Messe Mà¼nchen GmbH has announced that the most innovative new products for the 2008 season will receive special recognition a for the first time and exhibitors have just under two weeks left to make their entries.
The GOLF EUROPE Product Awards will be presented in the categories Hardware, Clothing, Shoes and Accessories and are designed for all companies which launch an extraordinary production innovation or new designs on the market for the 2008 golf season.
The products submitted for the contest will be evaluated by a jury composed of members from retailing, independent industry experts and leading media representatives. In addition to functional aspects, design, degree of innovation and ease of use will play a decisive role in the selection of the winning products.
The GOLF EUROPE Product Awards will open a completely new opportunity for companies to present themselves to retailers and to distinguish themselves from the competition. The award winners will be announced at Speaker’s Corner in Hall B6 at 5 p.m. on Sunday, 7th October 2007. The winning products will then be exhibited in a special presentation area.
The deadline for submissions is 25th September. Full details are available from Ingrid Megl at ingrid.megl@messe-muenchen.de
In the main exhibition areas, GOLF EUROPE, which this year opens its gates for the 15th time, will host more than 300 exhibitors from over 20 countries. The show has reverted to its traditional Sunday – Tuesday show days and takes place from 7th to 9th October. A large indoor driving range, measuring 5,000 sq.m. and with 14 tee stations, will provide plenty of space for product testing.
Exhibitors include: Abacus, Arnold Palmer, Back Tee, Ben Hogan, Bridgestone, Callaway, Cobra, Dunlop, Ecco, FootJoy, Galvin Green, Genuin, Glenmuir, Golfino, Hauer, H2O Golf, HI-TEC, Honma, J. Lindeberg, Mac Gregor, MDC, Mizuno, Nike, Powa-Kaddy, Röhnisch, Rukka, Sunderland of Scotland, Srixon, Titleist, Unà¼tzer, Wilson, Yamato, Yonex and many more.
The seminar programme, created in collaboration with the PGAs of Europe, includes Steve Otto, Director of Research and Testing at The R&A, Dr. Karl Morris, Professor for Sports Psychology, Eddie Reid, Managing Director TGI Golf, and Florian Oberhofer, Head Professional at Gut Hà¤usern Golf Course
Steve Otto will speak on the topic “Using the science of golf to improve your game”. The research and testing director from The R & A will talk about golf club technology and the laws of physics to which it is subject. For example, the further technical development of golf equipment makes it possible to hit balls increasingly longer distances. For operators of golf courses, this means that they are increasingly reaching the limits of their space and can no longer provide optimum satisfaction to their customers. He will talk both about club dynamics as well as the interaction with the ball, which takes place within fractions of one-thousandth of a second when a ball is hit. The imminent rule changes based on that as well as the creation and development of equipment regulations will also be discussed.
Steve Otto has been working for The R & A for 10 years. He initially worked as a consultant at the same time as senior lecturer in mathematics at the University of Birmingham in the UK. He has recently worked as head of R & A’s research and testing group in St. Andrews. Together with the R & A’s engineering staff, he is responsible for testing golf equipment to check that it satisfies existing regulations as well as researching the fundamental laws of physics of golf. He runs the R & A’s testing facilities in St. Andrews with comprehensive analyzing techniques to examine both existing equipment and future developments in technology in this area. Steve Otto will conduct practical demonstrations of the dynamics of the club and ball interaction within the driving range area.
Dr. Karl Morris, Professor for Sports Psychology will conduct a workshop on the topic “Does your brain help your game?” and provide tips, about how you can strengthen yourself mentally before an important game. He will also explain in which cases mental training cannot help.
• Why golfers are struggling to get better
• The “myth of practice”
• The role of the brain in changing a golf swing
• An understanding of golf’s no. 1 public enemy: Fear and how to deal with it
• How we can be conditioned to fail and how to “re wire” the brain
• Practical mental game tools to use on the range and course
• Games to score your mental ability
• What psychology cannot do for your game!
Dr. Karl Morris is one of Europe’s leading sports psychologists land has trained methods with numerous professional and amateur players for improving performance and achieving goals. He has worked with players such as Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Alison Nicolas and Trish Johnson. Dr. Karl Morris holds a PhD in sports psychology. He is a qualified master trainer of NLP and a qualified PGA professional.
Eddie Reid, Managing Director of TGI Golf, will deal with European golf retail market.
• Understand the complexities of the European golf retail market
• The benefits of working together as a group
Eddie Reid has been with TGI Golf for six years, initially as a retail development manager, then as retail operations manager and finally as managing director. With more than 20 years’ experience in mainstream retailing, he has been instrumental in developing successful profit development services for TGI Golf members, including business analysis and planning. He previously worked in a variety of retail businesses, in consultancy, business development and training.
Florian Oberhofer, Head Professional, will show how the Internet can be used as a professional marketing tool for the golf industry within the framework of a costs and benefits analysis.
• Internet and E-Mail
• Accurate Self-Portrayal through Your Own Homepage on the Web
• What’s the Point of Having a Personal Domain? Cost – Benefit
• Construction, Design and Contents of a Homepage
• Incremental Benefits: Online Shop, Online Reservation, Golf Trips, etc.
Florian Oberhofer is head pro at Gut Hà¤usern Golf Course and has been a member of PGA of Germany for more than 10 years. He is a sport manager graduated from IST and also works in the marketing and events area at Amer Sports Group.
The varied supporting program of GOLF EUROPE will be rounded out by the traditional get-together, at which exhibitors and trade visitors will meet to share ideas and experience in the East Entrance at 6 p.m. on Monday, 8 October 2007.
Full information dealing with GOLF EUROPE 2007, exhibitors and brands, event area, supporting program and photo material is at www.golf-europe.com