It took a couple of years longer than organizers anticipated, but the second Southern Colorado Golf Expo is finally officially on the schedule.
And it will be for the next three years.
After a two-year absence, the Southern Colorado show is set for March 23-24 in Colorado Springs, at the Freedom Financial Services Expo Center, a 55,000-square-foot facility located at 3650 N. Nevada Ave.
“We had an excellent turnout the first year from an attendance standpoint,” said Mark Cramer, who — along with his wife, Lynn — owns and operates both the Denver Golf Expo and the Southern Colorado Golf Expo. “After signing a (three)-year agreement, hopefully we can go ahead and brand the show at that facility and build from there.
“And hopefully the Colorado Springs and Pueblo golf communities come behind the show. We can’t do it without them.”
Cramer was hoping for an annual affair when the Southern Colorado Golf Expo debuted in 2010. And with attendance of 3,032 to go along with 50 exhibitors for the two-day show, things seemed to be on track. But an unforeseen facilities-related issue led to no Southern Colorado expo in either 2011 or ’12.
Specifically, the Phil Long Expo Center, site of the first Southern Colorado show, was sold and turned into a place of worship by The Springs Church in Colorado Springs. And Cramer couldn’t find a suitable alternate venue in time for a show in 2012.
But a deal is in place for 2013, ’14 and ’15.
“Vendors have been bugging us about getting the show going again,” Cramer said. “We were not able to establish much in year 1 except generating nice attendance. For one year we did fine, but we were just starting to establish some relationships.”
The Cramers have long operated the Denver Golf Expo, which in 2013 (Feb. 8-10) will be held for the 20th straight year. But they felt that a similar event — albeit on a smaller scale — could make an impact with golf aficionados in the southern part of the state.
Besides providing deals on golf equipment, course and travel, the expos provide individualized 10-minute golf lessons, seminars about the game, an interactive “Junior Golf Experience” for youngsters, a club-demo area, and a used-club sale that benefits local junior golf programs.
With the backing of the CGA, CWGA, CJGA and Colorado PGA, the golf expos have been popular shows for golfers looking to gear up for the coming season. February’s three-day expo in Denver drew 10,519 people this year.
Now, Mark Cramer hopes to generate considerable interest for the Southern Colorado Golf Expo.
“We want potential exhibitors to get to know us and trust us,” he said. “Like (in Denver), the intent is for them to get a jump on their season. We get people thinking about golf earlier instead of after the Masters.
“Ultimately the solution (for golf’s problems) is for more people to play more rounds. That helps everyone (in the industry), and that’s what we’re trying to do with the expos.
“We’re going full ahead on something we’re passionate about.”
