Sometimes overlooked amid rows of deal-offering vendors and exhibitors at the Denver Golf Expo are the free seminars. They shouldn’t be.
Expo director Mark Cramer, in conjunction with the Colorado PGA Section and the Colorado Golf Association, has put together an impressive lineup of speakers and instructors for this year’s event. The Denver Golf Expo begins a three- day run today at the Denver Merchandise Mart Plaza & Pavilion.
“I’ve always wanted seminars to be a big part of what we do,” Cramer said. “If we can make the game more enjoyable, they’ll play more often.”
A seminar that can benefit golfers of all abilities is titled “Rub of the Green: How Knowing the Rules of Golf Can Help Your Game.” Pete Lis, the CGA’s director of rules and competitions, will show how the rules of golf are not always penal and, in fact, can often benefit the knowledgeable player with favorable drops, etc. Lis will conduct the half-hour seminar at 1 p.m. each day.
Another seminar that should have wide appeal is “The Importance of Proper Practice for Game Development” conducted by Stan Sayers, director of instruction at the McGetrick Golf Academy. Sayers will show the practice methods used by touring pros, including those intended to get the player acclimated to competitive situations. This seminar also is scheduled each day: 3 p.m. today, 11 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Game-improvement seminars are designed to help putting, driving distance and the mental approach. “What to Expect from a Golf Lesson” and “Equipment for Women” also should be informative, along with an “open forum” on issues pertaining to junior golf.
“We’ve gone out of our way this year to offer a variety of seminars, in addition to ones giving swing lessons,” Cramer said. “It’s not just about learning to play the game, but learning to play the game the right way.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
If you go
The annual Denver Golf Expo is this weekend:
Where: Denver Merchandise Mart (Interstate 25 and 58th Avenue)
Schedule: Today 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $10 adult, seniors (50 and older) $8, juniors (16 and younger) free
What: More than 125 exhibitors; free seminars each day; golf club swap; demo area.
AROUND TOWN
No place like home ice
Amarillo. Tulsa. Shreveport. Odessa. Wichita. Not exactly a Caribbean vacation. But after rolling through a recent seven-game road trip — they played nine of the past 10 away from home the Colorado Eagles finally return to Loveland this weekend. In their past seven, the Eagles earned 10 of a possible 14 points, pushing them into a tie with Rapid City atop the Northern Conference. Successful road swings like this would put Colorado into contention when it comes to playoff seeding. But home is where the Eagles excel. Colorado hosts the Arizona Sundogs at 7 p.m. tonight at the Budweiser Events Center. And on Sunday, the Rapid City Rush comes to town for a marquee matinee matchup at 3 p.m.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Bouquets, basketball and more.
It’s not enough that one of the busiest Sundays on the yearly TV sports calendar lands this weekend. It’s also Valentine’s Day.
But there’s no need to compromise. We can have it all. No one is forcing anybody to choose between sports and romance. Don’t succumb to the gender binary! Fight the system!
The Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of stock cars, drops the green flag on Sunday at 11 a.m. on Fox (KDVR-31). And the NBA All-Star Game tips off on Sunday at 6 p.m. on TNT. And the Winter Olympics will be in full swing all day on NBC (KUSA-9), USA and CNBC.
Lots of women love NASCAR. Lots of men love figure skating. Plenty of ladies will make fun of the NBA for not playing defense. And plenty of dudes are jazzed for candlelight dinners. Have fun!
GET OFF THE COUCH
For those who love to run.
For many runners and walkers, the 5K run Sunday at Denver’s Washington Park will be another great excuse to get out and race with a group. But some of us are lovers, not runners. And the idea of running 1 kilometer, let alone 5, is a turnoff.
But Sunday’s run is perfect for everybody. The Valentine’s Day 5K at Wash Park includes the big run at 10 a.m. and a kids’ half-mile run at 11 a.m. The race is another in the RunDenver Race Series. Check for information.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Big days for the Bears.
In college basketball, conference tournaments decide fates, but regular seasons aren’t just for show.
Even with several games remaining on the schedule, the de facto Big Sky season championship will be on the line Saturday in Ogden, Utah, where Northern Colorado (19-5, 8-3) takes on Weber State (15-8, 9-2) at 7 p.m.
The Bears already got the better of the Wildcats this season, 84-75 in Greeley on Jan. 7. But Weber State is a game up in the conference standings.
A Bears win would give them the inside track to host the semifinals and championship game of the conference tournament.
First, though, UNC must go to Pocatello, Idaho, tonight to play Idaho State (6-17, 3-8). For the Bears, it’s a tough two-game roadie, but the potential for big wins is promising.
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
