A Game of Numbers: Golf and the West Michigan Golf Show

Golf is a game of numbers on a scorecard. It has par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s. It has 130-yard holes and 600-yard holes. It has 7200 yard championship tees and 5200 yardage forward tees. It has 9 and 18 holes and of course the famed 19th hole where memories of triple bogies are often ‘washed away.’ You get the picture: numbers are essential to the game of golf. And numbers are also essential and revealing about the 23rd West Michigan Golf Show on Feb. 11-13 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Let’s count the ways:

105,000 - There’s 105,000 sq. ft of exhibit space devoted to the Golf Show at DeVos Place

23,000 - The Golf Show uses 23,000 sq. feet of netting for the Indoor Par-3, the free golf lesson and demo club area.

12,000 - 12,000 sq. feet of carpeting is laid down for the Golf Show.

9000 - In the past 10 years, 9000 golfers are estimated to have tried a shot at the popular Par-3 Challenge, sponsored again by Treetops Resort and fully landscaped by Everett’s.

3200 - 3200 new Srixon golf balls will be given away at the Show for those purchasing tickets online or for the first 100 patrons at the Show each day. (3000 of them will be lost or drowned by July 4th)

2010 - The 2010 PGA of America’s Teacher of the Year is Golf Show headliner Todd Anderson, the first Michigan native to be so honored. Previous honorees include past Show headliners as Jim Flick, Hank Haney, Mike Bender, Mike Hebron, Charlie Sorrell, Gary Wiren, and Bill Strausbaugh.

100 - The 100th Michigan Amateur Championship, conducted by Show sponsor the Golf Association of Michigan, will be held this June over famed The Heather course at Boyne Highlands Resort. (Incidentally, the first Michigan Amateur was held in Grand Rapids in 1906 and won by James Wylie at Kent Country Club.)

500 - 500 golf hats will be given away, evenly divided between Friday’s Ladies Night and Sunday’s Junior Day. (Hats off to the Show!)

92 - 92% of show patrons said they enjoyed the show last year and plan to attend this year.* (The other 8% may have been non-golfers who admitted they took a wrong turn into DeVos Place.)

25 - Two of Michigan’s finest resort courses—Treetops’ Masterpiece course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Shanty Creek Resort’s The Legend designed by Arnold Palmer—will celebrate 25 years of great golf this summer. At the Show, Shanty Creek is sponsoring Ladies Night on Friday.

77 - 77% of show patrons purchased products at the show—from socks, sweaters and gloves to booked rounds, swing aids, putters, and drivers—and spent an average of $152.* (No worry, we won’t tell spouses.)

76 - 76% of show patrons are planning at least one golf vacation this year with 82% being in-state and 52% out of state destinations.*

63 - Over 63 door prizes will be given away this year-- from rounds of golf to merchandise and equipment.

43 - 43% of patrons say their average score for 18 holes is between 80-89.* (Not much of a slogan but how about: These golfers are decent!)

4 & 1 - One (1) lucky golfer will earn a grand prize drawing for a foursome (4) winter getaway to Don Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL—air, golf and rooms! Courtesy of AirTran Airways, Florida Golf, and WZZM-TV.

* 2010 Golf Show attendee survey and results

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 currently include Treetops Resort, Golf Association of Michigan, Shanty Creek Resort, Srixon, Boyne Resorts and the Michigan PGA. Tickets will be available through www.westmichigangolfshow.com and at the door.

For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit the website.

Michigan’s 2011 Golf Business Outlook: Less Stress, Headed in Right Direction

For Michigan’s golf business leaders attending the West Michigan Golf Show on Feb. 11-13, the proverbial cup is slightly more than half full. Held at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, the 23rd edition of the popular consumer golf show serves as a gathering point for the state’s golf industry. Several key golf officials see more hopeful signs on the horizon for the business of golf after being shaken by a supply and demand course imbalance, ‘The Great Recession’ and a faltering Detroit auto industry.

“For our member courses, it appears 2010 was a modest improvement over 2009 and although there are plenty of challenges for the golf industry, any improvement is huge,” said David Graham, Executive Director of the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM). “I expect better things in 2011 for Michigan golf. Most importantly, you can’t underestimate the importance of the state’s rebounding auto industry,” said Graham whose 60,000-member GAM organization has exhibited at the Grand Rapids show every year since 1989. “That sector also dictates the health of those support industries surrounding autos so one can be optimistic hearing the good news coming out of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. This can only bode well for the golf industry too in 2011.”

Sharing similar thoughts was Kevin Helm, the Executive Director of the Michigan Section of the PGA of America, one of 41 sections for the 28,000-member association. “We saw some positive signs in 2010. Most golf professionals and owners I spoke with throughout the year and off-season seemed to think things are headed in the right direction,” said Helm. “It’s certainly not easy out there, but most operators said the year was better than 2009 and they sensed that some of the corporate business was trickling back.”

Representing a state golf association whose members are synonymous with ‘teaching the game,’ Helm also expressed optimism due to the auto industry. “With some positive news coming out of Detroit, it’s logical to think people can play and spend more on golf than the past few years.”

Holding a reliable barometer on public golf in Michigan is Kate Moore, Executive Director of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association (MGCOA). “The general consensus by public golf owners and operators is that they’re feeling less stressed about the economy,” said Moore. “Times are still challenging, but as owners head into the new golf season, they’re more upbeat. Some of that is due to newly announced increased funding of the Pure Michigan campaign that’s proven so successful in promoting Michigan’s travel and golf assets, and some of it’s due to hopes for the new Snyder administration in Lansing.” Based in Lansing, the MGCOA -represents 300 public, resort and private golf facilities.

All three associations have special plans and programs set for 2011. In June at Boyne Highlands, the GAM will celebrate the 100th Michigan Amateur Championship, the flagship amateur event in the state. Several special events are planned for the occasion including a program at Boyne Highlands featuring CBS-TV golf commentator Gary McCord.

For the Michigan PGA, it remains committed “to promoting and growing the game in 2011.” Helm said such initiatives as members providing free lessons at the West Michigan Golf Show, to Michigan Golf Business Legislative Day (a multi-association effort) on the Capitol lawn in June, to the Play Golf America Day are all aimed “to promote the fun and enjoyment of the game, introduce the game to kids, provide lessons to adults, and educate the attendees on how to get more involved in the game in their local communities.”

For the MGCOA, Moore reported the association is encouraged by a 30% increase in the League Championship Series last year. “In 2010, we had nearly 5000 golfers participate and we expect it grow again this year. So that’s good news looking ahead,” said Moore. Moore also said the Golden Passbook to Michigan Golf, a premium product offering value in both rounds and lodging, is also expected to sell out in 2011. “At $550, the Passbook offering golf and lodging is priced as a value and not a discount program.” Moore said owners are also focusing on current golfers as well as developing new ones.

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 currently include Treetops Resort, Golf Association of Michigan, Shanty Creek Resort, Srixon, Boyne Resorts and the Michigan PGA. Tickets will be available at the door or at www.westmichigangolfshow.com,

For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit www.westmichigangolfshow.com.

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day: West Michigan Golf Show at DeVos Place from February 11th-13th

In February 2010 there was 17.9% of the possible sunshine according to meteorologist, George Lessens. Echoing the Motown hit song, golfers will have “sunshine on a cloudy day” when the West Michigan Golf Show opens on Feb. 11-13 at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. The 23rd edition of the Show will provide a ready antidote to sunlight deprivation, cabin fever and the winter blahs so prevalent this time of year.

Here are some of the highlights of this annual golf extravaganza:

* Widely acclaimed for its headliners, the Golf Show this year welcomes Todd Anderson, the 2010 PGA of America’s Teacher of the Year. Born in Grand Rapids, Anderson is the Director of Instruction at Sea Island GC in Georgia and has taught such Tour players as Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker, Brett Quigley, and NBC-TV’s Today show co-anchor Matt Lauer. Also on stage will be LPGA Tour player and GR native Allison Fouch (Friday/Sat) as well as a host of PGA pros including Treetops Resort’s Kevin McKinley, Boyne Resort’s Brian O’Neill, Shanty Creek Resort’s Brian Kautz and The Otsego Club’s Jason Guss, named by Golf Digest as one of the nation’s “Best Young Teachers.”

* Ladies’ Night, sponsored by Shanty Creek Resort which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Arnold Palmer-designed The Legend, is on Friday and offers special events, seminars and giveaways just for women, including the 6th annual Executive Women’s Golf Association Fashion Show. Also on Friday (only) there’s half-price off admission by donating a dozen (new or used) golf balls to junior golf.

* The most popular attraction of the Show is the Treetops Par-3 Challenge where patrons will compete for prizes (Treetops golf) and a chance to win $25,000. Inspired by an actual hole at Treetops which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Robert Trent Jones’ Masterpiece course, the Challenge will provide a gift to each participant just for teeing it up. The Par-3’s charity is RacingAwareness.com which raises funds for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

* The ‘hits keep comin’ at the demo club area, where many top club manufacturers will have the latest equipment for patrons to hit, inside the huge hitting net.

* The top golf courses and resorts in Michigan as well as destination courses in Indiana, Kentucky, the Carolinas and Florida will offer pre-season values and teetimes.

* Courtesy of AirTran Airways, Florida Golf and WZZM-TV, there will be a grand prize drawing for a 3-night getaway for four to Don Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL—air, golf and rooms!

* Courtesy of the Michigan P.G.A. and Boyne Resorts, golf pros will give free lessons all weekend, providing patrons a pre-season tune-up.

* Presented by Core Golf Schueller, the $10,000 Putt & Long Drive Contests will entice deft putters and big hitters alike. The designated charity is the Positively Warren Golf Classic.

* West Michigan is known for its thrifty, savvy consumers and the Golf Show remains an ideal place to shop for golf balls, gloves, shoes, apparel and golf equipment at attractive prices.

* On a virtual golf course provided by RealGolf and benefiting the Folds of Honor charity, golfers will compete in a closest to the pin contest to win some fabulous prizes from Grand Haven Golf Club.

* Benefiting high school golf teams, there’s a Saturday morning pancake breakfast for $7 (of which $4 is earmarked for the team of your choice) starting at 9 AM in the Grand Gallery at DeVos Place.

* Sunday is “Junior Golf Day” with the first 250 kids receiving hats, and with special seminars, lessons, door prizes, and manufacturers with junior clubs.

* Sunday is also Military Appreciation Day at the Show where military personnel and/or veterans showing ID at Will Call receive FREE admission. Special clinics by Major Ed Pulido, combat veteran and amputee golfer, with Treetops’ Kevin McKinley, PGA Instructor & Chair of the Michigan PGA’s Patriot Golf Day committee, entitled: Challenge, Triumph and Change.

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 currently include Treetops Resort, Golf Association of Michigan, Shanty Creek Resort, Srixon, Boyne Resorts and the Michigan PGA. Tickets are available at the door or at www.westmichigangolfshow.com.

For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit www.westmichigangolfshow.com.