Tennis ace: Tim Henman - avid golfer.
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With Englishman Lee Westwood at the top of his sport and Scot Andy Murray challenging the world's best tennis players, the synergy of both golf and tennis cannot be denied.
And when you've got Sergio Garcia, like many golf pros, a keen tennis player, while former Wimbledon idol Tim Henman a two-handicap golfer, what better way to showcase both sports than the London Golf & Tennis Show to be held at the city's ExCeL exhibition complex from April 30 to May 2, 2010.
Ken Schofield CBE, the chairman of the Golf Show Group Ltd, which owns both the London and NEC golf shows, confirmed the new format in association with Ian Peacock OBE, current president of the Tennis Industry Association and former chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, Roger Moreland, chief operating officer of the England Golf Partnership and Sandy Jones, the chief executive of the Professional Golfers Association.
Schofield says: “There are many crossovers between the two sports. Commercially, many of the large brands in golf are also present in tennis and many amateurs play both sports. The time is right for the launch of a tennis show and we are now able to build upon the success we have enjoyed with golf shows.
“It’s hugely encouraging that the LTA and others from the tennis industry have joined with the England Golf Partnership and their associates in supporting the new show. They too can see the promise in opening up an already successful show to an even larger potential audience.”
Peacock, who was also formerly managing director of Slazenger and chairman of the Golf Foundation, added: “It was Sandy’s (Jones) original idea and the TIA supported the concept . We recognised the possibilities of building on the existing golf shows to offer an opportunity for tennis enthusiasts to see what is being developed."
Jones confirmed the support of the PGA and added: “We have watched the golf shows establishing themselves and recognise we can work closely with the organisers to make the show better reflect the many aspects of golf that we ourselves are keen to promote."
Tickets will be made available to registered golf and tennis clubs and organisers are anticipating an attendance of more than 30,000 across the three days of the event.
