Based on feedback from attendees and exhibitors, the 2010 Golf Industry Show in San Diego has an enhanced format. A modified schedule places almost all events (education conferences and trade show) on weekdays and the trade show portion of the event on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 10-11, with virtually no competing events.
The Golf Industry Show is the third-largest convention scheduled for San Diego in 2010. Show officials expect more than 550 exhibitors covering more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The Golf Industry Show is presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), along with participating partners the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the National Golf Foundation (NGF) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).
"The presenting partners are always working to enhance the value of the event using feedback from attendees and exhibitors of past Golf Industry Shows," GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, said. "We are very excited about the improvements planned for San Diego."
"The adjusted schedule will allow attendees to be more efficient and will allow the bulk of the activities surrounding the event to take place on weekdays instead of the weekend," NGCOA CEO Mike Hughes said. "All audiences will have a much more similar arrival and departure pattern, truly bringing them together under one roof for the Wednesday and Thursday trade show."
"Traffic density on the trade show floor will be much higher," CMAA CEO Jim Singerling, CCM, CEC, said. "There will be no competing events during trade show hours, allowing attendees to conduct business on the show floor all day Wednesday and Thursday without interruptions. Also, the schedule will now allow for exhibitors to attend the general sessions - an exclusive networking opportunity."
The 2010 Golf Industry Show is designed to benefit every member of the golf course, club and facility management team. The trade show floor will feature:
· Three networking parks
· Design and Construction Information Center
· Outdoor Recreation Center presented in partnership with Golf Greens Fore U
· International Resource Center presented in partnership with Syngenta and Phillip Jennings Turf Farms
· Internet Cafés presented in partnership with DuPont Professional Products
· Road to RICHE$ offers daily $500 cash prizes and a $5,000 grand prize to GCSAA Class A, Superintendent and C members, club owners/operators and club managers/general managers who scan their attendee badge at each trade show kiosk
Brian Little, Ph.D., will present "Multiple Personalities in the World of Golf: Strange Creatures and True Characters" at the Feb. 10 General Session, 8-9 a.m., before the trade show floor opens. Chris Gardner will present "Start Where You Are" at the Feb. 11 General Session, 8-9 a.m., before the trade show floor opens. The Show Floor Happy Hour will feature multiple bars across the trade show floor Feb. 11 from 4-6 p.m., to provide a relaxed and casual atmosphere to conduct business, celebrate and network. The USGA Green Section Education Program "Money Talks – But Who Is Listening?" will be held 9:30-11:30, Feb. 12.
The Golf Industry Show is assisting the San Diego Food Bank for a volunteer service project presented in partnership with The Toro Co. On Feb. 8, 200 volunteers from the Golf Industry Show will help prepare, sort, pack and distribute food to the more than 480,000 people in San Diego County fighting hunger. In addition, during the entire week of the Golf Industry Show and accompanying education conferences, Feb. 8-13, attendees will have the opportunity to donate food and money at the convention center.
The Golf Industry Show Silent Auction will be held online and opens Jan. 11. Proceeds from the auction support environmental stewardship, research and education; player development; as well as grants and scholarships to advance the club management industry. Auction funds also provide young people with the opportunity to learn golf and the life values the game of golf represents. The Golf Industry Show Silent Auction is presented by The Environmental Institute for Golf (the philanthropic organization of GCSAA), the NGCOA Foundation, the ASGCA, The Club Foundation and the GCBAA Foundation.
The three presenting partner organizations will also hold their annual education conferences in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show:
GCSAA Education Conference, Feb. 8-12
NGCOA Annual Conference, Feb. 8-12
CMAA World Conference on Club Management, Feb. 8-13
Registration is open at www.golfindustryshow.com.
