(Grand Rapids, Mich.) Widely acclaimed for its headliners, the 2013 West Michigan Golf Show-to be held February 8-10 in downtown Grand Rapids-proudly welcomes back the legendary instructor Jim Flick to its seminar stage. Named by Golf World magazine in its ‘Top 10 Teachers of the 20th Century,’ Flick has been teaching golf for over 50 years. Flick’s students have included another legend, Jack Nicklaus, who once wrote: “Jim Flick helps people understand and love the game of golf. His enthusiasm and commitment are infectious. I’ve never met anyone better at helping people enjoy themselves and have fun on the golf course than Jim.”
It will be Flick’s second appearance at the Show which is celebrating its 25th anniversary next year. “When I was here in 2005, I was so impressed with the quality of the show, the attendance and the enthusiasm of the attendees,” said Flick who commanded standing room only crowds for his clinics. “I’m especially thrilled to return to Grand Rapids on the occasion of the Show’s silver anniversary.”
Show Manager Carolyn Alt said Flick remains one of the most popular teachers in the history of the winter golf extravaganza. “Jim’s a knowledgeable and insightful presenter but more importantly, he’s such an outstanding individual,” said Alt. “I’ll always remember seeing him in 2005 quietly giving individual lessons to patrons in our hitting net on Friday night even though he wasn’t schedule to give any lessons or clinics until Saturday. That scene said it all about the type of person and dedicated teacher Jim Flick is.”
A native of Bedford, Ind., Flick picked up the game at age 10 under the eye of his father Coleman Flick, a Bedford City Champion. He attended Wake Forest University on a baseball scholarship and later as a sophomore roomed for six months with the Arnold Palmer, a junior. Upon graduation in 1952, Flick played professional tournament golf for a short time before deciding being a club professional was a more dependable career. He began working in his home state and then years later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where his head pro and teaching career flourished.
Author of and collaborator on five golf books, including Square to Square Golf, Flick has taught the game in 23 nations and guided more than 1,000 multi-day programs when he was the director of instruction for Golf Digest’s Schools. The third recipient of the PGA Teacher of the Year award in 1988, Flick was the ninth instructor inducted in the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame in 2002. He has coached more than 200 Tour pros, including Nicklaus and British Open champion Tom Lehman, and scores of top notch amateurs. Flick and his wife Geri live in Carlsbad, Calif., where Jim teaches golf and serves as an ambassador for TaylorMade Golf.
In addition to seminars by Flick, the most popular attraction of the Show will be the Treetops Par-3 Challenge where patrons will compete for prizes (Treetops golf) at a fully landscaped par-3 and with a chance to win $25,000 while raising funds for Patriot Golf Day. More than 200 exhibits will cover every aspect of the game representing the top courses and resorts, equipment, accessories and apparel and much, much more. With PGA golf pros again providing free lessons all weekend in the huge hitting net, don’t be surprised to find a legendary white-haired teacher quietly working and imparting wisdom in the mix.
Produced by ShowSpan Inc. and held at DeVos Place, the West Michigan Golf Show’s hours are 4:00 pm-9:00 pm Friday; 10:00 am-7:00 pm Saturday; and 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-14, and children 5 and under are free. A sleeve of golf balls goes to the first 100 attendees each day and to those buying tickets online. Tickets will be available at the door as well as online at www.westmichigangolfshow.com. For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit the website.
Contact:
Carolyn Alt, ShowSpan, 616-447-2860
Terry Moore, Sportserv Ltd., 616-490-0433, terry50moore@gmail.com
