PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The 10th anniversary of the PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day will be celebrated with the debut of exciting new equipment by more than 100 participating golf manufacturers on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge just outside of Orlando, Fla. The world’s largest outdoor golf demo event is open to PGA Professionals, golf retailers and media who come from around the world for an exclusive preview and personal hands-on testing of a multitude of new products. Their experience will help determine the hottest equipment and accessories to drive golf retail sales in the upcoming season.
Additionally, all PGA Merchandise Show attendees will be able to test the latest equipment right on the PGA Merchandise Show floor during the Indoor Demo Days at the Equipment Test Center in the Orange County Convention Center, January 26-28, 2012.
“We’re pleased to mark the 10th anniversary of the PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day with all of the top equipment companies introducing exciting new products that will influence how we play the game in 2012,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President John McGeary. “In addition to product previews and hands-on testing opportunities, PGA Professionals and leading golf retailers can expect a full schedule of demonstrations, celebrity appearances and special events designed to help them grow the game and their business in the new year.”
10th Annual PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day, January 25th
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the 10th Annual PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day, exclusive to PGA Professionals, golf retailers and media, will feature more than 100 top golf equipment, training aids, performance wear and golf accessory companies within 200+ hitting bays, practice greens, a New Product Preview area and the vendor village of the 42-acre practice facility of Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge (OCN) in Winter Garden, Fla.
Thousands of PGA Professionals, retailers and media traditionally attend the PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day’s packed schedule of manufacturer special events and demonstrations, plus PGA Tour and LPGA player appearances. The PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day is open exclusively to PGA Professionals and media from 9:00 a.m. to noon with retailers joining the event until closing at 5:00 p.m. Special events details will be updated regularly at www.pgashow.com.
Shuttles will run from Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) to OCN every 20 minutes beginning at 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Shuttle transportation is strongly encouraged as parking is restricted. Vehicles without a parking pass will be directed to the auxiliary parking lot located ½ mile away from Orange County National Golf Center with continuous shuttle service throughout the day to OCN. The last shuttle buses departing OCN for the parking field and OCCC will be at 6:00 p.m.
The PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day is organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions and PGA Magazine and presented by United Rentals and True Temper. Sunice is the outerwear sponsor; Pukka Headwear is the hat sponsor; Zero Friction is the official tee sponsor; Hirzl is the glove sponsor; and Bushnell Golf is providing attendees with water bottles.
PGA Professionals will receive four MSR credits for participating in this event. For a detailed list of participating companies, visit www.pgashow.com.
PGA Merchandise Show Indoor Demo Days at the ETC, January 26th – 28th
The PGA Merchandise Show Indoor Demo Days at the Equipment Test Center, located right on the Show floor, is the country’s largest indoor golf range and open to all of the more than 40,000 attendees each Show day, January 26-28. The sold-out, scalloped layout of some 47 hitting bays, a putting green and a PGA Short Game Challenge Area provide hands-on testing of the newest equipment and the latest advances in technology and design from leading golf manufacturers. More than 250,000 golf balls were hit at the ETC last year.
Within the ETC, PGA Professionals will once again have the opportunity for bragging rights among their peers by testing their chipping and putting skills in the PGA Section Short Game Challenge right on the Show floor. Each PGA Professional and PGA apprentice competitor will be allowed two putts and two chips with the total distance of all putts and chips used to determine each day’s final results. Prize money will be paid to the winning PGA Sections on a daily basis. The PGA Section Short Game Challenge is supported by PGA partners Callaway Golf, Cobra, Nike, PING, TaylorMade and Titleist.
Greenskeepers is the official tee sponsor of Indoor Demo Days. For a detailed list of companies participating in the sold-out ETC, visit www.pgashow.com.
Product testing at the Outdoor and Indoor Demo Days is just one of several valuable programs making a return to the PGA Merchandise Show. Other successful returning programs include the PGA Education Conference, the PGA Forum Stage for industry presentations, the Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion, multiple New Product Zones and networking events. Additionally, the 95th PGA Annual Meeting will be held at the beginning of Show Week; the AGM Product Preview & Industry Reception will be held Wednesday evening, Jan. 25; and the annual prestigious PGA Awards will be held Thursday, Jan. 26.
Several new programs are being introduced at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show. The launch of industry-wide Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan will be introduced by golf leaders on the PGA Forum stage as the keynote address to open the PGA Merchandise Show on Thursday, January 26, and will be featured across multiple Show platforms, including complimentary introductory programs for PGA members within the PGA Member Business Center. Also, the new Business Leadership Series will be introduced and new Show Floor-featured destinations such as the Golf Business Solutions Zone, a Live Fashion E-Studio and the International Clubmakers Guild Connections Center will make a first appearance at the 2012 Show.
About the PGA Merchandise Show
The 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, held January 26-28, 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 59th annual global summit for the business of golf. Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, tees off the Show on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 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 2012 PGA Merchandise Show will be held in the Orange County Convention Center ~ 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 26-27; and 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 28. Early registration savings, before Dec. 1, 2011, are available for the PGA Education Conference and the Business Leadership Series. Also, the Attendee Super Saver program, offering significant savings on hotel accommodations and dining, returns for the second year. For more information on the PGA Merchandise Show, visit www.pgashow.com.
Contact:
PGA Merchandise Show: Sherry Major, (716) 662-3855, smajor@reedexpo.com
PGA of America: Jamie Carbone, (561) 624-8446, jcarbone@pgahq.com