Fidelity Seminar Stage: A Wealth of Speakers

One of the lasting hallmarks of the 24th West Michigan Golf Show has been the quality of its headliners and presenters. For the price of admission, show patrons are rewarded with a wealth of lessons, instruction and insights by the leading experts and topflight PGA teaching pros in the game. This year the Fidelity Seminar Stage features two distinct presenters, tempo expert John Novosel Jr. and putting guru Mike Shannon, both of whom are appearing at the Show for the first time on Feb.10-12 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

Representing Tour Tempo®, the fast-emerging teaching and technology company that has revolutionized the understanding of tempo in the golf swing, Novosel will explain and demonstrate how a 3-beats-to-1-beat timing ratio between the backswing and downswing is the bedrock equation of a sound swing. His seminar is entitled: “Tour Tempo: Golf’s Last Secret Finally Revealed.” Although it may sound esoteric, Novosel’s seminar promises to deliver results for everyday golfers. “Unlike certain Tour swing fundamentals, a good tempo is easily within the grasp of the average golfer,” said Novosel, a past presenter at the PGA of Sweden, the PGA of the Netherlands and the World Golf Fitness Summit. A long drive champion, Novosel lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

Also on the Fidelity Seminar Stage will be the celebrated putting guru and PGA teaching professional Mike Shannon, ranked recently by Golf Digest as #40 in its listing of “America’s 50 Best Teachers.” Part of the highly touted instructional team at Sea Island Golf Learning Center in St. Simons Island, Georgia, Shannon counts PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar as one of his many short game students. “I’ve worked with Matt on his putting for the past two years and it’s gratifying to see his success,” said Shannon. “Recently, we’ve worked on Matt switching over to a belly putter.” Shannon’s seminars are entitled: “What Great Putters Have In Common” and “The Evolution of Putting (and what happens when you don’t evolve with it).”

Providing added local and state support to these headliners are a number of well-respected golf teaching professionals. Blythefield CC’s Patti Butcher, the 2010 LPGA National Professional of the Year, will be on stage Friday with “Diva Golf: Be Comfortable on the Course and Play Better Golf, for ALL Skill Levels.”

On Saturday, Boyne’s Director of Instruction Brian O’Neill’s will cover “Getting the Most of Your Practice Time.” Later, "Your Short Game" will be addressed by Brian Natzel, Director of Instruction at Swan Lake Resort.

And on Sunday, Kevin McKinley, Director of Golf at Treetops, will share “Best Lessons of the Treetops Golf Academy.”

West Michigan Golf Show Tees Off on Friday

What:

24th Annual West Michigan Golf Show with hundreds of exhibits from courses and resorts to clubs and merchandise. Also, fabulous door prizes, free golf lessons, clinics, and the Treetops Par-3 Challenge (a real grass golf hole indoors!) where one lucky golfer might win $25,000!

When:

Friday, Feb. 10, 4 pm-9 pm
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 am-7 pm
Sunday, Feb. 12, 10 am-5 pm

Where:

DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, downtown Grand Rapids

Tickets:

$9 for adults; $4 for children ages 6-14; children 5 & under free.
Tickets at the door and online at www.WestMichiganGolfShow.com
Bonus: All Golf Show attendees can receive a free round of golf at Treetops just by registering at its booth. A $64 value!

Parking:

Best place to park is under DeVos Place. Enter off Michigan St NW or Lyon Ave. NW. The Rapid line 11 bus stops in front of DeVos Place

Seminars:

Representing Tour Tempo®, the fast-emerging teaching and golf technology company, will be John Novosel, Jr. Teacher, coach and international presenter, Novosel will explain how to develop a consistent, Tour-like tempo or pace of the swing. Also on the Fidelity Seminar Stage will be celebrated putting guru and PGA teaching professional Mike Shannon, ranked recently by Golf Digest as #40 in its listing of “America’s 50 Best Teachers.” Part of the highly touted Sea Island Golf Learning Center in Ga., Shannon counts PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar as one of his many students. Other PGA teaching pros on stage will be Boyne’s Brian O’Neill, Blythefield’s Patti Butcher, Swan Lake Resort’s Brian Natzel, and Treetops’ Kevin McKinley.

Specials:

With a free overnight Spa package at Swan Lake Resort to the first 500 women, Friday night is Ladies Night with the 7th annual Executive Women’s Golf Association Fashion Show. And all weekend: a $10,000 Putting Challenge--one putter might sink a 50-foot putt for ten grand. Free golf lessons c/o of Boyne Resorts & Michigan Section PGA. And courtesy of Treetops and WZZM 13, a grand prize drawing of a 24-person golf trip to Treetops Resort.

Sponsors:

Treetops Resort, Fidelity Investments, Srixon, Golf Association of Michigan, Boyne Resorts, Michigan PGA and Swan Lake Resort

Other:

The first 100 people entering the Show each day and anyone purchasing tickets online will receive a free 2-pack of Srixon golf balls. On Friday get half-price off admission by donating a dozen (new or used) golf balls to the First Tee of West Michigan. Saturday: To benefit RacingAwareness.com and the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a pancake breakfast for $5 at 9 AM @ Grand Gallery. Sunday is “Junior Day”—first 250 juniors receive a golf hat by Capnlogo, and special clinics and prizes.

Charities:

Several local charities will benefit including Patriot Golf Day and RacingAwareness.com to benefit the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

24-Person Golf Prize: A Personal ‘Ryder Cup’ at Treetops?

In a word association game, “twenty-four” may elicit the following responses: hours, seven, or even Bauer, as in Jack Bauer the hero of the hit Fox TV series, 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland, that ended an eight-year run in 2010.

But to golfers attending the 2012 West Michigan Golf Show, “24” means “prize” as in the grand prize for the 24th edition of the Show, held Feb. 10-12 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. This year, that prize is a 24-person (that’s six foursomes!) golf trip to Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich. In concert with media partner WZZM-TV 13, the Treetops trip is the largest prize ever given away in the history of the show.

“We wanted to do something extra special this year to let golfers know when they’re thinking about planning a guys’, gals’ or couples’ getaway or tournament for them to think of Treetops,” says Kevin McKinley, Director of Golf. “2012 is also a Ryder Cup year so some lucky winner could be inspired to form two 12-person teams and make a memorable and fun event out of it.”

Golf Show Manager Carolyn Alt is thrilled with the grand prize. “Our patrons tell us in our surveys they love coming to the show and having a chance at great prizes,” says Alt. “We’ve never heard of a similar prize at any other show around the country so this one really stands out.”

The details of the prize are as follows: 36 holes of golf with cart for 24 players with one overnight stay at Treetops based upon double occupancy or a maximum of 12 rooms. The two courses will be the Tradition and one of their choice among five courses, based upon availability. The overnight is limited to Sunday through Thursday.

To be eligible, golfers may sign up online at www.wzzm13.com or register at the Show.
Along with its grand prize giveaway, Treetops is a major sponsor for the West Michigan Golf Show. It continues to sponsor the Treetops Par-3 Challenge where a fully landscaped golf hole, complete with actual grass, sand and a water hazard, will invite golfers to compete for prizes and a chance to win $25,000 as a finalist on Sunday. This year’s charity recipient will be Patriot Golf Day, the initiative that provides college scholarships for the children and spouses of fallen or wounded military personnel. And this year, every Show attendee will receive a free midweek round of golf—a $64 value—by registering at the Treetops booth.

Produced by Showspan Inc., the West Michigan Golf Show will attract thousands of Michigan golfers to hundreds of exhibits and will feature free clinics and lessons, putting contests, junior golf instruction, swing analyzers and an unmatched shopping opportunity with countless “golf show specials.” Sponsors include Treetops Resort, Fidelity Investments, Golf Association of Michigan, Boyne Resorts, Michigan PGA, Swan Lake Resort and Srixon. Show 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. First 100 attendees each day will receive a two-pack of Srixons. Tickets will be available at the door as well as online at www.westmichigangolfshow.com

West Michigan Golf Show At-A-Glance

What:

24th Annual West Michigan Golf Show with hundreds of exhibits from courses and resorts to clubs and merchandise. Also, fabulous door prizes, free golf lessons, clinics, and the Treetops Par-3 Challenge (a real grass golf hole indoors!) where one lucky golfer might win $25,000!

When:

Friday, Feb. 10, 4 pm-9 pm
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 am-7 pm
Sunday, Feb. 12, 10 am-5 pm

Where:

DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, downtown Grand Rapids

Tickets:

$9 for adults; $4 for children ages 6-14; children 5 & under free.
Tickets at the door and online at www.WestMichiganGolfShow.com

Bonus: All Golf Show attendees can receive a free round of golf at Treetops just by registering at its booth. A $64 value!

Parking:

Best place to park is under DeVos Place. Enter off Michigan St NW or Lyon Ave. NW. The Rapid line 11 bus stops in front of DeVos Place

Seminars:

Representing Tour Tempo®, the fast-emerging teaching and golf technology company, will be John Novosel, Jr. Teacher, coach and international presenter, Novosel will explain how to develop a consistent, Tour-like tempo or pace of the swing. Also on the Fidelity Seminar Stage will be celebrated putting guru and PGA teaching professional Mike Shannon, ranked recently by Golf Digest as #40 in its listing of “America’s 50 Best Teachers.” Part of the highly touted Sea Island Golf Learning Center in Ga., Shannon counts PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar as one of his many students. Other PGA teaching pros on stage will be Boyne’s Brian O’Neill, Blythefield’s Patti Butcher, Swan Lake Resort’s Brian Natzel, and Treetops’ Kevin McKinley.

Specials:

With a free overnight Spa package at Swan Lake Resort to the first 500 women, Friday night is Ladies Night with the 7th annual Executive Women’s Golf Association Fashion Show. And all weekend: a $10,000 Putting Challenge--one putter might sink a 50-foot putt for ten grand. Free golf lessons c/o of Boyne Resorts & Michigan Section PGA. And courtesy of Treetops and WZZM-TV, a grand prize drawing of a 24-person golf trip to Treetops Resort.

Sponsors:

Treetops Resort, Fidelity Investments, Srixon, Golf Association of Michigan, Boyne Resorts, Michigan PGA and Swan Lake Resort

Other:

The first 100 people entering the Show each day and anyone purchasing tickets online will receive a free 2-pack of Srixon golf balls. On Friday get half-price off admission by donating a dozen (new or used) golf balls to the First Tee of West Michigan. Saturday: To benefit RacingAwareness.com and the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a pancake breakfast for $5 at 9 AM @ Grand Gallery. Sunday is “Junior Day”—first 250 juniors receive a golf hat by Capnlogo, and special clinics and prizes.

Charities:

Several local charities will benefit including Patriot Golf Day and RacingAwareness.com to benefit the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Info:

Produced by ShowSpan Inc., call 800-328-6550 or visit www.WestMichiganGolfShow.com

GRAND RAPIDS EXPERIENCES BANNER YEAR IN 2011

Grand Rapids/Kent County experienced a banner year in 2011 with continued growth in hotel performance, occupancy, and room revenue and record attendance at area attractions.


Nashville, Tenn.-based Smith Travel Research, a leading provider of hotel performance data, reports that Kent County hotels earned $114.4 million in room revenue in 2011. Kent County hotels increased occupancy by nearly 7 percent and revenue per available hotel room by nearly 11 percent. Occupancy outpaced national and state growth in all of these categories.

"In an industry that has experienced its share of challenges throughout the past three years Kent County has maintained its momentum in the tourism market both nationally and statewide," said Doug Small, president of Experience Grand Rapids. "For the second consecutive year, Kent County reported double digit growth in hotel revenue and outpaced national and state growth averages in occupancy."


Small also noted that the cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit are leading the State of Michigan's hotel revenue growth. Small added: "This is also the third year in a row that our staff has booked more than 125,000 future convention, sports and group tour room nights throughout Kent County. The cooperative spirit from our hotel partners, other industry partners and a refreshed brand image played a major role in these positive, encouraging outcomes."

Blockbuster Events and Exhibits Attracted Record Crowds


New and returning high-profile events such as LaughFest and ArtPrize contributed to a surge in attendance at area attractions and economic activity in 2011. The inaugural LaughFest comedy festival attracted more than 55,000 people to 228 ticketed and free events, including big name touring artists Betty White and Bill Cosby. Nearly 36,000 tickets were sold during the 10-day festival, which launched with a rubber chicken toss that set a Guinness World Record.

The third annual ArtPrize competition experienced another year of great success. A new economic impact study conducted by Anderson Economic Group revealed the event added $15.4 million to the local economy, attracted more than 320,000 visitors and created more than 200 new jobs during its 19 days.


An impressive collection of world-class exhibits resulted in record crowds at downtown museums. Diana: A celebration at the Grand Rapids Art Museum welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors. The Bodies Revealed exhibition at the Grand Rapids Public Museum drew more than 171,000 people, making it the second-best attended exhibition in the museum's history.

Overall attendance at these and other local cultural institutions multiplied in 2011 as well. UICA's new facility experienced the most growth from 2010 to 2011, with an increase of nearly 60 percent. GRAM saw a 27 percent rise in visitors throughout the year, and attendance at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum grew by more than 21 percent during the same time period.


"2011 was another phenomenal year for tourism in West Michigan," said Ed Wilson, Experience Grand Rapids board chair. "In the last year, Grand Rapids has moved forward with a stronger entrepreneurial spirit than we've ever known before. We have certainly raised the bar with the addition of LaughFest to our city's entertainment scene, yet another amazing year of ArtPrize and record turnouts at area museums and attractions."

Award Winning Work Showcases Grand Rapids as Premiere Destination


The creative efforts of the Experience Grand Rapids marketing team led to award-winning work in 2011. The redesign of the Experience Grand Rapids website earned an outstanding achievement award from the Web Marketing Association, a prestigious Davey Award from the International Academy of the Visual Arts, and high honors from the Michigan Society of Association Executive, including best in show.

"We are thrilled with the recognition we have received last year for our new website. Acknowledgment from such prestigious organizations speaks volumes about our creative marketing efforts to brand Grand Rapids as an experience for our visitors," said Small.

HUMAN NATURE ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL U.S. TOUR WITH THE MOTOWN SHOW PRESENTED BY SMOKEY ROBINSON

HUMAN NATURE, Australia’s #1 pop vocal group with millions of albums sold worldwide, is storming America with their first-ever U.S. National tour, a new album release, The Motown Record, a spectacular PBS TV Special and a new DVD. But West Michigan residents can get a first-hand look at the theatrical sensation when they stop by DeVos Performance Hall on Thursday, April 5 at 7:30pm.

The chart-topping quartet and their seven-piece band, The Funk Foundation, is embarking on a U.S. tour this spring. “Human Nature: The Motown Show presented by Smokey Robinson” kicks off March 24 in Detroit and will travel to 33 U.S. cities. This outstanding evening of hit-driven entertainment features Motown's greatest music, inspiring audiences young and old to be “dancing in the streets” and the aisles.

Tickets go on sale January 27 at 10am and are priced at $32 and $59. They can be purchased at the DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 800-745-3000. For complete tour schedule and ticket information, visit www.humannaturelive.com.

This cross-country tour follows the incredible success of the TV special, “Human Nature Sings Motown with Special Guest Smokey Robinson,” which premiered in December 2011 on PBS stations nationwide.

The new Human Nature album, The Motown Record, (set for release March 6, UMe) is a classic yet modern take on the Motown hits that influenced generations, featuring songs originally made famous by artists like the Four Tops, the Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder. Human Nature brings their fresh soulful vocal style to classics like “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “My Girl,” “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” and “Stop! In The Name Of Love.” Paying tribute to the Motown sound, Human Nature’s distinctive and authentic performances of these ever-popular favorites represent everything audiences love about the songs, delivered by four supremely talented young men who sing and dance their way through the Motown hit list.

Hailing from Sydney, Human Nature features brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney and fellow high-school classmates Phil Burton and Toby Allen. While still in school, they were captivated by the harmonies of soul, gospel and R&B. Since forming Human Nature, these four friends have forged one of the most successful careers in Australian music history, releasing nine albums, five of which went to No. 1. They have toured internationally, and opened for Celine Dion and Michael Jackson in Europe and Australia.

Human Nature opened the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 and their 2005 Motown tribute, “Reach Out,” went platinum five times over, attracting the attention of Smokey Robinson. The legendary singer recorded “Get Ready” with Human Nature at Las Vegas’ Imperial Palace, where they consistently have played to sold-out crowds for more than two years.

Legendary Alternative Rock Band Jane’s Addiction Announces Theatre of Escapists Tour

American alternative rock band Jane’s Addiction has announced the dates for their upcoming Theatre of Escapists Tour. The tour, beginning in February, will be making a stop at Grand Rapids’ DeVos Performance Hall on Wednesday, March 21.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 20 at 10am and can be purchased at the DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena box offices, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets or charge: 800-745-3000. Ticket prices are as low as $29.50.

Jane’s Addiction helped pioneer alternative rock and culture through genre-defying classic songs and a cinematic live experience. Helping inspire peers like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Smacking Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and Tool among others, the LA quartet merged alternative and rock like never before.

Perry Farrell stands out as one of music’s most forward-thinking and enigmatic frontmen, and his vocals soar with vibrancy, vulnerability and vitality. Guitar god Dave Navarro conjures simultaneously psychedelic and epic riffs. Stephen Perkins’ tribal stomp remains hypnotic and transfixing. In 2010, Jane’s Addiction began writing songs for the new album. By 2011, recording began on what would become The Great Escape Artist, an October 2011 release on Capitol, to be supported with a worldwide tour in 2012.

The band and producer Rich Costey (Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol) added TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek to the creative team. Sitek, best known for his production work on TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Foals, is writing and playing bass on the new album.

The group’s first single “Irresistible Force” is a cosmic love story. According to Rolling Stone, the song “comes on like an art-metal freak show set on some distant planet.” Spin Magazine went further on to say “frontman Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro both put in stunning performances; It sounds like a band revitalized."