New England golfers ready for annual expo

Temperatures touching the 60s last week teased local golf enthusiasts, but they know the true signal of spring in these parts is when the annual National Golf Expo kicks off this weekend at the Seaport World Trade Center.

Now in its 27th year, New England's largest golf showcase features hundreds of displays, exhibits and highlights, including Joe & Leigh's indoor Demo Range, Leader-Board of Boston's Mini Golf and the Samuel Adams Beer Garden. Over three days the show attracts about 20,000 golfers, all with sky-high anticipation that the season ahead will be the best ever, if only they budget for the right $400 driver or $300 putter or $100 training aid.

Vendors have a clear message for consumers: Come and check out the latest and greatest in equipment, clothing and gizmos or “invest” in a new Callaway Epic driver or Taylor Made Tour Spider (Dustin Johnson model) putter and your game will improve. If only getting better at the world's most interesting — and frustrating — sport was that easy.

The ever-popular Seminar Stage will feature daily demonstrations by New England PGA member instructors covering topics such as fitness, tips and technique. Distinguished guests include Suzy Whaley, the PGA vice president and first woman elected to serve as an officer of the PGA of America; Kay McMahon, an LPGA Hall of Fame instructor; Daren MacKinnon, the director of club fitting at Joe & Leigh's Performance Center and WBZ's Sports Hub 98.5 Golf Clinic with Hardy.

“These are three days that golf fans look forward to,” said Barbara Pudney, event manager for the Paragon Group. “Since the golf season is on the brink we see lots of happy faces.”

A look at some of the sponsors at the Golf Expo:

If you're thinking about a road trip this summer less than three hours from Boston where you can relax and not spend too much, then the Maine Trifecta might be your answer.

For about $300 you get two nights lodging at Poland Spring Resort, four allyou-can-eat buffet meals, three 18-hole greens fees with cart at Poland Spring Resort, Spring Meadow and Fox Ridge, and driving range balls at all three courses.

Stop in and see the Maine Golf Hall of Fame when you're at the Poland Spring Resort.

The catchy motto states, “Not just golf; TOUR Golf.”

Wouldn't it be thrilling if your putt on the 18th green meant more than a $2 Nassau? Nothing wrong with winning $6 in a friendly match but if you'd like to bring your game to the next level, The TOUR of Greater Boston guarantees you that experience. The tournaments include a talented array of 30–70 players, a format with USGA Rules and monitored handicaps,

individual gross and net trophies, prizes, skins and bragging rights.

“When you join The TOUR, you play in tournaments on some of the best courses in New England, public and private,” said membership director Eric Siegel. “We host 55 tournaments on prestigious courses like Belmont CC, Myopia Hunt Club, Red Tail, Eastward Ho, Waverly Oaks, Sugarbush and Newport National. Our annual fee of $150 is nothing compared to the expenses of joining a private club.”

The USGA classifies The TOUR of Greater Boston as a “traveling tournament club” and it has become one of the most attractive and affordable options in getting a tee time at a variety of private venues.

In a place where the history, community and landscape are legendary for hospitality and adventure, Stowe Mountain

Resort also features two 18-hole championship golf courses.

Golf Magazine recently rated Stowe Mountain Club as one of the “top 10 new courses in the United States.” The property meanders along the slopes of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, reaching an elevation of more than 1,800 feet, offering a dynamic setting and quite stunning visuals, even if you leave with fewer balls than you started with.

Course designer Bob Cupp states boasts of Stowe Mountain Club: “Once every few decades, a spectacular sight for golf appears. Such is the case at the foot of Mount Mansfield in Vermont. There may be no finer collection of short par fours anywhere in America.”

The resort course is available to guests of the Stowe Mountain Lodge, recently hailed in the Condé Nast Readers Choice Poll as the No. 1 golf resort in the northern United States.

Since golfers across the Bay State are itching to get back on the fairways in the next few weeks, the Massachusetts Golf Association wants players to join its Members Now! program.

The MGA is encouraging golfers to get ahead of the season and obtain or renew MGA/GHIN memberships through the “Members Now!” program now.

Why is it important to have an MGA/GHIN membership? Let's put it this way. You've been hitting balls on the practice range whenever time permits, or playing in a charity event or two or three, and now you're ready to join your friends on the course for a friendly match, if there is such a thing. But to make it a fair match, you'll need to make allowances for each player's ability. You'll also want to see if you're getting better by tracking your progress posting accurate scores as the season progresses. To do that, you'll need to establish a handicap index. It's that simple.

Golfers can join the Members Now! program at MGAlinks.org.