Golf 2.0 Has Good Ideals, Few Real Solutions
January 27, 2012
ORLANDO — As the story goes, Jack Nicklaus momentarily lost track of his credentials for the PGA Merchandise Show on Thursday and was told if anybody in the Orange Country Convention Center didn’t know who he was, they were in the wrong business.
Never was a truer word spoken and to illustrate that fact quite nicely was the crowd waiting to hear the Golden Bear throw his support behind the Golf 2.0 “strategic initiative” to attract new players to the game.
The senior statesman, 72, pointed out that golf has lost 23 per cent of women and 36 per cent of kids playing the game since 2006. He admitted that his 22 grandchildren don’t play all that much and that other sports are grabbing their attention. Read More »
Industry Needs Agreement/Action To Grow The Game
January 25, 2012
In a setting such as the PGA Merchandise Show, which gets underway Thursday morning, there is no shortage of opinion about the challenges facing golf, particularly participation. “The most important... Read More »
Off To Orlando
January 23, 2012
Depending on when you read this, I could be 30,000 feet over North Carolina or Georgia on my way to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. It’s been a tradition for years and while the show has changed... Read More »
What Are Golf’s Chances For Tax Deductible Status?
January 22, 2012
With word that some politicians are pushing to have green fees for business-related golf outings qualify as legitimate deductions, golf operators across Canada have understandably been talking up such... Read More »
Grimm’s Decision Is Precautionary
January 18, 2012
I just got off the phone with Dick Grimm, who says his decision not to attend next week’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is precautionary. While he admits he’s been feeling under the weather lately,... Read More »
Ames Ready To Move Forward
January 16, 2012
Calgary’s Stephen Ames looked as if he was nicely shaking off the effects of a disappointing 2011 season by his standards. Going into the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, Ames was tied for eighth... Read More »
Should Golf Canada Always Hire Canadian?
January 15, 2012
I wondered if it would become an issue when Golf Canada last week announced that it had hired Tristan Mullally of Ireland as head coach of the national women’s team. You can read that story here. I didn’t... Read More »
GNN Poll: Emerging Trends
January 12, 2012
The past few blogs have been devoted to how the industry sees itself through the GNN Poll and we noticed a few trends that have the potential to emerge in 2012 and beyond. The Canadian trade shows,... Read More »
GNN Poll: Is Golf Losing Its Passion?
January 11, 2012
One of the more poignant and well-read blogs on GNN in 2011 was this one from Kyle German. Normally lighthearted and gregarious, Kyle was seriously considering his future and the possibility of getting... Read More »
GNN Poll: Same Concerns in 2012 as 2011
January 10, 2012
Things haven’t changed all that much compared to the beginning of 2011, especially uncertainty in the economy. This year, we’re looking at a European debt crisis that could throw the entire globe into... Read More »
Hearn, DeLaet Kick Off 2012 Season
January 9, 2012
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., kick off their 2012 PGA Tour seasons later this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Both are at the same points in their careers after... Read More »
Will The Canadian Tour Become A Good PGA Tour Investment?
January 8, 2012
The PGA Tour will provide the Canadian Tour with an operating loan and lend assistance in tournament development and sponsorship in 2012. Whether the tour will continue that assistance beyond this year... Read More »
Tough Questions Need Answers At Golf Canada AGM
January 4, 2012
There have been times in this space when I’ve taken a media colleague to task, but in this case, I agree with ScoreGolf’s Bob Weeks who says here that the upcoming Golf Canada/Royal Canadian Golf Association... Read More »
NEWS NOW
What’s Going Down In O-Town?
ORLANDO — Heading into the PGA Merchandise Show, which begins Thursday at the...
Canadian Tour To The Windy City?
The Canadian Tour has yet to confirm it, but reports out of Chicago are saying that...
Canadian Tour Unveils Great Waterway Classic
The Canadian Tour has unveiled its new Eastern Ontario event, which will debut this...
INDUSTRY
Sneak Peek At 2012 Tour Schedule
A preliminary schedule released by the Canadian Tour will include the Times Colonist...
ClubLink Veteran Departs Company
After16 years with ClubLink Corporation, Charles Lorimer is leaving the company to...
Hilfiger Signs Bradley, G&G Names New Accounts Manager
G&G Golf Company of Langley, B.C., has named Derek Orr its new key account manager. Orr...
HARD GOODS
Titleist Adds To Its Golf Ball Lineup
ORLANDO — Titleist has introduced four new golf balls to its lineup with the...
New Cobra AMP Irons Have Advanced Material Placement
Cobra’s new AMP irons feature Advanced Material Placement , a progressive face...
New PING i20 Hybrids Employ Compact Head, Low-Deep CG
For launching the ball high and landing it softly on the green, the i20s hybrids...
New Nike VR_S Irons Feature NexCOR Technology
The new Nike VR_S irons feature NexCOR variable face thickness, designed to bring...
RocketBallz Fairways And Rescues Designed For Distance
Increased ball speed is the main objective of the new RocketBallz fairway woods and...
SOFT GOODS
Nike Lunar Ascend Features HyperFuse Construction
Nike Golf is expanding its Lunar shoe collection with the introduction of the new...
New adidas Powerband 4.0 Built For Stability
The new Powerband 4.0 from adidas Golf is devoted to enhanced stability, leverage...
Puma Bottoms Out With These 2012 Offerings
Puma is hitting below the belt with three different bottoms for 2012. Golf Tech Short The...
Nike Goes Xtreme With Carry Bag
The new Xtreme Sport IV Carry Bag features a new, ventilated mesh back pad and updated...
Nike Adds To Women’s Brassie II Cart Bag Collection
Nike Golf is introducing two new golf bags to its Nike Brassie II Cart bag collection...
TRAVEL
Scottsdale Event Offers A Unique Taste Of The PGA Tour
What hushed reverence is to Augusta, what respect for long-standing tradition is...
Just like Christmas, Scottsdale Has Packages
(Advertorial) Scottsdale is offering a variety of packages designed to help visiting...
BLOGS
Dick Grimm Should Be An Icon For All AgesI was sorry to hear that one of my great mentors, Dick Grimm, won’t be present tonight at the Orange County Convention Center in...
Orlando Show Is A Good Venue For Team BuildingThe PGA Merchandise Show may have changed over the years with our Canadian reps doing some a great job of getting to us, but I also...
My Criticism Wasn’t Directed At Individual CoachesOne thing that came out of my last blog, which you can read here, is the realization that a lot of people are reading GNN. As I told...
Results Are What Counts In Golf Canada HiringThere’s been a lot of discussion on both sides regarding the hiring of Tristan Mullally of Ireland as head coach of the women’s...













