Interview with Michigan Golf Show Founder Craig Smith

     Some say that if a groundhog sees its shadow that there are six more weeks of winter. While I do not pay any attention to that old tale I do know that when the Michigan Golf Show appears at the Novi Expo Center that spring will truly be here within six weeks after the show if now sooner. The Michigan Golf Show in Novi kicks off the golf season highlighting over 400 exhibitors with great deals on every aspect of the golf game! Retailers! Resorts! Travel! Destinations! Over 100 Michigan Courses! And a variety of "hands-on" activities will get you ready for this golfing season. The show runs from March 2nd through the fourth and I cannot wait. Todd Smith founded the current golf show over 20 years ago and he tells us why the golf show is so popular.

JA: Todd, over the last 20 years, the Michigan Golf Show has steadily grown to become perhaps the largest one in the country. How did it become that way?

TS: The Michigan Golf show started with the idea of an event that was focused just on golf and to cater to those people who may not be the best golfers but love the game. At the same time many of the scratch golfers wanted to experience an event that touches on all aspects of their golf game. Over the years many golfers have found that this is the one place where they can try all sorts of equipment and to talk to almost every golf resort.

JA:Golfers really like to demo equipment. What are some of the tools golfers can use at the show to swing clubs and test the other latest equipment?

TS:The Michigan Golf show has two 80 foot hitting nets that offer a chance to try the latest in clubs and also receive free pro instruction and tips from many area pros

JA:What do some of the resort and course owners say is important to let golfers know they are available for business for the 2012 season?

TS: Many of the resorts are running very strong specials at prices that they have never been so low. They need a means to communicate that to the public and to announce some of the improvements to their properties in the past year. Many of the resorts are packaging specials with a variety of other courses so that a person can actually have the best of all worlds and play two or more resorts.

JA: How do exhibitors gauge this and your Kalamazoo Golf Show for how business will turn out for the coming year?

TS: The Michigan Golf show starts the spring and summer off for all the exhibitors. They have found that this is a great way to fill in large blocks for the coming year on resort stays and also get their equipment sales off to a large start. Usually most courses in the area have opened within 3 or so weeks of the Show so the exhibitors know the season is just around the corner

JA:What trend do you see golfers gravitating to in the next decade from equipment to golf vacations?

TS:Me are seeing more all in one vacation resort stays which will have a wide variety of amenities for both the golfer and perhaps their friends. Golfers are expecting a higher level of service and have become a little more decerning on the golf course conditions. Equipment we expect to see more shaft and head technology to advance a general golf players game. Larger heads are not as important as the engineering of individual clubs to correct weaknesses in the golfers game

JA: Many states say they are a vacation destination and some have both the courses and climate to golf year around. What makes Michigan such a destination for golfers everywhere?

TS:Because we go stir crazy in the Winter!!!!!!!!!!!

You will have a chance to get discount tickets in the Oakland Press, online and at some golf retailers.