Will The Villages bring back the Golf Expo
 

We loved going to the Golf Expo that The Villages used to have on the Polo grounds each February. They stopped after Covid. Will they bring it back?

They didn't stop it, it's been going on every year. But instead of one big expo at the polo grounds it's divided up at smaller venues such as Sarasota and others.

Nothing like the spectacular event at the polo grounds - loads of manufacturers and vendors all in one place. Tour pro interviews, exhibitions and entertainment. What they call a "golf festival" today pales by comparison. Have not paid attention to it since it left the polo grounds. Used to be something to look forward to. Not anymore.

I doubt we'll see anything like the old golf festival. Just my guess but, based on past Developer business actions, if it wasn't making money, kill it.

So you believe the "developer" is making money on the way it is done now?????

So true and I agree. What they call a golf festival now is nothing more than a fitting day. I too looked forward to the old golf festivals listening to Lexi Thompson, David Ledbetter, and a few others, checking out many vendors of equipment. it was always a great day.

making money
 

Has to be or it wouldn't be happening.

The original polo grounds Golf Festival had an admission charge of $10. Well worth it IMO; great day to spend the day. Plenty of gear to try, and great entertainment. Drew huge crowds on the two days it was held. The post-pandemic "festival" they promote now is free. Goes to say, you get what you pay for. Bring the old show back.

Sure. That's sound reasoning :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Doesnt’ cost them anything. They just discount stuff in the pro shops, which are already staffed.

Highly unlikely. The old format was very expensive to set up. The new drives people into all the golf shops where sales go way up over the six days. Fitting days are very successful. I feel another factor maybe the over all size of today's Villages population wise has gotten to be to big for the old Polo grounds format to accommodate. So it does make sense to spread out the demand.

A better solution would probably be to let the Department of Recreation know that there is widespread support for the Golf Expo in the community. You could start by emailing the department of recreation & letting them know. As to widespread support? I don't know. Maybe encourage those who voiced support in this post to also email them. Then maybe a petition? You might garner signatures at the driving ranges.

Another issue with the polo grounds set up is that in the last years before they stopped it TV population had grown to the point it was a crowded mess. Used to be you could hit clubs and balls without waiting very long, and they had give aways to just hand out. Then so many started attending it was a mass of people trying to out do the other to get a spot...not fun...so I quit going. Prior to the crowded masses, it was a great experience...and the trick shot artists they brought in were fun to watch.

The big-name manufacturers always had the long lines. The newer and smaller ones - not so much. If you went early or stayed late, the lines were not that long at all. The current "festival" seems more like a disjoint sidewalk sale. I'm sure it is cheaper for the developers to run.

Well Imo, since the consensus seems to be that it was better at the polo grounds, and this is a retirement community that has grown considerably since the last one at the polo grounds, maybe make it a week long event and allow maximum daily ticket sales for which ever day is best to attend for each attendee. Kind of like a state fair!

No. It will likely not be brought back. While the entertainment was very good, actual business was greatly hampered by a few who tools HOURS, literally, trying every club or item the manufacturers had only to not buy anything! This is mostly what caused the long lines and much frustration on the part of those there to potentially upgrade their game. While the new system is devoid of much of the fun, for those that like to try clubs with that hope of upgrade, there is now a little skin in the game for them. They are charged $25 for each fitting appointment they make. However, any and ALL appointment money is refunded to them for ANY club purchase AND the clubs they buy are discounted an additional amount. Some ball manufacturers (mostly Tltleist) and other vendors (sunglasses, Orange Whip, Fuzzy’s Vodka) show up with free samples and heavily discounted goods.
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but this seems like a fair way of giving access to most all the manufacturers and having a hope of making a profit for the manufacturers involved and the people that organize the thing.

That was the best thing the villages did in my 20 years as a resident. You could try all the manufacturers clubs, play games, listen to speakers, eat drink, park get free stuff all for $8. Now you gotta pay $25 just to try 1 companys clubs. Typical Village doings. They really no how to ruin a good thing.

It is not even close to the REAL GOLF FESTIVAL
 

It was $8 and you could try every new club on the market all in 1 place. Now you have to travel and pay $25 just to try 1 manufacturers new clubs. Thats not a golf fest, its a complete money grab. The old fest had speakers, games, free stuff, food, drink, contests and all the new clubs, bags and putters you could ask for.

Are you crazy. The old fest had thousands paying $10 to get in. Venders paying top dollar to set up for 2 days. The Villages getting 20% of all clubs sold. All volunteers, plus the balls we hit were then taken to the driving ranges. THEY MADE A FORTUNE.

Demo days at Sarasota do not replace the golf expo, especially when you have to pay $25.00 to demo clubs. This is just anopther way we have gotten screwed after Covid. The Villages has used Covis as an excuse to take away a lot of the old benefits we had, and not replace them.

One thing that did ruin this for others were the tools that held up others by requesting repeated buckets of balls to try every club the vendor had only to walk away buying zilch while many others stood in line for an extensive amount of time. They should have been restricted to one bucket and move on. i found it a bit selfish but, that's the villages.

Nope. Never…..

Seriously? Another damn the Developer post. The Developer had nothing to do with it.

Taylormade, Callaway and Ping often had long lines. Mizuno, TourEdge, Cleveland and Wilson - not so much. Plenty of clubs to try and things to do other than standing in a line.

Email and petition all you want; it’s NEVER going to happen again.

That's the problem.................try all you want, and "no one" buys.

Sounds like Katie Belle's.

“Screwed after Covid”. Another damn The Developer rant.

It’s not demoing clubs, it’s actually you getting fit for the correct club(s). It does cost you $25 per manufacturer but you do get all that money back - when you purchase the clubs that was the best fit for you instead of pounding away at buckets of balls with clubs totally not fit for you.

What other benefits has The Villages taken away from you and not replaced? The movie theaters? Pfft. Who even goes to the movies anymore when you can watch everything in your easy chair?

Exactly!!! And all those "anti-developer" folks have a CHOICE. They are not handcuffed behind bars in TV

A group of friends & I try to go to the theater at Old Mill Run about once a month. Yes, you can see movies from your easy chair, but that is not a social outing. I do understand that if everyone adopts an "I can see it from my easy chair" attitude, then the movie theaters will disappear. But for now it is an enjoyable social outing.

Seems like some are.

:beer3: