The 71st PGA Show gets under way in Orlando, Florida this week (Jan 23-26), bringing together PGA golf professionals, industry executives, retailers and golf leaders from around the world to meet with more than 1,000 golf companies and brands within 1.1 million square feet of exhibit, demonstration and meeting space.
The PGA Show marks the annual start of the new year for the $102 billion golf industry and an unparalleled platform to discover the newest innovations, test the latest equipment and technology, learn from industry experts and network with peers to advance the business of the sport.
Current pre-registration for this year’s show exceeds 30,000 golf industry professionals from 84 countries and all 50 US states. More than 7,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals are registered to attend.
DEMO DAY
The PGA Show begins on January 23 with the PGA Show Demo Day at Orange County National Golf Center. The immersive day-long event, produced in partnership by the PGA Show and PGA Magazine, also features extensive product education, coaching workshops, club fitting presentations, programming on golf range strategies, demonstrations by PGA TOUR professionals and top PGA of America coaches, and opportunities to meet one-on-one with industry leaders in numerous categories.
This year’s Demo Day offers a new layout of companies on the driving range, multiple practice greens and short game testing areas, a large vendor village called the Discovery Zone, a Demo Day Test track for golf cart and vehicle testing, the Demo Day stage for industry presentations and a central food court featuring food trucks and live music by Spencer Ludwig, Latin Grammy winning and Grammy performing trumpeter, songwriter, producer and DJ. The 2024 PGA Show Demo Day is open exclusively to PGA of America Golf Professionals and media from 9am to noon and opens to additional PGA Show registered industry professionals from noon to 5pm.
CONVENTION CENTRE
The PGA Show then moves to the Orange County Convention Center from January 24-26 for exhibits and a full schedule of industry events.
A brief opening ceremony and welcome by PGA of America President John Lindert and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh will be held at 8.15am on Wednesday. Following the ceremony, the doors will open to more than 1,000 companies and brands, from emerging ventures and veteran manufacturers to the games’ most recognizable brands, to create the world’s largest business-to-business golf event. Golf’s top companies and market-leading brands, along with more than 350 new to the PGA Show, are introducing thousands of new products and services to drive golf retail in 2024.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to the busy marketplace across the expanse of the Show Floor, PGA Show days are full of professional learning opportunities during exhibitor and industry presentations at five Show Floor stages. The PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech will offer a full schedule of diverse programming from the PGA of America in collaboration with golf organizations, business leaders, top coaches, players and architects. The Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction stage will feature complimentary education sessions presented by TPI and the Golf Fitness Association of America, with supporting sponsor Life Fitness.
The Inventors Spotlight stage will offer entrepreneur and inventor education sessions and product pitch panels each Show day. PGA Professionals, college students and second-career professionals can connect with employers right on the Show Floor in the new golf industry Career Zone featuring company recruiting activations, employer-led panel presentations and networking events. And finally, The Clubhouse pavilion stage features a full schedule of industry programming from brand executives and experts representing leading golf organizations such as the PGA of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, United States Golf Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association, LPGA and more.
In addition to the PGA Show Education Conference, PGA of America Golf Professionals can attend complimentary Association workshops at the Member Business Center. PGA ShowWeek also is host to the National Golf Course Owners Association Golf Business Conference (Jan. 22-24) and the AGM Golf Retail Conference (Jan. 23). PGA Professionals can earn up to 30 PDR credits through participation in the PGA Show Education Conference, additional PGA Show Week educational programming, and various PGA Show and PGA of America programs.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The first Show Day, Jan 24, will conclude with a Fashion Show Reception sponsored by Rhone, 5 – 6.30pm, and a live runway Fashion Show, 5.30-6pm., located in the new Concert Lounge in Hall E at the Convention Center. The last Show evening, Jan. 25, will be capped with the inaugural PGA Show Winter Jam, supported by adidas and Corebridge Financial, featuring award-winning country music artist Jake Owen. The Back Country Boys will begin the Winter Jam at 6pm., followed by headliner Jake Owen, with DJ Spencer Ludwig closing out an electric concert night. Registered PGA Show attendees will receive complimentary admission to this limited attendance event and Show badge holders will receive admission on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert is not open to the public.
TOUR PLAYER & CELEBRITY APPEARANCES
Many exhibiting companies will host renowned PGA of America Coaches, PGA and LPGA tour professionals and celebrities. To date, some of the 2024 PGA Show commitments include Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Brad Faxon, Jim Furyk, KJ Choi, Blair O’Neal, Annika Sorenstam, Kyle Berkshire, Jim Nantz, Lee Trevino, David Leadbetter and more.
PGA Show details and industry professional registration are available at PGAShow.com, along with a full schedule of events, exhibitor details, guest speakers, seminars, personal appearances and a diary of social events.