The “Barnum & Bailey show” of golf

Last week I attended “ e Greatest Show On Earth” for PGA Golf Professionals, media and the general public at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida. e o cial name of the show is the PGA Merchandise Show. It was the 70th edition of the annual world wide golf industry get together that started in 1954. I have now attended 23 of them and am already planning my trip for next year.

Last years show, that followed the Covid in uenced all virtual show of 2020, featured just over 600 exhibitors but absent from the show were some of the biggest names in golf equipment and apparel including…Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Cobra Puma, Ping, Mizuno, Srixon/Cleveland, Peter Millar and Travis Mathew. As you may recall, I chastised these same companies and others who did not attend last years show for not supporting the show and the golf professionals of the PGA of America who have supported them from the beginning.

Although this years show attracted over 800 exhibitors, it was still far short of the over 1,000 who lined the 10 mile stretch of space between the isles of booths in 2020. e show was still great and I believe next year the number of exhibitors will approach 1,000 again. Many of the “hot” names in golf were there, such as, Butch Harmon, Jim Furyk, Matt Fitzpatrick, Zach Johnson, Lexi ompson, Brooke Henderson, Annika Sorenstam, Justin Leonard, Danielle Kang and Stacy Lewis. ere was also a new area called the Career Zone which gave college students and 2nd career professionals an opportunity to explore and connect with companies from all over the world. I did not attend any of the employerled panels and networking events but I saw more 18-22 year old attendees than I have ever seen before. I believe the opportunities to work, travel and make a good living in the golf industry will continue to be available for at least the next 10-15 years.

My picks for the best booths at the show go to Titleist/FootJoy, Cobra / Puma and Callaway. For some reason Taylor Made chose not to attend again. Ok Taylor Made…you have lost me as a customer again…for another year.

What are my picks for the best new golf clubs for 2023? Let me express my thoughts this way, “I have never seen more innovation, technology, looks, feel and performance in golf clubs from ‘all’ of the club manufacturers than I have this year”. I will get tted before I make my decision. How about you?

I intend to start the 2023 golf season with a new set of clubs and I have at least four “solid” options. My mission is to nd the clubs that; “launch the ball higher, have more forgiveness, and those with the best distance control”. Please note that I have not mentioned “distance”. at’s because it is #5 on my priority list.

All of the new 2023 clubs, balls and accessories will be in pro shops and retail stores his week. I predict you will have a tough time picking your favorite but the best time you have ever had experimenting.

BY PHIL BLACKWeLL

During the last full week of January, both of Cazenovia’s varsity basketball teams remained fairly busy, and were able to pick up victories.

On the boys side, the Lakers earned its third win in a row last Monday against South Jefferson, controlling the game’s middle stages to produce a 65-52 victory over the Spartans.

Cazenovia trailed 14-13 before it went out in front in the second, further reinforcing that margin with a 23-12 push through the third quarter that created a 53-38 edge.

Winter weather postponed last Wednesday’s game against Camden, which will get made up this Thursday at 6:30, three days after a rescheduled game with Homer that was originally supposed to take place on the road, but got moved to Buckley Gym.

Yet another change in the schedule came when a visit from Westhill, set for this Friday, was moved to Saturday afternoon, tipping off at 4:30.

Meanwhile, the Cazenovia girls basketball team was back on the court last Thursday night, hosting Phoenix and honoring its two seniors, Katie Rajkowski and Hannah Ruddy.

Then the Lakers went out and, against a 9-5 Firebirds side, put together a tremendous stretch of defensive basketball late in the first half that, along with Ella Baker’s production, proved decisive in a 36-30 victory.

Entering the second quarter,

ABoVe LeFT: Cazenovia girls basketball senior Hannah Ruddy and her parents were honored prior to last Thursday’s game against Phoenix, where the Lakers beat the Firebirds 36-30. ABoVe RIGHT: Cazenovia girls basketball senior Katie Rajkowski (24) was honored before last Thursday’s game against Phoenix. Rajkowski had six points in the Lakers’ 36-30 win.

Cazenovia trailed 10-7, but in those eight minutes the Lakers manageed to keep Phoenix off the board, a shutout that incldued suffocating defense that produced poor shots and turnovers from the Firebirds.

Caz ice hockey beats CBA/J-D, tops Fulton

BY PHIL BLACKWeLL

Only a strong finish to the regular season would allow the Cazenovia ice hockey team to improve its place in the Division I standings and its ultimate Section III playoff seed.

In the meantime, the Lakers continued to impress, especially in last Friday’s game against state Division II no. 12ranked CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt, where some history was made in a 6-4 victory over the Brothers.

When Jack Donlin scored twice in the first three minutes of the second period, he surpassed 100 career points, the first Cazenovia player to join that club since Connor Cannizzaro did so in 2013.

It also built upon a 2-1 first-period lead established when Donlin’s line mate, Forrest Ives, scored twice on breakaways, one of them short-handed.

Ives returned to complete his hat trick in the last minute of the period to make it 5-2, and Logan Hull tacked on an insurance goal in the third to go with his pair of assists. Jack Casey also had an assist.

As the game went on, CBA/J-D picked up its attack, but Ezra Stahlberg was able to pick up 31 saves to allow the Lakers to hang on and run its unbeaten streak to five. In its only league game last week, the Lakers went to Fulton and put up one of its best offensive performances of the season, pulling away to top the Red Raiders 8-3.

Fulton actually got on the board first before Ives tied it with his 13th goal of the season and Hull’s one-timed shot off a

Though not scoring that much on the other end, Cazenovia still took a 15-10 edge to halftime and, all through the second half, was able to answer every time Phoenix threatened.

This was largely due to Baker, who hit shots from the field along with seven free throws on her way to 20 points, adding seven rebounds, plus an assist, block and steal.

Rajkowski added six points as Bess Johnson and Olivia Ruddy had four points apiece. No Phoenix player scored in double figures as Sara Ruetsch, with eight points, led the way.