The 67th PGA Merchandise Show came to a close January 24 in Orlando, as it welcomed nearly 40,000 golf industry professionals from all 50 US states and 80 countries worldwide.
The 2020 edition delivered a plethora of product launches and industry announcements, with PGA Professionals and buyers uncovering the latest products, trends and technology from more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and brands. This included more than 250 companies new to the PGA Show, creating the world’s largest business-to-business golf event, within one million square feet of interactive exhibit, demonstration and meeting space of the Orange County Convention Center’s West Concourse Exhibit Hall.
The show attracted more than 7,800 PGA Professionals, an increase of 5% on 2019. The top five countries outside of US represented were Canada, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and China. The top five US states represented in attendance were Florida, California, New York, Georgia and North Carolina.
The 2020 PGA Show was marked by significant industry announcements and product introductions, including Titleist’s new T400 irons and TS1 driver; Cobra’s Speedzone woods and irons, Callaway’s MAVRIK driver, PING’s G710 irons, Mizuno’s ST200 metalwoods, XXIO’s Eleven drivers; Bridgestone’s new Tour B line of golf balls and the new Tour Edge EXS 220 line. (Learn more about equipment trends and manufacturer announcements.)
Golf lifestyle apparel and accessories were also well represented, with companies such as adidas Golf, AHEAD, Antigua, Bobby Jones, Callaway Apparel, Cutter & Buck, Dunning, FootJoy, Greg Norman Collection, Greyson, Levelwear, Oakley, Peter Millar, Ralph Lauren, PUMA Golf, Summit Brands (B. Draddy, Fairway & Greene, EP NY and Zero Restriction), Tory Sport, Travis Mathew, Under Armour and Vineyard Vines anchoring the PGA Merchandise Show apparel section.
The newest fashions for the upcoming season featured plenty of prints – abstract, floral, geometric, conversational or graphic – in the majority of lines, with each company offering something unique to its brand DNA. More than a dozen companies showcased their newest collections in front of a standing-room only audience during an exciting live Fashion Show, presented by Polartec on the PGA Show Floor in the Apparel Hall Fashion Lounge on January 23, which was followed by an Industry Happy Hour and Reception, sponsored by goodr Sunglasses. (Learn more about apparel trends and manufacturer announcements.)
Golf cars, simulators, GPS technology and gear accessories were abundant in the Facility Solutions Hall of the PGA Show Floor, with leading brands participating, such as Bushnell Golf, Club Car, Dynamic Brands, Easy Picker Golf Products, E-Z-Go, Foresight Golf, Full Swing, Garmin, Golf Buddy, Golfzon, Prestwick Golf Group, Range Servant America, SkyGolf, Tagmarshal, Toptracer, Wittek Golf Supply and Yamaha. In all, hundreds of thousands of products and services were showcased within nearly 10 miles of Show aisles in the Orange County Convention Center. (Learn more about facility solutions and technology trends and announcements.)
“The 67th PGA Merchandise Show kicked off 2020 with an exciting showcase of the latest golf innovations and merchandising strategies for the year ahead,” said PGA Merchandise Show Event Vice President Marc Simon. “In addition to making important purchase decisions for the new season, PGA Professionals and buyers connected face-to-face to foster business relationships that will help to grow the business of the game moving forward.”
PGA President Suzy Whaley added: “The PGA Merchandise Show brings the global golf industry together each year to drive forward our careers, our businesses and the health of the sport. We thrive off the energy here at the PGA Show, as we collectively learn about golf’s newest innovations, share best practices and connect as a community in the game.”
The 2020 PGA Show Week began with the new co-location of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Golf Business Conference. The GBC, the golf industry’s largest annual gathering of golf course owners, welcomed hundreds of influential owners to attend education seminars, industry presentations and networking events, January 20-22, while taking advantage of PGA Show activities throughout the remainder of the week.
“Being in the same place over the same week with PGA Professionals and their leadership allows for organic and planned opportunities for collaboration,” said NGCOA CEO Jay Karen. “The NGCOA is helping to promote to our audience the value that PGA Members bring to their facilities, as well as some of the most important programs, such as PGA Jr. League Golf. The more we can be in the same room together, talking about golf’s biggest issues and opportunities, the better off we will all be.”
The NGCOA Golf Business Conference will be held in concert with the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando for the next four years.
More than 1,000 media from some 25 countries attended the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. Golf Channel broadcast Morning Drive live each day from the PGA Show to a worldwide audience; SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio network broadcast more than 30 hours of live and recorded programming, and CBS Sports HQ was streaming live each day from the Show Floor. Golf enthusiasts also could follow the latest daily news from the PGA Merchandise Show at PGA.com and GolfChannel.com, and through #PGAShow in social media.
PGA Shows – Save the Dates 2020 & 2021
The 2020 PGA Fashion & Demo Experience takes place between August 18-19 in Las Vegas. The 2021 US PGA Merchandise Show returns to Orlando from January 26-29.