LAKE OSWEGO, Oregon — WILLIAMS ATHLETIC CLUB, the high-fashion luxury lifestyle brand, has named golf industry experts, Marty Hackel, aka Mr. Style, and Alyson Ramsey Johnson, CEO of golf marketing agency Gilly Group, to the brand’s leadership team and as investors of the apparel company.
With a combined 75 years of experience in the golf and fashion space, the team will be pivotal in growing the brand in the golf industry with green grass clubs, brand partners, and the end consumer.
The WILLIAMS ATHLETIC CLUB collection was rolled out to a select group of private clubs at the PGA Show in Frisco, TX in July of 2024 and launches to the general public today on http://www.williamsathleticclub.com/ with a pre-sale offering just in time for the holiday shopping season.
“I’m thrilled to be joining such a talented team” said Hackel. “ WILLIAMS ATHLETIC CLUB is a brand that presents a fresh look at how women can be stylish and elegant while also being comfortable, wearing a beautifully designed and innovative collection.”
Hackel, also known as Mr. Style, is an acclaimed stylist for men and women. While best known for dressing the world’s most celebrated professional golfers, Marty’s ability to bring subtle sophistication that plays to each client’s best feature is what sets him apart. He was the full-time fashion director for Golf Digest for 15 years where he was responsible for making sure players, teachers, and cover subjects were dressed in a fashionable and on-trend manner.
With multiple TV and radio appearances on NBC and Golf Channel, Marty began his career in style and fashion as a retailer in the 1970s and worked at companies such as Dayton’s, Neiman Marcus, Bottega Veneta, Filofax, and Alexander Julian. He holds a degree from the University of Vermont and currently has a golf radio show based out of Connecticut.
Alyson Ramsey Johnson joins the WAC team to oversee marketing, communications, and media. As the President and CEO of Gilly Group, Alyson focuses on sports marketing, PR, event production, tournament management, and sponsorship activation and has worked with clients including multiple tournaments and private golf clubs, she’s worked across and with all of golf’s governing bodies, and with various golf brands, talent, and properties.
Additionally, Johnson represents players (men and women) as well as on-air talent and PGA golf instructors and coaches. She currently serves on the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Board of Directors and has also served on the NJ PGA Section Foundation Board as well as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Foundation Board.
“I have worked with numerous golf apparel brands over the course of my career, yet this is the first luxury fashion brand that I’ve seen that truly can transition from a more professional setting to the Club” said Johnson. “As a woman business owner myself, I am always looking for pieces that have an air of sophistication and polish while also allowing me to be comfortable out on the course, be it if I’m following a group and entertaining clients or playing a round of golf myself.
“WILLIAMS ATHLETIC CLUB is such a breath of fresh air for the women’s market and I am so excited to be able to support the brand both from a marketing and investment perspective.”
The line is currently available for pre-sale online with shipping dates beginning in early Q1.
