LAKE MARY, FL – Post-conference surveys are telling the story: The ING Spring Conference at Innisbrook Resort that wrapped up last week was one of the very best in the 21-year history of the non-profit International Network of Golf.
“The conference continues to get better and more valuable,” said one attendee. “I always leave an ING conference with a great attitude and a resolve to work harder because of the inspirational people I meet,” said another. “I think this year was the best ING conference ever,” was another comment.
Over 160 people from all walks of the golf industry and media participated in this annual gathering, conducted this year at the beautiful Innisbrook Resort, home to the PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship. The week included a revised educational format, ING University, conducted by ActionCOACH, a rock legends concert, the popular One-On-One Appointment Show, the Demo Lab, several networking sessions and three golf tournaments.
One consistent thread that ran throughout the four-day conference was the positive energy that seemed to envelop every session. While the industry has been at the mercy of the troubled economy for years now, there was a feeling among the attendees that things are starting to turn upward. Optimism was the flavor of the day throughout the ING Spring Conference, a far cry from golf industry gatherings of recent years past.
Other highlights from the conference:
The ActionCOACH-Pinellas team of Ford, Barb and Juliet Kyes, and John Lankford conducted side-by-side coaching sessions that proved to be very popular – one for business skills and one for life skills.
Other educational sessions included a “State Of The Golf Media” panel that featured Ronnie Musselwhite of Golf Business, Lawrence Hollyfield of Global Golf Post and Doug Hollandsworth of Golf & Travel; guest speaker Michelle Phillips; industry roundtable breakouts headed by John Glozek and John Johnson.
The popular One-On-One Appointment Show once again received high marks from attendees, as did the Demo Lab that followed on the range.
Razor Golf partners George Baker and Mike Vandiver teamed to win the International Pairs World Qualifier, and will represent the USA at the world finals this October in Scotland.
Mitch Laurance of Myrtle Beach was awarded the Chi Chi Rodriguez ING Humanitarian Award for his work with Know Your Score-Fight Against Prostate Cancer. Mark Rolfing of NBC spoke about the virtues of Wales as a golf destination. Sherry Major of PGA Golf Exhibitions received the “Golf Business Woman Of The Year award from Women In The Golf Industry.
Herbie’s One-Putt Wedge was voted by attendees as the “Conference Best Product,” and Florida Golf Central Magazine won “Conference Best Publication.”
And maybe THE highlight of the week was a rock legends concert featuring former lead singers from Toto and Blue Oyster CuIt – Bobby Kimball and Buck Dharma – and sponsored by Razor Golf.
Also, it was announced that the 22nd Annual ING Spring Conference will take place May 20-24 2012, at the Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort in South Carolina.
For more information about ING, visit www.inggolf.com.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-28-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
