Attendance at the Denver Golf Expo has dipped slightly each of the last two years, but you wouldn’t know it by the results of the CGA and CWGA’s Used Club Sale conducted at the event.
The 12th annual sale, which raises money for the associations’ youth developmental programs, has set records each of the last two years at the Expo, which this year is set for Friday through Sunday (Feb. 7-9) at The Denver Mart, located at I-25 and 58th Ave.
In 2012, the Used Club Sale doubled its intake from the previous year by netting about $16,000 for youth programs. And last year, that figure increased to $17,500.
“The generosity of the golf community has been awesome,” said Eric Wilkinson, the CGA’s director of junior competitions and the point man in the Used Club Sale. “We had a lady come into the PGA Tour Superstore and said she wanted to make sure her donation was going to the Used Club Sale. So it’s starting to have a snowball effect with a lot of word of mouth.”
Wilkinson said between donations collected at the Tour Superstore and elsewhere, there’s a storage unit completely full of clubs and other equipment.
“It’s comparable or we have more than last year,” he said. “We have a ton of sets, more than what we had last year. It’s been another great year of receiving donations.”
Said Mark Cramer, who owns and operates the Expo along with his wife, Lynn: “The CJGA has that (Used Club Sale) running like a machine.”
One variable this year is that consignments are no longer being accepted, so all clubs and equipment involved in the Used Club Sale will be donations. Donations for the sale can be made this week at the north side main entrance of the Denver Mart, from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
“We’re obviously going to try to exceed what we’ve done in the year before (in raising money), but if we hit last year’s mark, that would be great,” Wilkinson said.
Meanwhile, another major youth-oriented exhibit, the Junior Golf Experience activity center, will remain a popular mainstay of the Expo, but it won’t be found in its usual spot. It’s been moved to the Pavilion, adjacent to the area where the Colorado PGA conducts its free 10-minute lessons.
“With that one huge area, hopefully it will be an added attraction,” said Eddie Ainsworth, executive director for the Colorado PGA. “We’re looking forward to doing that.”
And Ainsworth said the Colorado PGA plans to advertise its new tee time network, which is scheduled to go live in the first week of April. And at their exhibit area, the CGA and CWGA will be trying to attract new members. Existing CGA and CWGA members can receive a free gift by stopping by the associations’ exhibit — a free bucket of practice balls at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA.
With all that, plus a lot of great golf deals, a club demo area, free education seminars and a lot more, it should certainly be enough to whet the appetite of golfers looking forward to the 2014 season.
“We’re glad the season is right around the corner,” Ainsworth said.
21st Annual Denver Golf Expo: Just the Essentials
What: 21st Denver Golf Expo.
When: Feb. 7-9 (Friday through Sunday).
Where: The Denver Mart (I-25 and 58th Ave.)
Show Hours: Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ticket Prices: adults, $13; seniors (50 and over) and military with ID, $11; kids 16 and under, $3.
Tickets Available: At the door at the Denver Mart or at TicketsWest at King Soopers.
Parking: Free.
Show Features: The Junior Golf Experience activity center (now located in the Pavilion, near the Colorado PGA instruction area), free swing seminars from Colorado PGA professionals, Used Club Sale to benefit CGA and CWGA junior golf developmental programs, free educational seminars beginning at 10 a.m. each day, club demo area.
Donations for Used Club Sale Accepted: Drop off at the north side main entrance of the Denver Mart Thursday, noon to 3 p.m.; and Friday, 8 a.m.-noon. (Note: There are no consignments accepted this years; all clubs dropped off are simply donations.)
For More Information: CLICK HERE
Educational Seminars Scheduled for Expo
Friday, Feb. 7, 10-10:30 a.m. — Building business on and off the course (CWGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, 11-11:30 a.m. — Impact drills for better ball-striking (Kevin Cubbage, PGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, noon-12:30 p.m. — Golf training aids (Rick Timm, PGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, 1-1:30 p.m. — Great wedge play and utilizing bounce (Nathan Morris, PGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, 2-2:30 p.m. — Dispelling golf’s common myths and misconceptions (Patrick Nuber, PGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, 3-3:30 p.m. — How to improve your game by 5 shots this year (Ed Oldham, PGA)
Friday, Feb. 7, 4-4:30 p.m. — Rules of Golf (Alex Crall, CGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10-10:30 a.m. — Building business on and off the course (CWGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 11-11:30 a.m. — Is your game painful? Three ways to reduce the pain in your game (Dee Tidwell)
Saturday, Feb. 8, noon-12:30 p.m. — How to take a successful golf lesson (Rick Timm, PGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-1:30 p.m. — The elements of playing better (Trent Wearner, PGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2-2:30 p.m. — Aimpoint green reading: Stop guessing (Scott Hofer, PGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 3-3:30 p.m. — Innovative mobile golf instruction & entertainment fore everyone (Casey Schiel, PGA)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 4-4:30 p.m. — Rules of Golf (Alex Crall, CGA)
Sunday, Feb. 9, 10-10:30 a.m. — Innovative mobile golf instruction & entertainment fore everyone (Casey Schiel, PGA)
Sunday, Feb. 9, 11-11:30 a.m. — Building business on and off the course (CWGA)
Sunday, Feb. 9, noon-12:30 p.m. — P3: Plan, practice, perform (Steve Patterson, PGA)
Sunday, Feb. 9, 1-1:30 p.m. — Junior golf opportunities (Rick Timm, PGA)
Sunday, Feb. 9, 2-2:30 p.m. — Rules of Golf (Alex Crall, CGA)
