Harry Longshanks
ILikeBigPutts&ICannotLie
Well, I'm (nearly) recovered from a week overstuffed with the business of golf. Clubs, clothes, carts, and Creamer.
First, I want to thank JB and GG for being incredible hosts and welcoming me into their home prior to the show. We played some great golf with great people, I got to try out all the new 2010 drivers, and I ate (way too much) great food (mmmmmmm . . . Volcano Wings . . . mmmmmmmm).
JB and GG's home course was a shorter, but tight, challenging course with small greens. I lost a few balls that day. Sarasota National was wide open but long with bunkers and water hazards to swallow your ball, and winds to make you second guess every club selection.
Second, setting aside the work portion, the Show itself was monstrous. A bazillion square feet dedicated to every possible facet of golf. From the demo day at Orange County National where we got to see Justin Leonard and Suzann Pettersen make fun of Justin's (lack of) length off the tee, to the indoor booths full of both established companies showing off their latest innovations and smaller upstart companies trying to get their foot in the door. "Spectacle" is an understatement.
But most important to me are the people I got to meet: the super cool guys from Sligo who all hit the ball 300 yards; the crew from SeeMore who had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to choke; the Bridgestone guys with their jokes and "inside" info on my favorite players (no, I'm not sharing
); the lovely ladies from Lija and Golftini; the cool British style of Ian Poulter Designs; the work hard/play hard attitude of the Cleveland folks; and everyone else who could not have been nicer.
Thanks everyone!
First, I want to thank JB and GG for being incredible hosts and welcoming me into their home prior to the show. We played some great golf with great people, I got to try out all the new 2010 drivers, and I ate (way too much) great food (mmmmmmm . . . Volcano Wings . . . mmmmmmmm).
JB and GG's home course was a shorter, but tight, challenging course with small greens. I lost a few balls that day. Sarasota National was wide open but long with bunkers and water hazards to swallow your ball, and winds to make you second guess every club selection.
Second, setting aside the work portion, the Show itself was monstrous. A bazillion square feet dedicated to every possible facet of golf. From the demo day at Orange County National where we got to see Justin Leonard and Suzann Pettersen make fun of Justin's (lack of) length off the tee, to the indoor booths full of both established companies showing off their latest innovations and smaller upstart companies trying to get their foot in the door. "Spectacle" is an understatement.
But most important to me are the people I got to meet: the super cool guys from Sligo who all hit the ball 300 yards; the crew from SeeMore who had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to choke; the Bridgestone guys with their jokes and "inside" info on my favorite players (no, I'm not sharing
Thanks everyone!