Today marks the start of the Munich golf trade show where many brands are unveiling new equipment and clothing for 2009. Callaway, Cleveland, Ping, Titleist, Cobra, Srixon, Yonex… you name it, they’ll be there, singing the virtues of their latest piece of high-tech kit.

It’s the largest single gathering of the golf industry in Europe and by some, totally unrelated coincidence, it takes place at the same time as the Munich beer festival. Oh well.

So Paul and I are sitting in the British Airways lounge at Terminal 5 (very plush don’t you know) mulling over what we expect to see when we arrive in Munich later this morning. We are currently eating a superb breakfast and using complimentary wireless internet...it is all together a rather nice start to the trip.

We know that Cleveland is releasing a new range of irons later this autumn and that Callaway has got two new drivers to sit alongside the second generation square FT-iQ. We’re also expecting an appearance from Seve, the new brand ambassador for MD Golf.

This trade show will also offer Paul and I the opportunity to scope out some of the brands that we don’t feature regularly in the magazine. Suffice to say that if we see anything particularly impressive from any brand, you’ll be the first to know as over the next few days Paul and I will be blogging from Munich to offer you the inside line on all the latest gear for 2009.

Golf Monthly flew to Munich with British Airways from Heathrow Terminal 5