PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – PGA World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus and Major League Baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Club of America, join PGA of America Officials in the grand opening of the 59th edition of the global golf industry’s PGA Merchandise Show, January 26-28, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
Country recording artist Julie Roberts will entertain attendees beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Grand Lobby of the Orange County Convention Center. At 8:15 a.m., Nicklaus, Griffey Jr. and PGA of America officials will be joined by Boys and Girls Club junior golfers to strike the ceremonial first ball from the 2nd floor stage to open three jam-packed days of golf business for nearly 1,000 golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 PGA Professionals and industry executives from around the world.
“We are delighted that Jack will be able to join us, along with Ken Griffey Jr., and the Boys and Girls Club of Orlando to open the 59th PGA Merchandise Show,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski. “The Grand Opening is an exciting tradition to begin the PGA Merchandise Show and a tremendous way for our industry to launch the business of the new golf season.”
Nicklaus and Griffey Jr. are among a long list of participating celebrities at this year’s industry-only PGA Merchandise Show. Many exhibiting companies will host PGA and LPGA players and renowned PGA teachers including Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino, Tom Kite, Chip Beck, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Michael Breed and more.
Nearly 1,000 top golf manufacturers and brands, from today’s golf market leaders to emerging companies, create the world’s largest business-to-business golf event. The very best names in golf are introducing an abundance of new products to drive golf retail in 2012 including: Adams Golf, adidas/Ashworth, AHEAD/PGA Authentics, Antigua, Bridgestone, Callaway Golf, Cleveland/Srixon Golf, Cobra Puma Golf, Cutter & Buck, Ecco, EP Pro, Fairway & Greene, FootJoy, Gear for Sports, Greg Norman Collection, Mizuno, Nike, Oakley, Ogio, PING, Polo, Sunice, TaylorMade, Titleist, Tour Edge, Under Armour, Wilson, Yonex and many more.
In addition to the busy marketplace among nearly 10 miles of Show aisles in the Orange County Convention Center, Show days are full of professional learning opportunities in the PGA Show Education Conference and new PGA Show Business Leadership Series; during industry presentations at the PGA Forum Stage and the new Golf Business Solutions stage; and within a full schedule of fashion programs at the new PGA Show Fashion E Studio.
The PGA Merchandise Show opening morning features a keynote address by Nicklaus and PGA of America officials on Golf 2.0 ~ an industry-wide initiative to grow participation in golf, on the PGA Forum Stage. Major league baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Club of America, also joins Nicklaus and PGA officials to announce an exciting new program targeting junior golfers. Several PGA Teachers of the Year and Merchandisers of the Year will present best practices and major manufacturers such as Callaway Golf, COBRA PUMA, PING and TaylorMade-adidas Golf also will take the stage for special programs. The schedule is complete with presentations featuring the legendary Billy Casper, golf management company executives Dana Garmany, Peter Hill and Jim Hinckley and Matthew Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation; plus multiple programs addressing the industry’s most pressing topics including participation by juniors, growth of women’s golf and golf fitness initiatives.
Attendees will find an energetic Show floor featuring interactive exhibits, hundreds of vendor Show specials and promotions; plus some 47 equipment testing bays at the Indoor Demo Days; a centralized New Product Zone for a one-stop shopping of the newest golf merchandise; an Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion for patented products not yet available at retail; a new International Clubmakers Guild Connections Center; and numerous specialty exhibitor pavilions including fitness, training aids and golf travel.
Each day offers a full calendar of special events and each night, attendees can participate in and network at special industry events including the Association of Golf Merchandisers Product Preview and Reception on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 5:00-7:00 p.m. and the prestigious PGA Awards Night on Thursday, Jan. 26, 5:30 -7:30 p.m.
As the largest, annual gathering of PGA Professionals, there are multiple events organized especially for PGA members during Show Week. The PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day offers PGA Professionals and invited VIP retailers a first look and hands-on testing of the latest innovations in equipment from nearly 100 vendors on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the 42-acre practice facility of Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Fla.
Each Show day, every aspect of membership service is available at the PGA Merchandise Show. Comprehensive PGA Professional services are available in the PGA Member Business Center (OCCC – 4th floor, Valencia Room). Free workshops are provided and PGA Mentor lunches for apprentices and assistants are held. PGA Professionals may participate in the PGA Section Short Game Challenge for daily cash prizes for their Section at Indoor Demo Days. A PGA Member Town Hall with Association leadership is held. In all, more than 20 MSR credits may be earned by PGA Professionals for their participation in various PGA Merchandise Show events and programs.
More than 1,000 media have made plans to attend and report from the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show. Golf enthusiasts can learn the latest daily news from the PGA Merchandise Show at www.PGA.com, www.pgashow.com and in nightly reports on the Golf Channel’s Golf Central news program. Additionally, a one-hour, prime-time Golf Channel television special will capture all the news and newsmakers at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show on Monday, Jan. 31, at 8:00 p.m.
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, including more than 300 new exhibitors, 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 (view floor plan) ~ 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 26-27; and 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 28. For more information, 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
