Vegas Attendance Up. How About Orders?

Here’s an example of the mixed messages we’re getting on the economy.

Reed Exhibitions is reporting a 16 per cent increase in attendance at the PGA Fall Expo, which was held this week in Las Vegas.

The Vegas show moved to the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and was held during “fashion week” in that city and while the release talked about full aisles and appointment books, there was nothing other than anecdotes to suggest that any more business was done.

While there’s something to be said for exposure to more buyers, it was difficult to ignore the current GNN Poll that, at last look, said that 83 per cent of respondents felt their golf facilities were going to hold their spending at last year’s levels, while only 17 per cent expected to spend more.

That’s in Canada, where the economy has been considerably brighter for the past year when compared against the United States, where they’re still trying to get kick-started. Although we’re talking two different economies, I can’t imagine U.S. buyers being any more optimistic than their counterparts here.

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OTHER NEWS

• Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., has signed on with the Landmark Sport Group. The low Canadian at last month’s RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club has a bright future and is currently third on the Canadian Tour money list after four top-10 finishes including two runner-up finishes. If he should take the next steps in his promising career, he should do well on the corporate side. He became a fan favourite at St. George’s not only because of his talent, but also because of his exuberance over playing the Open. If the magnetic personality he exhibited at the Open doesn’t get jaded over time, he’ll be an outstanding spokesperson, assuming it all works out inside the ropes.

• Ontario won the R. Bruce Forbes inter-provincial team title at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship played at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que. The Ontario team consisted of Mark Brewer of Pickering, Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Rob Cowan of Waterloo and Toronto’s Peter McCarthy. They combined for a two-round team total of 433. The Alberta side of Calgary’s Scott Desmarais and Kevin Temple, Edmonton’s Frank Mackenzie and Frank Van Dornick of Camrose was second at 438.

• David McCafferty, co-director of the National Golf Course Owners Association research department, dropped a note in response to Wednesday’s blog about the NGCOA Canada/Canadian PGA Rounds Played Program to advise how golf facilities can get involved. Those courses interested in participating can log on here, or e-mail McCafferty at davidm@ngcoa.ca. His phone number is 1-866-626-4262. You can read the original blog here.

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