Live Coverage from the 2012 Haggin Oaks Golf Expo

ENTER TO WIN! We are giving away a FREE dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls each day of the 2012 Haggin Oaks Golf Expo! Want a chance to win? Entering is easy! Simply leave a comment on THIS blog post and include your name and email address. Enter up to 5 times per day!  Good luck!

This is the second year that I’ll be bringing you LIVE BLOG COVERAGE of the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.. With over 180 vendors out here showcasing the latest innovations in golf, there is a ton to see! We have booths representing the top names in golf gear, including clubs, bags, clothing, sunglasses, accessories, training aids, and more.

Check out the tour vans from PING, TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, Mizuno, Cobra and Cleveland. They are all here to give you the chance to get fit like a PGA or LPGA Tour Pro at the back of the driving range. Call 916-808-2531 to schedule your appointment. We still have a few spots left! Reservation required.

I’m looking forward to going inside the Major Championship Pavilion and checking out the U.S. Open Trophy on loan from the USGA! You can get your picture taken with it. How fun is that?

I’ll have to map out my schedule this year, because I don’t want to miss any of the FREE seminars on the ESPN 1320 Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage, and I might even try my hand at winning a car from Mel Rapton Honda. I wonder if I can sink a 100 foot putt? Don’t forget to bring your putter, because we also have the Sacramento Golf Council Putting Championship out here this weekend.

Of course, admission is always FREE and we have plenty of parking and shuttles set up to get you right into the heart of all the action!

Connect with me! I want and need your help. Send me your photos, links to your YouTube videos to jmorton@hagginoaks.com and post your comments right here on this blog post! I’ll be giving away some fun prizes this weekend and I’d love for you to win! 

Sunday, April 29th – Final Day of the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo! Don’t forget to leave a comment on this blog post today for your chance to win a FREE Dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls. I’m looking forward to bringing you lots of coverage on this last day of the show! 

3:26pm –  I strolled over to Insta Golf Shoes inside the AMA booth this afternoon to check out this marvel invention. The Insta Golf Shoe is an overshoe that will go on any street shoe to instantly turn it into a golf shoe! They feature replaceable cleats and are available in 5 colors and 3 sizes.

3:23pm – Retailing for $49.99, the Insta Golf Shoe is ideal for juniors and great for traveling. They are lightweight and you don’t have to stock your suitcase full of shoes that you’ll only wear once or twice on a trip. Who wants to pay for going over on the weight allowance? These solve that issue!

2:55pm – After the Mel Rapton Honda Car Putt-Off, our top 16 qualifiers from the weekend took the MacKenzie Putting Green for the Sacramento Golf Council Putting Championship – Men’s Division.

2:40pm – With lenses built for every condition, if you are looking for the perfect lens for golf, then look no further than the Oakley G30, G30 Polarized or VR28
Black Iridium. The G30 lens is a “Sport performance lens for flat to medium light. Rose base with a subtle Iridium® coating to improve contrast and depth perception in blues and greens. Excellent for golf.

The VR28 lens is  a “Sport performance lens for medium to bright light. Cuts blinding glare while filtering blue light to increase contrast and improve depth perception in a wide variety of conditions.”

2:36pm – The Oakley Rolling “O” Lab was truly spectacular and I hope you had a chance to go through the lab and see all the tests. New for 2012 was the Oakly Custom Sunglass Bar set up right outside the lab where you could build your custom set of Oakley Hijinx or Fast Jacket sunglasses. The technology that goes into the design of Oakley sunglasses is fascinating. Stay tuned in the coming days when I do a full blog article on my experiences inside the Rolling “O” Lab.

2:15pm – Anthony Summers qualified and he made a valiant effort on the final 100 foot putt, but he didn’t win the $25,000 new Honda Accord. I’ve got to give him kudos – that would be a tough putt to stand over. I think he got a taste of what the PGA Pros feel week after week. I took a short video of the final putt. I’ll get that uploaded soon and share with our readers!

2:15-ish – We had 3 people who qualified during the first two days of Golf Expo for the final elimination for the Mel Rapton Honda Car Putt-Off and we did an elimination round to see who could hit the closest shot to the pin on a 100′ putt to be the qualifier for the car. As you can see from this putt…. it is FAR!!

2:06pm – I just heard that the final putt off to potentially win a NEW Honda Accord from Mel Rapton is getting ready to start in about 15 minutes. If you are out here, head up to the MacKenzie putting green outside the shoe shop and cheer on our contestant.

2:03pm – Have you taken the Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge? Look at all the golf balls they have set up for people. What were the results from YOUR challenge?

1:55pm – Cobra PUMA has a TV set up where you can pull up a seat and catch the tournament if you want a break from the action outside the booth.

1:53pm – Cobra PUMA is in the house and their booth is hear to both inform and entertain you.

1:15pm – The newest spike from Softspikes is the Cyclone spike which features better grip technology. How does it work? It has a unique “twisting” motion that won’t let you slip on your next round of golf.

1:12pm –   Softspikes has an offer you won’t want to miss. Buy a set of softspikes and get a free hat!

12:59pm – We’ll be keeping this new picture in our PING display after the weekend. If you want to see it early, visit the PING booth on the driving range before 5pm today.

12:57pm – We have the back up driver for Bubba Watson right here at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo. Interesting fact – the grip has 12 layers of tape to build up the grip.

12:49pm – The staff at Tour Edge poses for a picture

12:39pm – Time to choose our winner from Saturday’s Titleist Pro V1 golf ball giveaway! Saturday’s winner is “Heather IGS” from Insta Golf Shoes!

To enter today’s giveaway, simply leave a comment on this blog and include your name and email address. We are running our FINAL giveaway today so leave a comments on your experiences at the show. If we choose you, then you’ll win a dozen Titleist ProV1 golf balls!

12:34pm – Inside the NIKE booth is a nifty little golf ball personalization machine called NIKEiD. This compact printer will print your custom golf balls while you wait. The best part? It is FREE when you purchase 2 dozen or more inside the Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop.

12:21pm – You know it’s lunchtime! Here’s a photo from Greg Brown showing, ” folks enjoying their grub at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.”

12:19pm – “Grilling up the tasty grub” – Greg Brown

11:49am – View SkyCaddie at the Golf Expo. Photo by Greg Brown.

11:00am – Congratulations to Agerbek who won the Women’s Division of the 2012 City Putting Championship this morning. She was the top finisher out of the final 16 qualifiers.

10:54am – I’m getting ready to head over to the EXPN 1320 Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage to learn the Secrets of the Long Drive Champions, but I wanted to show you a picture of the hottest golf cart in the Bag Boy booth – check out the Tri-Swivel cart. Sweet!

10:38am – The latest and greatest in rangefinders from Bushnell is the Z6 which will be available in about 2 weeks. The Z6 features 6x power magnification and the coolest new feature on this compact little unit is that if you are utilizing it from 125 yards and under, the distance is mapped out for you in 1/10 yard increments. Talk about accuracy!

This unit also features a bright orange vivid display and ESP which means it processes the distance faster. The retail is $399 and you can see this unit NOW here at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo before it is available at retail.

10:35am – Have you stopped by the Nuun booth? These electrolyte enhanced drink tabs retail for $7.99 and come in 11 flavors. There are no added sugars and over 40 PGA Tour Players currently drink Nuun both on and off the golf course. You can try samples of the drinks. I liked it – it wasn’t heavy and tasted light and refreshing in my opinion.

10:20am – Emmy sent us this photo too! “Katherine Roberts teaches golf specific conditioning to Nick from Half Moon Bay at Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.”

10:00 am – The Secret Behind Better Golf: Katherine Robert’s Flex Fit Yoga Golf Training- Hosted by Nike Golf and Katherine Roberts. Emmy submitted this photo of Katherine Roberts with Yoga For Golfers as she takes center stage at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.

9:45am – UST is out here. Check out their booth. Photo credit: Greg Brown

9:28am – We have something for everyone out here. For the kids, we have a bounce house set up near the Junior Golf Programs booth (by the ESPN Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage) – I love listening to the sound of happy kids giggling in the bounce house during the presentations on stage.

9:00am – Mike Cole was the top junior in the 2012 City Putting Championship this morning. It was a tough finish and a fun event to watch first thing this morning. Congratulations Mike!

9:00am – It’s official. We set an attendance record yesterday for the most people to ever attend the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo on a single day. I was out and about all day and I have to admit, nothing ever seemed overly crowded. I think that says a lot about how much there is to do and see out here!

Saturday, April 28th – I’m here and ready to spend the ENTIRE day bringing you news and insights from the show.

4:45pm – The Cobra AMP – it’s time for your close-up.

4:28pm – Ed Cuffe sent me an email to be entered in the Titleist giveaway. According to Ed, the Titleist Pro V1 is the “greatest ball ever”.

4:00pm – “Spinning the wheel for prizes” – Greg Brown

3:24pm – Brandon is trying GolferAid for the first time. This supplemental, all natural energy drink contains 3 grams of supplements. It has glucosamine to help promote joint health and vitamins for sustainable energy. It isn’t going to leave you feeling jittery out on the golf course. I tried a can and I did like it. It tasted lighter than Gatorade and a bit like a lemon-lime soday. Free samples are being given away this weekend. Try one for yourself and let us know how you like it.

2:24pm – “PGA professionals on the putting green” – Greg Brown

2:21pm – “Loudmouth golf pants are a big hit!” – Greg Brown

2:19pm – “Dressed to impress the crowds at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo. – Greg Brown.

2:17pm – “Her sides hurt from giggling so much”- Greg Brown.

2:14pm – “Need a lesson? Call Dick McShane at Haggin Oaks”. Photo provided by Greg Brown.

2:13pm – Greg Brown makes my job easy with these great photos! Here we have a golfer “crushing one at the Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge”.

2:11pm – Greg Brown shot this photo for us too. If you are looking for a unique form of advertisement for your business, then go see the folks at Cart Wrappers. They’ll put your business on a golf cart at a local area golf course. Each and every cart is unique and noticeable out on the golf course. We have several of these carts roaming Haggin Oaks. Have you seen one lately?

2:09pm – “Charlie Thomas announces another winner!” Greg Brown reports at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.

2:07pm – Greg Brown also submitted this photo. It’s all smiles in the SuperCuts booth. If you haven’t stopped by there, be sure you do. They have an hourly prize drawing and simply put… this booth is a blast!

2:06pm – Greg Brown submitted this picture of our big eagle welcoming you to the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.

1:07pm – Thinking Like A Champion: 3 Mental Game Skills All Great Players Possess- Rick Sessinghaus- PGA Metro Section Teacher of the Year- sponsored Wilson Golf on the Game Improvement Stage

1:03pm – 1st Bite – My son, Brandon, is out here volunteering this weekend and I though he would be the ideal person to take the first bite out of our Olympic Club Olympic Burger. According to Brandon, “It tases like a hamburger that’s shaped like a hot dog.” Personally, I think this burger is both flavorful and cooked to perfection. I definitely like this better than my Augusta Pimento sandwich yesterday, although I am glad I tried that new unique experience as well.

12:44pm – LUNCH TIME! I have made it my mission to try all the “special” food choices that we are offering at the show this weekend. Looking over this food board outside MacKenzie’s Sports Bar & Grille, I think today I am going for the Olympic Club Olympic Burger. Yum!

12:36pm – The Polara golf ball is a self correcting golf ball that will help improve your game if you tend to hook or slice the ball. Due to the Polara golf ball’s unique dimple pattern, the ball will help you hit straighter. How does it work? The dimple pattern is deeper on the sides and shallower in the center. The 75% correctness ball is ideal for those players with severe hooks and slices. If your hook or slice isn’t terrible, then you should try the 50% correctness ball, it will go further when you hit it. Polara is giving away free samples in their booth this weekend.

12:24pm – These FLEX watches retail for $40 and can also be found up by the Haggin Oaks Shoe Store. These watches support good causes and 10% of each watch sold supports charity. An interesting fact is that every watch color supports a different charity. The bands are interchangeable and you can mix and match to create different looks.

12:21pm – DEAL ALERT! If you are looking for the hottest spot at the show when it comes to saving money, then head up to the breezeway in front of the Haggin Oaks Shoe Store and you’ll find close-out products and special buys that are priced to move… fast! We call this section our Club Garage Sale & Value Center. Visit it and you won’t regret it!

12:18pm – Fedaboa is selling their classic belt without the hologram for $50 and as a show special you can pick up their DNA Belt for $75. This is a $4 savings off the normal price so if you are interested, then you should definitely come out here this weekend during Golf Expo. The hologram is the strongest available out on the market according to the sales rep and this company is taking Hollywood by storm. You can find their clip on necklace (on sale for $40 this weekend) on celebs such as Taylor Swift, Ryo Ishikawa, Max Carver, Snoop Dog and more. They are also offering their “Sexy Slap On Bracelet” for $40 – I swear that is the official name!

12:15pm – This colorful little display is from a company known as Fedaboa and these are belt buckles. The clear ones retail for $14 and the Chrome version are called DNA and retail for $30. The belt buckles are interchangeable and you can mix and match them with your oufit. The $30 version includes a hologram which is supposed to give you higher energy levels, centers your gravity and provides you with better balance. I didn’t try these, so I can’t give you my personal opinion. However, I was stopped yesterday by a friend of mine yesterday during the Golf Expo who was telling me about how great these holograms were. He has a bad back and told me that he instantly noticed a difference.

12noon – Up next on the ESPN 1320 Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage: The Best Tips and Tactics In Golf- Hosted by Pebble Beach Company and Golf Digest- Laird Small- ranked Top 50 America’s Greatest Teachers in 2011 by Golf Digest.

11:55am – Here are the booths set up outside the shoe store.

11:53am – Personally, I LOVE ecco shoes, I even have a pair of those black and white ecco shoes on the end with the pink laces. Have you seen the matching belts available too? If you’re not afraid of color, then head up to the Haggin Oaks Shoe Shop and check out the ecco booth set up out on the breezeway. These shoes are made very well and the quality shows.

11:51am –  The Sacramento Golf Council Putting Championship is a 50+ year tradition. Come try your luck at qualifying for the final match play tomorrow. For a $5 donation that goes back into the community to support junior golf, you can putt the course to see if you are one of the top 16 finishers in the men’s, women’s or junior divisions. Some great prizes will be awarded too! On Sunday, chairs will be set up around the putting green for spectators to watch the final competition. Join us.

11:44am – Come to the main putting green up by MacKenzie’s Sports Bar & Grille and outside the Haggin Oaks Shoe Store for the Mel Rapton Honda Accord putting contest and the Sacramento Golf Council Putting Championship.

11:43AM – Sooooo… Close…. Shirley had the line right, but the ball went past the hole by about 10″.  It can be done though! We have two qualifiers already coming back tomorrow. Will you be next?

11:43AM – Can you sink a 100 foot putt? Want YOUR FREE shot at a new Honda Accord from Mel Rapton Honda? Here’s the deal: If you can make a 100 foot putt out here today, then you will qualify for a chance to come back tomorrow to win a Honda Accord, valued at $25000.

11:21am – Here’s a bird’s eye view… or at least the view after climbing on a ladder that shows the length of the driving range. I’m going to take a break from blogging for a bit and check out more of the show. I’ll be back soon! Don’t forget to leave your comments here on the blog. I’ll be picking a new winner today for a dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls. Simply leave a comment either telling us what you liked best at the Golf Expo or if you aren’t able to come this year, what you wish you could see or try!

11:17am – I think it is fun to see the tents lined up behind the golfers during Golf Expo weekend. What do you think?

11:02am – WINNER TIME! It is time to pick the winner from our first day giveaway. I have a dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls that are going to…. (drum roll, please)…. Bill Bradley!  Congratulations, Bill! Winning is easy!

To enter today’s giveaway for a free dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, simply post a comment or send me your pictures via email to jmorton@hagginoaks.com. I’ll choose a NEW winner for Saturday, based on ALL comments left TODAY! Don’t forget to leave your name and email address too so that I can contact you!!!

11am – Our next presentation on the EXPN Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage is about to begin. Catch 12-year MLB veteran catcher Pat Dempsey as he explains “Secrets of the ReMax Long Drive Champions”. This presentation is sponsored by UST. Pat is the winner of the ReMax Long Drive Championship Senior Division.

10:48am – These ads are right on the putting green as you run through the Odyssey Putting Challenge. Have you picked up the new Metal X putter yet? My son, Brandon, has one in his golf bag now and he LOVES it!

10:46am – On the putting green over by the ESPN Golf-To-Go Game Improvement Stage, Odyssey has set up a fun “Putting Challenge”. Grab one of their putters and run through the course.

10:32am – I don’t want to forget to show you the TaylorMade area back here before I go! If you had a fitting back here, please leave a comment and tell us what you think about it. All of these fittings are $25, but the fee is refunded with purchase. You can’t go wrong! Call 916-808-2531. Limited spots are still available for this weekend.

10:29am – I’m getting ready to move back to the front side of the range where most of the action is taking place. Here is a quick look along the length of the driving range here at the back. You can see that we are in the midst of a new build-out that will extend the driving range by an additional 55 yards. I think we have cement being pored in the next week. Stay tuned for more improvements here at Haggin Oaks.

10:27am – NIKE sponsored our staff shirts today. You can’t miss us! You can spot a Haggin Oaks team member in their bright pink NIKE shirts!

10:25am – There is quite a set up at the back of the driving range. Here you can see the Mizuno van and clubs set up and ready to fit you in your perfect set of clubs. Call 916-808-2531 if you want the VIP club fitting experience this weekend!

10:23am – Check out the 2012 PING fitting van.

10:21am – PING has a sweet little set-up! Have you seen the all pink Bubba Watson driver that is out here?

10:04am – Check out the staff bags with the names of the Callaway tour players at the Callaway fitting booth at the back of the driving range.

9:57am – Nick is hard at work inside the Callaway fitting van. I asked him how many clubs he can build in an hour and he reported that he can build as many as 3 – 14 club complete sets EVERY hour! Whoaaaa – he can fly in that little van!

9:53am – Here’s the Cleveland fitting area at the back of the range. Cleveland SRIXON sponsored our fun yellow staff shirts yesterday. Call 916-808-2531 to schedule a fitting. We have shuttle service to take you to the back of the driving range, but an appointment is required.

9:43am – Here’s another shot of Peter hard at work on a new custom set of Titleist golf clubs. Did you know that Haggin Oaks has an exclusive Team Titleist at Haggin Oaks group? It is a good one – you can be the first to know of new product introductions and we have had several giveaways in the past for new golf ball introductions and more. Click HERE to join!

9:41am – Many of the custom Titleist clubs being ordered at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo at the back of the range are being built on the spot by Peter inside the FittingWorks van.

9:37am – Have you ever gone through a fitting at the back of the driving range during Golf Expo? You can get away from the crowds and are given VIP treatment as you are fit by the highly trained and skilled fitters and vans that are typically found at PGA and LPGA Tour events. Call 916-808-2531 to make an appointment. Here you can see the Titleist FittingWorks van. I took a step inside to see the real action!

9:35am – The day is bright, sunny and all around perfect!

9:17am – KCRA was out here yesterday to share a few of the show highlights. Watch this quick video:

Friday, April 27th – I haven’t had as much time to walk the show as I was initially hoping as I was pulled in a several directions today. I’m VERY glad I’ll have another two days to see and talk to more people.

8:00am – CONTEST TIME!! I’m going to start our first contest right now! Who wants to win a dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls? I have a dozen to give to one lucky reader TODAY and all you have to do to win is leave a comment here or send me your photo/video to jmorton@hagginoaks.com. Include your name and email address so that I can contact you if you win and you can enter up to 5 times! What have you seen or what are you looking forward to seeing out here?

4:49pm – Here I am with the U.S. Open trophy. You can come out and have your picture taken with it too. We have FREE photos available that you can post directly on Facebook, Twitter or have sent to your email. Since I won’t be seeing my name ON the trophy, this is as close to it as I’ll ever get.

4:43pm – We may not have been able to bring you the real Tiger Woods, but we do have a life size picture of him in our Major Championship Pavilion. I think I need to do some shopping in this booth. Look at all that cool U.S. Open gear!

4:08pm – Jessica Andrews opens the concert. This was the perfect ending to a perfect first day of the show!

4:01pm – Here’s a picture of country music recording artist, Jessica Andrews, with Morton Golf’s own Ken Morton, Jr. right before she stepped on stage for her FREE concert on the Game Improvement Stage.

3:35pm – Bob Caldwell was hanging out in The Links at Bodega Harbour booth today. You should stop by and sign up to win. I LOVE going over there in the heat of the summer – it is always cool and beautiful there.

3:34pm – When you are at the Links of Bodega Harbour booth, be sure to pick a golf ball in their contest. Depending on the number of dots on the ball, you can win a discount on your next round of golf. A few lucky winners will also have the chance to win a FREE round!

3:33pm – When I stopped by the SUPERCUTS booth, I spun the wheel and won a prize! I got a FREE coozie and a coupon to save $5 on my next haircut. My husband and kids are big fans of SUPERCUTS, so I know the coupon will be put to good use. When at their booth, sign up to win. They are giving away a larger prize every hour. You could be next!

3:00pm – Walking past our Player Performance Studio, I am reminded to tell you that we do custom fittings with the most sophisticated club monitoring technology available. Call 916-808-2531 to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive club-fitting experience. You won’t be disappointed.

2:55pm – This limited edition PING Bubba Watson Pink Driver has been making quite a splash in the headlines lately and you can see it for yourself over in the PING booth.

2:00pm – Terry Koehler, President and CEO of SCOR Golf takes the stage to present his seminar on “Short Game Boot Camp – Tools and Fundamentals for Scoring”

1:22pm – Lunch Time! – I had to pick up one of our specialty sandwiches that we are serving this weekend only. Today, our graphic design artist, Mary Beckert, and I had to try the most unusual offering (in my opinion) – the famed Augusta pimento cheese sandwich wrapped in green paper.

1:22pm Lunch Time! According to Mary, “I like the texture of the onion and the lettuce. It is creamy and crunchy.” I am not a huge onion fan personally, so I took out the onion. This is a different sandwich. It is light and reminds me a bit of an egg salad sandwich. You should definitely pick one up for the experience.

1:19pm – Be sure to stop in the Major Championship Pavilion this weekend. You can take your picture with the U.S. Open Trophy – seriously! It’s on loan from the USGA.

10:45am– I’m headed off to the airport to pick up Jessica Andrews and her guitarist Mark Thompson for this afternoon’s 4p concert. Jessica is a former Academy of Country Music ASsociation Award winner and will be a wonderful entertainment to our show later today.

10:17am – Here is a picture showing the front of the driving range this morning. People all around me having fun!

10:07am – Say hello to Dave in the Loudmouth booth. You can’t miss him in his U.S. flag pants. I couldn’t even make it into the front door without picking up a Father’s Day gift from the EP Pro booth. I’d show you a picture, but I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise! I have my camera in hand and I am heading out to bring you some pictures. Stay tuned.

10:03am – I’m here! Parking tip – when you get out here, our parking attendants are going to park you out on the Arcade Creek Golf Course. Look for one of our many shuttle carts to give you a lift straight to the front entrance of the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo.