The reach of the Golf Industry Show will extend to those who shape the game's courses as the Golf Course Builders Association of America has agreed to join the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Club Managers Association of America to present the Golf Industry Show.
The inaugural Golf Industry Show, which combines the GCSAA and NGCOA trade shows, will be Feb. 10-12, 2005 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The CMAA will become associated with the event in 2007 in Anaheim, Calif., after conducting its 2005 World Conference on Club Management and Exposition in New Orleans and its 2006 gathering in Honolulu.
GCBAA previously had a presence at the GCSAA International Golf Course Conference and Show, conducting a variety of events for its constituents, including its annual membership meeting. The GCBAA will continue to sponsor those activities, but will now participate in various trade show features, most notably the building of the green solution center. GCBAA members will be demonstrating construction methods and providing information regarding putting green complexes.
"From the GCBAA member standpoint, exposure to key decision-makers whether by exhibiting or networking is of significant value," said GCBAA president Tommy Sasser. "From the attendee perspective, securing comprehensive business solutions from those who own, build and manage a course will only strengthen their facility's operations."
While the trade shows of the organizations will be combined to form a new industry event, each will retain autonomous education conferences that will run concurrently with the Golf Industry Show. The objective is to present an industry trade show that represents significant aspects of a golf operation – from ownership, feasibility and design, construction and operations.
"Since the initial announcement of the Golf Industry Show in February 2003, the interest of the industry and of the respective organizations' memberships has grown exponentially," said Steve Mona, GCSAA c.e.o. "The feedback we have received in bringing the organizations together has been positive. The addition of the Golf Course Builders Association of America brings a critically important element of the business to the show."