Nearly 30,000 PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives and retailers — including a team of Palmetto Dunes representatives — from more than 86 countries came together to meet with more than 800 golf companies at the 70th PGA Show in Orlando, Florida in late January.
Following two years of business disruptions by the global pandemic, the PGA Show was a clear sign of a bullish year ahead for the continued growth of the sport and the $84 billion golf industry.
The PGA Show, organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions and the PGA of America, began in the trunks of cars at a winter golf tournament in 1954 and has grown into golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering. Among the tens of thousands of attendees were nearly 7,000 PGA, LPGA and international PGA Professionals and more than 800 media reporting from the annual event.
"The energy on the PGA Show floor was fantastic,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “I grew up on a trading floor (on the New York Stock Exchange) and this reminds me of the energy and enthusiasm of a busy trading day. It is reflective of the (golf) industry, basically booming. We played defense for a couple of years during the pandemic, but we’re on the verge of being all the way back now. If the PGA Show is a barometer, 2023 is going to be a great year for golf.”
PGA Show Week officially began with the golf industry’s annual professional demo day, the PGA Show Demo & Fitting Day, returning to the massive circular range of Orange County National Golf Center (OCN) in Winter Garden, Florida. The sunshine-filled, day-long Demo & Fitting Day provided important education and product testing of the latest equipment and technology, and opportunities for PGA Professionals to learn from experts in coaching, clubfitting and range operations.
“The gates opened at 9 a.m., and our bays were full by 9:05 and stayed that way all day,” said Alex Goodman, National Sales Director, Toptracer. “Coaches are especially excited to see what we’re doing with our new software. Having the chance to show it to them in person is the perfect way for them to learn about it. We’re excited by what’s going on today.”
When the doors to the massive Show Floor finally opened, more than 800 companies, from emerging ventures and veteran manufacturers to the games’ most recognizable brands, helped create the world’s largest business-to-business golf event. Golf’s top companies and market-leading brands, along with more than 250 exhibitors new to the PGA Show, introduced thousands of new products and services to drive golf retail in 2023.
Callaway Golf’s new Paradym clubs, PING’s G435 clubs and Cobra Golf’s new Aerojet clubs attracted attention, similar to the new Titliest ProV1 and ProV1x golf balls, Scotty Cameron putters and Mizuno ST230 drivers and the Club Car CRU golf cart. Bushnell Wingman and Full Swing KIT launch monitor, among thousands of exciting products were also among products that can positively impact the game experience. Fashion companies such as KJUS, Dunning, Peter Millar, FootJoy, PUMA Golf, Ralph Lauren and some 300 additional apparel and accessory companies introduced their newest collections for Fall 2023.
The 2023 PGA Show also shined a spotlight on new products and talented inventors in the New Product Zone and Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion. Innovations in the New Product Zone, a one-stop pavilion of the newest golf merchandise, were judged by a panel of award-winning PGA Professionals and golf buyers. The judging panel selected three overall “Best New Product” Award winners – Dotty Green Golf rangefinder, SKONI footwear and the PUTTLINK smart ball.
Golf and resort facility operators found out more about on- and off-course amenity improvements, plus attended daily programming on the new Pickleball Court, sponsored by Acrytech. Golf fashion retailers saw the latest collections in motion on the runway during the Live Fashion Show in the Fashion Lounge.
Renowned PGA teachers, PGA and LPGA touring professionals and celebrities also attended the PGA Show to participate in product launches and brand appearances including Matt Fitzpatrick, Brad Faxon, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard, KH Lee, Ernie Els, Tom Watson, Davis Love, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Blair O’Neal, Danielle Kang, Annika Sorenstam, Stacy Lewis, Sherri Steinhauer, Madelene Sagstrom, Kyle Berkshire, Jim Nantz, Butch Harmon, Johnny Damon, JoAnne Russell and more.
Photography & text provided by PGA Show. Learn more at PGAShow.com
