by Bill Huffman  For The East Valley Tribune 12/08/05

GOLFWEEK GOLFEST
Where: WestWorld in Scottsdale
When: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets: $10 in advance (Van’s Golf Shops) or $15 at the gate
Information: www.golfest.com


The tendency is to look at this weekend’s Golfweek Golfest at WestWorld in Scottsdale as yet another “demo day,’’ in which golfers test drive the latest-greatest equipment.

But the organizers of this traveling golf caravan that will sweep through 10 cities in the next six months prefer the catch phrase “a golf lifestyle extravaganza.’’

Either way, Golfweek Golfest is coming to town, with lots of potential gifts for your favorite golfer just in time for the holiday.

According to Armand Cimaroli, the director of special events for Golfweek Magazine, Golfest offers consumers the unique opportunity to “try and buy’’ the latest golf equipment “right there on the spot.’’ And to achieve that goal, Cimaroli & Co., which includes the eight Van’s Golf Shops throughout the Valley, have built “massive outdoor range at WestWorld.’’

“There have been two previous Golfests, and both were held in Orlando and were huge successes despite some (inclement) weather,’’ Cimaroli said. “Now, if we can get some Arizona-type weather this weekend, I think we might have even more of a turnout.’’

Cimaroli said that, unlike the traditional demo day, Golfest will have “a big stage with headline acts’’ both Saturday and Sunday. The marquee includes well-known instructor David Leadbetter, PGA Tour player Ted Purdy, trick-shot artist Peter Jonicke, yoga guru Katherine Roberts and Suzy Whaley, who shook up the PGA Tour several years back when she qualified and played in theGreater Hartford Open.

“I suppose you could say it’s modeled after the PGA Show in Orlando, but it’s really more like an outdoor consumer golf show,’’ Cimaroli said. “We’ve got all the major golf club manufacturers with the exception of Titleist.’’

What’s unusual about the Golfest approach is that several of the hottest club lines -- Taylor Made, Callaway and Cleveland -- will actually build the sticks for you while you wait. Others, like Phoenix-based PING, will custom-fit the clubs and deliver at a later date.

Additionally, golf sports wear, miscellaneous equipment and other programs also will be available on-site. And, just to keep it lively, numerous golf contests.

“In reality, this will be our biggest Golfest to date,’’ Cimaroli said. “Pretty much everything that’s already out there, and a lot of new stuff that will be introduced at the PGA Show in Orlando, will be on display at Golfest.

Rick Levy, the vice president of operations for Van’s, said the Valley never has had such a show in terms of quality and presence.

“This is a whole new concept that the Golfweek people have come up with, a real smorgasbord of the best new equipment that’s out there,’’ Levy said. “And it’s not just about golf clubs, as manufacturers like Nike are bringing out its entire new apparel line, just in time for the holidays. And there’s no wait, as you can buy it right there!’’

After Scottsdale, the Golfweek Golfest show moves on to nine other cities in seven different states, the biggest stops being Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and San Deigo.

“It’s amazing what we’ve been able to promote in the past few years besides the magazine,’’ Cimaroli noted. “We now have 50 golf-related events a year.’’