The 16th edition of the Golf Europe show held in Munich from Oct. 5 through 7 was visited by 14 percent fewer trade professionals than in 2007. Slightly more than 4,600 trade visitors came compared with more than 5,400 in the previous year. The show’s organizer, Messe München, attributes the decrease to the absence of quite a few important brands, but has made plans to improve the situation for next year.

As in 2007, the countries sending the most visitors behind Germany were Austria, with 381 visitors, and Switzerland with 300, followed by Italy and the Czech Republic. Many exhibitors told SGI Europe that they were really pleased with the strong attendance of retailers from Central and Eastern Europe. Messe München confirms that the number of visitors from Slovakia and Slovenia was up by 25 percent. On the other hand, exhibitors were not happy that retailers from traditional core markets such as the British Isles, France, and the Benelux countries stayed away.

In fact, quite a few important brands did not exhibit at the show, including Nike, Taylor Made-Adidas Golf, Wilson, Mizuno and Brax. Some of them, however, opened their showrooms in Munich’s order center, MOC, during the show, mainly for German visitors. The organizers of Golf Europe are therefore confident that moving the show back to its former location, MOC, might help to offer a larger variety of brands than in the past few years.

A reporter for SGI Europe paid a visit to MOC on the first day of the show, and it was obvious that retailers were not lining up to get into the showrooms. To tell the truth: MOC was dead then. On the other hand, the decision to move the show back to MOC was welcomed by many exhibitors, especially by those that have their showrooms there anyway.

On top of that, the situation might be improved by shifting the show’s date one week earlier. Next year, Golf Europe will take place from Sept. 27 through 29. That will help to keep the show separate from the EXPO REAL, a real estate show that has been run by Messe München in the same period of time so far. Messe München argues that EXPO REAL caused prices for hotel accommodation to be so high that many visitors couldn’t afford to attend Golf Europe.

The show also awarded the six best products in the catagories clubs, apparel, footwear, accessories, caddies and practice equipment. The awards went to Stealex’ SWS shaft weight system in the club category for its screwless, exchangeable weight fitting system for putter shafts. In the apparel category, Chervò’s “Egadi Vest” was first for functional clothing, while Golfino’s “Pinstripe Weather Jacket” won in terms of fashion and style. Hi-Tec made the best shoe: “Pure Power WP 1,” equipped with the waterproof, breathable Ion Mask technology. The other awards went to Bag Boy, TeeSet, and Club Rider.