The Denver Golf Expo will be held for the 20th time this week, and the show will have plenty of bells and whistles, but it never hurts to mix in a little star power.
With the Solheim Cup being played in the western U.S. for the first time ever this summer, it’s not surprising that this year’s star-gazing at the Expo revolves around that event, set for Aug. 16-18 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker.
Meg Mallon, team captain for the Americans in their biennial matches against the Europeans, and assistant U.S. captain Dottie Pepper will be center stage as the Denver Golf Expo kicks off Friday (Feb. 8) at the Denver Merchandise Mart. The Expo will run through Sunday.
Mallon and Pepper, who between them have won 35 LPGA Tour events, including six major championships, will be on the Expo’s main stage from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, promoting the biggest event on the 2013 Colorado golf schedule and answering questions from Expo attendees and the media.
The two former players, along with LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan, are also scheduled to attend — and be recognized at — Thursday night’s Denver Nuggets-Chicago Bulls game at the Pepsi Center. Mallon and Pepper will sign autographs in the arena concourse during the game.
While the Mallon/Pepper appearance on Friday will be one of the highlights of the Denver Golf Expo, let’s run down some of the others, in addition to the usual golf-related deals various vendors will offer:
— The CGA/CWGA Used Club Sale, a popular feature at the Expo over the years, netted a record $16,000 for junior developmental programs last year, and it looks to be in for another big showing.
Among the items up for sale this year are some of the practice balls — Titleist Pro V1s — from the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills.
Last-minute donations for the Used Club Sale will be accepted at the north-side main entrance of the Merchandise Mart Thursday (Feb. 7) from noon to 3 p.m., and Friday (Feb. 8) from 8 a.m.-noon.
— As has been the case in recent years, attendees can receive free 10-minute lessons from Colorado PGA professionals near the west end of the Expo complex.
— Also popular with attendees is the large Lenny’s Golf club demo area, in the northwest section of the complex.
— With kids 12 and under admitted free to the Expo, a big magnet for them is the Colorado Junior Golf Experience, an interactive exhibit in which youngsters can practice and get help with their games.
There’s an area for hitting Birdie balls, for putting, a jump castle, and an information table about junior golf and various programs and initiatives.
At some point on Friday, there also may be an opportunity to get autographs from Mallon and Pepper and have photos taken with them, both in the Junior Golf Experience area.
And when kids leave the Junior Golf Experience, they can go on an Expo-wide scavenger hunt in which they follow questions/clues to various booths at the show. The last stop on the hunt is the Colorado PGA area, where they will receive a card good for free golf at participating par-3 facilities, and receive a free lesson, if they wish.
— As of late last week, 122 exhibitors had signed on for the 2013 Expo.
“That’s on track with last year (a week before the show),” said Mark Cramer, who’s owned and managed the Expo since July of 2000. “That’s significant because last year was a record year — we ended up with 134. I don’t know if we’ll get as many, but I don’t feel bad about it, especially in a year we’re reintroducing the Southern Colorado Golf Expo (next month).”
— Free seminars will be conducted on the Expo’s main stage each day beginning at 10 a.m., with many of them conducted by members of the Colorado PGA, CGA and CWGA.
Here are some of the seminars scheduled.
Friday: green reading, 10 a.m.; Mallon and Pepper, 11 a.m.; getting started in golf for women, noon; getting rid of swing faults, 1 p.m.; ways to improve your game, 2 p.m.; curving your ball, 3 p.m.; swing faults and fixes, 4 p.m.; golf training aids, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: recruiting tips for junior golfers, 10 a.m.; getting rid of swing faults, 11 a.m.; taking your game to the course, noon; green reading, 1 p.m.; getting the most out of your talent, 2 p.m.; how to take a lesson, 3 p.m.; rules of golf, 4 p.m.; getting started in golf for women, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: getting the most out of your talent, 10 a.m.; girls guide to overcoming the barriers of golf, 11 a.m.; getting started in golf for women, noon; Sport Haley fashion show, 1 p.m.; playing and lesson opportunities for women in city of Aurora, 2 p.m.; rules of golf, 3 p.m.
— For those attending Saturday’s Season Tee-Off Luncheon presented by the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado, the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club and the 2014 BMW Championship PGA Tour playoff event at Cherry Hills Country Club will be highlighted. Featured speakers in that regard will be Solheim Cup tournament director Becky Newell and 2014 BMW Championship championship manager Doug Habgood.
Overall, Cramer is hoping for a stellar turnout this weekend, not only for his own sake, but for the golf associations that help greatly in putting together the show: the CGA, CWGA and Colorado PGA.
“The number of man-hours that goes into putting this on — not just us, but for the CGA and the PGA — means there’s a lot riding on it,” Cramer said.
20th Annual Denver Golf Expo: Just the Facts
What: 20th Denver Golf Expo.
When: Feb. 8-10 (Friday through Sunday).
Where: Denver Merchandise Mart (I-25 and 58th Ave.)
Show Hours: Friday Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday Feb. 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ticket Prices: adults, $12; seniors (50 and over) and military with ID, $10; kids 12 and under, free.
Tickets Available: At the door at the Merchandise Mart or at TicketsWest at King Soopers.
Parking Shuttles: Available from the East parking lot and at the south side of the Merchandise Mart.
Show Features: Colorado Junior Golf Experience interactive exhibit, free swing seminars from Colorado PGA professionals, Used Club Sale to benefit CGA and CWGA junior golf developmental programs, free seminars beginning at 10 a.m., club demo area.
Donations for Used Club Sale Accepted: Drop off at the north side main entrance of Merchandise Mart Feb. 7, noon to 3 p.m.; Feb. 8, 8 a.m.-noon.
