2024 Connecticut Golf Show Recap by Varsity Communications

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2024 Show Recap

OVERVIEW

Varsity Golf Shows, producers of popular golf shows throughout the United States, brought their successful brand of consumer golf shows to Connecticut in 2024, expanding their reach north and bringing their tried-and-true formula of outstanding deals, free giveaways, free lessons, fun interactive events and quality exhibitors to Connecticut’s vibrant golf community.

Golfers packed into the hall over the course of the weekend, eager to take advantage of special offers on local golf courses, products and services from over 100 exhibitors; fun skills contests that gave attendees the chance to win clubs, free rounds and dream stay-and-play vacations; free lessons from top PGA pros; a driving range lined with representatives of all the major manufacturers; and a fantastic giveaway package for all attendees that included up to five free rounds of golf.

Varsity marketed the show via a significant media campaign that included advertisements in print, television and radio, on-site broadcasts during the most popular morning news programs, live remotes from the show floor, plus in-studio appearances and interviews by show organizers. In addition, e-mail blasts by local

QUICK FACTS

Show Owner ............... Varsity Comm., Inc.

Date March 22-24, 2024

Site ........................ Connecticut Convention Center

Average Attendance ........ 8,500+

Exhibits 100+

Media Exposure ............ $100,000 Campaign

Ticket Prices

golf courses and other companies, plus a significant social media campaign, helped promote the show to new audiences.

The 2024 Connecticut Golf Show was made possible by the support of its sponsors, the volunteers who gave their time to make the show a success, the involvement of the exhibitors and enthusiasm of the golfing public.

Player’s Tour Pass $49, Adults $17, Seniors (60+) $16, 12 & Under Free

Manufacturers ............. Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Mizuno, PING, Srixon, TaylorMade Titleist, Wilson, XXIO

Sponsors................... 1 Welcoming, 19 Presenting, 19 Supporting, 14 Patron

Endorsed & Supported by .... CSGA, First Tee of Greater Connecticut

2024 Show Recap

EVENT FEATURES

Chris Cote’s Testing, Fitting and Sale Zone

Try and buy the hot new club’s from the game’s biggest brands! Hit all the new models on a free, on-site driving range, then check out new clubs, apparel, accessories and more at show- exclusive prices, and save big on last year’s clubs priced to move.

Amica Golf Short Game Central

Show off your short game by chipping to win rounds of golf, golf balls and other cool prizes. Make a hole-in-one and take home the grand prize.

PXG Straightest Drive Challenge

Tee it high and let it fly on a state-of-the-art simulator from Golf Lounge 18 to win rounds. With separate divisions for men, women and seniors, everyone has a chance to win.

PXG KP Challenge

Not a long hitter? No problem — at the KP Challenge, pull wedge or iron and try to stick a shot in tight on one of the game’s iconic holes to win free golf and other goodies.

Hoffman Lexus Putting Challenge

Every successful putter wins a round of golf and an entry in Sunday’s Putting Championship, where putters will compete to win a fantastic stay-and-play package.

Hartford Courant Main Stage

Stop by the Main Stage and learn from the game’s top teachers, industry experts, fitness professionals and more.

Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole

Time for a break? Visit the 19th Hole to grab a cold beverage and watch golf, football, basketball and other sports on bigscreen TVs, or learn from pros on the adjacent Main Stage.

Middlesex Health Wellness Zone

Visit the Wellness Zone to learn more about Middlesex Health services, including orthopedics. You will also learn about the innovative ways that the health system is using technology to keep patients healthy!

Travelers Championship On the Green

Check out a sweet synthetic putting green built right on the show floor. Roll a few putts for fun, or compete to win great prizes at certain times throughout the day.

PXG Fitting and Sales Experience

See our home page button to reserve your coveted fitting session at the show. The official club of the show, PXG will be doing fittings, have product sales in their on-site store, Tour truck, swing studio and ambassadors there all weekend.

Hoffman Lexus Showroom

Built on 100 years of trust, the Hoffman family and their dealership set the standard for community service and customer excellence. They will have an array of 2023 Lexus models to view and you can book at test drive at the show.

Crowley RV Golf on the Go Zone

Always a fan favorite and supporter of the show, Crowley RV will have RVs on the floor that you can see, feel and order. RV golf is all the rage and Crowley is ready to have you hit the open road.

MGI Motorized Cart Test Drive

A world leader in remote control motorized card technology MGI Golf will be on site with a test drive zone where you can put their latest models through their paces and buy them at the show.

Cape Cod Dream Destination

Cape Cod is the ultimate golf, food, libation, family and getaway in New England. Let the Cape Cod travel experts at the show design the ultimate vacation for your needs and budget.

Los Sundays / Nutrl Ready-To-Drink Showcase

Canned cocktails are all the rage and the show will be showcasing offerings from Nutrl and Los Sundays at the Show.

Waypoint Spirits Tasting Room

Perfecting the art of craft distilling, locally-based Waypoint Spirit is excited to stand with the sport of golf and bring their bottled and canned libations to sample at the show this year.

The Performance Lab Studio

A local leader in sports PT and fitness, join The Performance Lab at the Show in their interactive exhibit and learn all about their services and golf offerings.

Perfect Hands Fitness and Instruction Zone

Perfect Hands Golf is THE WORLD’S FIRST EVER SWING & STRENGTH trainer! Come visit us to feel the PHG difference & why our fully patented system will transform your golf game.

The Orange Whip Experience

Join the Orange Whip Experience – your ticket to a golf swing revolution! Elevate your game with heightened athleticism, balance, and rhythm. Dive into the world of Orange Whip Products – where passion meets performance, and your love for the game soars to new heights. Orange Whip: You gotta feel it!

Indi Golf Zone

Indi Golf’s putters, wedges and clothing is sleek, high quality and turning heads across the U.S. Buy from them at the Show.

Connor Golf Teaching Tee

Meet and join PGA Teacher of the Year George Connor in his award-winning lesson zone at the Show and learn about all his incredible offerings.

The StretchZone

With cutting edge techniques, custom built tables and worldclass stretching professionals on site, you will be amazed at what a program with StretchZone will do for your game, flexibility, distance and score.

Oakwood Virtual Golf Zone

Oakwood Virtual Golf in one of Hartford’s leading indoor golf and watering holes complete with all the golfer would ever need. They will have an interactive display onsite at the show!

The First Tee of Greater Conn. Junior Golfer Area

A special area just for kids! Featuring fun games and instruction from local First Tee professionals, it’s the place to go to get your young golfer fired up about the game.

The

First

Tee of

Greater Conn.

Kids and Family Day

Saturday is Kids and Family Day. With prizes and games for kids throughout the hall, junior golf seminars on the Main Stage and a Junior Putting Championship, it’s a day you won’t want to miss.

2024 Show Recap

Presenting Sponsor Benefits

• Logo on Print, Radio & TV Materials

• Airborne Event Signage

• Logo & Link on the Show Website

• PA Announcements During the Event

• Complimentary Event Tickets

• Sponsorship of Interactive Area

• On-Site Display Space

Supporting Sponsor Benefits

• Logo on Print Media

• Logo & Link on Show Website

• PA Announcements During the Show

• Complimentary Event Tickets

• Event Signage

• Co-Sponsorship of Interactive Area

• On-Site Display Space

Patron Sponsor Benefits

• Logo & Link on Show Website

• PA Announcements During the Show

• Complimentary Event Tickets

• Event Signage

• Sponsor or Co-Sponsor of a Show Activity

Endorsed & Supported By

2024 Show Recap

EXHIBITORS & FLOOR PLAN

A Healthy Life

Advanced Shower and Bath

Aiden Best Western

Amica Insurance

Back 9 Social

Barnum Financial Group

Bayside Resort

Bender Gloves

Blue Fox Run

Blue Rock Golf Course

Bluebird by Lark

Bluebird Dennisport

Bluebird Parker Beach Lodge

Callaway

Cape Cod MASS Chamber

Capital Vacations

Captains Golf Course

Casanova Remodeling Company

Chris Cote Golf Shops School of Golf

Chris Cote’s Golf Shop

Cigars for Golfers

CJ’s Golf Apparel

Cleveland Golf

Clickheat • DBA WonderPax

Cobra

Connecticut Amateur Golf Tour

Connecticut State Golf Assoc.

Connor Golf

Country 92.5

Crowley Auto Group

CT Golf Event Planner • Putt4Birdie

Dr. Mulligan’s Golf Balls

E-Pulse

Emerald Resort

EPSON Tour LPGA CT

Exit 18

First Tee of Connecticut

Fox Sports Radio 97.9

Golf Lounge 18

Golfing Magazine

Goodwin Park Golf Course

Greene County / Great Northern Catskills

Hampton Inn

Hartford American Singles Golf Assoc.

Hartford Athletic

Hartford Courant

Heidi Jo’s Jerky

Hoffman Lexus

Hyannis Golf Course

Indi Golf

Keney Park Golf Course

Leaderboard of New England

Leaffilter

LeafGuard

Life is Sports

Links Drinks Transfusion

Los Sundays

MGI Power Golf Carts

Michelob Ultra

Mid America Golfing Events

Middlesex Health

Mizuno

Mogehan Sun Gaming

New England Golf Guide

Newpro Home Solutions

Nutrl

Oakwood Virtual Golf

Ocean Annie’s Resorts

Ocean State Charity Events

Olde Barnstable Golf Course

On Pointe Fitness & Performance

Orange Whip

Pelham House Resort

Perfect Hands Golf

PING

PinkRita Press

Pinned Golf

Power Home Remodeling

Putter Girl

Putter Perfection

PXG

Red Jacket Resort

Renewal By Andersen

Senior Health & Retirement Services

Shoreline Golf

Shoreway Acres Inn

South Shore Village and Golf Club

Spinnaker Resorts

Srixon

Stingers Indoor

Stretch

Sullivan Catskills Visitor’s Assoc.

T-Mobile

TaylorMade

The Performance Lab

The River 105.9

The Traveling Buddies • Cruise Planners CT

Titleist

Travel There & Back

Travelers Championship

TruGolf

Tunxis Country Club

Villa Del Palmar

visitma.com

Vivid Golf

Vivo Chiropractic Glastonbury

Waypoint Spirits

Wilson Golf

XXIO

Your CBD Store

2024 Show Recap

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

Radio & Television Advertising

• Radio - 400+ Golf Show Radio Spots

ESPN 97.9 FM - 150+ spots over 2 weeks

WPOP NEWS RADIO - 100+ spots over 2 weeks

THE RIVER FM - 50 spots 2 weeks.

92.5 COUNTRY - 50 spots over 2 weeks.

KISS FM CT - 50 spots over 2 weeks

WTIC CBS RADIO - 60 spots this week

• Television Ads: 400+ Golf Show TV Spots

GOLF CHANNEL – Hartford/Center CT, Fairfield County, Springfield, MA – 300 spots for 3 weeks.

ESPN – Sports Center AM and PM in Hartford & Springfield, MA – 30 spots for 2 weeks

TNT, MSNBC, FOX1, CNN, FOX News – 120 spots over 2+ weeks.

FOX CT – 20+ ads in AM news week leading up to show.

CBS WFSB – 15+ Ads/spots 2 weeks of AM/PM news.

CBS/TNT NCAA TOURNEY LIVE GAMES – 8 ads for 2 weeks on Thurs/Fri B-Ball games

NBC Connecticut Hartford/New Haven – 25 ads on PGA Tour Coverage and AM/PM news

NBC Springfield, MA – 8 spots over 2 weeks of PGA Tour

8 Million Impressions

2024 Show Recap

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

E-Marketing:

Digital Campaign/Ads & Messaging Via Partnerships – 25+ Partners

• Show Ads, Email Campaigns and Show Messages With: Courant.com, CSGA, TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP, PGA CT Section, Golfing Magazine, ESPN CT, Chris Cote’s Golf, Golf Show Database. Golf Show /TWITTER, Harte Infiniti and 20+ local and regional golf course partners and show clients ALL HELPING!

Social Media Campaign: Via Facebook/Twitter

Multiple messages, posts, boosts and campaigns to our 3,000 followers for 2 months leading up. Major focus 30 days out. Press releases for 4 months to regional media.