Three Golf Shows Set for this Week


Three consumer golf shows are set to open later this week at virtually opposite ends of the nation. The West Michigan Golf Show will take place in Grand Rapids February 12-14, while on the same dates the Seattle Golf Show and Portland (Ore.) Golf Show will run. Here are the details.

Nine Fun Things to Do At the West Michigan Golf Show

The 22nd West Michigan Golf Show on February 12-14 at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids is offering nine things to do at this year's show.

1. Be there Friday: Friday night is Ladies' Night sponsored by Grand Traverse Resort & Spa with special events, seminars and giveaways just for women, and the 5th annual Executive Women's Golf Association Fashion Show. Also on Friday (only) get half-price off admission by donating a dozen (new or used) golf balls to junior golf.

2. Take in a clinic: The Golf Show has been nationally known for its headliners and this year is no exception. The 2009 PGA of America's Teacher of the Year Mike Bender tops the list and will be giving seminars all weekend. Bender is past Masters champion Zach Johnson's teacher. Another outstanding teacher is Treetops' Jason Guss, named by Golf Digest as one of the top young instructors in the game. And for equipment advice, no one is better than Frank Thomas, Chief Technical Advisor to Golf Channel.

3. Take a shot: Step up to the Treetops Par-3 Challenge and compete for prizes and a chance to win $25,000. This year's par-three is inspired by Threetops famed sixth hole. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters. 4. Demo a new club: Try before you buy. Top manufacturers will have the latest equipment for patrons to hit inside the huge hitting net.

5. Book a foursome: 47 out of the top 50 public courses in the state, as rated by Michigan Golf, are exhibiting at the Show. Also destination courses in Kentucky, the Carolinas and Florida.

6. Take a lesson: Courtesy of the Michigan PGA and Boyne USA, golf pros will give free lessons all weekend.

7. Buy something at a bargain: If you're looking for a great deal on golf balls, gloves, shoes and golf equipment, the Golf Show is the place to shop.

8. Bring junior along: Sunday is "Junior Golf Day" with the first 100 kids receiving hats, and with special seminars, door prizes, and manufacturers with junior clubs.

9. Just hang out: The Golf Show is where golfers emerge from their winter dens and not only see their shadows but all of their friends. Organize your Saturday foursome now by meeting at the Saturday morning pancake breakfast (for only $5) starting at 9 a.m. in the Grand Gallery.

Produced by ShowSpan Inc., the West Michigan Golf Show's hours are 4:00 pm-9:00 pm, Friday; 10:00 am-7:00 pm, Saturday; and 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday. Tickets are $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-14, and children 5 and under are free. Sponsors include Treetops Resort, Golf Association of Michigan, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Odawa Casino Resort, Michigan PGA, and Boyne USA. Srixon will provide a sleeve of golf balls to the first 100 attendees each day and to those buying tickets online. Tickets will be available at the door as well as online at www.westmichigangolfshow.com. For more information, call 800/328-6550.

Seattle Golf Show Launches 2010 Golf Season

The Seattle Golf Show will tee off the 2010 "golf season" in Washington. The event will be held at the Qwest Field Event Center south of downtown.

With over 200 exhibitors, the shopping and informational event will spotlight the newest clubs, golf destinations, lesson programs, game-improvement gear and around-the-clock contests under one roof in the West's largest consumer golf show.

All the major club manufacturers will be on hand at the Puetz Golf "Try-and-Buy Demo Zone." Show attendees can step into any one of its 20 indoor hitting stations and check out the latest club lines, and manufacturer representatives and Puetz staff will be on hand to assist with purchases and club fittings. With over $1 million in inventory on-site, the selection will be big and diverse for both novices and scratch golfers alike.

Free golf is a great way to begin a golfer's first foray onto the links in 2010, and the show tradition of providing free rounds of golf for registered adults with paid admission continues. Participating courses include Port Ludlow, Eaglemont, Eagles Pride at Fort Lewis and Whispering Firs at McChord Air Force Base. As a bonus, registered adults also receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Golf Digest and a free Washington State Golf Course Directory.

Value-conscious golfers will find deep discounts on brand-name gear and apparel, with savings of up to 70% off the regular price, at the show's PGA Clearance Center. Other exhibitors will spotlight new golf-discount and loyalty programs. Oki Golf will be introducing its newly re-vamped Platinum Player's Card, providing cardholders with added flexibility in playing Oki Golf's collection of premium golf courses throughout the Puget Sound area.

For those wanting to get a head start on planning golf vacations, the show will host representatives of top courses and resorts from throughout the Northwest, Canada, Hawaii, California and Arizona - with many offering play-and-stay travel packages.

Getting to the course is half the fun, and Tacoma RV will be offering an enter-to-win RV and golf package that includes rounds for two at Circling Raven Club, Coeur 'd Alene Resort and Palouse Ridge Golf Club - along with the use of an RV to get there and back.

Circling Raven tees it up with a hot golf destination package of its own-and this one includes the clubs! Show attendees can enter to win two rounds of golf for two at the course, plus two sets of new Nike clubs.

Golfers with a competitive streak-or who just want a crack at cash prizes and merchandise-will find plenty to do at the show with its popular, around-the-clock competitions.

The show's "Western Washington Long Drive Challenge" returns in 2010 and will be staged at three golf simulators provided by Dancin' Dogg Golf. Qualifying rounds in four divisions (men's open, men 40-60, men 60-plus and women's open) will lead to the finals after the show at the Golf Club at Newcastle. First place in the men's open division is $750 or a deluxe golf vacation package.

"Putt for Dough" at the ever-popular Washington State Putting Championships, with the winner taking home a $500 merchandise certificate courtesy of Puetz Golf Superstores, with the top-eight finishers receiving a new putter from Pollen Golf. Following qualifying rounds during the first two days of the show, a match-play ladder at the show on Sunday will determine the ultimate winner.

The Puget Sound Business Journal joins the show's sponsor line-up with the "Target Golf" hitting station. Participants who hit the target receive one free round from Mount Si Golf Course and a complimentary four-week subscription to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

For many golfers, their passion for the game began as youngsters. To get them started, the Seattle Golf Show and area PGA professionals will provide free "Clubs for Kids" for children 12 and under. Previously-owned clubs will be custom-sized on-the-spot for length for children to take home.

For more show information, presentations, special events, schedules and ticket discounts, visit www.seattlegolfshow.com.

The Seattle Golf Show is the official show of the Northwest golf community with support from the Washington State Golf Association, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association and the Pacific Northwest Section PGA.

The 2010 Seattle Golf Show runs Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14. Hours are Friday (February 12), noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday (February 13) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday (February 14) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission at the door is $12.00 for adults; youth (11-7) $5.00; and free to kids 10 and under when accompanied by an adult.

For those who want to save money before they walk through the door, discounted $9 adult admission tickets (regularly $12 at the show) are now available at Puetz Golf Superstores.

Portland Golf Show

Also out West - during the same time as the above exhibitions - is the Portland Golf Show. Presented by the Oregon Golf Association, the event will offer three contestants the chance to win great prizes by putting their knowledge of the Rules of Golf on the line in the Rules of Golf adaptation of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

On hand will be USGA Committee member, Terry McEvilly to provide a special "lifeline" to help contestants navigate their way to a better prize. A sample of prizes available include: Rules of Golf publications, golf equipment, discounted and free offers at the OGA Golf Course and free entry into an OGA Tour event of your choice. All contestant will receive (2) free tickets to the Golf Show on Saturday, February 13.

Portland Golf Show Presentation Schedule

Rules Presentations:

Friday, Feb. 12 - 2pm (Room 133 - Adjacent to Golf Show)
Saturday, Feb. 13 - 1pm (Main Stage) - "Who wants to be a Rules Official?"
Saturday, Feb. 13 - 4pm (Room 133 - Adjacent to Golf Show)

TPP (Tournament Pairing Program) Presentation:
Friday, Feb. 12 - 4pm (Room 133 - Adjacent to Golf Show)

For more information, visit www.oga.org.