Given the unsightly weather the past few days that has swept through most of Ontario, the Toronto Golf & Travel Show – beginning tomorrow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre – will be a more welcome sight than in years past.

For those unable to make it anywhere warm through the winter, the Toronto Golf & Travel Show has been a long-time reminder for golf enthusiasts – and likely girlfriends or wives who get dragged along – that yes, spring is just around the corner.

And with spring of course, comes golf.

The exhibitor list is long (no surprise there) but it has also been interesting to see as the years have past that the ‘travel’ aspect of the show has really been ramped up.

Although it does not have the same panache as the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, the Toronto Golf & Travel Show will likely be the place where many will get to see or hit new product offerings from all of the major manufacturers for 2013.

The Golf Town-sponsored hitting area will likely be the busiest section of the entire building for the duration of the weekend.

In it’s 24th year, the show is showing no signs of slowing down. And for golf enthusiasts in the GTA, this is a good thing.

It especially beats a weekend of shoveling snow.

GOOD TO KNOW FOR THE SHOW:

Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building)

Dates: Friday March 1 – Sunday March 3

Hours: Friday; 12-7pm, Saturday; 10am-6pm, Sunday; 10am-5pm

Costs: General; $16, Seniors (65+); $12, Kids under 12; FREE (w/adult)

Specials: The Golf Association of Ontario is offering a $3 off coupon, or, the show has a ‘twilight rate’ where if you attend Friday after 4pm, Saturday after 3pm, or Sunday after 2pm a ticket is only $10.

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Hitting the Links – 

Chicken & Waffles? Bubba teases Masters menu (Golf.com)

Don’t hear much about this, but really good Michael Bamberger column on the PGA Tour’s drug testing program (Golf.com)

Another Bubba-at-The-Masters piece. This is just a good story (Associated Press)

Rory McIlroy & Tiger Woods are friendly rivals, and it’s a good thing. Just ask Jack & Arnie (Golf Channel)

Tiger Woods walks on water. Again (Yahoo!)

The Great Lakes Tour has a new owner (Fairways Magazine)

Rory McIlroy is pretty good (YouTube)

Presented without comment. Guys with the most (and least) amount of ‘Golf Swag’ (Bleacher Report)

Angus Glen announces some architectural changes (Canadian Golfer)