With some exhibitors reporting record sales and the National Exhibition Centre confirming nearly twice as many tickets sold as at the previous golf show at the venue, it's small wonder the first The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, has been hailed a success.

The Golf Show Group's chairman, Colin Brunton, admitted he'd been overwhelmed by the response to the inaugural show. He said: "We were delighted with the attendance, the overall ambience, the variety of stands and the support of the exhibitors. More than 12,000 visitors attended the show and the NEC has confirmed it sold close to twice the number of tickets than for the golf show held there last year and I am very proud of The Golf Show Group team for achieving this.

"So many exhibitors told us how they'd sold out of product or needed to re-stock overnight and that showed us once again, we are doing things in the correct manner, both here and in London.

"We were also greatly encouraged by the comments we have had back from the general public. We will certainly be back in 2008 with a second show which will be known as the NEC Golf Show, and are well into discussions with officials from the venue to finalise dates."

The major equipment brands certainly benefited from a presence on the driving range. Ben Davis, Cleveland Golf's marketing manager, said: "The show has been fantastic for the brand. We've had some great feedback and the personalisation of wedges has been massively successful.

"It's been great having the van here; people just love having the tour experience. The sales side of things has been great and figures have increased significantly compared to the last show organised at the NEC."

The Belfry was a show partner, providing free coaching from a team of pros led by this year's GB&I PGA Cup captain, Gary Alliss.

"The golf show has been really good for The Belfry," he agreed. "Those who have been teaching have been really busy; non-stop from the moment the doors opened, right the way through. We were still giving lessons right at the end of the day when they were trying to clean the floor.

"I was here for the previous golf show at the NEC last year - and have had some involvement with the London Golf Show - but there have been more people coming by and listening to my sessions than before.”

And the show also received an enthusiastic thumbs-up from members of the public. Fifteen-year-old Kye Machen came up on the train from Reading, in Berkshire, with a couple of friends.

He said: "It's good; I've really enjoyed everything. It's been good trying things out and I've been impressed by the deals, and bought gloves, balls and some clothes. It's much better than I expected and I'd come again."

Three Lions roar about show

Three England internationals from different sports visited the show - and each was impressed. Rugby World Cup hero Ben Kay is an ambassador for the show's benefiting charity SPARKS.

He said: "Sport has always has a good tradition of being involved with charities and with golf being quite an expensive sport to play it's great that people are prepared to give a percentage to charity as well.

"I've had a go on a couple of the competitions. I was dreadful on the 100ft putt and I was slightly better on the longest drive.”

Former England cricket captain Alec Stewart was a guest of manufacturer TaylorMade. He said: "They've let me have some clubs which is meant to improve my game," he smiled. "It's nice to see what equipment's around and how they update it. The number of people here shows golf is a very popular sport."

He added: "I've been playing golf since I stopped playing cricket in 2004. Before that I played once a year if that - I didn't really want to mix cricket and golf swings. It's a hard game, but I've always loved everything about it.”

Former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman was also in attendance. He said: "I started playing when I was a kid and when I became a footballer I started playing to relax - but sometimes I'd walk off the course more frustrated than when I walked on it.

"So I started fishing and left the golf for a while, but now I've retired I'm right back into it. I've had a lot of lessons at my home club at Brocket Hall and I'm slowly getting my handicap down; I'm at 5.4 at the moment.