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Scottish Golf Show is a success despite non-attendance of certain major players

Posted by admin under My Golf Returns

I attended the Scottish Golf Show in Edinburgh last weekend as this was an ideal chance to catch up with old golfing acquaintances and GolfbloggerUK sponsors/ customers; plus an opportunity to see for myself what new products were being launched for the 2008 golf season.

Yet again large crowds attended and there was plenty of inter-action with visitors with a trick show provided by Dave Edwards courtesy of Glenmuir Clothing, putting diagnostics with Zen Putters, a putting competition to raise funds for charity organised by Glasgow’s Golf Lounge Bar, chipping competition held by Nike, golf instruction by Kevin Craggs and the opportunity to try out various types of equipment either on a simulator or into golf nets.

There was quite a variety of exhibitors such as various entities trying to promote the game of golf locally and nationally; equipment manufacturers trying to sell their goods; golf clubs trying to encourage golfers to play their courses; online golf retailer; hotels; golf software companies; golf magazines; car retail outlets; suppliers of artificial greens; eyewear; clothing; Setanta Golf Channel; property developers and even a university!

It was good to see such a wide variety! Also, it was good to see two of Golfblogger UK’s sponsors, Sundog Eyewear and Oceanico, in attendance and helping put something back into golf at grass-root level. Even moreso, when you have the game of golf’s ‘big-hitters’ such as Callaway and Adams who did not feel the need to exhibit at the ‘Home of Golf’s’ golf show. I do not feel this show is all about selling products at this event - if some retailers break even, they are happy! It is perhaps more a case of engaging with the Scottish golfing enthusiasts, a form of sustainability/ a commitment to golf in Scotland and trying to I feel money well spent - as important as paying a player to play a certain type of club or endorse clothing etc!

It was great to see the likes of other big names such as TaylorMade, Nike, Cleveland, Aldila, McGregor etc making the effort and also a number of UK companies such as John Letters, Ben Sayers, Ben Ross etc perhaps trying to increase the awareness of their products without massive budgets to have the likes of Tiger Woods & Co use their equipment.

What caught my eye at the show? Difficult question!

The new range of polarised Sundog Eyewear looked really nice and excellent value for money, not that I can get Terry to part with any free samples (and here I was thinking I was the money careful Scotsman!) ; Oceanico have some fantastic new golfing property in Portugal for sale or lease plus the new Faldo Course opens in September; Bobby Jones had some really nice new equipment; and the Stewart Golf X3R golf trolley caught the eye and remains the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of electric trolleys.

Zen Putters and Leaderboard for me were the stand-outs at this year’s show! They had an excellent range of putters and practice training aids which are now affordable to a wide cross-section of golfers. Their putting diagnostic and the knowledge of their golf enthusiastic staff were second to none at the show! It would not surprise me if one of the large golfing bodies did not put such a resource to more beneficial use.

It was fantastic to see the PGA doing their bit to promote golf, at a time when certain big players did not feel the need to make an appearance, by way of offering free golf lessons to the visiting public - they obviously recognize these golfers are their potential future customers, whereas others did not! Also, it was pleasing to see ClubGolf and the Scottish Golf Union doing their bit to promote the wonderful family valued game of golf and witnessing perhaps the stars of the future in the kids golfing fun area

All in all, it was a good day out and I would recommend this to golfing families out there, so if you can manage, pop along next year!

The Ed.