The promoters of the 2008 UK Golf Show, to be held from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th April, are keen to emphasise that what they will be offering to their visitors next April is a full day of golfing experiences. Since the beginning of September many members of the golf industry have been discovering that Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club in Northamptonshire can indeed provide all the elements to make this a realistic prospect. www.whittlebury.com
Located within sight and sound of the Silverstone motor racing circuit, Whittlebury Park benefits from the excellent road links with both London and Birmingham that Bernie Ecclestone famously demanded had to be put in place if the British Grand Prix was to continue at that venue.
The on-site Whittlebury Hall Hotel is popular all year round as well as an annual favourite with the international stars of Formula One. The infrastructure includes parking for thousands of cars. Within a few miles there are more than 1,000 hotel bedrooms and all price points are covered. There is hospitality space in the luxury two tier Atrium clubhouse and function suite, while the lawns adjacent to the hotel provide space for over 5,000m² of exhibition and retail space, housed in two purpose-built pavilions whose floor plans can be down-loaded from www.theukgolfshow.co.uk
From the 36 holes of golf available: four fairways will be turned into golf driving ranges, three putting greens will be available for teaching and practice, and one short hole will become the site of the One Million Pound Hole in One Challenge.
Golf professionals from the YMG (Young Masters Golf) organisation will be on hand to give lessons and demonstrations and there will an opportunity for visitors to challenge the Long Drivers of Europe and to take part in an amateur Trickshot Championship.
Now six weeks into the Whittlebury Park/golf industry familiarisation programme, having played host to an exhibitors and sponsors golf day at the beginning of September and conducted dozens of one-on-one site meetings with golf industry personnel ever since, Lee Haggan, UK Golf Show marketing director, said, “There is a great excitement within the industry about our plans. To fully understand the proposition and the opportunities our event presents to exhibitors, they needed to set foot on the greens and picture it for themselves.
“Now that so many have done so, not only do they realise the scale of our plans but it has also spurred on their involvement and, for most, made them increase their commitment to the event. Several of the major manufacturers have secured their places on the greens and we are now getting to the stage where we may have to extend our plans again to meet with the industry’s demands.
“The UK Golf Show will give visitors a total golf day experience and allow them to play on real greens, real fairways and even in real bunkers.” continued Lee. “There will be a host of family entertainment, activities and a camping and caravan site for those who want to make a weekend of it! We are catering for around 200 exhibitors and 24,000 visitors. There are over 235 golf courses within very easy reach of Whittlebury Park.”
The UK Golf Show 2008 www.theukgolfshow.co.uk
Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club www.whittlebury.com