TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW-FEB 7-8-9. Doors open at Noon on the 7th, Friday admission is just $5.00, $10.00 on the weekend. Prizes, contests and more. Buy tickets at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net.
THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS.
REPORTING FROM INNISBROOK RESORT in Palm Harbor Florida.
IT WAS QUITE a week in Orlando at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. There was plenty to see, and even more to do. But when it all wrapped up, there were some winners and losers. Regardless, the 2020 golf season is in full swing, now the weather just needs to keep improving.
WINNERS, the following products really were show stoppers, and get the gold medal for launching a new golf product or products.
ON THE equipment side the winners are, Tour Edge Golf from Batavia Illinois. The little golf company from Batavia isn’t so little anymore. Owner and President David Glod, back-stopped by marketing wiz Jon Claffey started the week by putting on one of the best events of the week.
The Tour Edge Golf Monday outing at Lake Nona, has become a must invite especially for golf media types. It’s a great way to start show week, and in addition to Tour Edge, several other companies partner with Tour Edge, trying to get their product, usually a newer product, on the map with the help of attending media. While most of the other companies that were there have good products, it was the beginning of a week where Tour Edge seemed to have a presence just about everywhere. Tour Edge’s slogan of “Pound for Pound nothing else compares” is packing some punch, and it’s a punch that is landing.
YOU COULD TELL it’s a Ryder Cup year. The Ryder Cup coming to Whistling Straits, part of Destination Kohler this September. Golfers on Golf show host and Director of Content Rory Spears, in the Ryder Cup booth. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
I SPENT YESTERDAY testing out my Exotic 220 3-Wood, on the Innisbrook double-sided practice range, and was just crushing it. It has a great feel and really launches the golf ball. Innisbrook PR Director Ramona Herald had the same success, when trying out the club. Tour Edge products do work well for the ladies.
Golfers are taking notice of Tour Edge, and they should be. The Tour Edge supporters include several members of the PGA Champions Tour who are winning with Tour Edge products and appear in the commercials that will run during 2020. The feeling that Tour Edge produced this past week, is that they took a step up in the equipment world, and I agree in full that they did just that.
CALLAWAY GOLF, the new Mavrik driver and Mavrik club line of fairway woods, hybrids, and irons, offer options that fit a variety of players. Based on the traffic in the Callaway booth, and amount of pro’s meeting with the Callaway sales team, the wave of growth Callaway has had under the Rogue Line, and Epic Flash, will continue under Mavrik and the new line of Jaws wedges. See the full product line at the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook.
THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, home of Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar. (630)-739-7600. Tune up your game all winter long in the Mistwood Golf Dome.
TITLEIST had some buzz around it’s new line of Bob Vokey wedges the SM8’s. They are solid, and I’ll have a feature with the wizard of wedges himself in the days ahead. The big upgrade on the Titleist ball front is it’s AVX ball, I’ll test the ones I got before heading back north next weekend, and report back.
CBD or CB5 was one of the big movers at the show, folks selling this stuff and strains like the cannon beach cookies strain are popping up everywhere, almost like weeds in a garden. It’s so popular, I had no idea! Everyone was using it. Next time I think I’ll get in on the action too. The tour players are using it, and pro shops have it on display, and I hear it’s selling well. Some even visit this website to top up their supply. I’ll check out the samples that I have from the show at the moment just to see how well they work. For now, I think I’ll do some research into CBD and the various products that can be found using many sites online similar to buymellow.com/ and others that can offer various CBD derived products. The products normally found on display in the pro shops are normally oils and tinctures as they seem to be the most common items bought, however, I know CBD is a compound found within cannabis, therefore, I might look at these high cbd strains in Canada to see how similar products are benefitting consumers. I’ll then take to testing some of the samples of various CBD products I have.
BEEF JERKY had a strong presence at the show in more than one booth, including the First Tee energy bar booth, where piles of jerky were getting taste tested. The First Tee Bar, now comes in the form of beef jerky. A market that’s also expanding quickly due to good taste and a low sugar content in the product. Golfers who need a snack during the round, are warming up to beef jerky.
Susan Hess, owner of the Prospect Heights IL. based Golftini, golf apparel for the ladies.
LADIES CLOTHING, if your from Illinois and want to support a local company, then try Golftini owned by Susan Hess, who spent last year moving her operation from New Jersey to Prospect Heights. Golftini is a colorful line of women’s apparel, that has on the course and off the course options. I’ll have a feature with Hess in the days ahead. So stay clicked in to learn more about Golftini.
WHERE THE SHOW DID NOT GO AS PLANNED, those companies at demo day who were on the wrong side of the Orange County Golf Center’s driving range. With cold temperatures and a strong wind, those who visited Wilson Golf got a face full of cold air.
The Wilson Golf product line is as strong as it’s been in years, especially with their irons, and the improved DUO golf ball that has some distance to it. Hopefully next year it’s much warmer at demo day, or the folks at Wilson get a tail wind to show off their clubs. I took the Wilson distance challenge, three swings with a Pro V1x vs three swings with a DUO golf ball into a net, with distance stats recorded. The DUO’s I hit beat Pro V1x by 1.6 yards.
TAYLOR MADE did not show up again this year. Some TaylorMade staff professionals I met weren’t happy. Is this business decision a smart one, good question and time will tell. But in the meantime, show going TaylorMade fans were spending their time checking out Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Bridgestone, Tour Edge and Wilson.
IN THE MEANTIME I’ve moved over to the Tampa area to spend a few days at the Innisbrook Resort, home the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, that starts on March 16th. I played Copperhead yesterday and the golf course is in great shape, the tour pro’s will be thrilled when they arrive in 7 weeks or so. The bunkers are so good, even I had four great greenside bunker shots, that let me get up and down for pars. I’m not sure what version of the white sand they put in Copperhead’s bunkers 3 years ago, but I’d like to see more of it at other courses I play at.
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, and a recent major rooms renovation, that has Innisbrook with a fresh new look. Golf, Tennis and business, see Innisbrookgolfresort.com
Better yet are the Innisbrook room renovations. What an incredible job has been done by GM Mike Williams and ownership. The previous decor was showing it’s age, and the charm was wearing off. The new look to the rooms is really good. Kitchens with new stainless products, and counter tops. Nice comfortable and colorful living room furniture, with big screen TV’s in the living room and the bedrooms are a delight. Colorful Florida style carpeting plus redone and re-tiled bathrooms are really stylish. Your robe awaits at the showers and the bath tubs.
So whether it’s golf you enjoy, relaxation time in the Salamander Spa, tennis, or need business conference space, Innisbrook is a great place to go. Plus while your here, don’t forget to eat at Packard’s Steakhouse (named for the late golf architect Larry Packard who designed Innisbrook’s four golf courses) in the Copperhead Clubhouse. More than just the steaks, are really good.
FROM INNISBROOK, our travels will hit Port St. Lucie and a visit with BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm, our PGA Show review podcast will post later in the week. Plus Lenziehmongolf.com has just posted a recap of some Florida LPGA Golf. Stay clicked in. RS