AMERICAN GOLF retailer Nevada Bob’s is expanding its presence in Ireland. The specialist retailer has signed a franchise deal with the Elverys sports chain and is teed up to open in its stores in Dundrum and Castlebar in early December.

This will precede a rollout of several other Nevada Bob’s stores within Elverys’ 55-strong chain of shops early next year.

Nevada Bob’s already has outlets in Cork and Tralee. It opened in Europe in 1990 and has 40 shops across the continent. Its stores typically carry more than 2,500 products. Given the steep decline in both consumer spending and golf memberships here over the last year, the timing could be better. But it’s good to see some investment in the retail sector taking place.