The Jones family loses its last Grandpa

This has nothing to do with the world of Golf maintenance. I don't think my Grandpa ever once set foot on a golf course.

But Grandpa Nick passed away last week. I was one of his pallbearers. Grandpa was a good guy. While not as big a part of my life as my dad (who died of brain cancer at age 62 two years ago) or my mom, he was an important part of my life.

This is the tribute I wrote to my Grandpa last week... my cousin was kind enough to read it at his service. I thought I'd post it here, because even though Grandpa didn't golf, he still helped me get where I am today.

******

Sad news. Grandpa Nick passed away last night. He was 84. A long life. These last few years had been hard on him, so it's a relief that Grandpa is no longer suffering from his many ailments he was stricken with in his last years.

Grandpa was a first-generation Mexican-American, a WW II vet, a 40-year Boeing employee, a member of a biker gang, a Jayhawk fan and most important to me, my friend. He absolutely loved Evey and my wife.

Grandpa didn't talk much. He was a quiet, stoic guy. He worked on his yard a lot. Watched a lot of car racing, football (hated the Cowboys), college basketball, boxing, a little pro wrestling on occasion. He was the first guy I knew to buy one of those giant satellites they sold in the 1980s -- you know the ones that were like 15-feet wide? We about spun that thing off it's pole trying to get Wrestlemania 2. It's still in Grandma's back yard.

The place you'd see Grandpa most often, especially from about 1982 to 1994, was sitting on the back deck right next to the sliding glass door in a dilapidated lawn chair, no shirt, old blue jeans, Mickey's in his hand. He had just finished working in the yard. And you could sit there and chat with him if you wanted. But he probably liked it better if you just sat there in silence with him and watched the grass grow.

When Grandpa did laugh, he laughed hard, and his entire bald head shook.

The thing I think defines Nick Gomez, the thing I would want people to know about him, is that, if not for him, there would be generations of Mexicans, young and old, full-blooded, half-blooded, practically gringo -- who would have never made it in Wichita. He was the trailblazer. He got a job at Boeing and he stuck it out. He knew what work meant. He had three kids, and those kids had kids -- some more than others. Some of those kids needed help -- some more than others. And whenever they came to Grandpa, he helped them out. He helped his friends out. Grandpa didn't say much, and that included the word "no." You needed help? He helped. You needed work on your car? He worked on your car. You need to buy a car? Let's see how we can buy a car.

I don't know how often the favor was returned for Grandpa. The last time I saw him... hell, the last five times I saw him, I thought that would be the last time I ever saw him. But this last time, I was pretty sure. So I told him as I shook his hand, "Grandpa, I want you to know I love you, and my family loves you. I'm proud of you. And most of all, thank you for everything you've done for this family. There are a lot of people who wouldn't be where they are now if it wasn't for you."

Grandpa just nodded as he got ready to go back to sleep.

Grandpa never talked much.

Is that gas I smell?

Now there's a new blog to help you with that question. It's called "Ask Dave."

Here's the story:

Industrial Scientific today launched a new interactive blog entitled, “Ask Dave,” authored by Dave Wagner, director of product knowledge at Industrial Scientific.

“Ask Dave” originally started as an email question and answer feature on the Industrial Scientific website. The new blog format brings Dave’s extensive knowledge about gas detection to more end users, safety professionals and to those who are interested in learning more about gas detection. In addition to posting engaging topics relevant to Industrial Scientific’s vision of eliminating death in the workplace, visitors can ask Dave nearly any question related to gas detection. Many of the responses will be posted to the blog, which visitors can comment on and discuss.

“The blog provides our customers and visitors to our website an opportunity to open up a worldwide dialogue on gas detection,” says Dave. “We’ll cover what’s new, the latest trends, best practices and hopefully open up some interesting debates on topics that benefit all end users. I am excited to have this new opportunity for communication within our industry.”

Dave has more than 20 years experience in the development and application of portable gas monitoring instruments and systems. His formal training and broad experience give him insight few others have in the industry. Dave excels at simplifying the sometimes complex world of gas detection. You can also follow Dave on Twitter @indSci_AskDave.

“Ask Dave” is available at www.askdaveblog.com.

Gregg Breningmeyer talks about John Daly and hosting supers at JD Classic

In case you missed it in last week's Golfdom Insider, here is the interview I did with Gregg Breningmeyer, John Deere's global director of marketing and sales for turf.

Quick funny story about Gregg. I'm having dinner with Gregg that same evening, and as you can tell from the interview, Gregg has a great sense of humor. We were talking about social media. Gregg was talking about how he won't join Facebook, and even LinkedIn drives him crazy.

"The thing is, these people want to connect with me," he says to me. "Apparently, the thing they don't realize... is that I'm not a very nice guy!"

Cracked me up.

OK, this will round out my coverage of the JD Classic on the Golfdom Daily. My column in the new issue of Golfdom also covers the Classic. And then I'm done! I don't want to make the guys in red and orange green with envy.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 28 -- Are You Flogging Kidding Me?

A few weeks back I wrote about a book written by James Pomerantz titled Tough Guys Always Play From The Tips: A Unisex Guide to Golf, Tough Guys and the Neutered Weenie Fraternity Created By Such an Insane Game. Well, hold on to your manly hat Mr. Pomerantz because I have found something way worse than golf to blame the wussification of America on.

Has anyone heard of Flogton? I didn’t think so. Flogton, (“not golf” spelled backward) according to the AGA, or Alternative Golf Association, is all the rage! Flogton is a version of “golf” (I use the term golf loosely) for candyasses who can’t hack it playing by the rules everyone else plays by so they have to invent their own game so everyone can excel. What a load of B.S. The fact that everyone can’t be awesome at golf it what makes it so attractive to me! If everyone could play like the pros I wouldn’t play! I would go bowl or play some other lame “sport.”

Check out the rules for basic Flogton…… apparently there are new rules the better you get. After you conquer one level, or shoot a score acceptable by the AGA, the rules get a little stiffer. If you get too good at Flogton you might not be able to use a tee from anywhere on the course and penalty strokes might start counting and you might not be allowed to pick up your ball and throw it! Watch out!
------

Rules for Flogton Basic

Use these rules for the first three levels of Flogton

• Move up: Start a par-3 hole 50 yards closer to the green, a par-4 hole 100 yards closer to the green, and a par-5 hole 150 yards closer to the green.
• Don’t dawdle: No more than one practice swing per shot permitted. Violating this rule results in a penalty stroke. (If your real swing misses the ball, however, don’t count that.)
• Tee it up: Use a tee on any shot.
• Bump it: Improve your lie by one club length anywhere but on the green.
• Toss it: Once per hole you can use your hands to toss a “stroke.” (Try it from a bunker!)
• No penalties: Hit it OB or into a hazard? Lose a ball? Either reload or drop near the point where the ball disappeared.
• Putting particulars: Leave the flagstick in – and if you hit it, consider your ball in the hole! Don’t mark the ball – and when it’s your turn, putt until you’re in the hole or have taken two strokes, whatever is sooner. Flogton Basic has a three-putt maximum.
-----

What a joke. If you suck at golf bad enough to make up your own game just stick to something you are good at, like Halo! Seriously, when I read about Flogton it got me fired up. How are we going to grow the best sport on earth if tomorrow's golfers are too busy playing freakin' Flogton to learn the game of golf?

What are your thoughts on Flogton? Go to the official Flogton website and let me know what you think.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot because I am so fired up about this dumbass Flogton! This week is the British Open and with a major comes another edition of The Golfdom Hackoff! In case you are not aware The Golfdom Hackof is a fantasy golf league Golfdom hosts during every major. It is a lot of fun and best of all it is free! Here’s how to sign up….

The Hackoff is going to be at http://golf.fantasysports.yahoo.com/golf just like in the past. Click on "Sign up now!" for "Tee it Up!" fantasy golf (it's the only fantasy golf game they have.) Once you create your team, click "join a group." The group ID is 17466 and the group name is The Great Golfdom Hackoff (Yes I know 'hackoff' is spelled hack-off but I was limited in spaces to enter a name and I had to have the name be The Great Golfdom Hackoff!)



You will need a password to join the group. The password is golfdom123.



If you have signed up in the past just sign in and make your picks for this weekend. If not, what are you waiting for? You could win a number of great prizes! Jones scored some sweet Spy sunglasses for the winner of the U.S. Open, maybe he'll come up with something cool again for the British Open! All you have to do is sign up for your chance to win some great prizes and go down in history as the first British Open edition Hackoff Champion! (We really need to get a trophy with the winner's names engraved on them... I'll have Jones work on that!)

Until next week!

-- Matt Hendren

Polo over golf in China

That's what they're saying in this article on CNN.

What's the matter with golf?

"Playing golf, no one sees you," says one source.

For some of us, that's one of the best things about the game!

We'll keep an eye on this and see if chasing around a ball on horseback really is hurting our preferred sport, chasing around a ball on foot.

Interview with Paul Grogan, CGCS, host super of John Deere Classic

In case you missed this in last Friday's "Golfdom Insider" email newsletter, here's the interview I did with Paul Grogan, who is the superintendent at TPC Deere Run.

Some equipment greeting guests at the JD Classic

This is only half of it! Behind me was the other half!

I heard that a pro was trying to wrangle the kid's Gator (bottom of the photo) for free from one of the John Deere people. After every few holes, he'd repeat the question: How much does that cost again? Are you sure?

Ah, just win the tournament, dude! You get a free Z-track! And then you can afford the kid's car, too!

Patriotic Gators

This was the scene at the TPC Deere Run maintenance facility on the 4th of July -- all the equipment was adorned with a U.S. flag.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 27 -- Family Togetherness

Welcome back to another riveting edition of Hendren’s Hyperbole! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July holiday weekend. I spent the weekend at the lake on my boat just hanging with my family. Anyways, enough with the pleasantries, let’s get to it.

Does anyone feel that golf is kind of their time away from the family, four hours to just hang out with friends and do something you love? I do, most of the time. I am not going to lie to you and tell you I've never played golf with my wife because I have, a few times. I actually had a pretty good time playing a round with her but it is not the same as playing with friends. There was very little beer drinking going on and absolutely no cigar smoking and how many time can you feel good about out-driving your wife? The answer is never, if you were wondering.

The following press release is what brought this topic up…..

• Kiawah Island’s “Family Tee” program – Developed as a way for beginner golfers to get out and learn the game of golf, it is also a great way to encourage family togetherness. The program runs all summer long (May 30 – Sept. 4) on Osprey Point, Turtle Point, Cougar Point and Oak Point golf courses. Starting times are in 15-minute intervals from 6pm and 7:30pm. Everyone is required to play from the family tees (ranging for 100 to 200 yards per hole) allowing the whole family the fun of playing together. An adult must accompany children and visa versa. Adults pay $45 per round, children under 17 play free of charge.

I understand needing to come up with new and inventive ways to encourage play at your course; I really do, but encouraging family togetherness!?! I think the line has been crossed! Families are great, I think mine is the best but my golf time is sacred to me. After all, we're only talking about four hours to yourself every once in a while! I just think that a guy's time on the course and his time in the restroom are two areas that should be free from mandatory family togetherness!

Fire me a comment and let me know what you think!

-- Matt Hendren

Hanging at the John Deere Classic

Myself, TPC Deere Run first assistant Dustin Peterson, and director of maintenance and operations Paul Grogan, enjoying a quiet moment on the 4th of July before the action really heats up at the John Deere Classic.

John Deere HQ

Happy 4th of July!

You're probably enjoying a backyard barbecue or at the lake today, and I would be doing the same, but Golfdom takes no holidays!!! Especially when there is an invitation to attend a golf event!

I'm in Moline, Ill., site of the John Deere Classic. Last night we had a reception at JD headquarters (pictured) that included a Q&A with a few of the industry's big-wigs. I'll post some photos and some sound bites soon.

Right now, I'm off to TPC Deere Run. I'll check in from there soon.

Again, happy 4th! Be careful with those explosives!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 26 -- A Story with Heart

I know I generally write about the PGA Tour but this week I am going to relate a very inspiring story about Erik Compton, a Nationwide Tour member and first time Nationwide Tour winner last week at the Mexico Open. I heard this story on the Jim Rome Show so even if you can’t stand Rome please read on because this story is remarkable and very inspiring.

Erik Compton is the only professional athlete that has received not one but two heart transplants in his short 31 years. At age 12, Erik had a virus attack his heart which required him to be placed on a transplant recipient list. He received the first of two transplants that same year, at age 12, from a 15-year-old girl named Janine. After the transplant was successful he needed an activity that would help aid him in his recovery and keep him active, and he chose golf.

Choosing golf as his sport turned out to be a great choice because he was a natural. Erik started winning tournaments and even earned a free ride playing golf at the University of Georgia. Following his career at the Georgia, Erik played on the Hooters Tour and the Canadian Tour, winning tournaments on both.

If you are thinking this story couldn’t get any better, or be more inspiring, you would be wrong. At age twenty-eight Erik suffered a heart attack. A heart attack for anyone is horrible but a heart attack on a transplant heart is brutal. Directly after the heart attack Erik drove himself to the hospital making phone calls the entire way saying his goodbyes to friends and family. He thought it was the end of what he describes as a great life, but it wasn’t.

This is where Erik’s second heart transplant comes into the story. He received a second heart from Isaac, who was an All-American volleyball player. Erik said Isaac was a "6’4” stud who was way stronger and more athletic than I am.” He is still in contact with Isaac’s family to this day.

Erik’s philosophy on life is that life is not a race; it’s all about what you do with your life in the time you are given. Erik also believes you don’t have to be perfect, just live life to its fullest each day. He also said the problems you have in life don’t define you; it’s what you do about them that define you and makes you who you are.

Erik is a true inspiration to everyone. Just think about all the “problems” you let get in your way on a daily basis. Considering I still have my original heart and my health I guess you could say I really don’t have any true problems. Something to think about anyways.

Erik is married with a 2-year-old daughter and is second on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2011, which guarantees him a spot on the PGA Tour next year. I don’t know about you but I need to hear a story like this every once in a while to really put what I think are problems in my life in true perspective. I will be rooting for Eric Compton from this moment on.

Erik Compton is the new Hendren’s Hyperbole Johnny Vegas. Let’s go Erik!

-- Matt Hendren

Toro acquires Lawn Solutions Commercial Products

News this morning from Toro:

The Toro Company today announced it has acquired Lawn Solutions Commercial Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative turf renovation equipment for the landscape, rental, municipal and golf markets. The acquisition, which includes a dedicated lineup of aerators, seeders, power rakes and brush cutters, adds key product categories to Toro’s portfolio to support growth across its core global businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Turf renovation is a natural category for Toro having built our company around turf maintenance for almost 100 years,” said Michael Drazan, vice president of the company’s Contractor Business. “These products complement our brands and markets extremely well, while extending our offering to customers worldwide. With our expanded distribution and market strength, we believe we can deliver significant share growth in these categories.”

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, and founded in 2006, Lawn Solutions has quickly established its position in the turf renovation market and become known for its reputable line of innovative products. As part of the purchase, David Cook, owner of Lawn Solutions, will continue to consult with Toro after the acquisition and provide important product development and category expertise.

Do you think you can talk to a blade of grass and get it to grow?

Check out this story by Jay Dempsey from the Riverhead News-Review. Here's a sound bite:

"Ladies and gentlemen, being a golf course superintendent requires the skills of a meteorologist, a farmer, a horticulturist, a public-relations expert, a personnel manager, a bookkeeper and a salesman."

Nice story from Dempsey, great quotes from Bill Shuford, superintendent at Laurel Links CC.

A moment of well-deserved rest for River Highlands crew

On Sunday afternoon of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship, while the final group of Fredrik Jacobson, the eventual winner, and Bryce Molder were on the eighth hole, TPC River Highlands head golf course superintendent Tom DeGrandi, first assistant Noel Hall and second assistant Ben Newfang, along with a small group of family and friends, were parked to the left of the first green. The vantage point afforded a prime view of holes 15-17.

The fatigue from a wild few days was etched into the faces of the three in charge of maintaining the Cromwell, Conn. course; for the first time in weeks, they we able to relax.

Thursday’s soaking rain that suspended the first round shortly after 11 a.m. produced a unique Friday with golf almost non-stop from 7 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. when play was called because of darkness. Not a blade of grass was mowed or an ounce of sand raked, just cups and tee markers moved in between the final group of the first round and the first group of the second round on each nine. The two small crews of maintenance personnel were given a rolling one-hole gap in which to do the quick change.

As a result of no work being done on Friday, Saturday began at 4 a.m., 90 minutes earlier than usual. Greens were double cut, tees squeegeed, fairways dragged and cups changed. After breakfast inside the maintenance facility, the crew was back out at 9 a.m. mowing tees and fairways before the third round commenced.

“I wanted to make sure that players that made the cut had a clean, fresh golf course,” DeGrandi said.

Carbone’s Ristorante of Hartford, thanks to DeGrandi, delivered dinner for the crew. Then, it was back out in the evening to mow the entire golf course, save for the rough. Sunday morning they were back at it.

Conditions were fantastic as evidenced by a bevy of low scores in the final round, the only day that lift, clean and place was not in effect. Greens that had been Stimping in the low 10s late Friday, were a foot quicker for Sunday play.

It came as no surprise that Jacobson lauded final-round conditions that saw shots bounding along in the fairways rather than plugging and putts dropping in from all over.


“The greens were rolling great,” he said.

“They’re the best players in the world,” DeGrandi said. “You want to produce the best golf course you can.”

-- Anthony Pioppi

TPC assistants see big picture

Within the PGA Tour’s Tournament Players Club network is a program that sends assistant superintendents from one facility to another to aid during tournaments of the three tours, PGA, Champions and Nationwide.

For this week’s PGA Tour Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., Jack Creveling from TPC Sawgrass and Adam Weber from TPC Scottsdale are lending a hand.

Their primary job is to collect data for the Tour that includes green speeds, as well as moisture content and firmness of greens. They’ll also be lending a hand doing whatever River Highlands superintendent Tom DeGrandi needs, tasks such as raking bunkers.

DeGrandi’s two assistants, Noel Hall and Ben Newfang, have taken their turn at other courses. This year, Newfang will be at TPC San Antonio for the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship.

Creveling and Weber arrived the Saturday before the tournament began and will stay to the Monday after the Travelers is scheduled to end. Creveling knew he would be at the Travelers in January but Weber found out about two weeks before making the trip after the assistant who was going originally tapped for the assignment took a job at a non-TPC facility.

“It’s been good to see a different golf course,” said Weber, 25. “We don’t have the topography. There’s no slope in the desert.”

This is the first time either have worked on a golf course where the turf variety on greens is primarily Poa annua.

Creveling said dealing with one golf course can produce tunnel vision.

“You become engrossed in one property. (This) expands your horizons,” he said.

Weber said the education is not just about agronomy.

“It helps you see what the (TPC) network is about on a bigger scale.”

-- Anthony Pioppi

Hall's week in the irrigation room

For 13 years Noel Hall has been the assistant at TPC River Highlands,
site of this week's PGA Tour stop, the Travelers Championship. He
started out on the bottom of the ladder and took five years to work
his way up to the no. 2 position. This is his 18th tournament at the
Cromwell, Conn., golf course and he still revels in the moment.

"I enjoy the whole production. To me, this is what it's all about,"
said Hall who graduated from the University of Tennessee with degrees
in business and psychology. "I also enjoy the day-to-day without
members and guests, but there are two different existences."

Hall, who sleeps in the irrigation room during the tournament rather
than make the hour-long drive home each day, doesn't use all of his
downtime to catch up on rest. He can be found out on the course
watching golf, often sporting an orange shirt, in recognition of his
beloved Tennessee Volunteers.

Hall said that the week of the tournament isn't the most difficult,
even though his schedule can be determined by a combination of
tournament play and weather.

"Hell week was the last week. Advance week is the hardest," he said.

For him, even if the predicted thunderstorms cause havoc, that part of
the fun is rebuilding bunkers and squeegeeing greens so that the
course is once again ready for a PGA Tournament.

"If Mother Nature washes us out, that's just another excitement," he
said. "You look back and say, 'wow, I can't believe we did all that.'"

-- Anthony Pioppi

Live from the Traveler's Championship

This week Golfdom contributing editor Anthony Pioppi is working from the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship. Tony checks in today with his first report from the course. -- S.J.

At the 2010 PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, the story was heat with
a relentless procession of 90-plus-degree days. This year, Tom
DeGrandi, superintendent at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., is
having to deal with rain. Today's celebrity pro-am was suspended at
11:06 a.m. because of dangerous conditions;
lightning. One large storm cell is supposed to blow through by early
afternoon but that will probably result in the event being shortened
to nine holes.

Thursday's forecast is for scattered thundershowers while Friday is
predicted to have isolated thunderstorms. Cromwell was the recipient
of some severe big storms over the last two weeks, including one drenching
that created a six-foot-deep pond in the 12th fairway. That portion of
the course is built on an old sand pit and drains extremely well.

One consistent with Degrandi from last year to this year is the
sleeping arrangements for some of his crew. As he has for a number of
tournaments in a row, first assistant superintendent Noel Hall will
be bunking in the irrigation room for the week. A camping trailer,
that largest one yet, will again be the temporary home for crew
members, approximately eight this time, who would rather stay over
than be forced to drive back and forth, sometimes twice a day.

Yesterday the River Highlands crew worked from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Because of the nine-hole Golf Digest Junior Pro-Am that began at 5
p.m. interfered with the normal tournament week schedule, front side
mowing began at 1 p.m. Then the rest of the course was taken care of
from 5 p.m. until about 9 p.m. They were back at it again at 5 a.m.
today.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 25 -- U.S. Open Results

Hendren here, of Hendren’s hyperbole! Thanks for checking back again this week! I hope all you fathers had a great father’s day weekend. I had a great one. I watched as much of the U.S. OPEN as I could, hung out with my kids and spent some time at the pool. All in all it was a great weekend.

Congratulations to Gumsguys for winning the inaugural U.S Open Golfdom Hackoff. Also, congrats to Long Knockers and Nowhere Near Scratch for taking 2nd and 3rd. Some sweet prizes are headed your way, or will be as soon as you you all email Seth (sjones@questex.com) with your mailing address and true identities! I hope everyone that signed up enjoyed it, except you Neuty. I hope you had a horrible time!

Stay tuned, everyone, for info on the British Open edition of the Golfdom Hackoff taking place July 14th-17th.

I watched a lot of the Open this past weekend for several reasons. The first reason being that it is my favorite tournament of the year. The second reason is I wanted to see if Rory could hold it together. The third reason was because Tiger wasn’t playing.

I am still kind of in shock that Rory kicked everyone’s ass the way he did. He made it look easy. Is he really that dominant of a golfer? I thought the Open’s setup was supposed to be one of the most difficult of the year. Why were there so many players under par for the tournament? 20 players were under par for the tournament. I know the weather had an effect, but... whatever. It left me scratching my head. Did you think it was too easy?

I just hope Rory is the real deal. I hope he becomes the next big deal in professional golf and not just another really talented golfer who never reaches his full potential. Time will tell.

Until next week!

-- Matt Hendren

How about San Antonio in 2015?

The GCSAA just announced that San Antonio will host the 2015 Golf Industry Show.

The dates of the show will once again be late for this show: Feb. 25-27.

I'm all about San Antonio as a location for the GIS. Among other things I love the River Walk, Mexican food and fast food chain What-a-Burger. (Also, my Jayhawks won a national championship in that fine city back in 2008.)

The only eyebrow-raising from over here is on the dates. Feb. 25-27 is another late show, like the 2012 GIS in Las Vegas. I wonder if the later date will put a cramp on superintendents' schedules? We'll find out soon with the 2012 edition in Vegas, what supers think of the later show date.

From the press release:

San Antonio has been selected by officials of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) to host the 2015 Golf Industry Show and education conferences. The dates of the trade show are Feb. 25-26 and the education conferences are Feb. 23-Feb. 27.

"Based on attendee feedback we selected San Antonio for the 2015 Golf Industry Show," GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said. "It is a new location that attendees and exhibitors want to go to and do business. It is a great addition to the Golf Industry Show lineup and another outstanding destination."

The 2012 Golf Industry Show (Feb. 29-March 1) and education conferences (Feb. 27-March 2) will be in Las Vegas.

"San Antonio is a perfect complement to the next three Golf Industry Show locations: Las Vegas, San Diego and Orlando," NGCOA Chief Executive Officer Mike Hughes said. "San Antonio is an easy city to travel to and typically features pleasant weather that time of year. We are very optimistic about the networking opportunities available there with the convention center being located on the Riverwalk, where there are so many hotels and restaurants."