thailand Asia's Big Golf Show

Mark your calendars and call your travel agents: This year’s Asia Pacific Golf Summit will take place at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand, beginning on October 31.

The theme of this year’s show is “affordable golf.” Why? Because, according to the event’s organizers, “we need to change the mindset going forward that golf is no longer a recreational pastime for the elite and wealthy.” (The syntax is convoluted, but I think you understand what they’re trying to say.)

Despite these good intentions, the show’s list of featured speakers, we predict, will include mostly people who have nothing at all to do with “affordable golf,” starting with Tony Jacklin, who’s agreed to give a “keynote” address, and Gary Player, who’ll be inducted into the Asia Pacific Hall of Fame. (In case you were wondering why, well, the hall of fame was created by the people who sponsor the show, and the induction guarantees Player’s appearance. And that sells tickets.)

Also scheduled to give a speech is John Kawaja of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. He was invited, the show’s organizers say, because “the time has come for the golf equipment manufacturers to take center stage and tell golf course owners, operators, club managers, etc., about the efforts that they are making to grow the game of golf.”

You know, I’d like to hear that myself. It could be quite a hoot.