By Steve Newton and Bob Dodds

International Clubmakers Guild

The inaugural "ICG Connection Center" will be part of the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, January 25-28, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The PGA Merchandise Show is golf's global business platform where industry leaders grow the business, participation and interest in golf, and attracts more than 40,000 golf industry professionals from around the world along with nearly 1,000 golf equipment manufacturers and support companies.

The ICG Connection Center, located in conference room (CR) 205B/C, is an historic event that will offer our members the opportunity to meet with vendors dedicated to the clubmaking profession, network with golf industry professionals, participate in the very first International Clubmakers Guild general membership meeting, and attend continuing education seminars.

Upon arrival at the 2012 PGA Show, ICG members should stop by the Connection Center registration table at CR 205B/C to receive their complementary show package which will include drink, raffle and membership meeting tickets along with assorted "goodies" donated by ICG sponsors.

A "Meet & Greet" social event to afford ICG members and sponsors the opportunity to meet each other face-to-face is planned for Thursday evening after the main exhibit floor closes. This is your chance to personally meet the people that share your passion for Clubmaking, Clubfitting and Swing Training.

A general membership meeting where all ICG members can meet with the ICG Board of Directors and discuss guild business is planned for Friday morning.

At this writing, ICG sponsors confirmed to participate with Connection Center displays are: SK Fiber, Infiniti Golf, Billy Bob's Golf, Markit-Golf, Balance-Certified, and Harrison Sports. Both Infiniti and Balance-Certified are new sponsors for 2012. Additional vendor space is still available, and more sponsors will likely be added to this list before the show begins.

The following ICG sponsors will be on the main show floor: UST Mamiya, FlightScope, Eidolon Golf, Hireko Golf, Sports Sensors, Inc., Pure Grips, Jumbo Max Grips, Arthur Extreme Engineering, Mitchell Golf, and True Temper.

All ICG members-in-good-standing are eligible to attend the 2012 PGA Show by simply reserving their Show Badge from the PGA Show Registration website. (When asked for your member ID number, just make one up).

A total of ten (10) technical seminars are planned for the 3-day event (4 on Thursday, 4 on Friday, and 2 on Saturday). The PGA of America will offer its members certification (MSR) credits for attending ICG seminars, all which will focus on fitting golf clubs. We have an outstanding list of industry experts lined up to discuss the many aspects of club fitting including the following:

Seminar #1 - Performance Fitting: How Impact Creates Ball Flight Results Presented by Ed Mitchell, Chairman, Mitchell Golf Equipment Company

Description: How to use the 14 Club Performance Numbers to create ideal ball flight to ensure the ball is impacted by the club head moving in the right direction at an ideal speed with the face angle aligned to the intended target. Learn why Club Face Attitude is a critical element in determining the 'Tilt Axis Spin' of the ball.

Ed is a 44-year member of The PGA of America, and is currently a Class A-19 member. He has served the PGA as a business school instructor, PGA Junior Golf Academy instructor, officer of the South Florida PGA section, President of the Southern Chapter of the South Florida PGA Section, and on the rules committee at the 1972 PGA Championship and the 41st PGA Senior Championship. Ed is a certified PGA-USGA Rules expert. Ed has served on the PGA National Education Committee since 2009, and assisted the National PGA Education Department with writing the new PGA/PGM Apprentice Program on Instruction/Club Performance. The Southern Ohio PGA Section honored Ed as the 2009 Horton Smith Award winner for his contributions to continuing education for fellow PGA members.

Ed started Mitchell Golf Equipment Company in 1988. Mitchell Golf Equipment is known as the worldwide leader for professional grade club repair tools. Ed owns 5 patents for machine designs and manufactures club repair equipment under the registered names of STEELCLUB, TourGAUGE, and DigiFlex. In 1999 Ed started the Mitchell Golf Equipment Institute to offer training schools in club repair and performance fitting for golf industry professionals.

Seminar #2 - What Every PGA Professional or Clubmaker Needs to Know About Clubfitting Presented by Jim McCleery, owner of McGolf Custom Golf in Waverly, Ohio

Description: This presentation is geared to help the PGA professional and ICG member alike when it comes to conducting a clubfitting. Jim will relate the swing of the club in fitting terms, helping attendees recognize the basic golf swing vs. club fitting parameters and how they work together. Jim will also discuss the advantage/disadvantage of a PGA Professional working alone or with a certified clubmaker.

Jim's credentials include: Golf Digest top 100 club fitter, Professional Clubmaker Society (PCS) International Clubmaker of the Year, PCS Top Shop winner, PCS 3 time Regional Clubmaker of the Year, PCS Advanced Professional Clubmaker, Advanced Rifle Center, Master Clubmaker, and ICG Board Member

Seminar #3 - Shaft Performance Enhancement Devices, a Technical Approach to Golf Club Feel Presented by Charles Blume and Jeff Lindner

Description: Charlie and Jeff will cover the history of golf shafts, including hickory, steel and graphite. The seminar will identify the various design features in a modern shaft, including shapes and layups, that will improve the shaft's performance. The seminar will also cover the feel of shafts, both static and dynamic, which will affect accuracy and swing repeatability. The seminar will conclude by exploring what feel the world's best players prefer.

Charlie Blume is the owner of SK Fiber Golf, "The Performance Golf Shafts". Jeff Lindner is the owner of Balance-Certified Golf, "The Science of Golf".

Seminar #4 - The Shotmaker, another Approach to Improve Shaft Performance Presented by Frank Choi, Harrison Sports, Inc.

Description: Frank will discuss the development of the Shotmaker shaft insert. The engineers at Harrison wanted to improve the accuracy of their shafts and their research led them to an ultra-light shaft insert. They found in testing this insert that it reduces the shaft deformation and impact shock which leads to better accuracy. Golfers are afforded a more stable shaft without the 'boardy' feeling. Frank will also explain how this insert will interrupt the shaft deformation of a shaft which also increases accuracy.

Frank Choi is the head of Global Sales & Sports Marketing at Harrison Sports Inc.

The 6 additional seminars will be identified in subsequent communications.

The ICG Board of Directors is very excited to offer this unique opportunity for our members to expand their professional network and upgrade their technical skills. We encourage all ICG members to attend the 2012 PGA Show and help make the Connection Center a success. You will only get one chance to say, "I attended the very first ICG Connection"!