PGA Merchandise Show Begins

NICKLAUS, GOLF 2.0, 1,000+ COMPANIES

Despite the fact that the 59th annual PGA Merchandise Show is not open to the public, here’s a preview and a link to get you closer to what’s going on in Orlando, Florida. It’s being held in the Orange County Convention Center from now through Saturday. There’s also an official webcast.

Jack Nicklaus joined PGA of America and industry leaders to present the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan designed to grow global participation in the game. It’s part of a three-day business, education, marketing, merchandising and networking forum with product presentations, special events and seminars.

More than 40,000 industry leaders, PGA Professionals and retailers from 75 countries are joining more than 1,000 of golf’s premier companies and brands, an all-star cast of celebrities, and hundreds of the industry’s leading educators to launch a litany of new products and grow the business and participation side of golf. Every major golf manufacturer is represented this year on the Show floor.

THE BEAR, ALLEN AND THE KID

Nicklaus is expected to join PGA of America President Allen Wronowski, PGA officers including Derek Sprague from the Capital Area, and PGA Golf Exhibitions’ officials in welcoming former baseball great Ken Griffey Jr. and youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to officially open the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the Youth Development Partner of The PGA, and Griffey sits on its Board of Governors.

“I love this game, and our industry is at a crossroads,” said Nicklaus. “The Golf 2.0 plan of action promotes out-of-the box thinking and details how we need to change to grow the game.”

The goals of Golf 2.0 are to increase participation from 27.1 million golfers generating $33 billion in annual consumer revenues today to 32 million golfers and $35 billion in consumer revenues by 2016. By 2020, the goal is to have 40 million golfers generating $40 billion in annual revenues.

“As a business professional and player, Jack has had his finger on the pulse of the golf industry for many years, and he shares our determination to grow participation and grow the business side of golf,” said Wronowski.

PGA officers and staff presented specifics of Golf 2.0 to PGA members attending the 95th PGA Annual Meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Orlando. Golf 2.0 will be featured across multiple platforms throughout Show Week.

TOP NAMES, BRANDS

The 2012 PGA Merchandise Show brings back the brightest brands in golf, including FootJoy, Oakley and Ogio – plus some 300 new companies – and a medley of favorite features, such as the PGA Education Conference, Indoor Demo Days, PGA Section Short Game Challenge, the Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion, the PGA Fashion E-Studio, the prestigious PGA Awards, the New Product Zone, the PGA Travel Pavilion, the Teaching, Training Aids & Fitness Pavilion, multiple international pavilions and numerous networking events.

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