PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The opening morning of the 58th PGA Merchandise Show will begin with a keynote presentation on the Asian marketplace featuring an address by Greg Norman regarding golf business developments in Asia; a global golf announcement by the PGA World Golf Alliance; and a panel discussion on golf business in Asia among international players, instructors and business executives.
The presentation, organized by The PGA of America, will take place at 10:00 a.m. on the PGA Equipment Forum stage at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Greg Norman, PGA Professional Michael Breed, plus executives from PGA World Golf Alliance organizations are scheduled to participate in the panel discussion.
“We are pleased to be able to open the 58th PGA Merchandise Show with this timely presentation on the international growth opportunities in Asia and to engage such a distinguished panel of speakers in the presentation,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “This represents a valuable opportunity for PGA Professionals and Show attendees to learn about the opportunities that exist for building golf participation and business in Asia.”
The opening global golf announcement is one of many industry presentations that will take place on the PGA Equipment Forum stage throughout the golf industry’s largest international business gathering at the annual PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29, 2011. Multiple industry leaders, professional golfers, award-winning PGA Professionals and celebrities will participate in other PGA Equipment Forum events including PGA teaching best practices, women’s golf and participation programs, golf manufacturer industry presentations, youth golf programs and new golf fitness initiatives.
Organized by The PGA of America, the PGA Equipment Forum stage was introduced in 2007 to provide the game’s leaders with an unprecedented stage to reach some 40,000 attending industry professionals with pressing matters impacting the business of golf.
2011 PGA Merchandise Show PGA Equipment Forum Stage Schedule
Thursday, January 27
10:00 a.m. Welcome by Allen Wronowski, President, PGA of America
Global Golf Announcement – PGA World Golf Alliance
Address by Greg Norman
Asian Golf Marketplace Panel Discussion
12:00 p.m. PGA Teaching Best Practices – – What you need to earn, learn and grow the game – Moderated by Dr. Gary Wiren
Christian Czaja, South Florida PGA Teacher of the Year
Rick Murphy, Carolinas PGA Teacher of the Year
Elizabeth Granahan, Philadelphia PGA Teacher of the Year
1:00 p.m. Callaway Golf Industry Presentation
3:00 p.m. SkyGolf Industry Presentation featuring LPGA Player Natalie Gulbis
Friday, January 28
8:30 a.m. PGA of America Awards Night Video Highlights
10:00 a.m. PGA Merchandiser of the Year Best Practices Presentation
Dennis Johnsen, PGA, General Manager at Pine Meadow Golf Club
Thomas B. Davidson, PGA Director of Golf at Circling Raven Golf Club at The Coeur D’Alene Casino
Mark Mongell, PGA, Director of Golf at Cherokee Town & Country Club
Jay Overton, PGA, Director of Golf at Corales Golf Club Punta Cana Resort & Club –
Mark Darnell, PGA, Life Member Master Professional
11:00 a.m. PING Industry Presentation
12:00 p.m. PGA Teaching Best Practices – – What you need to earn, learn and grow the game – Moderated by Dr. Gary Wiren
Todd Anderson, Georgia & PGA National Teacher of the Year
Rick Sopka, North Florida PGA Teacher of the Year
Bob Saffer, Nebraska PGA Teacher of the Year
2:00 p.m. Women’s Golf – “Putting Yourself In Her Shoes: Your Course Playbook for a Winning Season” – Get a jumpstart and enhance your women’s programs by learning what appeals to women golfers
Barb Kauffman – President, Kaufman & Associates, Kathy O’Neal – Senior Vice President, ClubCorp.; Diane Davis, PGA – 2010 North Florida Merchandiser of the Year/Walt Disney World Golf; Katherine Roberts, President, YogaForGolfers, Arthur Little – Senior Trustee, The Little Family Foundation; Jan Beljan – Jan Beljan Golf Course Design; Cheryl Anderson, PGA, LPGA – 2006 LPGA Teacher of the Year
3:00 p.m. U.S. Kids Golf – Top 50 Kids Teachers Awards Presentation
Annually, U.S. Kids Golf recognizes 50 elite golf professionals who have focused their careers to developing youth golf in their communities and are known for their overall excellence and commitment to serving youth. In addition, those who have demonstrated a long-lasting dedication to youth golf and have achieved this award on three of more occasions are recognized as “Master Kids Teachers” and are also recognized at this presentation.
Friday, January 28
4:00 p.m. “The Urban Market & The Power of Sports Entertainment on Brands and Consumers”- Panel Discussion
Jennifer Mills of the Golf Channel will host a panel discussion and view clips of the movie, FROM THE ROUGH with Producer/Director, Pierre Bagley, actor Michael Clarke Duncan, Matt Corey, Chief Marketing Officer of Golfsmith, and Earnie Ellison, PGA Director of Business & Community Relations
FROM THE ROUGH (in movie theaters in Fall 2011), starring Taraji Henson (Oscar Nominee for Benjamin Button) Tom Felton of Harry Potter Fame and Michael Clark Duncan (Oscar Nominee for The Green Mile), is based on the true story of Catana Starks, a former swim coach at Tennessee State University who became the first woman to coach an NCCA, Division I men’s golf team. With drive, passion, and guts, she took an unruly group of mismatched kids from around the world and guided them to an all-time record at the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship.
Saturday, January 29
10:00 a.m. PGA Sports Academy: Live Junior Clinic ~ Fitness through Golf
David Donatucci, PGA, Director of Fitness & Performance, instructs junior participants from the Boys and Girls Club of Orlando, using the fitness curriculum of the PGA Sports Academy, to demonstrate the value of incorporating fitness into junior golf programs and engaging youth in positive and healthy lifestyles which can carry them into a healthy adulthood.
12:00 p.m. PGA Teaching Best Practices – What you need to learn, earn and grow the game – Moderated by Dr. Gary Wiren
Mike Malaska, Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year
Harvey Lannak, Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year
Mark Blackburn, Dixie PGA Teacher of the Year
About the PGA Merchandise Show
The 2011 PGA Merchandise Show, held January 27-29, in Orlando, Fla., will welcome some 1,000 top golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s 58th annual global summit for the business of golf.
The PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, tees off the Show on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Orange County National Golf Center. During Show days, PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders will uncover the latest trends, source the newest golf merchandise, test the latest equipment, learn proven business best practices, network among peers and move forward the business of the game.
Organized in partnership with The PGA of America as a trade-only event, the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show will be held in the Orange County Convention Center ~ 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 27-28; and 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 29. For more information, visit www.pgashow.com.
About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas are organized in partnership with The PGA of America.
Contact:
PGA of America: Jamie Carbone, (561) 624-8446, jcarbone@pgahq.com
PGA Merchandise Show: Sherry Major, (716) 662-3855, smajor@reedexpo.com
