by calling 828.299.0813.
(In Photo: Sherwood Pinkston)