Teaching Clinics, Learning Labs and Growth of the Game Initiatives Add to the Lure of the Industry’s Most Influential Annual Marketplace
NORWALK, Conn. – The 52nd PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 26-29, 2006, is emerging as a "convention of golf solutions" with new programs designed to grow the game and the business of golf. What began as a trunk show for golf manufacturers more than a half-century ago has grown into a comprehensive golf industry convention and trade show. Once again, Orlando, Fla., will play host to everything golf for some 1,200 participating manufacturers and more than 40,000 golf industry professionals eager to preview, test, learn and network among friends and colleagues.
"This PGA Merchandise Show encompasses all that our industry has valued in the past and adds new programs for 2006 that have the potential to significantly impact our business success both individually and as an industry overall," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "As a close-knit industry, the PGA Merchandise Show is our unique opportunity to come together, uncover products and trends, grow professionally, greet old friends and make new contacts. It renews the energy, inspiration and enthusiasm that brought us all to the game in the first place."
New programs are being introduced such as "teach-the-teacher" clinics featuring Butch Harmon and Rick Martino, a PGA Experience pavilion, learning labs on the Show floor, Golfweek’s Golfest and the inaugural Play Golf America conference. Proven programs like Demo Day, the Dream Golf Shop, daily fashion shows, education seminars and networking areas are being enhanced. New and enhanced programs are designed to provide everything an attendee needs to be more professionally effective, more profitable in business, more satisfied in his or her career and more successful in growing the game.
"The next step in making the PGA Merchandise Show even more valuable came directly from PGA Professionals and industry leaders who called for an increase in programs that offer golf industry business solutions," said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President and Show Manager Ed Several. "While the PGA Merchandise Show will always offer the widest variety of golf-related companies in one location, supported by hands-on testing areas, we are committed to a long-term plan of adding programs to grow the golf business through the latest golf industry solutions, providing top education programs and hosting special events to energize golf participation."
Golf’s Tradition, The PGA Merchandise Show — Hundreds of thousands of products and services will be showcased in exhibits by more than 1,200 golf-related manufacturers encompassing over 500,000 net square feet of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 26-29, 2006. Top participating golf manufacturers include Callaway Golf, Nike Golf, Ben Hogan, Top-Flite, MacGregor, Bridgestone, Mizuno, Srixon and Sonartec , plus more than 200 leading apparel companies will be exhibiting the latest fashions.
Golf Demo Day– Presented in partnership with PGA Magazine, the 2006 Golf Demo Day, Jan. 25, opens exclusively for PGA Members one-hour early at 9 a.m. VIP retailers and media join PGA Members at 10 a.m. to test products from some 80 participating exhibitors, watch demonstrations and participate in special events at the 42-acre practice facility of the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.
Equipment Test Center-ETC — The Equipment Test Center (ETC), the country’s largest indoor facility of its kind, features a scalloped design of some 40 hitting bays, two putting greens, an elevated chipping area and the ETC Stadium – a demo area complete with grandstands for product presentations and professional instruction.
Daily Fashion Shows — Fashion shows, presented four times daily during the first three days of the Show, now feature a new twist on golf style and apparel. In addition to showcasing the latest fashion trends, the 2006 daily fashion shows will include presentations on apparel performance attributes and suggested merchandising techniques.
"Teach-the-Teacher" Clinics on the Show Floor — New "teach-the-teacher" clinics will be led by renowned teachers Butch Harmon and Rick Martino. The seminars are designed to provide teaching professionals with the tools they need to become better teachers, build their client base and increase teaching revenue.
The Dream Golf Shop — The 2006 Dream Golf Shop, a replica of a high-end working golf shop, will expand to 1,600 square feet and feature additional merchandise categories; expanded hands-on learning models to provide retailing solutions; and on-site experts to help PGA Professionals and retailers improve merchandising techniques, customer service and profit margins.
Exhibitor Pavilions with Learning Labs — New specialty exhibitor pavilions with learning-based models are designed to help golf industry professionals become better merchandisers, and drive profit and product-category success. New learning based pavilions include the PGA Magazine Travel pavilion, tournaments & outings pavilion, the PGA Experience pavilion and an expanded Dream Golf Shop.
Education Conference — The 2006 Education Conference adds roundtables and Best Practices sessions to a calendar that already boasts more than 100 seminars, PGA Member programs and teaching & training clinics at the ETC Stadium.
PGA Business of Golf Conference — The PGA of America will host the third annual PGA Business of Golf Conference, Jan. 26, 2006, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., featuring the industry’s most influential leaders sharing their views on issues most relevant to the game and the business of golf.
The Golf Channel — The Golf Channel will provide viewers around the country with an exclusive inside look into golf’s latest merchandise, trends and newsmakers with two hours of live coverage from the PGA Merchandise Show floor and a prime-time highlight show each evening, Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-28, 2006. Coverage will conclude with a marathon replay of programming on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006.
Golfweek’s Golfest — Golfweek’s Golfest has joined the official calendar of Show events as a consumer demo weekend, Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 21-22, 2006, and will include golf clinics, games, product previews and meet and greets with touring professionals for thousands of amateur golfers at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge.
The new PGA Experience — The new PGA Experience is an interactive pavilion providing access to PGA Partners business solutions, the PGA Employment Center, universities offering the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program and allied golf organizations. It also features a PGA Learning Center fitness pavilion providing attendees with interactive access to state-of-the-art golf fitness equipment, the new PGA Kinematics Lab and daily teaching clinics by PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino.
Play Golf America Conference — PGA Section Leaders, PGA Professionals and employers nationwide will convene at the inaugural Play Golf America Conference, Jan. 27, featuring player development presentations, highlights of some of the most successful "best practices’ in player development, plus an opportunity for all attendees to network and share ideas.
Pro-Pro Tournaments — Six Pro-Pro tournaments, produced in partnership with PGA Magazine, offer a combined purse of $24,000 and will be played at some of Orlando’s most prestigious golf courses. Tournaments are open to PGA members and apprentices only.
PGA Employment Center – The PGA Employment Center is a free wide-ranging employment service and a networking hub on the Show floor. The PGA Employment Center, located in the PGA Experience pavilion, has been expanded to include career counselors, resume workshops and employer programs.
The 19th Hole, Amstel Light Grill & PGA Experience — Industry networking is facilitated on the Show floor in three separate locations spread throughout the exhibit hall. The 19th Hole, located in the equipment hall, will feature a large screen TV, golf simulators by Full Swing Golf, meeting areas and daily food service. The Amstel Light Grill, located in the apparel hall, will feature a pub, plush seating by Bauer International, clinics and meeting areas. The PGA Experience, located in the product and services hall, offers distinctive seating and informal meeting areas as well as a historical display.
The PGA of America Awards Night — The PGA of America presents their most prestigious national awards on Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, honoring an industry leader with the annual Ernie Sabayrac Award, Merchandisers of the Year, PGA Golf Professional of the Year and several other deserving honorees, such as the PGA Teacher of the Year Award winner. Show attendees are invited to the pre-awards reception and the evening presentation at the OCCC’s Grand Auditorium.
Buyers and media can register online, plus make hotel and travel reservations at www.pgaexpo.com or by calling
1-800-PGA-EXPO. The PGA Merchandise Show offers airfare discounts and shuttle bus service from 32 official hotels.
The PGA Merchandise Show, organized in partnership with The PGA of America, is one of four leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions’ golf portfolio including the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas; the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada; and the PGA Merchandise Show of Australia in Queensland.
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Contact:
Sherry Major, PGA Golf Exhibitions
954-432-1949
smajor@reedexpo.com
Kelly Elbin, PGA of America
561-624-8445
kelbin@pgahq.com
