NORWALK, Conn. – Playing off of a past, popular advertising theme, this year’s PGA Merchandise Show & Convention in Orlando, Fla., is "not your father’s PGA Merchandise Show." While still the world’s most comprehensive and influential golf trade show, it has evolved to become a convention of golf solutions designed to grow businesses, rounds and careers.
More than 40,000 industry professionals will travel from every U.S. state and more than 75 countries this week, Jan. 25-29, to preview the latest and most technologically advanced golf equipment, apparel, training aids, gadgets, accessories and services from more than 1,200 manufacturers of golf-related merchandise. In addition to discovering the thousands of products among some 10 miles of exhibit aisles, attendees will benefit from demo events, interactive and classroom education programs, exhibitor learning labs, business networking functions, industry expert demonstrations, daily fashion shows, competitive tournaments and more.
"The great tradition of our annual industry gathering, combined with an interactive education component and a strong business element, creates a new PGA Merchandise Show & Convention that gives us all the opportunity to become more effective in our business, in our career and in our efforts to grow the game," says PGA of America President Roger Warren.
The PGA of America and PGA Golf Exhibitions, organizing partners for the PGA Merchandise Show & Convention, reached out to renowned teachers, industry leaders, top manufacturers and influential buyers to build an event that would overflow with value for all sectors of the golf industry.
"A wide-ranging collaboration among industry leaders, retailing experts, top educators, golf organizations and The PGA has resulted in a show and convention unlike any other in the previous 52 years of the PGA Merchandise Show," said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President & Show Manager Ed Several. "Manufacturers are now reaching influential customers on multiple platform levels and attending industry professionals are reaping the benefits of merchandising, education, networking and career programs in one valuable setting."
An overview of this year’s PGA Merchandise Show & Convention: (Details online at www.pgamerchandiseshow.com and a daily webcast of the PGA Show & Convention is online at www.pga.com) 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 more than 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 by Sprint, 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.
Indoor Golf Range of the 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 for product presentations and professional instruction.
Fashion Spotlight Fashion Shows — 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 — New "teach-the-teacher" clinics will be led by renowned teachers Rick Martino – PGA Director Instruction, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Dave Pelz. 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 as 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. In addition to the Dream Golf Shop, the PGA Magazine Travel Pavilion, Teaching & Training Aids Pavilion and the Golf Event Magazine Tournaments & Outings Pavilion will provide even more interactive learning opportunities for attendees. The 4,000-square-foot PGA Magazine Travel Pavilion will feature everything from a staged area for special events, meeting space, interactive data tables, oversized video screens and display kiosks. The Golf Event Magazine Tournament & Outings Pavilion boasts more than 15 exhibitors, learning-based kiosks, plus presentations by PGA Tournament officials and representatives of the Golf Event Managers Association.
Additional exhibitor pavilions designed to assemble similar products/services for the ease of attendees include the country club apparel pavilion, club & resort pavilion, teaching & training aids pavilion, UK exhibitor pavilion and the Korean exhibitor pavilion.
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. Industry experts such as Tom Shay, Sheryl Bindleglass and Becky Wilkins are among some 50 respected instructors teaching within six professional development tracks including: General Management, Marketing & Promotions, Retail Merchandising, Golf Operations, Instruction & Teaching and Core Competencies. The PGA of America also will present several PGA member complimentary programs in the PGA Member Business Center.
Top Names In Golf Make Appearances — Greg Norman, Jim Furyk, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Paula Creamer are among the professional golfers scheduled to appear on behalf of exhibitors. Meanwhile, several of golf’s most renowned teachers — Rick Martino, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Dave Pelz — will present several highly coveted "teach-the-teacher" clinics on the Show floor. Additionally, a variety of industry experts in the fields of merchandising, retailing, player development, golf event management, golf travel and business management will present programs within the education conference and in learning labs on the Show floor. And, bringing a rock n roll edge to this year’s event, The Black Crowes will perform a Friday night concert sponsored by IzodG.
The new PGA Experience — The new PGA Experience provides direct 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 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.
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.
Play Golf America Conference — PGA Section Leaders, PGA Professionals and employers nationwide will convene at the inaugural Play Golf America Conference, 8:30-10:30 a.m., 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, will have career counselors available throughout all four days of the Show and include 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, 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 as well as a historical display.
The PGA of America Awards — The PGA of America presents its most prestigious national awards on Friday night, 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. Show attendees are invited to the pre-awards reception and the evening presentation at the OCCC’s Grand Auditorium.
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, 1-3 p.m., from the PGA Merchandise Show floor and a prime-time highlight show each evening, 10:30-11:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-28, 2006. Coverage will conclude with a marathon replay of programming, 12-3 p.m., 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.
PGA/USA TODAY Equipment Hotline — During the first PGA/USA TODAY Golf Equipment Hotline, golfers nationwide will be able to call on PGA Professionals, Jan. 26, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST, for sound advice on topics such as clubfitting, equipment maintenance, training aids and selecting the right equipment to improve their game. Golfers will also be able to e-mail questions through www.PGA.com directly to PGA Professionals and receive a personalized answer. The PGA/USA TODAY Golf Equipment Hotline will feature approximately 120 PGA Professionals answering calls from around the nation at the PGA Member Business Center in the Orange County Convention Center. The hotline toll-free number will be published in USA TODAY on Jan. 26.
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
Jan. 23 – (954) 432-1949
smajor@reedexpo.com
PGA Show Media Center
Jan. 24-29 – (407) 685-5003
smajor@reedexpo.com
Jamie Carbone
The PGA of America
(561) 624-8446,
jcarbone@pgahq.com
