Household name manufacturers like Nike, Mizuno, Wilson, TaylorMade, Srixon, MacGregor, Hi-Tec and Cadillac, have joined stunning venues such as Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate – one of the top venues in South Africa; The K Club – host to this year’s Ryder Cup match; Celtic Manor – home to the 2010 Ryder Cup; the Carton Club – host to the Irish Open; Doha Golf Club – home to the Qatar Masters; Druids Glen; and Woburn, at golf’s biggest showcase event.
And they will be alongside dozens of smaller companies whose names have become synonymous with innovation in golf, with swing aids, putting aids, revolutionary tees, gloves and other golfing sundries – many of which will undergo their public unveiling at the show.
Legendary fashion houses such as Hilfiger, J Lindeberg, Puma and Pringle will be joined by new names on the fairway like Bunker Mentality and Urban Golf Gear – and all will be seen in the funky fashion show which takes place four times a day for the duration of the show.
Throw in the famous floating green – located 122 yards from the quayside in the adjacent dock – numerous interactive activities, trick-shot demonstrations, long-driving competitions, a show guide which includes a free £25 bet and it’s easy to see why the London Golf Show has been described as ‘a golfer’s candy store’.
And if that’s not enough to whet the appetite Direct Golf UK will build Europe’s biggest golf shop for the duration of the show with all manner of golfing paraphernalia – from complete sets of clubs to packets of tees – at unrepeatable prices.
Covering an area the size of more than five football pitches, the show includes a massive testing area, a huge golf shop selling leading products at up to 90 per cent discount, simulators, competitions, tuition from top pros, celebrity appearances, the latest equipment, many of the world’s leading golf courses and destinations, the top fashion brands, tips on health and fitness and a host of new and bizarre products aimed at the golfer.
And Sparks will be the official benefiting charity of the show for the second successive year.
The children’s charity – Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids – benefited to the tune of £20,000 by its association with the 2005 event and it will once again enjoy a percentage of each ticket sale in the lead up to the 2006 show.
If you wish to enjoy a taster of what will be on offer at the show, pop along to Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place Mall tomorrow or Wednesday where officials from the London Golf Show will be hosting a free mobile golf simulator which offers the opportunity to win tickets to the show.
The website has the latest news and tickets online: www.londongolfshow.com
Exhibitors include:
Yes! Golf
Yes! Golf will be showing a full range of the extraordinary C-Groove Putters, the technology that rocketed the brand from nowhere to among the top three putters on the European Tour.
The trophy room at Yes! Golf is groaning with nearly 50 professional golf tournament victories in the last 5 years, that include the 2006 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, the 2005 South African Airways Open at Fancourt, the 2005 UBS Hong Kong Open, the 2005 BMW European open and the 2005 Women’s British Open – to name a few.
The C-Groove putter has concentric grooves machined into its face at two exacting angles. When the apex of the grooves strikes a golf ball, says the manufacturer, the ball is held onto the face of the putter for a fraction of a second longer than is possible with a smooth-faced putter. This ‘dwell time’ helps to improve the roll characteristics of the ball, by lifting it out of its resting place while simultaneously causing the optimum topspin on the ball almost immediately. This rolling action starting so early in the roll of the ball toward the cup reduces skid and deviation, and this combination makes for consistently more accurate putting.
In independent testing, it was shown that the C-Groove putter reduced skid and increased forward rotation on the golf ball in the initial stages of the putt. This early rotation is crucial, in light of the fact that missed putts on the putting green are due primarily to skidding, back-spinning and even bouncing as a result of putter-face impact. www.yesgolf.co.uk
Urban Golf Gear
Urban Golf Gear, the modern golf clothing range sported by Hollywood stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Will Smith and Baywatch babe Carmen Electra, is to launch into the UK and Europe.
The clothing features a striking logo – a golfer with dancing dreadlocks – and will officially be launched in the UK at the London Golf Show. Because of its Californian influence, the range is instantly distinguished from today’s typical golf gear by integrating style with urban hip-hop fashion.
Urban Golf Gear Europe, spearheaded by MD Rob Dickens, has signed an agreement with UGG founder Craig Tanner to market the brand exclusively in the UK, Eire, Spain and Portugal.
“This is the most exciting clothing launch in the UK golf market for many years,” said Dickens. “Urban-inspired clothing has become part of our culture through skateboarding, snowboarding, basketball, BMX and music, and now golfers will be able to enjoy its modern, fashionable look too.
“Young golfers will love the ‘streetwise’ look of the brand, while slightly older ones who aren’t yet ready to join the ‘woolly jumper brigade’ will be able to look good and be cool on the course.”
Urban Golf Gear was founded in Oakland, California, in 1997 by Craig Tanner, who was originally inspired by Tiger Woods massive impact on golf following his third US amateur championship success.
The Urban Golf Gear Europe range merges technical fabrics with fashion and consists of Microfibre Windshirts, Dry-Tech Polos and Hats, Baseball Caps, Casual Tee-Shirts and Hoodies, and women’s and even baby clothing.
In the US, Urban Golf Gear has attracted a cult following among A-list celebrities. It was worn by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the movie SWAT, featured in the comedy Two Can Play that Game and has been sported by Denzel Washington, Will Smith and Baywatch’s Carmen Electra. www.urbangolfgear.co.uk
Q-Link
To celebrate the launch of the new Titanium, Q-Link is offering one lucky person at the London Golf Show the chance to win a one-on-one fitness session with Josh Salzmann, a long time Q-Link wearer and personal trainer to the stars including Ernie Els. Anyone having a ‘Stress Test’ on the Q-Link stand during the show will be entered into the prize draw. Stress Testing before and after Q-Link clearly shows that in just a few minutes Q-Link can dramatically improve your physical wellbeing and performance. The brand’s latest promotion in the US involves UK stars Justin Rose and Greg Owen as well as 3 Major winners. www.qlink-online.co.uk
Trendy Golf
The dedicated online clothing store is celebrating its growing success as a golfing fashion house by introducing a host of eclectic new styles to its range at this year’s show. Ian Mcleod, Trendy Golf’s managing director, believes the new golfing labels of Puma and Peak Performance are bound to make its stand a hit at the show.
Peak Performance – another new fashion brand recently taken into the Trendy Golf collection – is known to many as a skiwear brand. The lightweight fabrics and fashionable designs have proved ideal for the most extreme of nature’s elements both on and off the golf course.
Pringle is the third new addition to Trendy Golf’s range. The traditional brand has been revamped for the younger market with the long-established paisley and jacquard checks being updated with modern colours to create a new, fresh and funky look.
These brands will be supplemented at the show with the launch of Trendy Golf’s new chic ladies’ range. Pringle, Tommy Hilfiger and J Lindeberg will be on offer in a variety of colours and styles.
Trendy Golf’s stock will be available for all to see not only on its stand but also during the four-times-a-day fashion show. The company has its own dedicated slot in the show where it will showcase all its new collections. www.trendygolf.com
Football Village
Football Village, promoters of the Pueblo Real Golf resort, Casares, endorsed by Arsenal Football Club, is presenting a new concept in foreign property ownership with a development designed specifically for Arsenal fans which will also appeal to investors. Set in a four-star-hotel environment, Pueblo Real Golf has six first-class golf courses on its doorstep including Valderrama Golf Club.
The resort has already proved a hit with Gunners: 20 per cent of properties were bought by season-ticker holders during previews, before the resort was launched to the public – and they will be in good company as Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes was the first person to buy a property.
Football Village will also be taking the opportunity to showcase La Finca Golf and Country Club, an exciting new development in the same area of Spain. Set to become one of Europe’s premier sport, leisure and holiday resorts, it has been endorsed already by Newcastle and Celtic with more of the UK’s top football clubs expected to follow. www.footballvillages.com
Barbados Tourism Authority
The Caribbean island of Barbados will host the 2006 World Golf Championships World Cup in December. The Country Club Course at the Sandy Lane Resort, in St James, Barbados, will be the venue for the championship, which will feature teams from 24 nations, from 4-10 December.
Barbados is fast becoming a haven for luxury golf, with Fodor’s Caribbean 2006 travel guide stating: “Golfers can choose from among some of the best championship courses in the Caribbean.”
Excellent weather is complemented by excellent facilities – and several hotels offer special golf packages.
Sandy Lane resort is probably the best known of Barbados’ luxury golf resorts. The Country Club course is one of three golf courses at the Sandy Lane Resort. Along with the recently opened Green Monkey and historic Old Nine Golf Club, the Tom Fazio-designed Sandy Lane Country Club is a 7,060-yard, par-72 layout that opened in 2001.
Barbados also has two other existing championship golf courses – Royal Westmoreland, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and the Barbados Golf Club, designed by Ron Kirby – as well as one additional nine-hole track at Rockley on the south coast. And two new championship courses will begin construction this year. www.barbados.org
International Pairs
International Pairs is the largest golf competition in the world for club golfers. This year more than 30 countries will send representatives to Celtic Manor for the third world final – the current champions having come all the way from Colombia last year. International Pairs is a competition which provides numerous local, national and international human interest stories. More information is available at stand 1611. www.internationalpairs.com