NORWALK, Conn. – If golf is your business, more than 400 golf manufacturers and some 4,000 PGA Golf Professionals and retailers stand ready to welcome you to Las Vegas for the 2007 PGA Fall Expo where the latest equipment introductions, hottest fashion presentations, product demo opportunities, education seminars, career workshops and professional networking take center stage at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Sept. 10-12, 2007.
New and enhanced programs have resulted in widespread participation that will likely push the number of exhibitors on site over the 400 mark and the number of PGA Golf Professionals, retailers and industry leaders in attendance well over 4,000. Attendee pre-registration is up 48 percent over last year at this time with nearly three of every four attendees either a PGA Golf Professional or golf buyer, and more than three-quarters of all attendees have purchasing authority. Many of the nation’s most prestigious and influential golf facilities and retail outlets are sending buyers including American Golf, Pinehurst Resort, Pebble Beach Resort, Riviera Country Club, Bali Hai, Shadow Creek, Golf USA, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Wailae Country Club and Sports Authority. Additionally, PGA Golf Professionals have registered from all 41 PGA Sections.
Exhibitor participation has risen by 14 percent over last year with the top names in golf equipment manufacturing signed on to participate in 2007 including Callaway Golf, Nike Golf, Bridgestone, Tour Edge and Wilson who will showcase their latest equipment among more than 55,000 net square feet of interactive exhibit space in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Fashion takes center stage at the PGA Fall Expo with more than 100 of the hottest golf fashion companies unveiling their latest collections including Bobby Jones Sportswear, Cutter & Buck, Greg Norman Collection, Original Penguin, PING Apparel, J. Lindeberg, Lily’s of Beverly Hills, Claudia Romana, Fila, Callaway Apparel, LIJA, Antigua, Jamie Sadock, Puma and more. Training aids and golf accessories are well represented too with companies like Full Swing, Wittek, Club Car, E Z Go Textron, Pride Sports, Easy Picker and Forefront Golf.
"The PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas is where you should be next week if you want to preview the latest merchandise, stay on top of the trends, network with peers and improve your golf business," said Brian Whitcomb, President of The PGA of America and General Manager of Lost Tracks Golf Club. "The schedule is packed full of exhibits, demos, outings, networking and education. I look forward to a very full and productive three days to help me accomplish my business objectives for both The PGA of America and my home club."
PGA Golf Professionals and golf retailers will be able to test the latest equipment outdoors during the he 2nd Annual PGA Fall Expo Golf Tournament and Demo Day on Monday, Sept. 10, at Royal Links Golf Club. The tournament, with starting times of 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., is sold out in the afternoon and only a few playing spots remain in the morning outing. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the top two-person PGA member team and Sterling Cut Glass awards will be presented to the top amateur finishers. Tournament participants will also enjoy complimentary lunch or breakfast, a PGA Fall Expo gift bag and an afternoon wine-tasting featuring Bonterra Vineyards, the Official Wine of The PGA of America and the 2007 PGA Fall Expo. (Click here to register to play in the morning tournament) In addition, a new Demo Day component has been added at Royal Links Golf Club that day and is a resounding pre-event success with more than 50 exhibitors signed on to demonstrate product attributes within the practice facility and vendor village, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
An expanded education conference will host PGA Golf Professionals and industry leaders at 18 seminars on revenue-building programs, the latest retail trends, new apparel technologies, junior golf and career-building subjects. All seminars are presented by PGA Golf Professionals and leaders of the Association of Golf Merchandisers in conjunction with the PGA Fall Expo, Sept. 11-12, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mandalay Bay.
This year, the popular industry welcome reception at the House of Blues, free to all PGA Fall Expo attendees, features the world premier of the Survivor Celebration CD with performances by jazz recording artist Marcus Johnson and folk rock performer Aharon on Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The PGA Fall Expo is host to three related initiatives to benefit breast cancer survivors, the Survivor Celebration CD, the Survivor Celebration Tour and Pink Scorecard Days.
An exciting new combination of events and programs have made the 2007 PGA Fall Expo an ideal setting to book spring orders, learn the latest industry trends, personally test products and network with colleagues in the fun host city of Las Vegas. Interactive exhibits, seminars and special events will be at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Convention Center, Sept. 11, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sept. 12, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In addition to the latest product presentations by more than 400 golf-related companies, the PGA Fall Expo will feature an indoor golf range, short game testing area, multiple specialty exhibitor pavilions, and the New Product Center where attendees can discover a diverse selection of new products in one setting.
Buyers and media can register, make travel arrangements and hotel reservations for the 2007 PGA Fall Expo online at www.pgaexpo.com or by calling 1-800-840-5628. PGA Professionals can receive up to 15 MSR hours for their participation in the PGA Fall Expo, Demo Day, Education Conference and PGA of America Town Hall Meeting.
The PGA Fall Expo, organized in partnership with The PGA of America, is one of four leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions’ global golf portfolio including the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando; the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada; and the PGA Merchandise Show of Australia in Queensland.
Contact:
Sherry Major, PGA Golf Exhibitions 724.841.0703, smajor@reedexpo.com
Jamie Carbone, PGA of America 561.624.8446, jcarbone@pgahq.com
