GIS: Positive feedback

If there were any doubts about the success of the 2006 Golf Industry Show, leaders of the various associations that presented the event attempted to put them to rest. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has some preliminary numbers to put the show in perspective. Total attendance was more than 18,000, the number of qualified buyers was more than 6,000, exhibit space was about 244,000 square feet, and the number of companies exhibiting was a little more than 750. Seminar one-day equivalents were more than 7,000. Both the education part of the show and the number of exhibitors exceeded what was budgeted. However, the number of guests registered was less than half of the number last year in Orlando. The GCSAA will release final numbers later this week.

Steve Mona, c.e.o. of the GCSAA, was satisfied with the show. According to the feedback he received from attendees, the quality of education was outstanding; and from the pespective of the exhibitors, they were pleased with the traffic, he says.

“The overall numbers were not as high as we wanted, but the quality was good,” he says.

Mona says some superintendents took a pass this year because of the relocation.

Out of the total number of attendees, about 900 were members of the National Golf Course Owners Association, down from 1,100 last year. However, more courses were represented because there were more multi-course owners in attendance, according to Mike Hughes, c.e.o. of the NGCOA. One of the things Hughes liked about the show was that there were 13 hours of trade show time without many competing events. He also felt it was a more integrated show than last year.

“To go from 8 hours to 13 hours on the show floor is a huge commitment,” says Henry DeLozier, v.p. of golf for Pulte Homes and NGCOA board member, adding that international owner participation increased from last year.

From the perspective of the Golf Course Builders Association, Paul Foley, executive director of the GCBAA, says 110 members exhibited and a hotel overbooking – related to the Coretta Scott King funeral, was the only disappointment. He says 800 people attended the GCBAA’s reception Thursday and 400 attended its dinner Friday. Foley, who came from the automotive industry, says the health of trade shows overall isn’t good, but this show was different.

Tom Marzolf, president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, says the show was the best ever for his group. He says 77 of the 171 members of the ASGCA came to the event, and 30 members spoke at the show and conference. Because the ASGCA is a small association, financially, the show is a big benefit for it, Marzolf says.

“We’ve had more clients here this year than in the past,” he says. “Bringing clients here helps us improve golf courses because there is a need to teach the golf course life cycle to owners, general managers and superintendents. We need to plan ahead through master planning.”

Tim O’Neill, GCCS, immediate past president of the GCSAA and golf course superintendent at the Country Club of Darien in Fairfield, Conn., says he hadn’t heard anything but positive comments about the show despite not having as many players as they wanted in the association’s golf championship in Houston.

“This is where the world of golf course management comes together,” he says.
DeLozier says the Pulte people who attended the show participated in every program (i.e., the GCSAA, NGCOA, ASGCA, NFG and GCBAA).

“Keep in mind, we’re still learning how to get this right and maximize the potential of each organization,” DeLozier says.

Sean Hoolehan, incoming president of the GCSAA and golf course superintendent at Wildhorse Resort in Pendleton, Ore., says the partnerships of the show raise the level of superintendents’ performances when they come to the show.

“This show was a huge home run for our members,” he says. “I can’t be disappointed with the show even though the numbers were low because the buzz factor for Anaheim is big.”