R.I.P., Villages Golf Festival
 

Sorry to see that the Villages Golf Festival is once again not being held at the Polo Grounds, with all the vendors, entertainment and clubmakers all in one place. IMO, having basic fitting stations at the various country clubs is nothing as interesting as the original festival concept. Reduced to a "non event" for me. What do you think?

Just saw the flyer online, love the idea.

That event hopefully will never return. All the Polo Ground event was good for was for people to drink free beer, hit free range balls and take time away from the fitters that actually wanted to help people get fit and buy clubs.

:1rotfl:

Golf fest
 

I miss it. I enjoyed trying out several sets of clubs at the same time in order to decide which ones I wanted to buy.

I'm disappointed I never was able to attend one of them. I was looking forward to it, but covid killed those plans...

I did go to one of the "tent fittings" @ Sarasota, but it felt lacking...

I guess I'll stick to going to the big box stores with a proper appointment in the future...

Golf Fest
 

I miss the freebies and the services and product showcases. I believe Junior Golf benefitted from it, so too bad for them. I figure, if it was making money for the promoter (not sure who) it would still be happening.

I enjoyed it as well. Also enjoyed listening to the guest speakers. Things change.

Yep. A non event now. Thanks CCP.

The new Golf Festival is a joke. The event at the Polo Grounds was special and something to look forward to.

Another take away from residents. What’s next?

I agree. I went for many years, and enjoyed the tips from pros, and seeing the variety of golf gadgets, new equipment, clothing, etc. Going to the local pro shop is not even close to the experience we had. At the Polo grounds everything was in one place. Under the new format, if I want to check out the New Balance shoes, I have to drive to Belle Glade. Then, If I want to look at Ecco shoes, I drive all the way to Lopez. Jamie Saddock clothing is up at Bonifay. Who came up with that brilliant idea?

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Great Golf Fest every March at the Polo Field. It was an event I looked forward to every year.

I went every year, and I don't remember getting free beer. It was a great weekend event with great speakers, famous golf pros, demos and a chance to try many different golf clubs all in one venue. You could also PAY to eat and drink at many different food tents. The merchandise tent was also a great place to get some good bargains on golf equipment. They also had great raffles with some good prizes. Another great event gone because of our size.

We too miss it. Especially the guest speakers & contests

I use to go every year, but it seems to me, I could be wrong, it stopped when Covid hit. Than it was deminished to what it is today. Much better as a the Polo grounds event.

I did a fitting at Sarasota, with a Taylor Made rep. It was a great experience.
BUT, I knew I wanted TM, I was duplicating the set I had at home.

If I was getting new clubs, and wanted to try different brands, to see which I liked best, I would not like it.

Oxford Golf Academy
 

I just saw that Oxford Golf Academy is having free fittings this Wednesday if you call ahead and make an appointment.

They are really nice over there and have really nice power tee's for the same price as the grass driving range.

Here is a copy from their Facebook page. Oxford Golf Academy | Facebook

This Wednesday, Feb 8th.
From 1-5 PM, we have our CLEVELAND / SRIXON DEMO DAY!

Up To 40% OFF Cleveland Clubs!

FREE Fitting by Appointment. Call 352-446-4456

Best Prices in town GUARANTEED!

We Are Golf Cart Accessible "Behind Walmart on 466"

4250 CR 105
Oxford, Florida 34484
352-446-4456

The real estate taxes for ALL Sumter County property owners were increased substantially to pay for the expanding infrastructure in the south end of The Villages. I’d guess people living in the northern end of TV would be very, very happy to agree not to drive 30-45 minutes thru heavy seasonal traffic to stand and listen to a band in an overcrowded “square” in the south end of The Villages in exchange for a rebate of those increased taxes!

Does your post somehow relate to the Golf Festival?

I never got to one of the Villages Golf Festivals, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

I agree. What's the difference between a regular club fitting day at a CC and a GOLF FEST fitting day at a CC? Plus I miss the games and the freebies!

You didn't pay for fittings at the festival.

Villages has a track record of canceling amenities events and like Katie Bells , Movie theaters Country Club restaurants and pools
In the name of greed
Their forgetting what drew people here to The Villages in the beginning .
Bait and switch

I thought the payment for the fitting was to hold the time slot, but if you bought anything, you got the payment back as a credit, at least that was my expereince.

Or they got cancelled because those items did not make money.

The small charge to attend the event was well worth it. Spend a day walking around, hearing the speakers and watching the live trick shot demonstrations, and testing out new equipment from many manufacturers. All in one place. If you didn't get to go, you don't know what you've missed. Probably cheaper to run these little country club sales and call them a "festival".

Are they having "Golf Fest" fitting days at the country clubs?

I know they have occasional "brand specific" days spread out through the year, but not a "Golf Fest"...

How is not having Golf Fest "greed"?

The golf companies and vendors pay to be there...

Trying out clubs vs. getting fitted for clubs
 

Let’s be sure we detail the difference between “trying out” clubs vs. “getting fitted” for clubs.
I think of it this way…I can go into a hundred different department stores and “try out” new suits. I will certainly find some that fit pretty well and some that don’t. But if I go into a TAILOR SHOP owned and manned by employees of the manufacture of the suit(s), have the suit(s) tailored TO ME, I am MUCH more likely to have the best looking, best fitting suit I could find. If I get to pay the same price for either! That is a HUGE bonus!
Fitting remove the subjectivity of the tryouts. TRACKMAN does not lie! You can try several different manufacturers during the current Golf Fest format (6 days total over 3 months), go home, sit down, compare the OBJECTIVE performance, specs and prices and make annINFORMED decision on much more than just how a club(s) feel.

So you’d rather hit into a net with no idea what your actual ball flight will be? Most people don’t know this but the machines in the big box stores can be manipulated to show you hitting a straighter ball and a longer ball. I know because I fired a staff member at a Golf Galaxy in Illinois for doing just that.

And I am sure they were consulted and agreed on the new format.
Heck, the developer might be losing money this way, not getting rental income for the polo grounds.

No, but give him a pass, he's just trying hard to reach his 4,000 posts.. :icon_bored:

So you’re saying one of the reasons that drew people to The Villages was the Polo Ground Golf Fest?

Wow, really a stretch there.

Hitting into a lake with no idea of the real yardage doesn't help that much, either...

If I've settled an a certain brand, the differences in shaft flex, length, the lie of the club, etc, won't make a difference in the price. So why manipulate the machines?

Are you hitting off mats or grass?

Mats will not give you a proper fitting.

Agree, personally I’m not currently interested in getting fitted for new sticks, I’m happy with my current equipment. However, I would enjoy going to one central venue where all vendors related to the golf industry doing business in the Villages congregate and display their products.