Event Review: Fox Cities Golf Show

Date: 2/16/13

Site: Players Choice Appleton

Got in for free with a pass from the radio station.  Admission for the general public was $6--although most of the guys ahead of me in line had $3 off coupons that appeared to come from Valpak. 

With the demise of the Green Bay Golf Show two years ago, this is the largest golf show north of Milwaukee.  However, the venue makes if feel like it is still small-time.  There were two dozen courses on hand, three equipment suppliers and various "sort of golf related" businesses as well. 

Everybody has drawings at their booths--with entry forms you drop into one of those mini-golf bags.  I learned from an old-timer last year that the best way to save time is to bring your return address labels and stick those on.  Then you just have to write out your email address and phone number.  I expect a boat load of spam email over the next couple of months.

Longest line of the day was leading to Shamrock Heights booth.  It turned out they were handing out free two-ball packs of Titleist Pro V1's (previous generation).  Second longest line was at the Nevada Bob's--where everyone was stocking up on discontinued golf shoes and drivers that were at least three years old.

Mini Cooper had a huge presence there as well--with at least four models on site.  One was a convertible.  Unless you are a midget or legless, the backseat of one of those is a joke.  The back of the front seat touches the front edge of the back seat!

The guys at the Chaska booth could not confirm if they will serve as the host of this year's Fox Cities Amateur--seeing as how Reid is down to just nine holes this summer.  They would only say they were in talks to host one round of the two.

Not nearly as many two for one deals handed out by the courses this year.  We got a free round (with purchase of cart, of course) at Branch River and Shamrock Heights just for being the first 500 in the door.  Got a free greens fee (with purchase of cart) at Tuscumbia for just five bucks.  All of the other coupons were "golf show discount rates" that expire around the first of June.

For a company promoting its "One Bucket" challenge, you would have thought Taylor Made would have had their vendors on site letting people hit the new R1 driver.  They were nowhere to be seen.  Callaway had a tent.  Got a chance to hit the new X Hot 3-wood.  I may have found a replacement for my X Hot 3-wood that is more than 10-years old now.  Exotics, Cleveland and Srixon also had equipment tents.  No interest in those products.

Only launch monitor and video display on site was Bob Burns out of Appleton.  They were steering everyone toward their slice-proof woods and their putter that allows you to mark and pick up the ball without having to bend over.  No places to try out new putters.

In case you are wondering, Thornberry Creek is now the "Official Golf Course of the Green Bay Packers."

No appearance by any of the top courses in the state: Kohler or Erin Hills.  No appearance this year from the WSGA either.  No Sentry World--but that is explainable since they will be closed for the season to facilitate a complete renovation.

Final thoughts:  It's nice to have a golf show in the area--since I'm always in Florida during the weekend of the Milwaukee Golf Show--but I'd like to see a greater prescence from the manufacturers and suppliers.  In addition, a little better representation from courses outside the area and Wisconsin Dells would be nice.  Give us a good reason to travel across the state to play, the more likely we are to do it.