2018 NGBA/Golf Headquarters Annual Meeting and Show
National Golf Buyers Association members and vendor partners gathered at the Wigwam in Phoenix, AZ October 8th -10th 2018 for the annual NGBA / Golf Headquarters Corporation Meeting and Show.
The group’s member attendees at its annual Monday Marketing seminar were treated to a fast moving and informative presentation by Greg Nathan CBO of National Golf Foundation. The category of “very interested in learning to play” has increased from 8% in 2013 to 14.9% in 2017. Greg wrapped up with a Q & A opportunity for members, leaving members better informed for 2019.
The group’s Monday night welcome reception provided members and vendor partners a great chance to enjoy food and beverages and socialize under the Arizona stars. Some members made their way over to see member operation Valley Golf and returned with rave reviews about the staff, product selection, merchandising and driving range.
On Tuesday morning the members gathered for the Annual corporation meeting where Dave and Ryan Austad of Austad’s and Scott Jackson of Nevada Bobs in Mississippi and Louisiana were introduced and warmly welcomed as new members.
Upstate NY member Turning Stone Resort and Golf Superstore had on October 4th hosted a U.S. Kids coaching seminar. Turning Stone’s Head Teaching Professional/Merchandise Manager Eric Lorenzetti addressed the members regarding what’s involved in hosting a U.S. Kids coaching seminar along with his takeaways about the most impactful ways to show and tell U.S. Kids equipment and wrapped up with some insightful Q and A.
Members headed into the show hall where over Tuesday and Wednesday they met with over 40 exhibiting vendor partners sales staff and sales and marketing managers. The group’s vendor partner exhibitors traditionally offer the group promotional show specials along with an NGBA specific program.
Tuesday evening was highlighted by a Wilson Driver VS Driver 2 viewing party, with Wilson President Tim Clark and two-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Streelman engaged in Q and A with the members making it enlightening and fun.
On Wednesday morning the members were invited to a member only Day One of Show- Round Table discussion and exchanged opinions regarding the most impactful products and platforms they discovered. This breakout yielded valuable feedback and ideas and strongly reinforced previously expressed sentiments that members all benefit when utilizing each other’s talent and experience.
Members streamed back into the show hall to take advantage of the products and buys mentioned during this session, and the NGBA corporate team circled back with vendors to pursue product requests that were mentioned. The meeting and show wrapped up Wednesday afternoon to very positive member and vendor reviews and excitement about the upcoming year and many commitments to reconnect at the January 2019 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL.
Contact:
Lee Clapp
Executive Director
N.G.B.A / Golf Headquarters
lclapp@golfheadquarters.com
