LAKE MARY, FL – Hall of Fame golf course architect Pete Dye will help light the torch on what promises to be the most important International Network of Golf gathering of all time, the 19th Annual ING Spring Conference May 17-21 at the spectacular French Lick Resort in Indiana.
Anyone in the golf industry or media is invited to attend the conference, conducted by the non-profit International Network of Golf. Industry executives from companies large and small, and from every segment of the industry, will join golf media of all types at this annual gathering.
Dye will speak at the Opening Night Golf Business Expo and Reception, enlightening and entertaining attendees regarding his incredible career, which includes a brand new test at French Lick. The Pete Dye Course, as highly anticipated as any course in recent memory, is launching this spring, and is already secured for the 2010 PGA National Club Pro Championship.
Dye began his golf course design career in his mid 30s. His first well-known course was Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana, which opened in 1964, and which later hosted the 1991 PGA Championship. His other more famous designs include PGA Tour stops Harbour Town and TPC Sawgrass, and Kiawah Island, which hosted the Ryder Cup matches.
Dye is considered to be one of the most influential course architects in the world. His designs are known for distinctive features, including the use of railroad ties to hold bunkers and small greens.
His wife Alice, who like Pete is an accomplished amateur golfer, assists on many of his designs, including French Lick, which will rank at or near the very top of his most acclaimed layouts after it opens.
There are several educational panels at the e conference. Monday morning’s Food For Thought breakfast features a panel of employees from various segments of the business to discuss the state of the golf industry.
Included on that panel is Cathy Harbin, former GM at the World Golf Village’s two golf courses who recently took over as director o Golf 20/20, the World Golf Foundation’s player development initiative. Others are Ronnie Musselwhite, editor of Golf Business magazine, and Todd Lewis, commentator on The Golf Channel, both of whom can speak from the media’s perspective.
Other educational sessions include:
• Finding The Zone – Bruce Boguski, who will also deliver the motivation speech on Monday morning, will follow that with a terrific session on capturing that positive mental state on the golf course and in your career.
• Utilizing New Markets In Tough Times – Those with resorts, destinations and products to market will learn how to best communicate their message to new and intriguing markets in this session
• The New Social Media. Now here is a session that affects all of us. Whether you are completely unaware of blogging, facebooking, twittering, etc., or a true veteran of these communication elements, this session will both enlighten and entertain.
• Business Roundtable/Media Roundtable – These popular open discussion groups always deliver new ideas and a better understand among peers.
Registration deadline is April 10.
Other highlights from the upcoming conference:
1)The ever-popular One-On-One Appointment Show, a series of private meetings between exhibitors and media to open lines of communication, create unique promotional programs, gather story materials and build relationships.
2)The Demo Lab will feature companies large and small displaying their latest equipment and training gear on the practice range and green.
3)The International Pairs World Qualifier. A two-player team that wins this 18-hole net points competition at the brand new Pete Dye Course at French Lick will represent ING and the USA in the International Pairs World Finals at Carnoustie in Scotland.
4)The ING Fashion Show. ING members will take to the runway as models, sporting the latest and greatest fashions from some of the industry’s top apparel companies.
5)Education and self-improvement programs galore.
Those interested in attending may do so by visiting www.inggolf.com and clicking on Spring Conference. An electronic registration process is available.
For more information on ING, call 407-328-0500, ext. 4.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-28-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
