HOUSTON, Texas -- Citing Houston’s inability to deliver previously agreed upon services, officials of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) announced that the Golf Industry Show and their respective education conferences will be conducted in Atlanta in February 2006.

The conferences and trade show were originally scheduled to be in New Orleans; however, due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, officials announced Sept. 7 that the events would relocate to Houston. Atlanta, which was one of a handful of cities examined for the original relocation, last hosted the GCSAA International Golf Course Conference and Show in 2003 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The dates for the 2006 conferences and show will remain the same as were originally planned: the GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 6-11), the NGCOA Solutions Summit (Feb. 7-10) and the Golf Industry Show (Feb. 9-11).

“We are disappointed to be making this announcement,” GCSAA CEO Steve Mona said. “Officials from Houston had said they could meet our needs, but as discussions progressed, it became obvious that significant hurdles needed to be cleared. In the end, we determined the proposed arrangement would not create an experience that would meet the expectations of attendees, exhibitors, GCSAA and our show partners.”

Mona and NGCOA CEO Mike Hughes said they are confident Atlanta will provide a successful venue.

“The meeting and exhibit space, the hotel rooms and the supporting infrastructure Atlanta provides makes us confident that the Golf Industry Show will not be compromised in any way by this moves,” Hughes said.

“Our experience in Atlanta in 2003 was beyond expectations,” Mona added. “The city was revitalized with the 1996 Summer Olympics, something noticed by attendees who had not been there in quite some time. The convention center and hotels will be convenient locations for education, networking and exposition activities. Unlike Houston, there are no other events that will conflict with our ability to conduct the conferences and trade show.”

Despite relocating the events for a second time, November 1 will remain as the opening for conference and show registration. A new registration brochure will be produced and distributed by a date to be determined, but online access at golfindustryshow.com and faxback forms will be available (800/472-7878). GCSAA and NGCOA will be working with exhibiting companies to reconfigure the trade show floor.

Mona and Hughes said they have received strong support from attendees and exhibitors in making these unexpected changes.

“Obviously we are dealing with some unusual circumstances,” Hughes said. “However, the respective association leaders and staffs are fortunate to have the understanding of its members and industry partners.”

GCSAA had conducted its conference and show, known as the International Golf Course Conference and Show, in Atlanta on three previous occasions: 1979, 1983 and 2003. The NGCOA has not conducted an annual meeting in Atlanta.

Presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the Golf Industry Show is an innovative trade show that features unparalleled networking opportunities and hands-on access to golf course and facility management solutions for professional members of the golf industry. The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) will become associated with the event in 2007. Also participating as supporting organizations are the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the National Golf Foundation (NGF). For more, visit www.golfindustryshow.com. The inaugural Golf Industry Show was conducted last February in Orlando. The show attracted 22,723 golf industry professionals and featured 826 exhibitors covering more than 270,760 square feet of exhibit space.

Since 1926, GCSAA has been the leading professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 21,000 individual members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

With more than 6,500 member courses and an audience of more than 18,000 through Golf Business magazine, the NGCOA is the leading resource for golf course owners and operators looking for tools to assist them in making their business more profitable and successful, while promoting a high level of service to partners, customers and members. Its mission is to enhance the lives of golf course owners by making their business more profitable, more efficient, better managed and more stable. Visit NGCOA at www.ngcoa.org.

For more information contact:
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA Director of Communications, (800) 472-7878, ext. 4430
Joe Rice, NGCOA Director of Marketing and Communications, (800) 933-4262, ext. 222