Ryder Cup hero David Howell’s promised appearance at the London Golf Show is certain to be a major draw for fans of the sport. But just as attractive for the thousands of golf-mad punters will be the myriad opportunities to win stunning golf prizes.
The Ultimate Golf Prize comprises more than £7,000-worth of golf gear, ensuring the winner has everything needed to play – and relax afterwards. A £20,000 trip for four to the 2008 US Masters can also be won; there are three Nike drivers up for grabs each day; bagfuls of golf clubs; and more than a dozen golf holidays to be won including a stunning seven-night, stay-and-play package for two at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa – home to the world famous TPC Stadium course – on the iconic floating green.
But even if your luck’s not in, there are still bargains to be had, celebrities to see and activities in which you can participate.
There is a 32-bay driving range where you can try the latest equipment from the major manufacturers – PING, Cleveland, Taylor Made, Wilson, Callaway and Yonex to name just a few – before having it custom-fitted at the american golf store, where you can also find hundreds of bargains from the company voted no1 UK retailer by readers of both Today’s Golfer and Golf Punk magazines.
There is also the popular fashion show, highlighting the latest in on-course design; the opportunity to test your skills head-to-head with celebrities on the chipping green; a chance to win a holiday for sinking a 100ft putt; displays from participants in the World Golf Trickshot Championship; and a junior section, with free coaching, fun and games and more prizes to be won.
And BBC London 94.9 will be present throughout the four-day show, carrying out interviews and competitions on the main stage with special guests and BBC presenters.
It really is the ultimate day out for all the golfing family. And this year there are even more reasons to attend as up to two under-16s may go free with every paying adult
■ The London Golf Show returns to ExCeL for its third outing on 26-29 April. For tickets and a full list of exhibitors and other attractions visit www.londongolfshow.com
Exhibitors include:
About Golf
AboutGolf, producer of the world’s most advanced golf simulator that brings outstanding and unprecedented levels of realism to the indoor golf environment, is making its London Golf Show debut. The move will enable visitors to experience the AboutGolf Simulator for the very first time at a UK based exhibition event. Furthermore the London show will see the European showcase of two brand new advanced breakthrough technologies, FlightScope Kudu Power and the 3D/E™ graphics engine that are set to reinforce the companies number 1 worldwide volume sales position.
FlightScope Kudu Power is a sensor upgrade option that, when added to the AboutGolf simulator, delivers the ‘holy grail’ of simulators – directly measured spin. Its unprecedented level of club data also allows FlightScope Kudu Power to take club fitting, teaching and self-analysis to new levels, demonstrating how serious AboutGolf is about its dominant position in the simulator market.
The 3D/E graphics engine is a major upgrade to AboutGolf’s proprietary graphics software, allowing the company to expand its lead in the simulator market. This “higher-than-high-def” upgrade takes graphics to unprecedented levels. Three-dimensional rendered graphics are the only way to ensure the accurate flight and placement of every shot. The 3D/E graphics engine enables trees, grass and flags to blow in the wind, for clouds to change shape and move by, birds to fly overhead and waves to roll onto the shore.
AboutGolf Europe is the only European supplier of the AboutGolf indoor golf simulator. The company was founded by Simon Burrows, a PGA qualified professional, to bring this extraordinary indoor golf simulation system to Europe. www.aboutgolfeurope.com
Blue Sun World
International estate agents Blue Sun World will be exhibiting its latest portfolio of Spanish property during the four day event and inviting attendees to win a fabulous holiday to one of their properties, Costa Calida, at the Roda Golf & Beach Resort, near Mar Menor, in San Javier, Murcia, Southern Spain.
The resort features an 18-hole, par 72 golf course, designed by Dave Thomas, a choice of individual villas, semi-detached houses or apartments, with a wide variety of additional services. Golfers will find Roda Golf Course the perfect spot to put their skills into practice.
“The London Golf Show is the premium event for golfers and an ideal opportunity to show the fantastic range of apartments and villas we have, some of which have been specifically designed with the golfer in mind. Spain is host to some great golf courses and has a brilliant climate which suits golfers of all ages, ranges and abilities.” Bruce Bell, managing director of Blue Sun World said. “This year we are going to give everyone who stops by our stand the chance to win a superb holiday at Costa Calida, and just for entering they will receive two free tickets to the Senior Masters. It really is a fantastic golfing treat.”
Blue Sun World are giving two free tickets to the Senior Masters event at the London Golf club, 22-24 June. www.bluesunworld.com
Callaway
The London Golf Show will be one of the first places in the UK for golfers to try out Callaway’s new square-headed driver, the FT-i.
The club is available officially in shops from 16th April but 10 days later it will be the centrepiece of the manufacturer’s presence at the show.
Callaway will have four bays on the show’s indoor driving range where visitors will be able to test drive not only the FT-i but the company’s full range of clubs including the X-forged and X-20 irons.
In addition, one of the bays will be dedicated to custom fitting. Visitors to the show will be able to book 30-minute appointments and have a full custom-fit there and then.
www.callawaygolf.com
LykiaWorld
LykiaGroup, owner of LykiaWorld in à–là¼deniz, will launch Turkey’s first ever Linksgolf course in October 2007. Located on a 100-hectare site on the beautiful coast of Antalya, LykiaGolf will feature two courses: an 18-hole Championship Course, 6527 metres long with a par of 72; and a 9-hole Academy course, 1254 metres long with a par of 27.
Both courses have been designed by Perry Dye who, with his father, has designed some 300 courses worldwide including the renowned San Roque where the (notably difficult) final qualifying round of the European Tour takes place. LykiaGolf’s Championship course will have Links style bunkering and big waste bunkers whilst the short Academy course will feature an island green at hole seven.
The development is situated near the River Köprà¼à§ay on the Mediterranean coast in Antalya, Turkey’s seventh largest province, and will be complemented by LykiaWorld Antalya – a fantastic new neighbouring resort which will provide accommodation and extensive leisure facilities. www.lykiagroup.com
Nicklaus Golf Equipment
Rick Gomes, the personal club fitter to Jack Nicklaus, will be on hand at the London Golf Show representing Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company and American Golf. Rick, a PGA Professional, has worked for Jack and his Equipment Company since 2000 and is the Chief Club Fitter in the company’s R&D division. Rick brings a level of expertise to the show in his capacity, and will be demonstrating the latest Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus ranges in the test areas within the retail shop.
Paul Hendry the European Representative of Nicklaus Golf Equipment said “This is a great opportunity for golfers of all abilities to test our products with Rick, it’s not every day you get the chance to hit shots under the watchful eye of Jack Nicklaus’ own personal club fitter”
On show will be the latest products from Nicklaus Golf including the new Dual Point Technology range headed by the flagship award winning DPT Driver, acknowledged by Golf Digest as one of the hottest new Drivers of 2007.
Golfers are invited to view the exciting family of new Nicklaus products in the shop, backed by the professional advice from American Golf’s trained sales staff, who will be working closely with Rick, offering customers the chance to ‘try before they buy’ and ensure they have the right clubs for their game, and a new level of confidence.
Note: Rick will be using FlightScope technology, a unique ball flight monitor that employs a Phase Array Tracking Sensor to accurately record the ball flight and to provide actual launch data, to support his activity in the test area. www.nicklausgolf.com
Nordic Golf Trends
Nordic Golf Trends invites you to catch a glimpse of one of the most exclusive golf wear collections available in the UK this year. The company has a name for specializing in catering for women but this year leads an expansion into men’s, children’s and novelty products.
NGT is by no means the biggest supplier of its kind, but founder and MD Anne Hopkins has a keen eye for looking at the market in its entirety, finding gaps that are under-serviced (or ignored), sourcing or commissioning products to do the job and then knocking on the right retail doors to get them to a very receptive market.
www.nordicgolftrends.com
Pinnacle Stream Ltd
Running back to the previous hole to pick up a mislaid club will be a thing of the past thanks to a new accessory from club-out™ . A unique, simple-to-install design alerts golfers when they have taken more than one club from the bag – ensuring all clubs are collected on each hole.
club-out™ comprises a patented tube which displays a small alert flag every time a club is removed. If golfers attempt to move on while a flag is showing they know a club is missing. It’s a simple, yet stunningly practical idea, which will always be there to save golfers both time and money. And the flags are customisable meaning the product is an ideal marketing tool for businesses as well as an invaluable aid for the golfer.
club-out™ makes a perfect gift for a golf-mad loved one or an ideal logo-ed corporate present at a golf day.
club-out™ is available in packs of three and costs only £29.99 each plus P&P. www.club-out.co.uk
PR Golf Distribution
The GREEN FRIENDLY GOLF BELT showed at the PGA Show in Orlando and was spotted by Belfast-based golf distributors PR Golf Distribution Ltd, who quickly saw its potential. Mens’ and ladies’ belts are made of quality leather and in a range of colours from classic to clashing and are finished off with a divot repair tool and ball marker built into the belt’s metal tip.
PR Golf’s Steve Riley: “I didn’t have to think twice about the GREEN FRIENDLY GOLF BELT. The minute I saw it I could just see the golf retail trade at home clamouring to get their hands on it for their customers and golf club members. As a stylish golf gadget it just sells itself, and the potential for branding makes it a dead cert for the corporate and value-added market.”
The buying team from PR Golf have a canny knack for spotting golf products that will shift volume for the trade. They were the first to spot the potential in Ireland for Yes! Golf’s C-Groove Putters, and within months of PR Golf clinching a distribution deal with Stuburt, the meteoric shoe brand signed Irish hero Darren Clarke – virtually guaranteeing massive leverage and credibility for the shoes across the entire Irish market.
Setanta
The new big name in sports broadcasting will bring the US PGA Tour to the London Golf Show. Setanta Golf, which has Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke as its new ambassador, has exclusive live coverage of the world’s top golf tour – and the channel will be bringing Out of Bounds presenter Sarah Stirk to film at the show.
In addition to Setanta Golf – which also has coverage of the Champions, Nationwide and Asian tours as well the US PGA – there are eight other dedicated sports channels as part of the Setanta Sports package on satellite and cable, all for just £15 a month.
Setanta’s other channels carry a mixture of the best of European football – including the Scottish Premier League exclusively live – as well as live rugby union, live horse racing and an unrivalled coverage of all the top US sports on specialist channel NASN.
Last month Setanta also launched the only premium sports channel available on a Freeview box, Setanta Sports 1, which shows the best bits from all its channels for only £10.99 a month.
And there’s a great offer for anyone coming down to the London Golf Show. Setanta Sports is offering their service, on satellite, cable and freeview, for just £5 a month for the first three months. The offer ends on 4th May.
Brian Quinn, Setanta Sports’ customer acquisition director, said, “Golf is a major part of Setanta Sports offering with the USPGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour all on our dedicated golf channel.”
Skà¥ne, Sweden
No other region in Scandinavia has so many golf courses, with such variety, within an hours‘ drive of one another. A string of seaside courses can be found around the three coasts of Skà¥ne, as well as inland, and the gently undulating countryside accommodates a host of parkland, heathland and woodland courses so you’re sure to find one to suit you. Being located in the southern tip of Sweden, Skà¥ne offers a lovely mild climate enabling most courses to stay open all year, with many using their summer greens throughout the winter.
Of the 70 golf courses in the region, 11 have been invited to join the Golf in Skà¥ne Project, which was initiated by the local tourist board in the spring of 2004. Participating clubs, which can be booked up to four months in advance, must satisfy a number of criteria before being allowed to join, therefore ensuring visitors enjoy the highest levels of service and quality. One of these courses is Barsebà¤ck, a mere 20 minutes from Malmö, which is considered the best course in Sweden and host to the European and Solheim Cups.
Golf in Skà¥ne has also collaborated with another project, Culinary Skà¥ne, involving 27 of the region’s best restaurants so players can enjoy top class cuisine while honing their skills on the green. www.skanegolf.com
TRION:Z
TRION:Z will be officially launching its new ionic/magnetic bracelets which will be displayed and available to purchase within the retail area of the show.
Paul Hendry, managing director of Sales Marketing Solutions, the UK distributor said, “Though the product is new to the UK , it has been highly successful in Japan, where it has been sold for six years and experienced more than 500% growth last year, We are excited about the prospects for the brand in the UK.”
Launched in the US in 2006, the bracelets quickly became the #1 therapy product on the professional golf tours. Over 170 professionals on the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, and Champions Tour have worn the bracelets (without being paid to) during the company’s short existence.
In addition, the company has also formed an alliance with David Leadbetter to promote Trion:Z. Leadbetter, named the World’s #1 Golf Instructor by Golf Digest, has been wearing Trion:Z bracelets since April 2006 and has not taken them off since. According to Leadbetter, “Trion:Z is the Total Natural Solution” for athletes in all sports and for people from all walks of life. “It’s a simple, natural way for people to feel good,” says Leadbetter.
Leadbetter, who has been a long-time advocate of magnets and other natural products to promote health and well-being, felt the alliance was a perfect fit. “I teach some of the world’s most notable professionals to win. Managing fatigue, concentration and injuries is key to winning. I am convinced Trion:Z will help. I‘ve been recommending them to my students.”
American Golf, Europe’s #1 Specialist Golf Retailer have been quick to see the potential for the product, stocking the product in their stores and making it available at the London Golf Show. www.trionz.co.uk
United Golfers
The most revolutionary golf shoe design since Bertie Wooster first hammered nails into the sole of his boots will be on display for the first time in the UK.
The German-designed Free-Release golf shoe, from U-Go, contains a unique, swivelling, spiked sole which moves independently from the shoe. The manufacturer claims it prevents – and helps treat – back, hip, knee and ankle pain, torn ligaments and Achilles tendon problems. And, claims United Golfers GmbH (U-Go), “it significantly improves the golfer’s swing, by effectively stabilising the body’s centre of gravity”.
Developed by Andrea and Frank Drollinger, the shoe was described as “the technical revolution of the century for golfers” by GOLFmagazine. And its developers have been rewarded for their innovation with the Artur Fischer Innovation Award, July 2005; the Trade Fair for Innovations IENA Nurnberg Gold Medal; and the Brand New Award, in January 2006.
The London Golf Show returns to ExCeL for its third outing on 26-29 April For tickets visit www.londongolfshow.com or call Ticketmaster on 0870 1451205.