On the 21st occasion on which the GOLF EUROPE – International trade fair for Golf – has been staged, (28 to 30 September in Augsburg) the trade fair team at GOLF EUROPE showed its best side, as did Team Europe at the Ryder Cup.
The organisers report an outstanding atmosphere prevailed amongst the 115 exhibitors and more than 2,000 visitors from 30 countries at GOLF EUROPE from the very first day onwards when Europe won the Ryder Cup, because Sky transmitted the Ryder Cup live to the trade fair even on the days on which the stands are being assembled as well as the final day. The European victory was celebrated as befitted the occasion.
Business showcase for the golfing industry
Gerhard Reiter, managing director of Messe Augsburg, is ambitious in terms of the future development of GOLF EUROPE, “With our team and associates we feel that we are really well set up. The positive response with regard to how the trade fair has been organised, the location here in Augsburg and the exceptionally good atmosphere at this year’s event proves this again. Of course we make no secret of the fact either that it would be very important for us to be able to offer a showcase for the entire industry if at all possible – in any case we are on the right road to doing so.”
Ian Randell, CEO of the PGAs of Europe, emphasises the high quality of GOLF EUROPE, “The feedback we have received on the most international golf trade fair in Europe has been positive in all respects and even now we are looking forward to the event next year.”
High-powered lectures for the benefit of the professional golfers
This year the support programme for GOLF EUROPE included the “Pro Shop Forum” and the “PGA Learn & Earn Zone”. Light was shed in the talks given in the “Pro Shop Forum” targeting businesses from the textile and functional clothing sector, on the topics of “Planning and Management Accounting – for small companies too 7 to make them more profitable” by Uwe Duchardt, independent management consultant plus “How to display clothing and footwear correctly and how to use sales aids effectively” by Axel Beland from adidas & Ashworth Golf.
There were informative and very interesting lectures were given again in the “Learn & Earn Zone”, amongst other things there was a talk given by Dr David McGhie, the research and development manager at Swing Catalyst which focusses upon research into biomechanics, on the topic of “Soil reaction forces and driving” as well as from Michael Arndt and Christian Sude from Golf-Osteopathie Deutschland, about “The impact of the upper cervical spine being blocked on the Golf swing from the osteopath’s perspective.”
On Monday 29 September the Golf Management Verband Deutschland organised the “The conflict between golf management and golf schools” workshop.
More entries than ever before for the PRODUCT AWARD
The PRODUCT AWARD is presented for innovative entrepreneurial spirit in the golfing industry. The winning products were exhibited throughout the entire trade fair in the GOLF EUROPE PRODUCT AWARD display area and the winners now have the option of using the PRODUCT AWARD Logo when advertising their products. 83 products were entered for the GOLF EUROPE PRODUCT AWARD 2014, that is more than ever before. An international jury of experts subjected the innovative products to close scrutiny and assessed them.
The winners in the Clothing category are the SUNICE Collection from SUNICE and XFORE GOLFWEAR.
In the Accessories category the winners were Para’Kito Mückenschutz from Green-Grass-Golf Europe GmbH & Co KG and Lite Golf Balls from Nassau Europe.
The Training Aids + Customer Fitting category was won by The Swing Catalyst App from Swing Catalyst and PUTTERWHEEL from BB GOLFSTYLE DISTRIBUTION.
The BENNINGTON “QO-14 WATERPROOF” entered by the HAAS Handelsagentur was victorious in the Golfbags category. The trolleys selected by the jury come from GolfQuant as well as Motocaddy M 3 Pro entered by Motocaddy.
Last but not least, the award-winning clubs were: Lightspeed Irons from Komperdell plus Tight Lies Hybrid from Adams Golf.
Exhibitor’s voices
“The live screening of the Final Day of the Ryder Cup made for a great atmosphere right at the beginning of the trade in which to conduct discussions. As expected, Monday was very busy, and all in all laid the foundations enabling the trade fair to achieve its former glory again. Our expectations have in any case been fulfilled,” is what Karsten Klische, Business Manager of Wilson Golf Deutschland has to say.
“An outstanding trade fair with many customers from Germany and Austria, and this time from Switzerland in particular. GOLF EUROPE is a very important showcase event for us. The event gets better from year to year!” Josef Kerschbaumer, Managing Director of KOMPERDELL
“A very good trade fair and all the major and important key accounts and buyers were there. I am very satisfied with the orders we took in there. The atmosphere generated by the Ryder Cup was great, almost as good as seeing it live.” Markus Heessel, Managing Director of Green Grass Golf
“With Ben Sayers we represent one of the oldest brands which has existed since 1873 and we offer a great product selection. The trade fair went very well for us and we really did get a great deal out of it with a large number of orders, including some very large orders too. We are more than happy and we shall continue to use and support the showcase in future.” Gareth Hickin, Sales Manager of Ben Sayers
“A great trade fair with many international exhibitors. We had a large number of very interesting contacts, and everything went very well too with regard to how the trade fair was organised.” Thore Bakker, Partner at PGO
“The way the trade fair went was great for us. As winners of this year’s PRODUCT AWARDS we would like to see the trade fair continue to be expanded – we have some more new ideas for the coming years.” Udo Hübner, Jens Winternheimer from Golf Quant
“Super, really as good as it could be! We made some really good contacts with just the target group we wanted to reach. We are very satisfied and we shall definitely be coming again next year!” Patrick Klemm from K2H-Golf Equipment
Next year GOLF EUROPE will be held from 27 to 29 September 2015.