GOLF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Toronto Golf and Travel Show
International Centre, Mississauga, February 23 – 25, 2018
A post-show account from show coordinator, Stan Lapidus:

Good morning to everyone! I am in full recovery mode following four intense but fun filled days at the Toronto Golf & Travel Show. Yes... 4 days. One day to set up... and three to inform, engage and persuade 20,000 plus golfers from all over the GTA about the benefits of being a member of the GHSC and the fun of and value in collecting golf "stuff". We were fortunate with terrific weather to set up and take down our booths.

As in recent years, the primary vendor participants were Craig Blair, David Burgess & myself. We were missing our long time participant Ian MacCrimmon who was not able to join us this year, but on a good note, we added the ever-colourful and enthusiastic Downtown Dave Blocksidge. We were supported in our efforts by the following team of outstanding Golf Show volunteer "ambassadors" to whom we owe a huge thanks: Ron Archer, Jeff Rogers, Doug (and Margaret) Marshall, Eric Reid (who did double duty...Friday & Sunday!!), Ken Leedham, and Phil Williams (who despite feeling like crap, honoured his comittment to be available and to who I am personally most grateful for his assistance in helping me pack up, etc.).

Because of the efforts of this formidable team, we signed up 7 new members.

A major new initiative coming from the fertile mind of Downtown Dave was the introduction of the FREE DRAW to win a set of hickory clubs + leather bag. Once again, from the efforts of our Ambassadors, we collected several hundred entry forms from which a mailing list (emails, not residential addresses, etc.) will be developed. On the same form, we collected a bit of information pertaining to the potential interest in holding a hickory scramble event for NON-MEMBERS, with the hope of encouraging them to become members... if, in fact, there is sufficient interest. And we will know shortly, as Downtown Dave has willingly volunteered to "tally" their responses and provide us with a tidy summary. Thank you, Dave. (BREAKING NEWS: WINNER OF THE DRAW WAS JAMES WELSH.)

As always, the vendors attracted lots of interest with their golf collectibles... none more so than Craig Blair's wonderful variety of eclectic Masters stuff (e.g. packaged Augusta coffee)... where does he get this????? And alas, I submitted to the generous offer of golf pro and friend Gary Price to part ways with my wonderful recent find of George Knudson's golf bag. (I am suffering at the moment from post sale remorse, but can take some comfort from the belief that Mr. Price will give it a much better home than I ever could.)

As for next year, the show Manager, Lars Melander made me a personal promise that not only would he find us a place to have attendees hit hickory clubs... but he would, in fact, FEATURE US, in their pre show publicity. Sounds a tad too good to be true, but we shall see about 10 months from now.

Thank you again, to all who helped make this a success.

Tired, but happy,

Stan Lapidus

The few images below will provide a little "meat" to the mere "bones" of the write up above.