ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. — (June 29, 2007) – Shortly after the International Network of Golf, a 17-year-old organization dedicated to education and communication in the golf industry, announced that it is coming back to Atlantic City for a third straight year, the presenting sponsor of the event announced that it was renewing its alliance. The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, the driving force behind so many commercial and tourism opportunities in South Jersey, will repeat as Presenting Sponsor of the ING Regional Seminar.
After holding an extremely successful Mid-Atlantic Regional Golf Seminars in Atlantic City in 2005 and 2006, an expanded Regional Conference returns this year, October 29, 30 and 31 at the Sheraton Hotel.
It was the involvement of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitor Authority in last year’s ING Regional Seminar that paved the way for Atlantic City to be chosen as the host site for the 2008 ING Spring Conference, a highlight of the business year in the golf community. As a result, the ACCVA wanted to continue its involvement at the regional level.
"These conferences have been great for the golf scene in the region," explained Gary Musich, Vice President of Convention Development for the ACCVA. "They bring together all phases of the golf industry for meaningful discussions and invaluable networking opportunities."
The seminar will bring together some of the top minds in all facets of the golf industry for three days of seminars, panel discussions, exhibitions and networking. Also, an alliance that was struck with the New Jersey Golf Course Owners Association last year has been expanded, guaranteeing another increase in the amount of industry leaders attending the golf conference.
"Merging the ING Regional Seminar with the NJGCOA’s Annual Fall Classic and Fundraiser proved to present the NJGCOA with a unique opportunity to broaden its networking and educational capabilities,"
commented Bob Twomey, president of the New Jersey Golf Course Owners Association. "The NJGCOA is proud to partner with ING, an organization that has such a great track record in creating events that so successfully balance recreation, information and networking for participants representing every aspect of our industry."
The three days of education and communication will all begin with an 18-hole golf tournament at Mays Landing CC, just west of Atlantic City. Part of the purpose of the fall seminar is to test the Atlantic City area as a host site for a national ING Conference.
"Our annual spring conferences have grown to the point where they are regarded as one of the key events on the annual golf business calendar," said Mike Jamison, executive director of the International Network of Golf. "We have an extremely strong membership in the Mid- Atlantic region and I am overjoyed at the fact that last year’s conference was so successful and it has expanded in its base for this year. There are a lot of critical issues in the golf industry and they need to be addressed at the regional level as well as the national level."
"I was very impressed by the level of organization and the caliber of people who attended the seminar the last two years," said golf course architect Ed Shearon, who has been one of the featured speakers on an industry panel. "The networking that takes place is very valuable for the rest of the year."
Ed Sprague, president of the West Chester-based Ballzee company which manufactures a new golf ball cleaning device, attended the first year’s seminar and immediately became a member of ING. "ING is a powerful tool within the golf industry," said Sprague. "We immediately saw the value of it and attended our first national conference in 2006 and returned to the Spring Conference this year.
We are looking forward to the Fall Seminar."
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Golf Seminar is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the golf industry, network with some of its leaders or bring their latest ideas to the media.
Reasonably priced packages for the conference have been arranged through Gary Shea at Golf Vacations (877-320-1991). Also, information is available on the website at www.golfvacations.com/ing.
For more information, contact TL Golf Services at 610-279-9220.
Contact:
TL Golf Services
610-279-9220 or tleodora@aol.com
