Golf industry experts have hailed the resilience of the sport and of the London Golf Show following its 2009 outing at ExCeL. The three-day show has bucked the economic trend by continuing to take place while other leisure shows have folded. And that resilience can only be good news for the sport moving forward believe experts.

Ken Schofield, the former chief executive of the European Tour, said: "What has impressed me again is that it's a phenomenal achievement to have and keep this scale of show going in what are very difficult times. "The organisers have demonstrated the art of staying in the ring; the show is on, the doors are open and people in big numbers are coming through, and they'll find new things because there are innovations here."If someone can give me my perfect club or a new tip or a new grip or anything that can help my game I'd find it and all of those things are here and the thousands that are coming in will all find that."I was at the European Tour for many years and we had recessions before; we had three-day working weeks, miners on strike and all sorts of things 30 years ago, and golf, and other sports if you like, came through in the end. And I've no doubt that golf will be resilient. Golfers are resilient people; they will find a way and the companies who are involved in the golf industry will be innovative - they will find new ways."

His sentiments were echoed by Guy Kinnings, right, Colin Montgomerie's manager and senior vice president and director of golf (Europe, Africa, Middle East) for IMG.He said: "Shows like this capture peoples imaginations. It shows them what new innovations there are, what's cutting edge and who are the big players in the game. "It's good to see the show is going so well and on such a big scale. In a tough economic climate the number of people that are here displaying and the number of people that are here coming to watch and involve themselves is an incredibly good sign for golf."

Further evidence of the stoicism of golf and golfers came in the form of 32-year-old Jim van Son, from Antwerp in Belgium.He travelled to the show Friday morning and travelled back the same evening.He said: "This is the fifth time I've come to the London Golf Show just because it is the best golf event I've been too. The first year I saw it on the internet and thought it would be nice, so we came over for the day and every year it's gotten bigger, better, and cheaper. "And it's great fun, it's a day away and it's a bit different to what we can do in Belgium or Holland and France.

While she may not have travelled from Belgium, 36-year-old Gillian Morris travelled up from Southampton and was very pleased with what she found. She said: "We've had a good day - there's a lot here. I've liked the clothing and I think they've covered the whole spectrum with what's here. "There's quite a few bits here that have interested me and I've spent lots of money. Everybody's been giving show discounts which has been good and really encouraged me to spend my money."

And 66-year-old Regiment Way Golf Club captain Peter Cross, also enjoyed the show saying: The highlight has been the range of golf products around, there were certainly bargains in american golf. "There's plenty to do, putting, driving, trying all the clubs out and there was a great game on a simulator where people were playing Loch Lomond and having great fun with it."