(January 15, 2019) Hundreds of exhibitors are expected to again span thousands of square feet of exhibit space at the 2019 Golf Industry Show, a premier networking and learning platform being held February 2-7, 2019 at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, 92101 San Diego, California.

This annual gathering is for superintendents, owners, technicians and other golf facility professionals who seek an opportunity to network and discuss the latest products and services in turf and facility care.  Renowned comedian, TV-Actor, Sinbad will also be coming to Show and will have audiences laughing during the Closing Celebration.

“We are excited to have Sinbad join us at GIS,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said to TheGolfWire. “His style of comedy is great for all ages, and it will be an entertaining end to the golf course management industry’s biggest week of the year.” Sinbad’s performance will be the finale of the week.

Sinbad

Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the “100 Greatest Standups of All Time,” Sinbad has had audiences laughing for over three decades. Throughout his incredibly successful career as a standup comedian, Sinbad has starred in two Comedy Central specials and four HBO comedy specials. As an actor, Sinbad has been featured in leading roles in such films as “Jingle All the Way” and “Good Burger”, and on the FX series, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Currently he can be seen playing Lil Rel Howery’s dad in Fox’s sitcom titled “REL.”

In addition to networking with industry peers and learning about new trends and practices, attendees will also earn 1.5 education points.

• Full Registration Includes:
• Opening Reception
• Opening Session
• Over 50 Free Education Sessions
• Trade Show
• Trade Show Finale
• Closing Celebration
• 1.5 Education Points

The 2019 GIS trade show will give superintendents, owners, technicians and other golf facility professionals the opportunity to network and discuss the latest products and services in turf and facility care. The show floor also includes special features such as Inside the Shop, presentations from GCSAA TV, free education on the show floor, the New Product Showcase and the GIS Silent Auction.  A Health in Action 5K, presented by Syngenta will take place with all proceeds going to benefit the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG).

Complimentary Full Package registration is offered to GCSAA new, retired, students, inactive and educator members.  There is also a registration package for distributors of golf, turf or facility products.  For more information visit Golf Industry Show/Registration

TAMPA, FL (January 15, 2019) — WE ARE GOLF  (formerly Golf 20/20) Diversity Task Force will host a Diversity Roundtable on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at the Orlando Convention Center, during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.  The main objectives are to gather golf industry and community-based program leaders in the same room for introductions in hopes of developing long-term, meaningful relationships.  The Diversity Roundtable is scheduled from 4:30pm-7:00 pm, on January 23, in room W221-A/B of the West convention hall.  It is open to all diversity & inclusion advocates.

Michael Cooper, PhD., Chairman, Diversity Task Force

“We hosted a similar diversity roundtable during last year’s PGA Show,” says Dr. Michael Cooper, Chairman of the WE ARE GOLF Diversity Task Force. “It was a humanizing experience, leaving us convinced that open and honest communications reveal we have more in common, rather than differences.  We’re also convinced that this sort of dialogue will lead to greater diversity and inclusion in golf, plus a more positive image of the game/industry.”  Cooper has worked in the golf industry for more than 35 years, including Director of Southeast Regional Affairs with The First Tee, and Director of Diversity for the World Golf Foundation.

James R. Beatty, Executive Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest, serves on the Diversity Task Force and is Chairman of its Recreational Play subcommittee and he will be in attendance.  “This is an opportunity for everyone who is vested in the golf industry to come together and learn what efforts are being made, share their concerns, and suggestions at this Roundtable.” Beatty is well-versed in growing businesses and has worked with hundreds of national, regional, state and local economic development organizations as President of his firms NCS International and Jim Beatty Golf Ventures.

The Diversity Task Force will also have a booth on the exhibitor show floor, booth #2887.  To attend the Diversity Roundtable please RSVP by email  to Dr. Michael Cooper.

(L-R) Edward Wanambwa, Senior Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest with Erick Prince, Founder, The Minority Nomad.

BY AAGD STAFF

(January 13, 2019)  The Minority Nomad, Erick Prince, Chats with Expat Edward S. Wanambwa (Mukholi Wanambwa), Senior Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest on Golf, International Travel, and Tips for Black Men Traveling the World.

Prince spent 10 years in the US military and then headed to college.  Shortly afterward he decided to start a nonprofit foundation for low-income youth focusing on access to travel.  As a professional travel journalist, he’s been traveling since 2001, so the road is not so less traveled by this ambitious, strong, confident man.

Focusing all of his effort on his passion for travel, Prince sold everything he could, scraped together his personal savings of around $19,000 and even took on a second job to raise enough money to fulfill his dream.  To date, Prince has traveled far-and-wide to over 93 countries, and counting.  His goal:  “I currently travel on a mission to become the first African American to visit every country in the world.”  With a strategic and successful marketing plan, now, all of his travels are funded by his innovative digital networks.  Prince also serves as a consultant for several different publications, travel companies, and websites–thus, able to travel on a whim and work from anywhere in the world.

As a Black Man, Prince says his favorite countries include Romania, Thailand, South Africa, Colombia, Brazil and Sweden.  And, he’s got plenty of reasons why–from great hospitality and kind people, to amazing landscapes, beautiful vistas, and water that tastes like rainbows!

Pictured left to Right: Geoff Surrette, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Section PGA; Vincent Kabaso, PGA Professional at Talamore Country Club in Ambler, PA … the first among a population of 17 million people in the African Country of Zambia To Become A PGA of America Member; and Andy Watters, Head Professional at Talamore Country Club.

LOWER GWYNEDD TOWNSHIP PA., January 8, 2019 –  The Philadelphia Section PGA is celebrating one of its newest and truly trailblazing members, Vincent Kabaso, who hails from the country of Zambia on the continent of Africa. Kabaso, a PGA Professional at Talamore Country Club in Ambler, PA, is the first among a population of 17 million people to earn membership in the PGA of America.
“In a country with just 25 golf courses, Vincent Kabaso’s path to PGA Membership is amazing,” said Geoff Surrette, Executive Director, Philadelphia Section PGA. “His dedication to becoming the first PGA Member among such a massive population, and in a country with limited golf opportunities, is a true inspiration.”

Kabaso, who grew up in a small Zambia mining town called Luanshya that didn’t offer much activity for youngsters, was lucky to have one of the country’s few golf courses nearby which allowed him to learn the game.

“We didn’t really have any after school activities so, prior to golf, I was shooting birds and mice with catapults or swimming in a nearby snake and disease infested stream,” said Kabaso.

In 2004, after graduating high school, and spending a few years playing locally while working at a golf course, Kabaso earned a grant from the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews that enabled him to attend college in England for a year. He then earned another grant that allowed him to study professional golf and sports science in St. Andrews, Scotland. Backed by his newfound golf education, Kabaso returned to Zambia and started managing a golf course, while also operating a first-of-its-kind junior golf academy. As he continued to hone his teaching skills, Kabaso travelled with the Zambia national team to several continental events serving as a coach and mentor to younger players.

Seeking to take his golf business expertise to another level and realizing that no one from Zambia had ever received formal PGA training, Kabaso moved to the United States in 2013 to enroll in the PGA Golf Management University Program at Methodist University, his first step to attaining PGA of America membership, at the age of 26. While unforeseen circumstances forced Kabaso to eventually leave the program, he was undeterred and soon followed the PGA Associate path, which resulted in his securing an assistant golf professional position at New Haven Country Club (Connecticut) in July of 2014. This allowed him to re-enter the PGA program and in April of 2018, after completing all of his educational requirements, Kabaso became the first Zambian ever elected to PGA Membership.

Over the next few years, he continued his role at New Haven CC, while also working for two years at Srixon Golf, before finally arriving at Talamore Country Club, where he now proudly serves as a PGA Golf Professional on the staff. In addition to his duties at Talamore, Kabaso is an accomplished motivational speaker and an author of a soon-to-be published book titled: How The World Raised Me – my path to becoming Zambia’s first Class A – PGA Golf Professional. Kabaso also remains committed to his own game and continues to compete in Philadelphia PGA Section tournaments with hopes of someday qualifying for a professional event to play alongside the PGA Tour’s best players. He is also a devout family man, as he and wife Hannah are the proud parents of a baby daughter, JoAnna Zawadi.

While Kabaso relishes his career and adores his new family in America, he often misses his family back in Zambia, including his mom, dad, two brothers and five sisters. He also maintains an unwavering dedication to paying it forward and inspiring young golfers in Zambia to follow their dreams.

Working with the Zambian Golf Union, Kabaso established the Albert Kabaso Invitational tournament, which helps preserve some local golf traditions and supports the local community. Further, he created the “Raised By the World” Foundation, which connects University of Zambia Students to local community organizations and schools, while inspiring and helping kids develop goals and aspirations. The foundation also supports junior golfers and includes a collection of used golf equipment that he compiles in the USA and sends back to Zambia.
Surrette adds, “The qualifications for becoming a PGA Member, in both the classroom and on the golf course, are not easy, but Vincent’s passion for the game and the business of golf drove him to overcome great odds, while leaving his family and country, in pursuit of his goal. He sacrificed a lot and is truly a trailblazer, standing as 1 among 17 million.