The end of January is not the time most people are thinking of travelling in Scotland but off I went to visit the home of golf exited about the opportunity to tour the Ayrshire Region (think Turnberry and Troon) and then spend a few days in St Andrews at the Fairmont meeting with key suppliers and the trip was well worth the time and effort (and the airports even worked pretty well for me). Rather than detail everything I saw, I thought I would highlight some of the key themes / finds I made on the trip.
The PGA Show in Orlando is a great celebration and gathering of the golf industry each January, bringing together everything from the top club brands, a multitude of apparel companies and of course the latest gadgets and inventions that golf has to offer. It had been a few years since the Show was itself, due to the pandemic that has impacted large gatherings for upwards of three years now.
So it was nice to return to Orlando last month and have it feel “normal” again. Most of the big brands were back, the floor was a beehive of activity, the social events were plentiful, and the Canadian contingent in particular was back in force. And for a change, the weather was actually Florida-warm! Plan early! We say it all the time but it really is critical, and becoming even more important every year. Why? The courses are opening bookings or waiting lists so much further in advance.
Golfing and Curling our way through Scotland - Ron hosts the 2022 addition of the Sweep and Swing12/13/2022 On October 20, 2022, twelve of us met (many for the first time), in Carnoustie to begin what was going to be the start of what many of the participants called a trip of a lifetime to the birthplace of golf and curling. The next 9 days would be filled with curling, golf, Advil, adventure and laughter as we curled in an amazing international bonspiel and golfed our way around some of the finest links courses in the world.
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