PGA Professionals Accomplish Greater Scope of Business Goals with New & Enhanced Show Programs
NORWALK, Conn. – While the PGA Merchandise Show remains the best forum for discovering and purchasing the latest golf merchandise, this year thousands of PGA Professionals and golf retailers will travel from more than 70 countries with a much more diverse set of goals to accomplish in their days at the new PGA Merchandise Show & Convention, Jan. 26-29, in Orlando, Fla.
The 53rd PGA Merchandise Show & Convention continues to serve as the traditional premier marketplace for the global business of golf, but due to the ever-growing number of resources the industry has invested in golf’s annual business gathering it has also grown to address virtually all aspects of the game in one efficient setting.
"The 2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention combines the great tradition of our annual industry gathering with contemporary programs designed to make us all more effective at what we do," said PGA President Roger Warren. "A significant interactive education component mixed with a strong business element has created an increasingly important setting for our industry to annually come together with common goals and purposes."
New and enhanced programs are added to this year’s schedule to help all attendees "learn, grow, test and find" solutions, products, strategies and best practices that will directly impact their business, career and overall growth of the game. Programs such as the new "Teach-the-Teacher" clinics by renowned instructors Rick Martino and Butch Harmon, interactive learning labs within exhibitors pavilions, the 100-plus seminars of the expanded education conference, Demo Day, the Dream Golf Shop, the PGA Experience and Business of Golf Conference are just a few programs that will provide a wealth of resources and tools for PGA Professionals and retailers to implement at home in their facilities.
"We recognized that PGA Professionals are asked to perform miracles in the business world 52 weeks of the year," said PGA Golf Exhibitions and Vice President Ed Several. "In response, all of the programs and seminars at the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention have been developed in collaboration with The PGA of America, leading golf organizations and experts in their fields to provide effective solutions to business challenges faced every day. Our collective goal is to make this an extremely productive and valuable several days in Orlando."
Attendees Respond & Plan Accordingly
"I’ve had the privilege to attend the PGA Merchandise Show each year since 1987 and my father Ken Morton, Sr. since 1978 and I can honestly say that the Show is more valuable than ever to the golf professional, merchandiser or buyer," said Ken Morton, Jr., PGA Member and Vice President of Retail & Marketing for Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop/Morton Golf LLC. "The added-value programs that Reed continues to bring to the table including Demo Day, New Product Center, additional educational seminars, fashion shows and networking opportunities continue to make this event critical to the overall growth of our company. Every single year, our team of ten that attends the show returns home to Sacramento armed with ideas and products that help separate us from our competition."
"Because I am involved with a variety of manufacturers — all partners in PGA’s Retirement Plus — I am especially pleased that the PGA Show is building programs that enhance income opportunities for PGA Professionals," said Jim Vincent, respected golf industry veteran and 2000 Ernie Sabayrac Award winner. "Two initiatives in particular are of great value. The new Rick Martino and Butch Harmon ‘Teach-the-Teacher’ clinics, by two of the game’s most respected instructors, will better prepare all teaching professionals to reach their potential in this important area of business. And, the first-time inclusion of the tournament and outings pavilion provides a great opportunity to combine exhibits with learning programs to better prepare PGA professionals for the myriad of functions involved with popular member tournaments and guest and corporate outings."
"The business of golf is ever changing and attending the 2006 PGA Show and Convention helps me stay current," said John W. Boykin, PGA Member, Business Golf International, Ltd. "The Show continues to be the largest and most significant gathering of all the elements of our industry, in fact Reed and The PGA have acknowledged as much by adding Convention to the title. It is not ever been just about buying and selling products and services, networking and information gathering have been just as important. The added educational opportunities are exceptional. As one popular TV golf commercial says, you gotta go!"
"There is such a vast network of golf-related business at the PGA Show," said Ben Alexander, PGA Teaching Professional of Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., and 2004 PGA Teacher of the Year for the Northern California Section. "The most important thing I learned in The PGA of America’s business schools is to ‘plan your work and work your plan.’ By defining what my needs for my business are prior to the Show, the value of the PGA Show and its many programs pays dividends throughout the year."
Top PGA facilities and golf retailers pre-registered to attend include: Edwin Watts, Golfer’s Warehouse, ProGolf, Golfsmith, Carl’s Golfland, Edina Country Club, International Golf, Golf Galaxy, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Big Canyon Country Club, KSL, Copeland Sports, The Bridges, Riviera Country Club, In Celebration, Dallas Golf, USGA, Washington Golf.
2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention New & Enhanced Attendee Programs
Golf Demo Day
The 2006 Golf Demo Day presented by Sprint, Jan. 25, opens one-hour early exclusively for PGA Members at 9:00 a.m. VIP retailers and media join PGA Members at 10:00 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 golf range, features a scalloped design of some 40 hitting bays, two putting greens, an elevated chipping area and the ETC Stadium – a demo area for product presentations and professional instruction.
Fashion Spotlight Fashion Shows
Daily fashion shows, presented four times daily during the first three days of the PGA Merchandise Show, will showcase the latest fashion trends of more than two-dozen top apparel companies. Produced by Tracy Yates in collaboration with Golf Digest’s Publications Fashion Director, Marty Hackel, this year’s production will enlighten the audience on retailing trends as well as uncover the next season’s hottest styles
Teach-the-Teacher Clinics on the Show Floor
PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino and renowned golf instructor Butch Harmon will present new "teach-the-teacher" clinics. 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, designed by Bauer International and 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. These new learning based pavilions include the PGA Magazine Travel pavilion, Golf Event Magazine tournaments & outings pavilion, the teaching & training aids pavilion, the PGA Experience 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 of America Member programs and teaching & training clinics at the ETC Stadium. All programs are presented daily in the OCCC by PGA Golf Exhibitions in partnership with The PGA of America, the Association of Golf Merchandisers and leading allied associations.
New Product Center by Red e Golf
The Hot Zone New Product Center by Red e Golf has become the best place to view all the new innovations in the golf industry in one convenient location to all attendees. Over 350 companies and products are represented here every year in this designated area on the Show floor, which is open to new products only. PGA Professionals and key retailers are able to vote for the best new product in some 14 categories.
PGA Business of Golf Conference
The PGA of America will host the third annual PGA Business of Golf Conference, Jan. 26th – 8:30 to 10 a.m., featuring PGA of America President Roger Warren as moderator for a panel of golf’s most influential leaders who will address timely issues in a roundtable format. PGA Professionals, industry leaders and PGA Merchandise Show attendees will be invited to ask questions and interact with the panelists following the roundtable discussions.
PGA Employment Center
Designed as a clearinghouse for golf industry positions and a networking hub on the Show floor, the PGA Employment Center is a wide-ranging employment service provided free of charge to all golf exhibitors, employers, attendees and job seekers who are interested in working in the golf industry. The PGA Employment Center, located in the PGA Experience pavilion, will have career counselors available throughout all four days of the Show and include employer programs.
The new PGA Experience
The new PGA Experience is an interactive pavilion providing access to PGA Partners business solutions, the PGA Employment Center, PGM Universities and allied golf organizations. It also will feature a PGA Learning Center fitness pavilion providing attendees with access to state-of-the-art golf fitness equipment, the PGA Kinematics Lab and daily clinics by PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino.
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 & Apprentices only.
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 multiple TVs, golf simulators by Full Swing Golf, the Club Car Experience 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.
Play Golf America Conference
PGA Section Leaders, PGA Professionals and employers nationwide will convene at the inaugural Play Golf America Conference, Jan. 27th, 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.
PGA of America Awards Night
The PGA of America presents their most prestigious national awards on Friday, Jan. 27, honoring an industry leader with the annual Ernie Sabayrac Award, plus the Merchandisers of the Year and PGA Golf Professional of the Year Awards. Show attendees are invited to the pre-awards reception and the evening presentation at the Orange County Convention Center’s Grand Auditorium.
The PGA Merchandise Showâ?¦& Convention, Jan. 26-29, in Orlando, Fla., is the world’s most influential gathering of PGA Professionals, retailers, golf manufacturers and industry leaders. Attendees travel from more than 70 countries to test the latest products, find the hottest trends, learn cutting-edge business techniques and grow participation in the game. More than 1,200 golf-related manufacturers showcase their newest products and services within more than 500,000 net square feet of exhibit space in the Orange County Convention Center. Golfweek’s Golfest, a consumer demo weekend, kicks off Show week, Jan. 21-22. Demo Day, Jan. 25th, marks the official opening of the Show for thousands of PGA Professionals, key retailers and media as they test the products of some 80 participating manufacturers at the 42-acre practice facility of the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.
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.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2006, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
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Contact:
Sherry Major, PGA Golf Exhibitions
954-432-1949
smajor@reedexpo.com
Jamie Carbone, PGA of America
561-624-8446
jcarbone@pgahq.com
