MUNICH - Oct. 8, 2004 - The 12th International Trade Fair for Golf, GOLF EUROPE 2004, registered visitor numbers on the three trade fair days, which were similarly successful to the previous year. This was despite the fact that the PGA of Europe Teaching & Coaching Conference, which takes place in rotation, was not held this year. A total of 5,237 visitors were recorded on the three trade fair days October 3 to 5, 2004 (2003: 5,295) on the grounds on the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

It was also possible to expand the high international share of trade visitors one again. Forty-eight percent (2003: 45%) of the trade visitors were from a total of 54 foreign countries (2003: 51). The international Key Account Program also contributed to this, which Messe München GmbH has already carried out in collaboration with exhibitors for the third time and which also brought many international trade visitors to Munich this year again.

The 318 exhibitors at GOLF EUROPE 2004 were correspondingly pleased - 189 of them came from 27 foreign countries - and gave top grades within the framework of the survey conducted by the independent market research institute tns infratest. Eighty-eight percent of the exhibitors rated the clear layout and industry classifications as excellent to good. The same grades of excellent to good were given by 81% for visitor quality, by 78% for the leading trade fair character and the leading role of GOLF EUROPE, and by 77% for the quality of the exhibitor service and the supporting program in general.

The main topics of GOLF EUROPE 2004 were the advance of hybrid clubs – good and constant results can be achieved with mixtures of wood and iron as substitutes for long irons – composite drivers and fairway woods, which enable a defined distribution of weight, a wide range of irons to do justice in a more targeted manner to the different ranges of performance, new offers specifically for beginners, numerous wedges and putters in new variants, custom-fit offers – individualized mass production methods provide subtly distinguished product qualities – and last but not least golf fashion in fresh colors – candy tones are an important key word here - and with many functional properties protecting again sun and rain.

The further expansion of golf on the way to becoming a popular sport of the masses was again an important topic at the trade fair. This was also expressed in the announcement of the German Golf Association, DGV, and the Professional Golfers’ Association, PGA of Germany, that they intend to collaborate more closely in the future with the goal winning over more golfers for the sport and consequently generate more demand for the golf market.

Eastern Europe and the potential of golf there was also a central topic of discussion. Golf is experiencing extraordinary growth in the new E.U. member countries. This was also demonstrated at GOLF EUROPE 2004 in the form of increasing visitor numbers from the Central and Eastern European countries, especially from the Czech Republic with 161 trade visitors followed by Slovenia with 51 trade visitors.

The PGA of Europe Teaching & Coaching Conference will again take place in advance of GOLF EUROPE in ICM in the upcoming year. The organizers expect more than 1,000 professionals from throughout the world in Munich from September 29 till October 1, 2005. The seminar program of the TCC will be continued within the framework of GOLF EUROPE 2005, which will be held from Sunday, October 2, until Tuesday, October 4, 2005 on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

There are also plans to provide a separate hall for the Indoor Driving Range, which has been very popular the past three years, to provide even more presentation and test space for exhibitors and trade visitors on one hand, and on the other hand to make it possible to use the space, which has become free, as a regular exhibition area.

Within the framework of GOLF EUROPE 2005, the GOLF EUROPE Legend Award will also be presented for the third time for unique contributions to golf. It was presented this year to Sir Michael Bonallack, President of the PGA of Europe.