Annual Event Interrupted by Coronavirus Set for March 19-20
After a one-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, Demo Days at Madison Golf Center returns March 19-20.
That’s good news for golfers across north Alabama and southern Tennessee, as well as for Cindy Parrish, manager of the Madison Golf Center golf shop.
Demo Days at the Madison Golf Center have been a longtime tradition. Parrish said this is the 28th year manufacturers and golfers will gather to check out the latest in golf equipment.
Parrish has lined up 10 manufacturers for this year’s event, which runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on March 19 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 20. You’ll find Demo Days at Madison Golf Center at 401 Lime Quarry Road in Madison, Alabama.
Manufacturers scheduled to participate include: Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Srixon, Mizuno, Wilson, Cleveland, XXIO and Cobra.
“It’s been very successful,” Parrish said of past demo days. “It’s our big kickoff event every year for the shop with all the new stuff. Everybody will be doing fittings. Most will have Trackmans out here.”
For golfers, Demo Days at Madison Golf Center are one-stop shopping. With 10 manufacturers to choose from, golfers can contrast and compare clubs from one manufacturer to the next.
Also, Parrish said most of the items manufacturers will display at demo days are already in stock, so there won’t be much, if any, lag time between the time a purchase is made and when the player has the club in their hands.
Demo Days at Madison Golf Center to Feature Social Distancing
“With Covid and the supply chain being on the tough side, that makes a big difference,” she said. “On custom ordering irons, people don’t mind waiting, but on drivers and such we have a good quantity in stock so that they usually can get it that day unless it is a special-order shaft. Those guys usually understand they will have to wait on that kind of stuff.”
The golf shop also takes trade-ins toward purchases, Parrish said.
Parrish said she hasn’t done as much advertising this year due to Covid-19. She wanted to make sure the event is as safe as possible.
“We want to keep it a little smaller this year,” she said. “We will have the vendors all spread out and keep it as safe as possible for our customers, our employees and our vendors. They are going to be wiping down stuff in between people and most of the companies still want them doing one person at a time.”
Parrish said the event usually attracts between 1,200 and 1,500 people. There is no charge to attend.
“I’m not sure how people are going to feel about it this year,” she said, “I just didn’t want to go two years without it.”
And, she’s glad it’s back.
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News.
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Featured image by Gregg Dewalt
